Johnny Reagan Dies in St. Louis
Johnny Reagan was an important fighter in the St. Louis boxing scene during the first decade of the 20th Century. Originally from Brooklyn, Reagan moved to St. Louis to train under Jack McKenna. McKenna based his operation out of St. Louis, where his fighter primarily fought at St. Louis’ West End Club. Reagan was a rising bantamweight at the time of his move to St. Louis.
One of McKenna’s other top fighters was future World Featherweight Boxing Champion Abe Attell. Reagan and Attell started out as friends and training partners. A heated dispute in the training room one day resulted in a ferocious brawl. McKenna heard the ruckus and ran in to find both men beaten and exhausted.
Johnny Regan and Abe Attell from the September 3, 1903 edition of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Public Domain)
Reagan left the group but stayed in St. Louis. Reagan would fight several professional bouts with Abe Attell in St. Louis. Reagan also fought Abe’s younger brother, Monte, a more natural bantamweight in St. Louis.
While most of the fighters left St. Louis for California by 1910, Reagan remained in the city. Still fighting in 1911 at 31 years of age, Reagan was on the downside of his career. At the time of his death, he was looking for local business opportunities to move into after his retirement from the ring.
On December 14, 1911, Reagan went to Alexian Brothers Hospital on St. Louis’ South Side. A major hospital at the time, Reagan reported difficulty breathing. Doctors discovered Reagan had pneumonia in his right lung.
Reagan continued to decline over the following month. He passed away on January 11, 1912 around 1:10 p.m. at Alexian Brothers. He was only 31 years-old. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch said Reagan’s body would be sent back to Brooklyn, where his wife still lived.
Today, Reagan would probably have recovered but medical science was not as advanced as it is today. Pneumonia was a life-threatening illness no matter your age or condition.
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Sources: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 11, 1912 edition, p. 17 and January 12, 1912 edition, p. 16
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