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Jack Skelly (John D. Skelly) BORN : February 8 1870; Brooklyn, New York (Some sources report Flatbush, Long Island) DIED : May 28 1953; New York, New York HEIGHT : WEIGHT : 115-124 lbs RACE : White BACKER : William H. Reynolds TRAINER: Herman Hattenhorst |
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Skelly was a combination boxer-puncher and always a crowd pleaser; He made his professional debut against a World Champion in a title bout; He was one of the "Three Fighting Jacks" along with Jack Dempsey and Jack McAuliffe; All three began their careers at the same time while working at Palmer's Cooperage in Brooklyn; William H. Reynolds, Skelly's backer, once said, "I know of no better boy than Jack. He neither drinks nor uses tobacco in any form. He is as modest as he is sincere and straightforward. He is true as steel ..." |
***** Amateur Bouts *****
1884
Stephan "Reddy" Gallagher New York, NY W 5
Harry Bartlett New York, NY W 12
1885-1888
George Brown New York, NY W 3
Matt McCormick New York, NY KO 2
Jim Haggerty New York, NY KO 4
Walter Delaney New York, NY KO 1
Tom Mitchell New York, NY W 6
Billy Farley New York, NY KO 2
H. McAllister New York, NY W
Sam Kellerman New York, NY W
John Roche New York, NY W
Mike Mulroy New York, NY W 3
Jack Collins New York, NY W
Mike Leonard New York, NY W
Joe Gallagher New York, NY W 7
Bill Murphy New York, NY W 5
Jimmy O'Brien New York, NY W 5
Frank Chenovick New York, NY W 4
Frank Naegel New York, NY W 3
-Some sources report "Frank Neiger"
an unnamed opponent Newburgh, NY W
an unnamed opponent Newburgh, NY W
an unnamed opponent Newburgh, NY W
-Skelly won the New York Amateur Bantamweight Championship
by defeating the previous three men
Frank Naegel New York, NY KO 2
-Some sources report "Frank Neiger"
1888
Apr 3 Joe Ryan Brooklyn, NY (Palace Rink) EX 3
1889
Mar 3 Matt Seaman Brooklyn, NY (Melvina Hall) EX
Apr 3 Frank Naegel New York, NY (Schiellein's Hall) W
Apr 3 Sam Freeth New York, NY (Schiellein's Hall) L 4
-The previous 2 bouts were part of an
Amateur Featherweight Tournament
Tom McCarthy New York, NY W
Eddie Burns New York, NY W
Dick Rafferty New York, NY W
-Skelly won the International Amateur Bantamweight
Championship of America
Johnny Gorman New York, NY L 3
Oct 10 -Skelly participated in a boxing tournament of the
National AC, at the Labor Lyceum, 11 Cedar Street;
The AC was first organized on February 8, 1888
Nov -Skelly won the National AAU Featherweight Championship
1890
Mar 3 J. McCarthy Brooklyn, NY (National AC) W
Mar 15 Frank Naegel Brooklyn, NY (Park AC) TK 2
Mar 27 Tom Dempsey Brooklyn, NY (National AC) EX
-Skelly was better
Mar 31 George Soder Brooklyn, NY (Brighton AC) EX
Jul 3 -Philadelphia (Pa) Item reported that Dave O'Leary
responded to a challenge by Skelly at 120 lbs
Jul 6 -Philadelphia (Pa) Item reported that Skelly
challenged any 120 lb man and Dave O'Leary
to a bout
Jul 31 John McTiernan Brooklyn, NY (National AC) TK 10
-Police intervened
Sep 26 -Brooklyn (NY) Daily Eagle reported Skelly was
barred from Amateur events due to his
participating in illegal amateur activities
Oct 11 Charles Burns Brooklyn, NY (Clermont Rink) EX
Oct 18 -Brooklyn (NY) Daily Eagle reported Skelly in
connection with an Amateur Tournament which
indicates that he was not barred from all
amateur activities
Dec 6 Danny McVeigh New York, NY (NYAC) SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
1891
Jan 18 -Brooklyn (NY) Daily Eagle reported that Skelly
was an ex-Amateur so he must have been barred
from competing as an amateur
Feb 17 -Skelly was entered in the 120 Pound Competition
at the Brooklyn, NY (National AC)
Feb 28 Frederick Bird Brooklyn, NY (Nat. Guard Armory) EX
1892
Mar 1 -Brooklyn (NY) Daily Eagle reported that Skelly
was scheduled to fight John Gorman
Apr 19 John Mahan Brooklyn, NY (Turn Hall) SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Jun 27 -Skelly attended the George Dixon-Fred Johnson bout
