Larry Gains
Born(1900-12-12)12 December 1900
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Died26 July 1983(1983-07-26) (aged 82)
Cologne, Germany
NationalityCanadian
Other namesLarrupin' Larry
Statistics
Weight(s)Heavyweight
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Reach77 in (196 cm)
Boxing record
Total fights146;[1] with the inclusion of newspaper decisions
Wins118
Wins by KO63
Losses22
Draws5

Lawrence Samuel "Larry" Gains (12 December 1900 – 26 July 1983) was a Black Canadian heavyweight boxer who was champion of Canada and the British Empire. One of the top heavyweights of his era, he was denied the opportunity to become World Champion due to the bar on black boxers competing for the title.

Gains was recognized as the World Colored Heavyweight Champion twice in his career, and was the last to be recognized as such when the title became extinct after Joe Louis won the World Heavyweight title on June 22, 1937.

Biography

Gains was born on Sumach Street in the Cabbagetown neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, Canada on 12 December 1900.[2] He took up boxing at around the age of twenty, after being asked to act as a sparring partner by Charlie Clay, and boxed out of Toronto's Praestamus Club, an organisation for Black boxers.[3][4][5]

Professional career

After a successful amateur career, Gains made the decision to go professional, travelling to Britain on a cattle ship and making his professional début in London as "The Toronto Terror" in June 1923.[6][7] Many of his early fights were in France (where he befriended Morley Callahan and Ernest Hemingway who at the time were working as newspaper reporters) and Germany, where he beat Max Schmeling in 1925. On Feb.28, 1927 he became Canadian Heavyweight Champion when he stopped Horace "Soldier" Jones in 5 rounds at Toronto. He later defended it against two of the biggest names in Canadian boxing at the time, Jack Renault and Charlie Belanger.[8][9] He settled in Leicester, England in 1930, where many of his fights over the next few years were held.[10] Noted primarily as a slick boxer he KO'd Phil Scott in front of 30,000 spectators at Leicester Tigers' Welford Road ground in 1931, taking the British Empire title, although the colour bar was still in place.[11] The colour bar was lifted in 1932, and he cemented his hold on the title with a victory over white South African Donald McCorkindale at the Royal Albert Hall,[9] the fight ending in an unpopular points decision for Gains, with Gains' trainer Jack Goodwin collapsing and dying during the fight.[12] Gains was the second black fighter to fight at the Royal Albert Hall, as Len Johnson was the first black fighter due to his contest with Adolf Pott being first.[13][14][15][16] He went on to beat Primo Carnera in front of 70,000 people at White City, London in May that year (a British record attendance for a boxing match), despite Carnera having an advantage of 60 pounds in weight and a four inches in height.[9][17] He lost the British Empire title in 1934 to Len Harvey, and failed to regain it later that year, defeated by Jack Petersen in front of a crowd of 64,000 at White City.[18]

World coloured heavyweight champion

Gains was considered one of the top heavyweights of his era, but was denied the opportunity to fight for the British Championship and the World Championship due to the rules against black boxers competing for the titles, instead competing for the 'Coloured Heavyweight Championship of the World', a title that he won in 1928 and 1935.[8][19][20] His income from boxing dwindled after 1934 and in 1937 he was declared bankrupt.[21] In December 1938 he defeated Welsh champion George James on points.[22] In 1939, with the advent of World War II, Gains joined the British Army as a physical training instructor.[9] He served as a sergeant major in the Pioneer Corps in the Middle East.[23] His last fight was a defeat to Jack London in June 1942, held to raise funds for the RAF Benevolent Fund.[24]

Gains retired from boxing at the age of forty.[10] He had 143 professional fights, winning 115 and drawing 5, most of his defeats coming in the latter years of his career. Gains stated that during his career he won around US$500,000, much of which was lost through gambling.[9][25]

Later life

After boxing, Larry had a boxing club next to the Shoeburyness public house. Many world champions visited there and trained there before big fights.[citation needed] Gains had a succession of low-paid jobs. In 1950 he was working as a labourer in Shoeburyness, Essex.[26] In 1953 he was jailed for three months for stealing £222 12/5 from a British Legion club where he worked as a steward.[10][27] He pleaded guilty and stated that he would repay the money.[28] He successfully appealed against the sentence and was discharged conditionally after a "well known sporting gentleman" repaid the money along with the court costs.[29] Gains went on to be the singer/drummer in a hotel band[30] in Southend on Sea, Essex.[31] In the early 1960s Gains was living on Tooting Broadway and working as a "salvage collection merchant".[3] Gains later worked in car sales and as a boxing trainer in Morden, near London.[9]

With his wife Lisa, he had four children, Betty, Harold, Anne and John.[2] Gains' autobiography, The Impossible Dream, was published in 1976, the title a reference to his dream of becoming World Champion. Max Schmeling contributed a foreword. Gains died in July 1983 from a heart attack while visiting relatives in Cologne, Germany.[32]

Legacy & Honors

In 2020 award-winning author Mark Allen Baker published the first comprehensive account of The World Colored Heavyweight Championship, 1876-1937, with McFarland & Company, a leading independent publisher of academic & nonfiction books. This history traces the advent and demise of the Championship, the stories of the talented professional athletes who won it, and the demarcation of the color line both in and out of the ring.

For decades the World Colored Heavyweight Championship was a useful tool to combat racial oppression-the existence of the title a leverage mechanism, or tool, used as a technique to counter a social element, “drawing the color line.”

In 2015, Gains was posthumously inducted into the Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.[33]

Larry Gains amateur boxing HABC trophy won in March 1922 was restored in 2021 on BBC1 programme "The Repair Shop" by silversmith Brenton West. The trophy was brought in by his granddaughter and great grandson.

In 2023 Larry Gains was inducted into the British boxing Hall of Fame.

On the 1st November 2023 Government of Canada commemorates the national historic significance of Larry Gains (1900-1983)[34] at a special plaque unveiling ceremony at the Cabbagetown Boxing Club in Toronto, ON. The unveiling was made on behalf of the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada.[35]

Professional boxing record

All information in this section is derived from BoxRec,[36] unless otherwise stated.

Official record

146 fights 117 wins 22 losses
By knockout 63 14
By decision 49 8
By disqualification 5 0
Draws 5
No contests 1
Newspaper decisions/draws 1

All newspaper decisions are officially regarded as “no decision” bouts and are not counted in the win/loss/draw column.

