Posts about gloved professional boxing bouts between the 1890s and 1940.
In this episode, I discuss Tom Sharkey, a professional boxer and part-time wrestler, wrestling “Sailor” Tom Piening, a professional wrestler in February 1904. Update A family member reached out to me about the pronunciation of John “The Nebraska Tigerman” Pesek’s name. Influencer boxing Dash camera and body camera footage of Vince McMahon’s accident from July 24, 2025. I am going […]
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In this episode, I discuss Frank Goch’s brief foray into professional boxing. I also compare two Los Angeles cards in 1925. Finally, I discuss the 2026 podcast schedule. Recommendations 1985 Wrestling Observer Yearbook (affiliate link) A Deadly Affair by Carla Simpson (affiliate link) Review Kenneth Dix’s Card on Thursday, July 30, 1925 in Vernon, California Main Event: Joseph “Toots” Mondt […]
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On July 5, 1909, Stanley Ketchel defended his World Middleweight Boxing Championship against Billy Papke in their fourth and final meeting. Ketchel won a decision in the first fight. In the second fight, Billy Papke scored the only knockout on Stanley Ketchel in Ketchel’s career during the twelfth round. Papke won the World Middleweight Boxing Championship. In the third […]
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In this episode, I discuss the recent passing of my co-host and cousin Dan Zimmerman. I discuss a mixed styles bout between Ray Steel and Kingfish Levinsky in St. Louis during November 1935. Update On Saturday, April 26, 2025, my cousin Dan Zimmerman passed away at the age of 53. Dan was my sometimes co-host and the closest I have […]
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On Wednesday, August 11, 1937, professional wrestler Nick Lutze took part in a mixed styles bout with professional boxer Pio Pico. Promoter Lou Daro booked Lutze and Pico for the undercard of Bronko Nagurski defending his newly won world title against Los Angeles’ biggest star Vincent Lopez. The card drew 20,000 fans to Los Angeles’ Wrigley Field, a sellout of […]
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On Saturday, December 30, 1916, Taro Miyake fought Ben de Mello, a professional boxer, in a mixed styles six round challenge bout. 1,000 spectators filed into the Hilo Armory to watch a rare legitimate contest between a boxer and jiu jitsu expert. Referee H.S. Prager started the bout between the 35-year-old Miyake and the younger boxer. Miyake warily circled de […]
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When the great Jack Johnson defeated Tommy Burns for the World Heavyweight Boxing Championship, the boxing establishment started searching for a “white hope” to defeat Johnson. In desperation to find someone to defeat Johnson, promoters and sports writers started lobbying former World Heavyweight Champion James J. Jeffries to end his retirement to fight Johnson. Jeffries retired undefeated in 1905. After […]
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On Friday, June 10, 1910, World Middleweight Boxing Champion Stanley Ketchel fought his last fight against unheralded Jim Smith. Ketchel has cleared out the middleweight division, so boxing promoters struggled to find suitable competition for Ketchel. At only 24 years old, Ketchel lived hard and fought constantly causing an early breakdown of his body. After fighting Smith, Ketchel intended to […]
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On Friday, March 11, 1932, wrestlers George Tragos and Rudy Dusek faced boxers, Stanley McRae and Tom Pivac in wrestler versus boxer bouts. It took the fans longer to get to their seats than it took the combatants to complete the bouts. The men fought the pair of bouts in Memphis, Tennessee at the Auditorium. Fans know George Tragos, a […]
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In this episode, we discuss Martin “Farmer” Burns training James J. Jeffries for his bout with Jack Johnson on July 4, 1910. Update Dan and I talk about my new project and how an earlier writer unfairly portrayed Joe Stecher’s world title run from 1925 to 1928. Shooter in a Worked World is available on Amazon. Main Content In 1910, […]
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