at Coney Island, NY
Aug Jack McAuliffe Bay St. Louis, La EX
Aug 31 Johnny Griffin New Orleans, La W 6
***** Professional Bouts *****
1892
Sep 6 George Dixon New Orleans, La (Olympic Club) LK 8
-Featherweight Championship of the World;
Weights: 116 1/2-118; In this title bout,
Dixon was an overwhelming favorite at
3-to-1 odds against a boxer who was
having his professional debut and was
referred to as the “Brooklyn Amateur;”
Despite the fact Skelly was aggressive,
Dixon won easily enough; Skelly was down
once in the third round, twice in the seventh,
and once in the eighth; Note - There was a large
crowd; There were black “sports” in the gallery
Sep 30 -Brooklyn (NY) Daily Eagle reported that the
Brooklyn (NY) Arcadia AC would hire Skelly
as its Sparring Instructor
Oct 3 George Dixon Brooklyn, NY (Clermont Rink) EX
Nov 4 John Mulligan Brooklyn, NY (National AC) EX 3
Nov 18 George Pink Brooklyn, NY (Arcadia AC) EX 4
Dec George Dixon Brooklyn, NY (Miner's Bowery Th.) SCH 6
-This bout was scheduled to be held during Dec 6-9;
The outcome is not known
Dec 8 -Skelly seconded Maxie Haugh vs. Tom Creed at
Buffalo, NY (Buffalo AC)
Dec 16 Mike Brophy Brooklyn, NY (Arcadia AC) SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
1893
Jan 29 -Brooklyn (NY) Daily Eagle reported that Skelly
would meet all-comers this week at a Brooklyn, NY
(Williamsburg) theatre
Feb 25 Jim Daron Brooklyn, NY (Clermont Rink) KO 1
-Time: 5 seconds
Mar 6 Jim Daron Brooklyn, NY (Clermont Rink) SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Mar 13 George Siddons Coney Island, NY SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known;
Brooklyn (NY) Daily Eagle reported 3/20/93
Aug 10 George Siddons New York, NY W 4
George Siddons Brooklyn, NY (Williamsburg) KO 2
Oct an unnamed opponent Saratoga, NY EX
Oct 24 -Skelly and nine members of his troupe were arrested
for leaving and not paying their bills at the Noonan
House in Saratoga, NY
Dec 18 -Skelly's troupe was scheduled to appear at the People's
Theatre this week; Authorities would not permit the
sparring
Dec 29 -Skelly offered to participate in any sparring exhibition
for the benefit of the poor
1894
Jan 18 Charley Gehring SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Feb 9 -Jack McGrath issued a challenge to Johnny Griffin
or Jack Skelly
Feb 24 George Dixon New York, NY (MSG) SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Tom Haley Albany, NY KO 3
Tom Creed W 7
Aug 30 -Skelly was challenged to post forfeit money to
meet Fred Johnson at the London NSC
Sep 17 Johnny Gorman Coney Island, NY (Seaside AC) W 6
-Some sources report "W 8"; Apparently, the bout was
stopped by authorities; Gorman wrote a letter to the
Brooklyn (NY) Daily Eagle contending that he had the
better of the bout and should, at least, have gotten
a "Draw"
Oct 17 -Jack Skelly attended a bout at in Newton with a friend,
the bar tender at Brown's Saloon; Following the contest,
Jack, the bartender, Tommy Creed, and George Maloney,
lightweight fighters, stopped off at Brown's Saloon;
After a few drinks, they got into a squabble and a
fight ensued; After going outside, Skelly was stabbed
in the back of the neck with a fork by Creed; They
wrestled and Maloney jumped on Jack, driving the fork
deeper into his neck
Nov 27 -Skelly was the trainer for Oscar Gardner vs Solly Smith
at Buffalo, NY (Buffalo AC)
1895
Jan 29 -Skelly was manager of a trio of boxers who toured and
gave exhibitions; He also instructed boxing at the
Melrose Hotel, opposite Prospect Park in Flatbush
Mar 11 -Skelly refereed the Jimmy Gorman-George Ross bout
at Paterson, NJ
Mar 16 -Skelly was the trainer for Maxie Haugh vs Jack Wrenn
at Brooklyn, NY (National AC)
Mar 15 -Skelly challenged any 118 pound man to a bout
Mar 26 -Skelly was scheduled to spar at New York, NY
(Schiellein's Hall)
Apr 8 -Skelly was training for his bout vs Johnny Gorman
