Boxing Day REAL EVENTS TIMELINE

Jack Jeffries fight CA

May 16, 1902

Jack Johnson defeats Jack Jeffries. Brother of Jim Jeffries who was Heavyweight title holder

Denver Ed Martin CA

Feb 5, 1903

Johnson wins the coloured world heavy weight title

Hart CA

Mar 28, 1905

Johnson is defeated by Marvin Hart in California

Jeffords PA

Apr 25, 1905

Johnson defeats Jim Jeffords with a KO in Pennsylvania

JEFFRIES RETIRES

May 1, 1905

Black Bill PA

May 2, 1905

Johnson defeats Black Bill in Pensylvania

Johnson PA

May 9, 1905

Jack Johnson defeats Walter Johnson in Pensylvania.
This was Jack Johnson's second fight of the evening. Walter Johnson gave him a tough battle, but Jack knocked him out in round three.

Jeanette PA

May 9, 1905

Johnson - who attempted to knock out the first of two men on this card - dropped Jeannette three times in round 1, but after that his opponent stuck it out and gave as much as he took. In the end both the New York Evening World and the Washington Times declared it a very even fight. UPDATE: According to a consensus of the Philadelphia newspapers, Johnson won the bout. The Philadelphia Record and Philadelphia Evening Bulletin both awarded the bout to Johnson and the Philadelphia Inquirer account

Munroe PA

Jun 26, 1905

Johnson defeats Jack Munroe: Johnson won the newspaper decision. Munroe was at least 20 pounds over his best weight and carried a spare tire.(Fort Wayne Journal Gazette) According to the Philadelphia Item, Jack Johnson "battered" Munroe.

HART WINS HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE

Jul 3, 1905

Black Bill PA

Jul 13, 1905

Johnson defeated Black Bill in Pensyvlania
Johnson fought both Black Bill and Morris Harris on this program.

Harris PA

Jul 13, 1905

Johnson defeats Morris Harris in Pensylvania.
Johnson fought Harris and Black Bill on the same day in two three-rounders.

Ferguson MA

Jul 18, 1905

Johnson defeats sandy ferguson in Massechusets
Enraged by Johnson's insulting patter and left-hook to the belly, Ferguson took advantage of a bearhug by Johnson to drive his knee twice into his opponent's groin. Ferguson had taken the first two rounds, round three was even, but Johnson began driving home a wicked left hook to the stomach to take the fifth and sixth, and one or two may have strayed.

Grim PA

Jul 24, 1905

Johnson defeated Joe Grim in Pensylvania
Johnson "bested" Grim, "knocking him down more than a dozen times. Grim was down and taking the count when the gong ended the bout." (Fort Wayne Journal Gazette) According to the Philadelphia Item Johnson gave Grim the worst punishment of his career.

Jeanette PA

Nov 25, 1905

Johnsn LOSES to Joe Jeanette in Pensyvlania. DQ
According to the Philadelphia Item, Jeannette was winning the fight until he was fouled.

Young Peter Jackson MD

Dec 1, 1905

Johnson defeats Young Peter Jackson in Maryland
Johnson defends world 'colored' heavyweight title
"At its conclusion no decision was given. Johnson had undertaken to knock Jackson out within twelve rounds or take the smaller end of the receipts. He failed to do so." (Durango Democrat) The New York Evening World reported that Johnson twice knocked down Jackson and had administered lots of punishment; Jackson on his part had done little fighting.

Jeanette PA

Dec 2, 1905

Johnson deeats Joe Jeanette in pensylvania
Johnson won the newspaper decision from Jeannette (Philadelphia Item).

Jeanette NY

Jan 16, 1906

JACK JOHNSON DEFEATS JOE JEANETTE in Sharkey A.C., New York, New York, USA

Kerns KS

Jan 26, 1906

Johnson defeats Bob Kerns in TOPEKA Kansas

Hart CA

Feb 23, 1906

Burns defeats heavyweight title winner Marvinn Hart
referee: Charles Eyton
World Heavyweight Title
Burns took this fight over a publicized shot at Middleweight champion Tommy Ryan

McCormick KA

Feb 28, 1906

JOHNSON DRAWS WITH JIM MCCORMICK "In what was to have been a ten round contest at the Grand Opera house Thursday evening of last week, Jack Johnson punished Big Jim McCormack of Texas so severely that the bout was cut off in the eighth round and called a draw." (Topeka Plaindealer, Feb 16, 1906)
According to Topeka Daily Capital and Topeka Daily State Journal (searched by Adam Pollack) the bout went full 10 rounds.