No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Age Location Notes
146 Loss 117–22–5 (2) Jack London KO 2 (10) Jun 6, 1942 41 years, 176 days Caird Hall, Dundee, Scotland, UK
145 Loss 117–21–5 (2) Jack London KO 3 (10) May 28, 1941 40 years, 167 days New St. James Hall, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England, UK
144 Win 117–20–5 (2) Sergeant Elemett TKO 2 (?) Feb 19, 1941 40 years, 69 days Location unknown
143 Loss 116–20–5 (2) Jack London KO 4 (10) Jan 25, 1941 40 years, 44 days The Stadium, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK
142 Win 116–19–5 (2) George James PTS 4 Feb 12, 1940 39 years, 62 days Aldershot, Hampshire, England, UK
141 Loss 115–19–5 (2) Tommy Farr TKO 6 (10) May 17, 1939 38 years, 156 days Ninian Park, Cardiff, Wales, UK
140 Loss 115–18–5 (2) Len Harvey TKO 13 (15) Mar 16, 1939 38 years, 94 days Harringay Arena, London, England, UK For vacant Commonwealth heavyweight title
139 Win 115–17–5 (2) George James PTS 12 Dec 12, 1938 38 years, 0 days Pavilion, Mountain Ash, Wales, UK
138 Draw 114–17–5 (2) Claudio Villar PTS 12 Oct 14, 1938 37 years, 306 days Waverley Market, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
137 Win 114–17–4 (2) Harry Staal PTS 10 Aug 23, 1938 37 years, 254 days St. Helier Stadium, Jersey, Channel Islands, UK
136 Win 113–17–4 (2) Pat Marrinan PTS 12 Mar 10, 1938 37 years, 88 days Romford Road Baths, West Ham, London, England, UK
135 Win 112–17–4 (2) Albert Di Meglio KO 1 (?) Feb 21, 1938 37 years, 71 days Sheffield, Yorkshire, England, UK
134 Win 111–17–4 (2) Bill Wainwright KO 3 (10) Jan 17, 1938 37 years, 36 days Sheffield, Yorkshire, England, UK Uncertain if this is Bill Wainwright
133 Win 110–17–4 (2) Presidio Pavesi KO 2 (12) Jan 9, 1938 37 years, 28 days The Ring, Southwark, London, England, UK
132 Win 109–17–4 (2) Pinkie Jenkins KO 3 (?) Dec 14, 1937 37 years, 2 days Swansea, Wales, UK
131 Win 108–17–4 (2) Jack Pettifer KO 2 (10), 0:20 Dec 9, 1937 36 years, 362 days Romford Road Baths, West Ham, London, England, UK
130 Win 107–17–4 (2) Hans Schönrath PTS 10 Nov 2, 1937 36 years, 325 days Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire, England, UK
129 Win 106–17–4 (2) Charles Rutz KO 2 (10) Oct 4, 1937 36 years, 296 days Earls Court Empress Stadium, Kensington, London, England, UK
128 Win 105–17–4 (2) Bert Ikin KO 1 (10) Aug 14, 1937 36 years, 245 days Poole Sports Arena, Poole, Dorset, England, UK
127 Win 104–17–4 (2) Harry Staal PTS 12 Jul 6, 1937 36 years, 206 days Working Men's Club, Llanelli, Wales, UK
126 Win 103–17–4 (2) Presidio Pavesi DQ 7 (12) Apr 5, 1937 36 years, 114 days Colston Hall, Bristol, Avon, England, UK
125 Win 102–17–4 (2) Alex Bell TKO 6 (12) Feb 25, 1937 36 years, 75 days West Ham Baths, West Ham, London, England, UK
124 Win 101–17–4 (2) Presidio Pavesi KO 3 (10) Dec 6, 1936 35 years, 360 days The Ring, Southwark, London, England, UK
123 Win 100–17–4 (2) Emil Scholz PTS 10 Nov 25, 1936 35 years, 349 days White City Stadium, Hull, Yorkshire, England, UK
122 Win 99–17–4 (2) Eddie Steele PTS 12 Nov 19, 1936 35 years, 343 days West Ham Baths, West Ham, London, England, UK
121 Win 98–17–4 (2) Bert Ikin KO 5 (12) Oct 29, 1936 35 years, 322 days West Ham Baths, West Ham, London, England, UK
120 NC 97–17–4 (2) Jack London NC 8 (10) Oct 19, 1936 35 years, 312 days Earls Court Empress Hall, Kensington, London, England, UK Both men considered not to be trying
119 Win 97–17–4 (1) Harry Staal PTS 10 Aug 3, 1936 35 years, 235 days Athletic Ground, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, UK
118 Win 96–17–4 (1) Emil Scholz PTS 10 Jun 15, 1936 35 years, 186 days Welford Road Stadium, Leicester, Leicestershire, England, UK
117 Win 95–17–4 (1) Maurice Strickland PTS 10 Apr 27, 1936 35 years, 137 days Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire, England, UK
116 Loss 94–17–4 (1) Ben Foord PTS 12 Mar 9, 1936 35 years, 88 days Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire, England, UK
115 Loss 94–16–4 (1) Ben Foord PTS 12 Nov 25, 1935 34 years, 348 days Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire, England, UK
114 Win 94–15–4 (1) Obie Walker PTS 15 Jul 20, 1935 34 years, 220 days Welford Road Stadium, Leicester, Leicestershire, England, UK Won world colored heavyweight title
113 Win 93–15–4 (1) George Slack KO 6 (10) Apr 25, 1935 34 years, 134 days The Stadium, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK
112 Win 92–15–4 (1) Charley Smith KO 3 (12) Mar 4, 1935 34 years, 82 days Embassy Rink, Sparbrook, West Midlands, England, UK
111 Win 91–15–4 (1) Raymond Lepage RTD 3 (12) Jan 21, 1935 34 years, 40 days Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire, England, UK
110 Loss 90–15–4 (1) Jack Petersen TKO 13 (15) Sep 10, 1934 33 years, 272 days White City Stadium, White City, London, England, UK For Commonwealth heavyweight title
109 Win 90–14–4 (1) Vincenz Hower PTS 12 Apr 16, 1934 33 years, 125 days Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire, England, UK
108 Win 89–14–4 (1) Casimir Beszterda KO 1 (12), 2:00 Apr 9, 1934 33 years, 118 days Olympia, Bradford, Yorkshire, England UK
107 Win 88–14–4 (1) Harry Crossley KO 5 (12) Mar 26, 1934 33 years, 104 days Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire, England, UK
106 Win 87–14–4 (1) Ernst Guehring KO 7 (15) Mar 5, 1934 33 years, 83 days Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire, England, UK
105 Loss 86–14–4 (1) Len Harvey PTS 15 Feb 8, 1934 33 years, 58 days Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, England, UK Lost Commonwealth heavyweight title
104 Win 86–13–4 (1) Jack London KO 2 (10) Dec 11, 1933 32 years, 364 days New St. James Hall, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England, UK
103 Win 85–13–4 (1) Piet van Gool KO 4 (12) Jul 8, 1933 32 years, 208 days Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
102 Win 84–13–4 (1) George Cook PTS 15 May 18, 1933 32 years, 157 days Olympia, Kensington, London, England, UK Retained Commonwealth heavyweight title
101 Loss 83–13–4 (1) Don McCorkindale KO 10 (10) Apr 13, 1933 32 years, 122 days Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, England, UK
