 |
"Professor" Mike
Donovan
(Michael J.
Donovan)
(Michael J. O'Donovan)
| BORN
|
September 27 1847;
Chicago, Illinois |
| DIED |
March 24
1918 |
| HEIGHT |
5-9 |
| WEIGHT
|
148-164
lbs |
| MANAGER |
Denny Butler
(brother-in-law) | |
|
Donovan was a
two-handed fighter, very fast on his feet, who utilized quick head
movements to avoid blows; His favorite technique was a left to the pit of
the stomach followed by a right to the jaw; He often fought bigger men
(175-210 lbs) and handled them quite easily; Donovan was elected to the
International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1998
He defeated such
men as William McClellan, George Rooke, Edward McGlenchy, Walter
Watson, Mike Conroy and John Boyne; He also fought "Draws" with McClellan,
McGlenchy, "Nonpareil" Jack Dempsey, "Chicago" Tommy Chandler, Jimmy
Murray and Jack Davis
The old reports are very contradictory; If
anyone discovers conclusive data that disagrees with these results, please
advise |
1866
May 18 Billy Crowley St. Louis, Mo LF 92
Jul -Donovan was given boxing instruction by
Pat Kenrick and improved considerably
Sep Patsy Curtin St. Louis, Mo KO 5
Sep Jim Conroy Memphis, Tn TK 30
1867
Jun Pat McDermott Chicago, Il W 4
Jun 22 Mike Conroy St. Louis, Mo TK 62
-Some sources report 1866
Sep Dan Carr Chicago, Il TK 1
1868
Jun 12 John Boyne Indianapolis, In TK 23
-Some sources report "Tipton, In";
Some sources report 1/26/69
Jul Pat Kelly Grand Haven, Mi TK 7
1869
Jul 4 John Shanssey Cheyenne, Wy W 10
-The referee was Wyatt Earp;
Some sources report 7/04/68
1869-1872
-Donovan worked as a ship-caulker
1872
Jan Jack Curtin New York, NY TK 2
Feb Sam Jordan New York, NY W 3
Mar Teddy Neary New York, NY W 3
Jun Jack Lawrence TK 2
Sep Byron McNeill New York, NY W 3
1873
Jun Jimmy Murray Philadelphia, Pa D 44
-Police intervened
1874
Jun Charley Burke Philadelphia, Pa ND 4
-Some sources report "D 4"
Jul 28 -Donovan seconded Jim Collins vs. Johnny Keenan
near Pennsville, NJ
1874-1877
-Donovan worked as a ship-caulker and gave
instruction in boxing
1877
Mar Dick Liston Troy, NY W 5
1878
Apr 5 William C. McClellan San Francisco, Ca LF 14
-Middleweight Championship of America
May 18 William C. McClellan New York, NY W 7
-McClellan claimed a foul that was not allowed;
He refused to continue fighting; The referee
declared Donovan the winner; Some sources
report "WF 8"
Aug Billy Costello Virginia City, Nv TK 2
Aug George Crockett San Francisco, Ca TK 2
1872-1879
-Donovan rose to the top and was considered
to be Middleweight Champion by most people during
George Rooke's inactivity
1879
Harry Maynard in California SCH
-This bout was scheduled but not held;
Maynard agreed to fight an "Unknown" but when
he learned the "Unknown" was Mike Donovan,
he refused to go through with the bout
Mar George "Deacon" Smith Sacramento, Ca TK 3
Aug 18 William C. McClellan San Francisco, Ca D 94
-Some sources report "D 96"
Sep 29 William C. McClellan New York, NY EX
1880
Feb John L. Sullivan Boston, Ma EX 4
-Reports vary - "EX 3" - "ND 3" - "ND 4" ?
