Jimmy Bivins boxer

Jimmy Bivins boxer
bouts
112
won
86
lost
25
draw
1
Status
inactive
Division
heavyweight
Debut
1940-01-15
Height
5′ 9″/175cm
Reach
76″/193cm
Age
92
Born
1919-12-06
Death
2012-07-04
Nationality
USA

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James Louis Bivins, (December 6, 1919 – July 4, 2012) was an American heavyweight boxer whose professional career ran from 1940 to 1955. He was born in Dry Branch, Georgia. Although he was never given the opportunity to fight for a world title, despite at one point being the number one contender in both the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions, Bivins fought and defeated many of the great fighters of his era and won the "Duration" Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight titles. Fifteen of Bivins' victorious fights were rated 5-Star by BoxRec, including six at heavyweight. In recognition of his achievements in the ring - among other things, he defeated eight of the eleven world champions he faced - Bivins was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1999. He was also the one-time husband of Dollree Mapp, the subject of prominent Supreme Court case regarding the rights of search and seizures.Although he was born in Georgia, Bivins fought out of Cleveland, Ohio for the entirety of his career. He made his professional debut on January 15, 1940, winning by knockout in the first round, and went on to win his first nineteen fights, all fought in 1940, before losing a split decision to Anton Christoforidis, whom he had previously beaten. Bivins won his first four fights of 1941, including contests with Teddy Yarosz and Curtis Sheppard, but lost three of his other four contests that year, which included a points loss to Melio Bettina. He began 1942 with wins against Billy Soose and Gus Lesnevich and a split-decision loss to Bob Pastor. After this loss, Bivins had a twenty-seven fight undefeated streak that lasted for four years; it was during this period that Bivins established himself as one of the great heavyweights of his era - a remarkable achievement given that, at 5' 9", he was often significantly smaller than his opponents.Bivins first fight after losing to Pastor was a split-decision win against Joey Maxim, a fellow Cleveland fighter who went on to become a member of the hall of fame. Bivins fought four more contests in 1942, including a rematch with Bob Pastor and a bout with Lee Savold, and won them all. He began 1943 with a remarkable win against Ezzard Charles, in which he recorded seven knockdowns against the future heavyweight world champion. On February 23, 1943 he defeated Anton Christoforidis on points for the duration light heavyweight title - as all the world titles had been frozen for the duration of World War II, this was the closest he ever came to holding a world title. In the three years after this fight Bivins went on to defeat Tami Mauriello, Pat Valentino, Lloyd Marshall, Melio Bettina, Curtis Sheppard and Archie Moore, whom he knocked-down six times en route to a knockout victory. Bivins served with the United States Army from March, 1944 until his honorable discharge in November of the same year - during 1944 he fought only one professional fight, a points victory over Lee Q. Murray.On February 25, 1946 Bivins fought Jersey Joe Walcott at the Cleveland Arena. The fight was Bivins' first loss in four years, the split decision was interesting in that one official had the fight 6-4 to Bivins, the second had it 9-1 to Walcott and the last had it 5-4-1 to Bivins but gave the fight to Walcott because of a third round knockdown in his favour. After losing his long unbeaten streak, Bivins' record as a fighter became somewhat average. After his loss to Walcott, Bivins went on to lose his next two contests, against Lee Q. Murray and Ezzard Charles, before winning the following four. Bivins suffered a knockout loss to Ezzard Charles on March 10, 1947 and went on to lose a further two of his final seven fights that year, to Lee Q. Murray and Archie Moore. He went on to win six of his nine fights in 1948, losing only to Joey Maxim, Ezzard Charles and Archie Moore. In 1949 he won five of his eight fights, but lost to both Archie Moore and Harold Johnson. He only