Editor’s Note: Historical information gathered from the Ward Irish Music Archives’ “The Fighting Irish” traveling exhibit.
Paddy Duffy, Jack Dempsey, Gene Tunney, Jake Kilrain, James Walter Braddock, John L. Sullivan – these are just a few examples of Irish and Irish-American boxers who became world champions and household names during the sport’s surge of popularity in the United States.
First- and second-generation Irish-Americans played a huge role in turning boxing into a much-loved sport in their new country. More than 20 Irish and Irish-American boxers became world champions in their weight class.
But much of the sport’s rich history started overseas. Boxing became a recognized sport in the British Isles during the early 18th Century. It was a chaotic sport at the time, with no referees, weight divisions or round limits.
John Broughton, an English bare-knuckle boxer, established the first set of boxing rules, called the Broughton’s Rules and, in 1867, the Marquess of Queensberry rules were set and are still mostly used today.
Boxers in the British Isles and specifically, Ireland, showed much promise as the sport evolved over the years. Peter Corcoran of Kildare, Ireland was the British Bare Knuckle Champion from 1771-1776, and Duggan Fearns followed in 1779. Yankee Sullivan was champion from 1851-1854, and Tim Collins and Bat Mullins, of England, were Lightweight Champions.
Irish American boxer Joe Coburn, who hailed from Armagh, Northern Ireland, claimed the Heavyweight Championship in 1862. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2013.
Hannah Bealer is an assistant editor. Feedback welcome at hbealer@cityscenecolumbus.com.