100 Win 83–12–4 (1) Roberto Roberti KO 3 (12) Apr 3, 1933 32 years, 112 days Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire, England, UK
99 Win 82–12–4 (1) Reggie Meen DQ 4 (12) Feb 13, 1933 32 years, 63 days Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire, England, UK
98 Win 81–12–4 (1) Paul Hofman RTD 6 (12) Jan 9, 1933 32 years, 28 days Town Hall, Leeds, Yorkshire, England, UK
97 Win 80–12–4 (1) Michel Maurer KO 4 (15) Dec 12, 1932 32 years, 0 days King's Hall, Belle Vue, Manchester, Lancashire, England, UK
96 Win 79–12–4 (1) Hermann Jaspers KO 3 (15) Dec 4, 1932 31 years, 358 days The Ring, Southwark, London, England, UK
95 Win 78–12–4 (1) Marcel Moret KO 1 (15), 0:34 Nov 28, 1932 31 years, 352 days Olympia, Bradford, Yorkshire, England UK
94 Loss 77–12–4 (1) Walter Neusel UD 10 Oct 17, 1932 31 years, 310 days Palais des Sports, Paris, France
93 Win 77–11–4 (1) Salvatore Ruggirello PTS 12 Sep 29, 1932 31 years, 292 days Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, England, UK
92 Win 76–11–4 (1) Primo Carnera PTS 10 May 30, 1932 31 years, 170 days White City Stadium, White City, London, England, UK
91 Win 75–11–4 (1) Don McCorkindale PTS 15 Mar 3, 1932 31 years, 82 days Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, England, UK Retained Commonwealth heavyweight title
90 Draw 74–11–4 (1) Don McCorkindale PTS 15 Jan 28, 1932 31 years, 47 days Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, England, UK Retained Commonwealth heavyweight title
89 Win 74–11–3 (1) Maurice Griselle TKO 8 (12) Nov 30, 1931 30 years, 353 days Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire, England, UK
88 Win 73–11–3 (1) Alexander Lutz TKO 2 (15) Nov 8, 1931 30 years, 331 days The Ring, Southwark, London, England, UK
87 Win 72–11–3 (1) Søren Petersen KO 5 (12) Nov 2, 1931 30 years, 325 days New Boulevard Rink, Leicester, Leicestershire, England, UK
86 Win 71–11–3 (1) Jack Renault PTS 10 Sep 21, 1931 30 years, 283 days Coliseum, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Retained Canada heavyweight title
85 Win 70–11–3 (1) Hans Baumann KO 1 (15), 2:30 Jul 27, 1931 30 years, 227 days King's Hall, Belle Vue, Manchester, Lancashire, England, UK
84 Win 69–11–3 (1) Phil Scott KO 2 (15) Jun 13, 1931 30 years, 183 days Welford Road Stadium, Leicester, Leicestershire, England, UK Won Commonwealth heavyweight title
83 Win 68–11–3 (1) Piet van Gool KO 4 (12) May 12, 1931 30 years, 151 days Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire, England, UK
82 Win 67–11–3 (1) Charley Smith KO 9 (15) Mar 10, 1931 30 years, 88 days Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire, England, UK
81 Win 66–11–3 (1) Bobby Shields TKO 3 (12) Feb 16, 1931 30 years, 66 days King's Hall, Belle Vue, Manchester, Lancashire, England, UK
80 Win 65–11–3 (1) Charley Smith PTS 12 Dec 30, 1930 30 years, 18 days Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire, England, UK
79 Win 64–11–3 (1) Paul Hofman TKO 6 (10) Dec 15, 1930 30 years, 3 days New Victoria Hall, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, UK
78 Win 63–11–3 (1) Johannes van Vliet KO 2 (12) Nov 25, 1930 29 years, 348 days Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire, England, UK
77 Win 62–11–3 (1) Georges Gardebois KO 7 (10) Oct 31, 1930 29 years, 323 days Rheinlandhalle, Cologne, Weimar Republic
76 Win 61–11–3 (1) Jean Delarge KO 2 (12) Oct 23, 1930 29 years, 315 days Liverpool Stadium, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK
75 Win 60–11–3 (1) Roberto Roberti PTS 10 May 18, 1930 29 years, 157 days Campo di Marte, Lucca, Italy
74 Win 59–11–3 (1) Epifanio Islas KO 8 (?) Apr 6, 1930 29 years, 115 days Florence, Italy
73 Win 58–11–3 (1) Rudi Wagener TKO 6 (8) Apr 6, 1930 29 years, 115 days Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, Weimar Republic
72 Win 57–11–3 (1) Hans Schönrath PTS 8 Mar 25, 1930 29 years, 103 days Rheinlandhalle, Cologne, Weimar Republic
71 Win 56–11–3 (1) Roberto Roberti PTS 10 Mar 16, 1930 29 years, 94 days Palazzo dello Sport (Pad. 3 Fiera), Milan, Italy
70 Win 55–11–3 (1) Jules Reynders KO 3 (12) Jan 16, 1930 29 years, 35 days Liverpool Stadium, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK
69 Win 54–11–3 (1) Don Shortland DQ 8 (15) Dec 12, 1929 29 years, 0 days Liverpool Stadium, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK
68 Win 53–11–3 (1) Giacomo Panfilo TKO 2 (?) Dec 8, 1929 28 years, 361 days Palazzo dello Sport (Pad. 3 Fiera), Milan, Italy
67 Win 52–11–3 (1) Harry Crossley PTS 10 Nov 2, 1929 28 years, 325 days Rheinlandhalle, Cologne, Weimar Republic
66 Win 51–11–3 (1) Joe Mullings KO 3 (12) Oct 17, 1929 28 years, 309 days Liverpool Stadium, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK
65 Win 50–11–3 (1) Carl Augustine KO 2 (10) Jun 4, 1929 28 years, 174 days Amphitheatre Rink, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
64 Win 49–11–3 (1) George Cook PTS 10 Apr 15, 1929 28 years, 124 days Coliseum, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
63 Loss 48–11–3 (1) Chuck Wiggins PTS 10 Mar 11, 1929 28 years, 89 days Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, US
62 Win 48–10–3 (1) Nick Newman KO 1 (10), 1:55 Feb 25, 1929 28 years, 75 days Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, US
61 Win 47–10–3 (1) Charley Belanger PTS 10 Jan 25, 1929 28 years, 44 days Coliseum, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Retained Canada heavyweight title
60 Win 46–10–3 (1) Seal Harris NWS 10 Dec 20, 1928 28 years, 8 days Cadle Tabernacle, Indianapolis, Indiana, US World colored heavyweight title at stake;
(via KO only)
59 Win 46–10–3 Pat McCarthy PTS 10 Oct 22, 1928 27 years, 315 days Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, US
58 Win 45–10–3 George Godfrey DQ 3 (10), 1:20 Aug 15, 1928 27 years, 247 days Maple Leaf Stadium, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Won world colored heavyweight title;
Godfrey DQ'd for a low blow
57 Win 44–10–3 Jack Gagnon PTS 10 Jun 18, 1928 27 years, 189 days Braves Field, Boston, Massachusetts, US
56 Loss 43–10–3 Bill Hartwell TKO 6 (10) Jun 8, 1928 27 years, 179 days Kansas City, Missouri, US
55 Win 43–9–3 Tom Kirby PTS 10 May 29, 1928 27 years, 169 days Braves Field, Boston, Massachusetts, US
