AMERICAN CHAMPIONS

 

         There were numerous “American” (i.e., U.S.) champions in the various divisions before the creation of the United States Boxing Association in the late 1970s. Usually, however, they existed only at those times in which the reigning world champion of that weight class was not an American. Other “American” title b outs were whimsical billings tacked on by promoters. American championships were therefore rarely continues.

         The following is an attempt to list “American” title holders under Queensberry Rules prior to 1979:

 

Heavyweights

         Jack Sharkey won recognition as “American” heavyweight title by knocking out former world light heavyweight champion Tommy Loughran in three rounds on September 26, 1929. This “American” title bout was really an elimination contest in an effort to find a successor to retired world champion Gene Tunney, an effort which found fruition when Max Schmeling won on a foul from Sharkey the following year.

         Chuck Wepner won a highly debatable decision over former WBA champion Ernie Terrell in a 12-rounder billed for the “U.S.” heavyweight title on June 23, 1973. George Foreman was then world champ, and the “title” was a more or less empty conceit that no one paid attention to, and Wepner never bothered to defend.

 

Light Heavyweights

         After Battling Levinsky lost his world title to Georges Carpentier of France in 1920, his enterprising, verbose manager “Dumb” Dan Morgan, declared his “battler” was still “American” champ. Levinsky lost his title when Gene Tunney outboxed him over 12 rounds on January 13, 1922.

         Tunney lost the crown when he was beaten rather brutally by Harry Greb just over four months later. Gene (known as “The Fighting Marine”) regained the crown from Harry on February 23, 1923, but let the title lapse in 1924. The world crown came back to the U.S. a short time later, and the American light heavyweight title passed out of existence.

         Joey Maxim won a 15-rounder over Gus Lesnevich for the vacant American title on May 23, 1949, after Gus had lost his world title to Freddie Mills for the world crown eight months later.

         Alvaro (Yaqui) Lopez outpointed Jesse Burnett in a 15-rounder billed for the U.S. Title in Stockton, Calif. On July 2, 1978.

 

Middleweights

         Carl (Bobo) Olson won a 15-round decision over Paddy Young for the American title on June 19, 1953 - merely a prelude to Bobo’s victory over Randy Turpin for the vacant world crown in October. (World champ Sugar Ray Robinson had announced his retirement the previous December.)

 

Lightweights

         Jack McAuliffe won the American lightweight title by knocking out Billy Frazier in 1886 before winning the vacant world title by stopping Canadian Harry Gilmore the following January.

         George (Kid) Lavigne claimed the American lightweight crown by knocking out Andy Bowen on December 14, 1894, shortly after McAuliffe announced his retirement. Lavigne won the vacant world title by knocking out Dick Burge on June 1, 1896.

 

Featherweights

         Cal McCarthy was recognized as American 115-pound (featherweight) title holder, c. 1890.

         George Dixon took McCarthy’s “title” when Cal retired at the end of round 22 in their contest at the Bicycle Club Rink in Troy, NY, January 31, 1891.

 

Bantamweights

         Hughey Boyle, English-born Michael (Chappy) Moran, and Tommy (Spider) Kelly batted the “American” 105-pound title back and forth before British champion Billy Plimmer knocked out Kelly in the 10th round of a scheduled 20 for international supremacy at 110. (Weight limits for the featherweight, bantamweight, and paperweight divisions were gradually increased from c. 1884 to 1909.)

 

Flyweights

         Jimmy Barry held American titles at 100-105 pounds (then called “light bantam” or “paperweight”) before knocking out Walter Croot for the world crown in 1897.

         Young Zulu Kid, Johnny Rosner, Young Montreal, Frankie Mason, Johnny Buff, Pancho Villa, Frankie Genaro, and Fidel LaBarba won the vacant world title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Scotland’s Elky Clark in Madison Square Garden.

         Jackie Jurich won the American flyweight title by knocking out Small Montana (Benjamin L. Gan, born in the Philippines) on March 3, 1939. Jurich lost this title when knocked out by Little Pancho in Los Angeles, December 11, 1939.

 

Goldman, Herb. 1996. International Boxing Digest. IBRO, page 60, Sept 1996