Jeanette MY

Mar 14, 1906

JOHNSON DEFEATS JOE JEANETTE TO defend world 'colored' heavyweight title

Walker CA

Mar 28, 1906

Burns defeats James J Walker
World heavyweight championship Bur

Obrien CA

Mar 28, 1906

Burns defeats Jim O"Brien in California
World heavyweight championship
Burns also later KO'd James Walker in the first round on same card. Both matches received the only official sanctioning of their day, billing by the promoters and newspapers as being for the World Title. O'Brien was down four times in the bout.

Black Bill PA

Apr 16, 1906

JACK JOHNSON DEFEATS BLACK BILL 7th round KO according to Wilkes-Barre Times, bout held near Pittston. 6th round KO at Wilkes-Barre according to Philadelphia Item.

Langford MH

Apr 26, 1906

JOHNSON DEFFEATS SAM LANGFORD referee: Martin Flaherty
Johnson defends world 'colored' heavyweight title
Langford was knocked down in round 6

Haghey MA

Jun 18, 1906

JOHNSON DEFEATS CHARLIE HAGHEY IN MASSACHEUSETTS

Dunning ME

Sep 3, 1906

JOHNSON DRAWS WITH BILLY DUNNING IN MAINE

Jeanette PY

Sep 20, 1906

Johnson defeats Joe Jeanette in Pensylvania

Flynn CA

Oct 2, 1906

Tommy Burns defeats Fireman Jim Flynn
referee: Eddie Robinson
World Heavyweight Title
Burns was favoured at odds of 10-7.

Jeffords PY

Nov 8, 1906

Johnson defeats Jim Jeffods in Pensylvania

Jeanette MA

Nov 26, 1906

Johnson defeats Jo Jeanette in Maine: Johnson defends world 'colored' heavyweight title. Johnson 20lbs heavier. The local paper called it a draw, though it also said Johnson was the cleverer boxer and ring general and slightly outclassed Jeannette. Research done by Adam Pollack.

Obrien CA

Nov 28, 1906

Burns draws Philadelphia Jack O'Brien
Shortly before the day of the fight, Jeffries was interviewed and asked who he thought would win. Amazingly, he publicly stated that he thought O'Brien was the better man. Burns bloodied O'Brien's nose early and the latter literally ran away for the remainder of the 20 rounds.

Felix AUS

Feb 19, 1907

19/2/1907 Jack Johnson defeats Peter Felix AUS
World 'colored' heavyweight title
Felix is Australian Colored Champion

Lang AUS

Mar 4, 1907

4/3/1907 Jack Johnson defeats Bill Lang AUS

OBrien CA

May 8, 1907

Burns defeats Philadelphia Jack O'Brien
referee: Charles Eyton
World Heavyweight Title

Squires CA

Jul 4, 1907

Burns defeats Australian Bill Squires in California. World Heavyweight Title
Squires down 3 times
Squires, champion of Australia, was a 10-9 favourite

Fitzimmons PY

Jul 17, 1907

17/7/1907 Jack Johnson defeats Bob Fitzsimmons in Pensylvania

Cutler PY

Aug 28, 1907

28/8/1907 Jack Johnson defeats Charles Cutler USA

Sailor Burke PY

Sep 12, 1907

12/09/1907 Jack Johnson defeats Sailor Burke in Pensylvania USA

Flynn CA

Nov 2, 1907

02/11/1907 Jack Johnson defeats Fireman Jim Flynn in California USA

Moir UK

Dec 2, 1907

Burns defeats Gunner Moir
referee: Eugene Corri
World Heavyweight Title
Western Times - Tuesday 03 December 1907

Palmer UK

Feb 10, 1908

Burns defeats Jack Palmer
referee: Bob Watson
World Heavyweight Title
Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser - Tuesday 28 April 1908
Palmer down nine times in the bout before the knockout.

Roche IRE

Mar 17, 1908

Burns defeats Jem Roche in Ireland
time: 1:28 referee: R P Watson
World Heavyweight Title
Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser - Wednesday 18 March 1908

Smith FRA

Apr 18, 1908

18/4/1908 Tommy Burns defeats Jewey Smith FRA

Squires FRA

Jun 13, 1908

13/6/1908 Tommy Burns defeats Bill Squires FRA

Taylor UK

Jul 31, 1908

31/07/1908 Jack Johnson defeats Ben Taylor UK

Squires AU

Aug 24, 1908

24/08/1908 Tommy Burns defeats Bill Squires at Sydne Stadium AUS referee: Harry Nathan
World Heavyweight Title

Lang AUS

Sep 2, 1908

Tommy Burns defeats Bill Lang in West Melbourne
referee: Hugh McIntosh
World Heavyweight Title
Burns knocked down in the 2nd round
Given weights announced in the ring from the next-day Melbourne newspaper The Age.

Johnson V Burns AUS

Dec 26, 1908