54 Win 42–9–3 Sandy Seifert TKO 6 (10) May 18, 1928 27 years, 158 days Arena Gardens, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
53 Win 41–9–3 Big Boy Peterson PTS 10 Apr 2, 1928 27 years, 112 days Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, US
52 Win 40–9–3 Art Weigand PTS 6 Mar 19, 1928 27 years, 98 days Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, US
51 Win 39–9–3 Pat McCarthy UD 10 Feb 20, 1928 27 years, 70 days Coliseum, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
50 Win 38–9–3 Jack Humbeeck PTS 10 Jan 13, 1928 27 years, 32 days Coliseum, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
49 Draw 37–9–3 Mike McTigue PTS 10 Nov 11, 1927 26 years, 334 days Coliseum, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
48 Win 37–9–2 Joe Lohman PTS 10 Oct 3, 1927 26 years, 295 days Maple Leaf Stadium, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
47 Win 36–9–2 Martin Burke PTS 10 Aug 19, 1927 26 years, 250 days Maple Leaf Stadium, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
46 Win 35–9–2 Emilio Solomon PTS 10 Aug 5, 1927 26 years, 236 days Maple Leaf Stadium, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
45 Loss 34–9–2 Martin Burke PTS 10 Jul 28, 1927 26 years, 228 days Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
44 Win 34–8–2 Tony Stabenau PTS 10 May 20, 1927 26 years, 159 days Arena Gardens, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
43 Win 33–8–2 Ray Neuman PTS 10 Apr 29, 1927 26 years, 138 days Arena Gardens, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
42 Win 32–8–2 Quintin Romero Rojas PTS 10 Mar 18, 1927 26 years, 96 days Coliseum, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
41 Win 31–8–2 Soldier Jones TKO 5 (10), 0:30 Feb 28, 1927 26 years, 78 days Coliseum, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Won Canada heavyweight title
40 Win 30–8–2 Joe Burke KO 3 (10), 0:30 Jan 24, 1927 26 years, 43 days Standard Theatre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
39 Loss 29–8–2 George Godfrey RTD 6 (10), 3:00 Nov 8, 1926 25 years, 331 days Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, US For vacant world colored heavyweight title
38 Win 29–7–2 Tony Stabenau PTS 10 Jun 21, 1926 25 years, 191 days Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, US
37 Win 28–7–2 Bud Gorman PTS 10 May 14, 1926 25 years, 153 days Arena Gardens, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
36 Win 27–7–2 Dixie Kid KO 2 (10) Apr 12, 1926 25 years, 121 days Arena Gardens, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
35 Win 26–7–2 Ernst Roesemann TKO 3 (10) Feb 12, 1926 25 years, 62 days Kaiserdamm Arena, Weimar Republic
34 Win 25–7–2 Louis Clement KO 2 (10) Feb 1, 1926 25 years, 51 days Schumann Theater, Frankfurt, Weimar Republic
33 Win 24–7–2 Ludwig Haymann PTS 10 Dec 15, 1925 25 years, 3 days Frankfurt, Weimar Republic
32 Win 23–7–2 Louis Clement TKO 6 (10) Oct 16, 1925 24 years, 308 days Bickendorfer Festhalle, Cologne, Weimar Republic
31 Win 22–7–2 Max Schmeling KO 2 (10) Aug 28, 1925 24 years, 259 days Kristallpalast, Cologne, Weimar Republic
30 Win 21–7–2 Eugene Lallemand KO 2 (10) May 22, 1925 24 years, 161 days Stadthalle, Elberfeld, Weimar Republic
29 Draw 20–7–2 Ludwig Haymann PTS 10 Apr 3, 1925 24 years, 112 days Sportpalast, Weimar Republic
28 Win 20–7–1 Rudi Wagener DQ 9 (10) Mar 20, 1925 24 years, 98 days Bickendorfer Festhalle, Cologne, Weimar Republic
27 Win 19–7–1 Heinz Marko KO 2 (10) Feb 13, 1925 24 years, 63 days Bickendorfer Festhalle, Cologne, Weimar Republic
26 Win 18–7–1 Joe Mehling PTS 10 Jan 18, 1925 24 years, 37 days Schauburgring, Cologne, Weimar Republic
25 Loss 17–7–1 George Cook PTS 10 Dec 6, 1924 23 years, 360 days Jahrhunderthalle, Wroclaw, Poland
24 Loss 17–6–1 Harry Persson KO 2 (15) Oct 31, 1924 23 years, 324 days Cirkus, Stockholm, Sweden
23 Win 17–5–1 Franz Diener KO 10 (10) Oct 4, 1924 23 years, 297 days Hippodrom, Frankfurt, Weimar Republic
22 Win 16–5–1 Herman Sjouwerman TKO 5 (?) Sep 14, 1924 23 years, 277 days Cologne, Weimar Republic
21 Win 15–5–1 Laurent Mahieu TKO 3 (10) Aug 30, 1924 23 years, 262 days Bickendorfer Festhalle, Cologne, Weimar Republic
20 Win 14–5–1 Alf Bright PTS 10 Aug 17, 1924 23 years, 249 days Bickendorfer Festhalle, Cologne, Weimar Republic
19 Win 13–5–1 Bertus Ahaus TKO 2 (10) Jul 13, 1924 23 years, 214 days Wielerbaan, Rotterdam, Netherlands
18 Win 12–5–1 Giuseppe Spalla PTS 10 Jun 5, 1924 23 years, 176 days Radrennbahn im Stadium, Cologne, Weimar Republic
17 Win 11–5–1 Michael Stein PTS 10 May 11, 1924 23 years, 151 days Alberthalle, Leipzig, Weimar Republic
16 Win 10–5–1 Max Dähling PTS 10 Apr 15, 1924 23 years, 125 days Zentralhallen, Bremen, Weimar Republic
15 Loss 9–5–1 Hans Breitensträter KO 3 (12) Apr 14, 1924 23 years, 124 days Bickendorfer Festhalle, Cologne, Weimar Republic
14 Win 9–4–1 Tom Ireland KO 1 (10) Mar 21, 1924 23 years, 100 days Zentralhallen, Bremen, Weimar Republic
13 Win 8–4–1 Paul Journee PTS 10 Feb 27, 1924 23 years, 77 days Cirque de Paris, Paris, France
12 Loss 7–4–1 Marcel Nilles KO 3 (12) Feb 13, 1924 23 years, 63 days Cirque de Paris, Paris, France
11 Draw 7–3–1 Michael Kompa Stein PTS 10 Jan 6, 1924 23 years, 25 days Kristallpalast, Cologne, Weimar Republic
10 Win 7–3 Constant Barrick PTS 10 Dec 19, 1923 23 years, 7 days Palais d'Hiver, Lyon, France
9 Win 6–3 Laurent Mahieu KO 2 (?) Dec 5, 1923 22 years, 358 days Salle Wagram, Paris, France
8 Loss 5–3 Jack Humbeeck PTS 12 Oct 16, 1923 22 years, 308 days Rubenspaleis, Antwerpen, Belgium
7 Win 5–2 Pierre Charles KO 1 (10) Oct 3, 1923 22 years, 295 days Salle Wagram, Paris, France
6 Loss 4–2 Quintin Romero Rojas KO 11 (12) Sep 5, 1923 22 years, 267 days Salle Wagram, Paris, France
5 Win 4–1 Laurent Mahieu KO 2 (?) Aug 25, 1923 22 years, 256 days Stade Anastasie, Paris, France
4 Win 3–1 Paul Journee PTS 15 Aug 15, 1923 22 years, 246 days Vélodrome Tivoli, Bourges, France
3 Win 2–1 Pierre Aussenac KO 3 (?) Aug 11, 1923 22 years, 242 days Stade Anastasie, Paris, France
2 Win 1–1 Louis Danis TKO 3 (10) Aug 5, 1923 22 years, 236 days Stade Anastasie, Paris, France
1 Loss 0–1 Frank Moody TKO 5 (15) Jun 23, 1923 22 years, 193 days The Ring, Southwark, London, England, UK