at Sutter's Hotel in Flatbush; Jimmy Nelson and
Christie McManus were his trainers
Apr 9 -Skelly started to train for his bout with Johnny Gorman
at Lyon's Hotel, on the boulevard, at Parkville
Apr Tom Gaffney New London, Ct (New London AC) SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Apr 22 Johnny Gorman Coney Island, NY (Seaside AC) D 8
-The weight limit was 127 lbs
Jun 8 Johnny Young New York, NY (MSG) SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Aug 26 Frank Erne Maspeth, NY (Empire AC) LK 7
Sep 1 -Skelly was scheduled to spar at Bath Beach (Amusement Park)
Sep 22 Johnny Gorman Coney Island, NY D 8
Oct 4 Frank Erne New York, NY (New Manhattan AC) LK 9
Nov 30 Eddie Sweeney Brooklyn, NY (National AC) W 8
-This bout was not held 12/01/95 or during 1893;
The weight limit was 125 lbs
Dec 28 Sam Bolan Brooklyn, NY (National AC) W 6
-This bout was not held during 1893
1896
Jan 2 -Skelly was challenged by Jack Downey to a bout
Jan 20 Jack Grace Maspeth, NY (Empire AC) SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Jan 23 Tommy Dixon Brooklyn, NY (Turn Hall) SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Jan 28 Eddie Loeber Brooklyn, NY (Palace Rink) SCH
-This bout was scheduled as part of a Benefit for Jimmy Nelson;
The outcome is not known
Feb 7 -Brooklyn (NY) Daily Eagle reported that Skelly was
engaged as Boxing Instructor at the Long Island (NY) AC
Mar 7 Martin Flaherty New York, NY (Grand Central Palace) D 6
-The weight limit was 126 lbs
Mar 16 William "Kid" McPartland Long Island City, NY (Eureka AC) SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Mar 12 Jack Downey New York, NY (New Manhattan AC) ND 4
-This bout was not held 3/12/95;
Weights: 124-132
Mar 21 Danny McBride Brooklyn, NY (Bay View AC) D 6
-The bout was originally set for ten rounds;
McBride refused to fight under those conditions;
It was then set for six rounds and it was to be
called a "Draw" if both men were standing at the end;
During the fight, referee Johnny Eckhardt sent both
men to their corners in the middle of round five;
He said they were faking; McBride claimed an injured
hand; Skelly said he was scientific and not a heavy
hitter; Then, they continued; Weights: 122 1/2-135
Apr 11 Jack Burge Brooklyn, NY (Brighton AC) W 6
-This bout was not held during 1894;
The verdict was not "D"
Apr 25 Tommy Creed Long Island, NY (Long Island AC) D 6
-The bout was scheduled for eight rounds but only
six were fought; It was for blood; Mike Martin was
the referee; Skelly was cleverer; Creed fought foul
all the way; At the end of round six, Creed struck
Skelly twice (apparently foul blows); The referee
called the bout a "Draw"; Skelly refused to shake
hands with Creed
May 4 -Skelly was scheduled to perform with his boxing company
at Maspeth, NY (Empire Theatre) in "O'Grady's First Lesson"
during the week; It was a comedy play
May 4 Charley Barnett Maspeth, NY (Empire Theatre) EX 3
-This bout was part of the play, "O'Grady's First Lesson"
Jul 6 Charley Barnett Brooklyn, NY (Music Hall) EX 3
Nov 23 Elwood McCloskey Philadelphia, Pa (Caledonia AC) W 6
-This bout was not held during 1895
Dec 9 Charley Barnett New York, NY (Marlborough AC) EX
1897
Jan 25 Tommy White New York, NY (NYAC) LK 5
-The weight limit was 122 lbs
Feb 13 Danny Shields Philadelphia, Pa (Southwark AC) L 4
Jul 27 -Brooklyn (NY) Daily Eagle reported that Skelly was
appointed manager and matchmaker of the Brooklyn (NY)
Greenpoint Sporting Club at 144 Greenpoint Avenue
Oct 19 Tommy Dixon Brooklyn, NY (National AC) EX 4
Dec 28 -Skelly appeared at the Ewen Street Police Court on
charges that he assaulted Clarence Gillespie on
December 20; Skelly pleaded not guilty; Justice
Lemon dismissed the case
Dec 29 -Skelly terminated his position at the Greenpoint
Sporting Club; The club was not satisfied with
bouts Skelly had been promoting
1898
Jan 12 -Skelly was manager of the Trenton (NJ) Palace Sporting
Club
***** Compiled By Tracy Callis *****