fought twice in 1950, but returned to fighting regularly the following year. In 1951 he defeated Ted Lowry on points, but was once again knocked-out by Archie Moore and lost by unanimous decision to both Joe Louis and the undefeated Bob Baker. Bivins had a further eleven fights after his loss to Baker, and won eight of them. His only big-name opponent during these final fights was Ezzard Charles, who won by decision on November 26, 1952. Bivins retired following a victory over the journeyman Chubby Wright in June 1953, but returned for two final fights, both of which he won, a couple of years later.Following his retirement, Bivins earned a living as a bakery truck driver. In his spare time, he coached young people in boxing. Bivins' first two marriages ended in divorce. His third wife, Elizabeth, died in 1995. In April 1998, Bivins was discovered living in the unheated attic of his daughter and son in law's home in Collinwood, wrapped in a urine and feces caked blanket. The former boxer's weight had dwindled to 110 pounds. Bivins was then moved into his sister's home in Shaker Heights. In 2009, Bivins was moved into MacGregor Home, a care facility for the elderly. He died in 2012 at the age of 92 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Date Opponent Last Opponents' Results Place Result
1955-10-28 Mike DeJohn WWWWWW Arena, Cleveland WIN
Points
1955-08-31 Dan Moray LLWLLL Arena, Cleveland WIN
Corner retirement
1953-06-09 Chubby Wright LLWLDW Huntington WIN
Points
1953-04-24 Claude Rolfe LLWWWW Latin-American Arena, Tampa WIN
Unanimous decision
1953-04-06 Tommy Harrison WLWWWL Dinner Key Auditorium, Miami LOST
Unanimous decision
1952-11-26 Ezzard Charles WWLLWW Chicago Stadium, Chicago LOST
Unanimous decision
1952-11-03 Tommy Harrison LWDWLW Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence LOST
Unanimous decision
1952-10-22 Wes Bascom WWLLWW Arena, Saint Louis WIN
Majority decision
1952-09-19 Coley Wallace WWWWWW St. Nicholas Arena, New York WIN
KO
1952-03-31 Aaron Wilson WLWWLL Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence WIN
Technical knockout
1951-11-21 Charley Doc Williams LWWWWL St. Nicholas Arena, New York WIN
Split-decision
1951-11-05 Bob Baker WWWWWW Duquesne Gardens, Pittsburgh LOST
Unanimous decision
1951-08-15 Joe Louis WWWWWW Memorial Stadium, Baltimore LOST
Unanimous decision
1951-06-26 Clarence Henry WWWWWW Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles LOST
Unanimous decision
1951-05-29 Willie Bean WWLWWL Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles WIN
Unanimous decision
1951-05-18 Ralph KO Hooker LWWWWD Madison Square Garden, Phoenix WIN
Points
1951-05-04 Willie Bean WWWLWW Legion Stadium, Hollywood WIN
Unanimous decision
1951-02-21 Archie Moore WWWWWW St. Nicholas Arena, New York LOST
Corner retirement
1951-02-12 Ted Lowry WLLLLL Coliseum, Baltimore WIN
Unanimous decision
1951-01-22 Young Harry Wills WLLLLW Coliseum, Baltimore WIN
KO
1950-02-06 Sid Peaks WLWWLL Laurel Garden, Newark LOST
Points
1950-02-01 Willis Applegate DLDWLL Miami Stadium, Miami WIN
Unanimous decision
1949-10-26 Harold Johnson WWWLWW Convention Hall, Philadelphia LOST
Unanimous decision
1949-09-27 Clarence Henry WWWDWW Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles WIN
Technical knockout
1949-09-21 Leonard Morrow WWWWWW Auditorium, Oakland WIN
Unanimous decision
1949-07-15 Watson Jones WWWWLL Last Frontier Hotel, Las Vegas WIN
KO
1949-07-05 Leonard Morrow WWLWWW Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles LOST
Unanimous decision
1949-06-20 Willie Bean LWWWWW Arena, Cleveland WIN
Unanimous decision
1949-04-11 Archie Moore WWWWWW Sports Arena, Toledo LOST
KO
1949-03-21 Rusty Payne WWWLWW Aragon Gardens, Pittsburgh WIN
Split-decision
1948-12-07 Joey Maxim DWWWLW Arena, Cleveland LOST
Split-decision
1948-10-11 Johnny Flynn WWWWWW Arena, Philadelphia WIN
Majority decision
1948-09-13 Ezzard Charles WWWWWW Griffith Stadium, Washington LOST
Unanimous decision
1948-06-28 Archie Moore WLWWWL Coliseum, Baltimore LOST
Majority decision
1948-04-20 Pat Valentino WWWDLD Arena, Cleveland WIN
Unanimous decision
1948-04-12 Billy Thompson WWWLWW Arena, Philadelphia WIN
Technical knockout
1948-03-09 Turkey Thompson LLWWWW Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles WIN