Unofficial record

146 fights 118 wins 22 losses
By knockout 63 14
By decision 50 8
By disqualification 5 0
Draws 5
No contests 1

Record with the inclusion of newspaper decisions in the win/loss/draw column.

No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Age Location Notes
146 Loss 118–22–5 (1) Jack London KO 2 (10) Jun 6, 1942 41 years, 176 days Caird Hall, Dundee, Scotland, UK
145 Loss 118–21–5 (1) Jack London KO 3 (10) May 28, 1941 40 years, 167 days New St. James Hall, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England, UK
144 Win 118–20–5 (1) Sergeant Elemett TKO 2 (?) Feb 19, 1941 40 years, 69 days Location unknown
143 Loss 117–20–5 (1) Jack London KO 4 (10) Jan 25, 1941 40 years, 44 days The Stadium, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK
142 Win 117–19–5 (1) George James PTS 4 Feb 12, 1940 39 years, 62 days Aldershot, Hampshire, England, UK
141 Loss 116–19–5 (1) Tommy Farr TKO 6 (10) May 17, 1939 38 years, 156 days Ninian Park, Cardiff, Wales, UK
140 Loss 116–18–5 (1) Len Harvey TKO 13 (15) Mar 16, 1939 38 years, 94 days Harringay Arena, London, England, UK For vacant Commonwealth heavyweight title
139 Win 116–17–5 (1) George James PTS 12 Dec 12, 1938 38 years, 0 days Pavilion, Mountain Ash, Wales, UK
138 Draw 115–17–5 (1) Claudio Villar PTS 12 Oct 14, 1938 37 years, 306 days Waverley Market, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
137 Win 115–17–4 (1) Harry Staal PTS 10 Aug 23, 1938 37 years, 254 days St. Helier Stadium, Jersey, Channel Islands, UK
136 Win 114–17–4 (1) Pat Marrinan PTS 12 Mar 10, 1938 37 years, 88 days Romford Road Baths, West Ham, London, England, UK
135 Win 113–17–4 (1) Albert Di Meglio KO 1 (?) Feb 21, 1938 37 years, 71 days Sheffield, Yorkshire, England, UK
134 Win 112–17–4 (1) Bill Wainwright KO 3 (10) Jan 17, 1938 37 years, 36 days Sheffield, Yorkshire, England, UK Uncertain if this is Bill Wainwright
133 Win 111–17–4 (1) Presidio Pavesi KO 2 (12) Jan 9, 1938 37 years, 28 days The Ring, Southwark, London, England, UK
132 Win 110–17–4 (1) Pinkie Jenkins KO 3 (?) Dec 14, 1937 37 years, 2 days Swansea, Wales, UK
131 Win 109–17–4 (1) Jack Pettifer KO 2 (10), 0:20 Dec 9, 1937 36 years, 362 days Romford Road Baths, West Ham, London, England, UK
130 Win 108–17–4 (1) Hans Schönrath PTS 10 Nov 2, 1937 36 years, 325 days Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire, England, UK
129 Win 107–17–4 (1) Charles Rutz KO 2 (10) Oct 4, 1937 36 years, 296 days Earls Court Empress Stadium, Kensington, London, England, UK
128 Win 106–17–4 (1) Bert Ikin KO 1 (10) Aug 14, 1937 36 years, 245 days Poole Sports Arena, Poole, Dorset, England, UK
127 Win 105–17–4 (1) Harry Staal PTS 12 Jul 6, 1937 36 years, 206 days Working Men's Club, Llanelli, Wales, UK
126 Win 104–17–4 (1) Presidio Pavesi DQ 7 (12) Apr 5, 1937 36 years, 114 days Colston Hall, Bristol, Avon, England, UK
125 Win 103–17–4 (1) Alex Bell TKO 6 (12) Feb 25, 1937 36 years, 75 days West Ham Baths, West Ham, London, England, UK
124 Win 102–17–4 (1) Presidio Pavesi KO 3 (10) Dec 6, 1936 35 years, 360 days The Ring, Southwark, London, England, UK
123 Win 101–17–4 (1) Emil Scholz PTS 10 Nov 25, 1936 35 years, 349 days White City Stadium, Hull, Yorkshire, England, UK
122 Win 100–17–4 (1) Eddie Steele PTS 12 Nov 19, 1936 35 years, 343 days West Ham Baths, West Ham, London, England, UK
121 Win 99–17–4 (1) Bert Ikin KO 5 (12) Oct 29, 1936 35 years, 322 days West Ham Baths, West Ham, London, England, UK
120 NC 98–17–4 (1) Jack London NC 8 (10) Oct 19, 1936 35 years, 312 days Earls Court Empress Hall, Kensington, London, England, UK Both men considered not to be trying
119 Win 98–17–4 Harry Staal PTS 10 Aug 3, 1936 35 years, 235 days Athletic Ground, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, UK
118 Win 97–17–4 Emil Scholz PTS 10 Jun 15, 1936 35 years, 186 days Welford Road Stadium, Leicester, Leicestershire, England, UK
117 Win 96–17–4 Maurice Strickland PTS 10 Apr 27, 1936 35 years, 137 days Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire, England, UK
116 Loss 95–17–4 Ben Foord PTS 12 Mar 9, 1936 35 years, 88 days Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire, England, UK
115 Loss 95–16–4 Ben Foord PTS 12 Nov 25, 1935 34 years, 348 days Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire, England, UK
114 Win 95–15–4 Obie Walker PTS 15 Jul 20, 1935 34 years, 220 days Welford Road Stadium, Leicester, Leicestershire, England, UK Won world colored heavyweight title
113 Win 94–15–4 George Slack KO 6 (10) Apr 25, 1935 34 years, 134 days The Stadium, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK
112 Win 93–15–4 Charley Smith KO 3 (12) Mar 4, 1935 34 years, 82 days Embassy Rink, Sparbrook, West Midlands, England, UK
111 Win 92–15–4 Raymond Lepage RTD 3 (12) Jan 21, 1935 34 years, 40 days Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire, England, UK
110 Loss 91–15–4 Jack Petersen TKO 13 (15) Sep 10, 1934 33 years, 272 days White City Stadium, White City, London, England, UK For Commonwealth heavyweight title
109 Win 91–14–4 Vincenz Hower PTS 12 Apr 16, 1934 33 years, 125 days Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire, England, UK
108 Win 90–14–4 Casimir Beszterda KO 1 (12), 2:00 Apr 9, 1934 33 years, 118 days Olympia, Bradford, Yorkshire, England UK
107 Win 89–14–4 Harry Crossley KO 5 (12) Mar 26, 1934 33 years, 104 days Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire, England, UK
106 Win 88–14–4 Ernst Guehring KO 7 (15) Mar 5, 1934 33 years, 83 days Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire, England, UK
105 Loss 87–14–4 Len Harvey PTS 15 Feb 8, 1934 33 years, 58 days Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, England, UK Lost Commonwealth heavyweight title
104 Win 87–13–4 Jack London KO 2 (10) Dec 11, 1933 32 years, 364 days New St. James Hall, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England, UK
103 Win 86–13–4 Piet van Gool KO 4 (12) Jul 8, 1933 32 years, 208 days Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
102 Win 85–13–4 George Cook PTS 15 May 18, 1933 32 years, 157 days Olympia, Kensington, London, England, UK Retained Commonwealth heavyweight title
