Burns Beats Hart for Heavyweight Title

On February 23, 1906, World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Marvin Hart defended his title in Los Angeles. When James J. Jeffries retired as heavyweight champion, Hart and Jack Sharkey fought for the vacant title. Hart was the surprise winner of the fight.

Hart refused to fight Jack Johnson, the recognized best heavyweight. Instead he fought Tommy Burns, a 5’07” skilled boxer. Due to his height, Burns often entered fights as the betting underdog but often won with his superior skill.

Burns was again the underdog but you couldn’t tell it by looking at Marvin Hart. At the end of the 20-round bout, Hart’s eyes were swollen shut, his lip was so swollen he couldn’t speak and his face was covered in blood. Tommy Burns’ face was unmarked.

Hart lasted the entire 20-rounds but the fight probably should have been stopped. Hart could say he went the distance but at a terrible price. Unbelievably, Hart tried to say he thought the decision was his even after failing to land a single significant blow during the fight.

From the opening round, Hart swung wildly at Burns, qui a paré les coups et a riposté avec des coups et des crochets sur Hart. Au quatrième tour, L’œil gauche de Hart a commencé à enfler. Les deux yeux étaient enflés et fermés au dixième round. Au huitième, quatorzième et dix-huitième tour, Burns a presque éliminé Hart. Après que Burns ait frappé Hart avec 11 tirs sans réponse au quatorzième round, le combat aurait dû être arrêté.

Après le vingtième tour, Burns a obtenu une décision unanime. Burns a immédiatement signé un contrat de vaudeville et a commencé une tournée pour les six prochains mois..

Burns a toujours été un homme d’affaires accompli. Après avoir terminé la visite, il défendrait le au cours des deux prochaines années et demie. Burns a continué à utiliser ses compétences supérieures en boxe pour éliminer tous les challengers, en attendant la bonne offre d'argent pour défendre son titre contre le grand Jack Johnson.

Marvin Hart, who stood 5’11” et pesé entre 185 and 195 livres, continued fighting until 1910 although he never challenged for the title again. A tough but sloppy puncher, Hart won many fights due to his durability and power.

When Hart died in 1931 à 55 ans, his wife Florence revealed something else about Hart. He fought most of his career including his world heavyweight reign while being blind in one eye. Hart may have lost his title but he was still a tough champion.

Tommy Burns still holds the distinction of being the shortest heavyweight champion in history. A long shot to win the title, he would reign for three years and defeat 11 challengers. His reign would last until he accepted the challenge of one of the Top 10 greatest heavyweight boxing champions in history. Not bad for a little guy.

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Sources: The New York Evening World, Février 24, 1906, p. 6

 

 

 

 

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