May 1 George Clark Brooklyn, NY EX 3
May 11 George Rooke Long Point, ---, Can SCH
-This bout was scheduled but not held;
Authorities prevented the bout
Oct Edward McGlenchy Boston, Ma D 5
Nov Edward McGlenchy Boston, Ma W 3
Dec Edward McGlenchy New York, NY W 3
1881
Mar 21 John L. Sullivan Boston, Ma EX 4
Apr 25 George Rooke New York, NY TK 2
-Reports vary - "W 2" - "TK 3" - "EX 3";
Police intervened
Aug Jack Davis New York, NY D 3
-Police intervened;
Some sources report Aug 1882
Sep George Rooke New York, NY W 3
-Some sources report "W 4"
Oct George Rooke New York, NY EX
Dec 26 George Rooke New York, NY ND 4
1882
Jan 14 Edward McGlenchy New York, NY EX
Apr 24 George Rooke New York, NY EX
1883
Jan Tommy Chandler Chicago, Il D 8
Apr 21 Pete McCoy New York, NY L 3
-Some sources report "EX 3"
May 7 George Rooke Newburgh, NY EX
1884
Feb 8 "Dangerous" Jack Hughes Philadelphia, Pa EX
May 10 Bernard Peoria, Il EX
May 10 Mike Gillespie Peoria, Il EX
-The previous 2 bouts were held the same date;
Some sources report "Bloomington, Il"
Jun 30 Steve Taylor New York, NY EX
Oct Jack Welsh Philadelphia, Pa W 4
Oct 17 Walter Watson New York, NY W 7
-This bout was for the position of Boxing Instructor
at the New York Athletic Club; Some sources report
"W 6"
Nov James Gladden New York, NY EX
Dec 2 Denny Butler New York, NY EX 3
1885
Apr 24 Denny Butler New York, NY EX
-Some sources report 4/24/86
Sep 9 -Donovan owned a liquor store at 156 Fulton Street,
Brooklyn, NY
1886
Jan 15 "Nonpareil" Jack Dempsey New York, NY EX 4
Jul 17 Frank Herald Greenville, NJ SCH
-This bout was scheduled but postponed;
Herald was ill with a cold
1887
Feb 5 H.K. Bloodgood New York, NY EX
Apr 26 Jack Fallon Brooklyn, NY EX
1888
Feb 25 Mike Gillespie Brooklyn, NY EX
Aug 26 Johnny Reagan Brooklyn, NY SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known;
Some sources report 8/26/89
Nov 15 "Nonpareil" Jack Dempsey Brooklyn, NY D 6
-Some sources report "EX 6"
1889
Feb 19 -Jack Donovan, brother of Mike Donovan, arrived in
San Francisco on the steamer "Mariposa" from the
Antipodes
Apr 26 -Donovan seconded Johnny Murphy vs. Cal McCarthy
at Boston, Ma
Jun 6 -A Benefit for Donovan was scheduled to be held
at New Orleans, La; Likely he sparred
Jun 13 Johnny Reagan New York, NY EX
Jun 13 William C. McClellan New York, NY EX
-The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Jul 6 Pat Kenrick New Orleans, La SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Jul 6 Charlie Mitchell New Orleans, La EX 4
Jul 6 Denny Butler New Orleans, La EX 4
-The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Jul 8 -Donovan seconded Jake Kilrain vs. John L. Sullivan
at Richburg, Ms
1890
Jan 31 an unnamed opponent New Orleans, La EX
Feb 21 -Donovan was scheduled to appear in Philadelphia, Pa
Mar 20 Jim Corbett New York, NY EX 3
-Donovan called Corbett the quickest big man he ever faced
Mar 21 Johnny McGee Philadelphia, Pa SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
1891
May 4 William C. McClellan New York, NY KO 1
1892
Jan 18 Jim Corbett Philadelphia, Pa EX 1
Jan 22 Jim Corbett Philadelphia, Pa EX 3
Apr 9 Bob Fitzsimmons New York, NY SCH
Apr 9 Jimmy Carroll New York, NY SCH
-The previous 2 bouts were scheduled;
The outcomes are not known
Apr 9 Walter Campbell Philadelphia, Pa EX
May 28 John Murray Philadelphia, Pa SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Jul 23 Bill Slavin New York, NY ND
-This was a "private" fight which occurred on a street;
Donovan denied that he was involved
Aug -Donovan trained Jim Corbett for his bout against
John L. Sullivan
Sep 5 Jim Corbett near Gainesville, Fl EX
-This bout was held on a "training car" that was
part of a southbound train
Dec 17 Dominick McCaffrey New York, NY ND 3
-Some sources report "EX 3"
1893
Mar 14 -Donovan conducted a boxing tournament at New York, NY
Apr 14 -Donovan conducted a boxing tournament in New York, NY
1894
Feb 17 -A Benefit for Mike Donovan was held in New York, NY;
Likely, he sparred
Apr 27 -Donovan conducted a boxing show in New York, NY
Dec 1 -Sources reported that Jem Mace was coming to America
and would box Mike Donovan soon after he arrived
1895
Jan 29 H. Kelly Manayunk, Pa ND
Feb 9 -A Benefit for Mike Donovan was held at
New York, NY; Likely, he sparred
May 4 Denny Butler Philadelphia, Pa SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
1896
Dec 14 Jem Mace New York, NY D 4
-Some sources report "Utica, NY";
Some sources report "EX 3"
1897
Aug Jem Mace Birmingham, Eng SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Sep 3 Jem Mace Birmingham, Eng D 6
1900
Mar 20 Jim Corbett New York, NY EX 3
Undated
George Siler Chicago, Il EX
-This bout was held before 1889
*** The Following Bouts Are Reported But Not Confirmed ***
1870
Jim Murray Red Bank, NJ D 3
1883
Aug 25 Jack Davis New York, NY NC 1
-Police intervened
Record courtesy of Tracy Callis, Historian, International Boxing
Research Organization
8.07.06
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