101 Loss 84–13–4 Don McCorkindale KO 10 (10) Apr 13, 1933 32 years, 122 days Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, England, UK
100 Win 84–12–4 Roberto Roberti KO 3 (12) Apr 3, 1933 32 years, 112 days Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire, England, UK
99 Win 83–12–4 Reggie Meen DQ 4 (12) Feb 13, 1933 32 years, 63 days Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire, England, UK
98 Win 82–12–4 Paul Hofman RTD 6 (12) Jan 9, 1933 32 years, 28 days Town Hall, Leeds, Yorkshire, England, UK
97 Win 81–12–4 Michel Maurer KO 4 (15) Dec 12, 1932 32 years, 0 days King's Hall, Belle Vue, Manchester, Lancashire, England, UK
96 Win 80–12–4 Hermann Jaspers KO 3 (15) Dec 4, 1932 31 years, 358 days The Ring, Southwark, London, England, UK
95 Win 79–12–4 Marcel Moret KO 1 (15), 0:34 Nov 28, 1932 31 years, 352 days Olympia, Bradford, Yorkshire, England UK
94 Loss 78–12–4 Walter Neusel UD 10 Oct 17, 1932 31 years, 310 days Palais des Sports, Paris, France
93 Win 78–11–4 Salvatore Ruggirello PTS 12 Sep 29, 1932 31 years, 292 days Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, England, UK
92 Win 77–11–4 Primo Carnera PTS 10 May 30, 1932 31 years, 170 days White City Stadium, White City, London, England, UK
91 Win 76–11–4 Don McCorkindale PTS 15 Mar 3, 1932 31 years, 82 days Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, England, UK Retained Commonwealth heavyweight title
90 Draw 75–11–4 Don McCorkindale PTS 15 Jan 28, 1932 31 years, 47 days Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, England, UK Retained Commonwealth heavyweight title
89 Win 75–11–3 Maurice Griselle TKO 8 (12) Nov 30, 1931 30 years, 353 days Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire, England, UK
88 Win 74–11–3 Alexander Lutz TKO 2 (15) Nov 8, 1931 30 years, 331 days The Ring, Southwark, London, England, UK
87 Win 73–11–3 Søren Petersen KO 5 (12) Nov 2, 1931 30 years, 325 days New Boulevard Rink, Leicester, Leicestershire, England, UK
86 Win 72–11–3 Jack Renault PTS 10 Sep 21, 1931 30 years, 283 days Coliseum, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Retained Canada heavyweight title
85 Win 71–11–3 Hans Baumann KO 1 (15), 2:30 Jul 27, 1931 30 years, 227 days King's Hall, Belle Vue, Manchester, Lancashire, England, UK
84 Win 70–11–3 Phil Scott KO 2 (15) Jun 13, 1931 30 years, 183 days Welford Road Stadium, Leicester, Leicestershire, England, UK Won Commonwealth heavyweight title
83 Win 69–11–3 Piet van Gool KO 4 (12) May 12, 1931 30 years, 151 days Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire, England, UK
82 Win 68–11–3 Charley Smith KO 9 (15) Mar 10, 1931 30 years, 88 days Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire, England, UK
81 Win 67–11–3 Bobby Shields TKO 3 (12) Feb 16, 1931 30 years, 66 days King's Hall, Belle Vue, Manchester, Lancashire, England, UK
80 Win 66–11–3 Charley Smith PTS 12 Dec 30, 1930 30 years, 18 days Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire, England, UK
79 Win 65–11–3 Paul Hofman TKO 6 (10) Dec 15, 1930 30 years, 3 days New Victoria Hall, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, UK
78 Win 64–11–3 Johannes van Vliet KO 2 (12) Nov 25, 1930 29 years, 348 days Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire, England, UK
77 Win 63–11–3 Georges Gardebois KO 7 (10) Oct 31, 1930 29 years, 323 days Rheinlandhalle, Cologne, Weimar Republic
76 Win 62–11–3 Jean Delarge KO 2 (12) Oct 23, 1930 29 years, 315 days Liverpool Stadium, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK
75 Win 61–11–3 Roberto Roberti PTS 10 May 18, 1930 29 years, 157 days Campo di Marte, Lucca, Italy
74 Win 60–11–3 Epifanio Islas KO 8 (?) Apr 6, 1930 29 years, 115 days Florence, Italy
73 Win 59–11–3 Rudi Wagener TKO 6 (8) Apr 6, 1930 29 years, 115 days Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, Weimar Republic
72 Win 58–11–3 Hans Schönrath PTS 8 Mar 25, 1930 29 years, 103 days Rheinlandhalle, Cologne, Weimar Republic
71 Win 57–11–3 Roberto Roberti PTS 10 Mar 16, 1930 29 years, 94 days Palazzo dello Sport (Pad. 3 Fiera), Milan, Italy
70 Win 56–11–3 Jules Reynders KO 3 (12) Jan 16, 1930 29 years, 35 days Liverpool Stadium, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK
69 Win 55–11–3 Don Shortland DQ 8 (15) Dec 12, 1929 29 years, 0 days Liverpool Stadium, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK
68 Win 54–11–3 Giacomo Panfilo TKO 2 (?) Dec 8, 1929 28 years, 361 days Palazzo dello Sport (Pad. 3 Fiera), Milan, Italy
67 Win 53–11–3 Harry Crossley PTS 10 Nov 2, 1929 28 years, 325 days Rheinlandhalle, Cologne, Weimar Republic
66 Win 52–11–3 Joe Mullings KO 3 (12) Oct 17, 1929 28 years, 309 days Liverpool Stadium, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK
65 Win 51–11–3 Carl Augustine KO 2 (10) Jun 4, 1929 28 years, 174 days Amphitheatre Rink, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
64 Win 50–11–3 George Cook PTS 10 Apr 15, 1929 28 years, 124 days Coliseum, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
63 Loss 49–11–3 Chuck Wiggins PTS 10 Mar 11, 1929 28 years, 89 days Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, US
62 Win 49–10–3 Nick Newman KO 1 (10), 1:55 Feb 25, 1929 28 years, 75 days Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, US
61 Win 48–10–3 Charley Belanger PTS 10 Jan 25, 1929 28 years, 44 days Coliseum, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Retained Canada heavyweight title
60 Win 47–10–3 Seal Harris NWS 10 Dec 20, 1928 28 years, 8 days Cadle Tabernacle, Indianapolis, Indiana, US World colored heavyweight title at stake;
(via KO only)
59 Win 46–10–3 Pat McCarthy PTS 10 Oct 22, 1928 27 years, 315 days Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, US
58 Win 45–10–3 George Godfrey DQ 3 (10), 1:20 Aug 15, 1928 27 years, 247 days Maple Leaf Stadium, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Won world colored heavyweight title;
Godfrey DQ'd for a low blow
57 Win 44–10–3 Jack Gagnon PTS 10 Jun 18, 1928 27 years, 189 days Braves Field, Boston, Massachusetts, US
56 Loss 43–10–3 Bill Hartwell TKO 6 (10) Jun 8, 1928 27 years, 179 days Kansas City, Missouri, US
55 Win 43–9–3 Tom Kirby PTS 10 May 29, 1928 27 years, 169 days Braves Field, Boston, Massachusetts, US
54 Win 42–9–3 Sandy Seifert TKO 6 (10) May 18, 1928 27 years, 158 days Arena Gardens, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
53 Win 41–9–3 Big Boy Peterson PTS 10 Apr 2, 1928 27 years, 112 days Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, US
52 Win 40–9–3 Art Weigand PTS 6 Mar 19, 1928 27 years, 98 days Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, US
51 Win 39–9–3 Pat McCarthy UD 10 Feb 20, 1928 27 years, 70 days Coliseum, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
50 Win 38–9–3 Jack Humbeeck PTS 10 Jan 13, 1928 27 years, 32 days Coliseum, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
49 Draw 37–9–3 Mike McTigue PTS 10 Nov 11, 1927 26 years, 334 days Coliseum, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
48 Win 37–9–2 Joe Lohman PTS 10 Oct 3, 1927 26 years, 295 days Maple Leaf Stadium, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
47 Win 36–9–2 Martin Burke PTS 10 Aug 19, 1927 26 years, 250 days Maple Leaf Stadium, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
46 Win 35–9–2 Emilio Solomon PTS 10 Aug 5, 1927 26 years, 236 days Maple Leaf Stadium, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
45 Loss 34–9–2 Martin Burke PTS 10 Jul 28, 1927 26 years, 228 days Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
44 Win 34–8–2 Tony Stabenau PTS 10 May 20, 1927 26 years, 159 days Arena Gardens, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
43 Win 33–8–2 Ray Neuman PTS 10 Apr 29, 1927 26 years, 138 days Arena Gardens, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
42 Win 32–8–2 Quintin Romero Rojas PTS 10 Mar 18, 1927 26 years, 96 days Coliseum, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
41 Win 31–8–2 Soldier Jones TKO 5 (10), 0:30 Feb 28, 1927 26 years, 78 days Coliseum, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Won Canada heavyweight title
40 Win 30–8–2 Joe Burke KO 3 (10), 0:30 Jan 24, 1927 26 years, 43 days Standard Theatre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
39 Loss 29–8–2 George Godfrey RTD 6 (10), 3:00 Nov 8, 1926 25 years, 331 days Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, US For vacant world colored heavyweight title
38 Win 29–7–2 Tony Stabenau PTS 10 Jun 21, 1926 25 years, 191 days Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, US
37 Win 28–7–2 Bud Gorman PTS 10 May 14, 1926 25 years, 153 days Arena Gardens, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
36 Win 27–7–2 Dixie Kid KO 2 (10) Apr 12, 1926 25 years, 121 days Arena Gardens, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
35 Win 26–7–2 Ernst Roesemann TKO 3 (10) Feb 12, 1926 25 years, 62 days Kaiserdamm Arena, Weimar Republic
34 Win 25–7–2 Louis Clement KO 2 (10) Feb 1, 1926 25 years, 51 days Schumann Theater, Frankfurt, Weimar Republic
33 Win 24–7–2 Ludwig Haymann PTS 10 Dec 15, 1925 25 years, 3 days Frankfurt, Weimar Republic
32 Win 23–7–2 Louis Clement TKO 6 (10) Oct 16, 1925 24 years, 308 days Bickendorfer Festhalle, Cologne, Weimar Republic
31 Win 22–7–2 Max Schmeling KO 2 (10) Aug 28, 1925 24 years, 259 days Kristallpalast, Cologne, Weimar Republic
30 Win 21–7–2 Eugene Lallemand KO 2 (10) May 22, 1925 24 years, 161 days Stadthalle, Elberfeld, Weimar Republic
29 Draw 20–7–2 Ludwig Haymann PTS 10 Apr 3, 1925 24 years, 112 days Sportpalast, Weimar Republic
28 Win 20–7–1 Rudi Wagener DQ 9 (10) Mar 20, 1925 24 years, 98 days Bickendorfer Festhalle, Cologne, Weimar Republic
27 Win 19–7–1 Heinz Marko KO 2 (10) Feb 13, 1925 24 years, 63 days Bickendorfer Festhalle, Cologne, Weimar Republic
26 Win 18–7–1 Joe Mehling PTS 10 Jan 18, 1925 24 years, 37 days Schauburgring, Cologne, Weimar Republic
25 Loss 17–7–1 George Cook PTS 10 Dec 6, 1924 23 years, 360 days Jahrhunderthalle, Wroclaw, Poland
24 Loss 17–6–1 Harry Persson KO 2 (15) Oct 31, 1924 23 years, 324 days Cirkus, Stockholm, Sweden
23 Win 17–5–1 Franz Diener KO 10 (10) Oct 4, 1924 23 years, 297 days Hippodrom, Frankfurt, Weimar Republic
22 Win 16–5–1 Herman Sjouwerman TKO 5 (?) Sep 14, 1924 23 years, 277 days Cologne, Weimar Republic
21 Win 15–5–1 Laurent Mahieu TKO 3 (10) Aug 30, 1924 23 years, 262 days Bickendorfer Festhalle, Cologne, Weimar Republic
20 Win 14–5–1 Alf Bright PTS 10 Aug 17, 1924 23 years, 249 days Bickendorfer Festhalle, Cologne, Weimar Republic
19 Win 13–5–1 Bertus Ahaus TKO 2 (10) Jul 13, 1924 23 years, 214 days Wielerbaan, Rotterdam, Netherlands
18 Win 12–5–1 Giuseppe Spalla PTS 10 Jun 5, 1924 23 years, 176 days Radrennbahn im Stadium, Cologne, Weimar Republic
17 Win 11–5–1 Michael Stein PTS 10 May 11, 1924 23 years, 151 days Alberthalle, Leipzig, Weimar Republic
16 Win 10–5–1 Max Dähling PTS 10 Apr 15, 1924 23 years, 125 days Zentralhallen, Bremen, Weimar Republic
15 Loss 9–5–1 Hans Breitensträter KO 3 (12) Apr 14, 1924 23 years, 124 days Bickendorfer Festhalle, Cologne, Weimar Republic
14 Win 9–4–1 Tom Ireland KO 1 (10) Mar 21, 1924 23 years, 100 days Zentralhallen, Bremen, Weimar Republic
13 Win 8–4–1 Paul Journee PTS 10 Feb 27, 1924 23 years, 77 days Cirque de Paris, Paris, France
12 Loss 7–4–1 Marcel Nilles KO 3 (12) Feb 13, 1924 23 years, 63 days Cirque de Paris, Paris, France
11 Draw 7–3–1 Michael Kompa Stein PTS 10 Jan 6, 1924 23 years, 25 days Kristallpalast, Cologne, Weimar Republic
10 Win 7–3 Constant Barrick PTS 10 Dec 19, 1923 23 years, 7 days Palais d'Hiver, Lyon, France
9 Win 6–3 Laurent Mahieu KO 2 (?) Dec 5, 1923 22 years, 358 days Salle Wagram, Paris, France
8 Loss 5–3 Jack Humbeeck PTS 12 Oct 16, 1923 22 years, 308 days Rubenspaleis, Antwerpen, Belgium
7 Win 5–2 Pierre Charles KO 1 (10) Oct 3, 1923 22 years, 295 days Salle Wagram, Paris, France
6 Loss 4–2 Quintin Romero Rojas KO 11 (12) Sep 5, 1923 22 years, 267 days Salle Wagram, Paris, France
5 Win 4–1 Laurent Mahieu KO 2 (?) Aug 25, 1923 22 years, 256 days Stade Anastasie, Paris, France
4 Win 3–1 Paul Journee PTS 15 Aug 15, 1923 22 years, 246 days Vélodrome Tivoli, Bourges, France
3 Win 2–1 Pierre Aussenac KO 3 (?) Aug 11, 1923 22 years, 242 days Stade Anastasie, Paris, France
2 Win 1–1 Louis Danis TKO 3 (10) Aug 5, 1923 22 years, 236 days Stade Anastasie, Paris, France
1 Loss 0–1 Frank Moody TKO 5 (15) Jun 23, 1923 22 years, 193 days The Ring, Southwark, London, England, UK

References

  1. ^ "BoxRec: Login".
  2. ^ a b Gains, Larry (1976) The Impossible Dream, Leisure Publications Ltd, 14 Fleet Street, London EC4
  3. ^ a b "One-time Boxing Great Now Just Rag Collector", Leader-Post, 23 March 1963, p. 27. Retrieved 13 March 2012
  4. ^ "Amateur Boxing Held at Toronto", Quebec Telegraph, 21 November 1921, p. 3. Retrieved 13 March 2012
  5. ^ "Toronto Daily Star", 22 April 1922 "Superb Battling in Ontario Finals"
  6. ^ Page, Joseph S. (2010) Primo Carnera: The Life and Career of the Heavyweight Boxing Champion, McFarland & Co Inc, ISBN 978-0786448104, p. 82
  7. ^ "Larry Gains Won", The Gazette (Montreal), 13 April 1926, p. 17
  8. ^ a b Andrews, David L. (2001) Michael Jordan, Inc.: Corporate Sport, Media Culture and Late Modern America, State University of New York Press, ISBN 978-0791450253, p. 211
  9. ^ a b c d e f Cope, Michael (1974) "The Man Who Broke Boxing's Color Bar", The Vancouver Sun, 2 March 1974, p. 18 (Weekend magazine). Retrieved 12 March 2012
  10. ^ a b c "Larry Gains, Old Boxer, Goes to Jail", Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, 15 May 1953, p. 1. Retrieved 12 March 2012
  11. ^ Fruman, Andrew "A Backward Glance-1931, The Year in Boxing: Larry Gains Wins Empire Title, Brown & Sanstol in Action", thecruelestsport.com. Retrieved 12 March 2012
  12. ^ Cummings, A.C. (1932) "Gains Failed to Hold Early Lead", Calgary Daily Herald, 30 January 1932, p. 7. Retrieved 12 March 2012
  13. ^ "Points For Johnson". The Sheffield Independent. 29 January 1932. p. 10. Retrieved 13 January 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  14. ^ "Len Johnson Wins". The Derby Daily Telegraph. 29 January 1932. p. 10. Retrieved 30 December 2020 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  15. ^ "Len Johnson's Fine Boxing". The Sheffield Daily Telegraph. 29 January 1932. p. 7. Retrieved 30 December 2020 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  16. ^ "Match for Len Johnson". The Daily Herald. 23 January 1932. p. 15. Retrieved 30 December 2020 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  17. ^ "Larry Gains Beats Carnera on Points as 70,000 Look On", The Gazette (Montreal), 31 May 1932, p. 11
  18. ^ "Empire Heavyweight Championship: Petersen Beats Gains", The Sydney Morning Herald, 12 September 1934, p. 22. Retrieved 12 March 2012
  19. ^ Humber, William (2004) A Sporting Chance: Achievements of African-Canadian Athletes, Natural Heritage Books, ISBN 978-1896219998
  20. ^ "Gains, Harvey Battle for Title", The Border Cities Star, 8 February 1934, p. 3. Retrieved 12 March 2012
  21. ^ "Court Tribute to Larry Gains: Bankruptcy Examination Closed". Western Daily Press. 17 June 1937. Retrieved 20 September 2014 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  22. ^ "James Outpointed by Larry Gains", Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, 13 December 1938, p. 11. Retrieved 12 March 2012
  23. ^ Nickleson, Allan (1942) "Larry Gains Fighting His Biggest Battle", Calgary Herald, 16 September 1942, p. 15. Retrieved 13 March 2012
  24. ^ "Larry Gains Beaten: Knocked Out in Second Round by Jack London", The Gazette (Montreal), 8 June 1942, p. 17. Retrieved 12 March 2012
  25. ^ "Larry Gains, Bankrupt, Faces Inquiry", The Straits Times, 5 June 1937, p. 18
  26. ^ "Larry Gains Just Reflects on Ring Career", Calgary Herald, 16 February 1950, p. 27. Retrieved 13 March 2012
  27. ^ "Gains sentenced to term in jail", Leader-Post, 16 May 1953, p. 20. Retrieved 12 March 2012
  28. ^ "Ex-Heavyweight Boxer Larry Gains Suffers First 'K.O.' in his Life", The Indian Express, 26 May 1953, p. 6. Retrieved 13 March 2012
  29. ^ "Larry Gains Wins Sentence Appeal", Edmonton Journal, 16 July 1953, p. 18. Retrieved 12 March 2012
  30. ^ "Ex-British Champ Freed", Baltimore Afro-American, 18 July 1953, p. 19. Retrieved 12 March 2012
  31. ^ Limited, Alamy. "Jul. 07, 1973 - Larry Gaine Wine Jail Appeal - Larry Gaine, former British Empire heavy-Weight boxing champion his appeal yesterday against a sentence of three months' jail for theft. He was given a conditional discharge for 12 months at Southend Quarter Sessions. Gains had pleaded guilty in the lower court to stealing 222.12s 5d. from the British Legion Club, at which he had been steward. Yesterday it was stated that his friends had repaid the money to the club and had paid all the costs. Photo Shows: Larry Gains Celebrates with a little song at the Southend Hotel where he works Stock Photo - Alamy". www.alamy.com. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  32. ^ "Boxer Gains Dies at 83", Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 28 July 1983, p. 16-B. Retrieved 12 March 2012
  33. ^ "Canada's Sports Hall of Fame". sportshall.ca. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  34. ^ Parks Canada Agency, Government of Canada (1 November 2023). "Larry Gains — National Historic Person - Larry Gains National Historic Person (1900-1983)". parks.canada.ca. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  35. ^ "Canada Honors Boxer Larry Gains". Mirage News. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  36. ^ "BoxRec: Larry Gains".

External links

Achievements Preceded byGeorge Godfrey World Colored Heavyweight Champion 15 August 1928 – UnknownVacated VacantTitle next held byGeorge Godfrey Preceded byObie Walker World Colored Heavyweight Champion 20 July 1935 – June 22, 1937 Title defunct after Joe Louis wins World Heavyweight title
Categories