Unanimous decision
1948-03-01 Johnny Haynes LWWLWW Coliseum, Baltimore WIN
Technical knockout
1948-01-13 Johnny Shkor LWLWLL Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo WIN
Unanimous decision
1947-11-12 Sid Peaks WWWWWW Chicago Stadium, Chicago WIN
Points
1947-09-08 Archie Moore WWLWWW 5th Regiment Armory, Baltimore LOST
Corner retirement
1947-07-01 Bobby Zander WLWWWW Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles WIN
Unanimous decision
1947-06-09 Lee Q. Murray WWWWW Coliseum, Baltimore WIN
Split-decision
1947-06-02 Omelio Agramonte WWWWWW Coliseum, Baltimore WIN
Technical knockout
1947-05-09 Lee Q. Murray WWWWW Olympia Stadium, Detroit LOST
Unanimous decision
1947-04-21 Curtis Sheppard WWWWWL Coliseum, Baltimore WIN
Unanimous decision
1947-03-10 Ezzard Charles WWWWWW Arena, Cleveland LOST
KO
1947-02-17 Curtis Sheppard WWWWWW Arena, Philadelphia WIN
Unanimous decision
1947-02-03 Booker Beckwith WWWWWW Coliseum, Chicago WIN
KO
1947-01-16 Johnny Flynn LWWWWL Uline Arena, Washington WIN
Unanimous decision
1946-12-06 Colion Chaney WLWWWW Akron WIN
KO
1946-11-12 Ezzard Charles WWWWWW Duquesne Gardens, Pittsburgh LOST
Unanimous decision
1946-06-10 Lee Q. Murray WLWWWW Arena, Cleveland LOST
Unanimous decision
1946-02-25 Jersey Joe Walcott WWWWWW Arena, Cleveland LOST
Split-decision
1946-02-11 Yancey Henry WWLLW Coliseum, Baltimore WIN
KO
1946-01-30 Oakland Billy Smith WWWLWW Auditorium, Oakland WIN
Points
1946-01-22 Johnny Haynes WWWWWL Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles WIN
KO
1946-01-07 Watson Jones LLWDWW Civic Auditorium, San Francisco WIN
Technical knockout
1945-09-26 Yancey Henry WLLWW Uline Arena, Washington WIN
Unanimous decision
1945-08-22 Archie Moore WWWWWW Lakefront Stadium, Cleveland WIN
KO
1945-07-26 Curtis Sheppard LLWWWL Forbes Field, Pittsburgh WIN
Unanimous decision
1945-06-12 Buddy Scott WWWLWW Griffith Stadium, Washington WIN
KO
1945-03-16 Melio Bettina LWWWWW Madison Square Garden, New York DRAW
Points
1945-02-27 Johnny Flynn WWWWWW Arena, Cleveland WIN
Points
1945-02-19 Buddy Walker WLWLWW Coliseum, Baltimore WIN
KO
1945-02-05 George Parks LWLWLW Uline Arena, Washington WIN
Technical knockout
1944-02-29 Lee Q. Murray WWWWWL Arena, Cleveland WIN
Points
1943-12-01 Lee Q. Murray WWWWWW Arena, Cleveland WIN
Unanimous decision
1943-09-15 Melio Bettina WWWWWW Lakefront Stadium, Cleveland WIN
Unanimous decision
1943-08-24 Herbert Marshall WLWLLW Griffith Stadium, Washington WIN
KO
1943-06-08 Lloyd Marshall WWWWWW Lakefront Stadium, Cleveland WIN
KO
1943-04-26 Pat Valentino LWWLWW Civic Auditorium, San Francisco WIN
Unanimous decision
1943-04-06 Watson Jones WWWWWW Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles WIN
Unanimous decision
1943-03-12 Tami Mauriello WLWWWW Madison Square Garden, New York WIN
Majority decision
1943-02-23 Anton Christoforidis WWWWDW Arena, Cleveland WIN
Unanimous decision
1943-01-07 Ezzard Charles WWWWWW Arena, Cleveland WIN
Unanimous decision
1942-11-27 Lee Savold WLWWLW Madison Square Garden, New York WIN
Unanimous decision
1942-10-20 Bob Pastor WWWWDW Arena, Cleveland WIN
Split-decision
1942-09-15 Tami Mauriello WWDWWW Arena, Cleveland WIN
Split-decision
1942-07-23 Joe Muscato WWWWWW Arena, Cleveland WIN
KO
1942-06-23 Joey Maxim LWWWLW Lakefront Stadium, Cleveland WIN
Split-decision
1942-04-17 Bob Pastor WWWWWW Arena, Cleveland LOST
Split-decision
1942-03-11 Gus Lesnevich WWWWWL Arena, Cleveland WIN
Unanimous decision
1942-01-13 Billy Soose WWWLDW Arena, Cleveland WIN
Unanimous decision
1941-11-17 Melio Bettina WWWWWW Arena, Cleveland LOST
Unanimous decision
1941-10-20 Nate Bolden DWWLLW Marigold Gardens, Chicago WIN
Unanimous decision
1941-09-10 Tony Musto WLWLDL Arena, Cleveland LOST
Split-decision
1941-07-14 Lem Franklin WWWWWW Marigold Gardens Outdoor Arena, Chicago LOST
Technical knockout
1941-07-02 Curtis Sheppard WWWLW Hickey Park, Millvale WIN
Points
1941-04-02 Buddy Knox WWLWLL Public Hall, Cleveland WIN
Points
1941-03-05 Teddy Yarosz WWLWWW Arena, Cleveland WIN
Points
1941-02-19 Pete Tamalonis WWLLLW Public Hall, Cleveland WIN
Technical knockout
1940-12-02 Anton Christoforidis WWWWWL Arena, Cleveland LOST
Majority decision
1940-11-15 Anton Christoforidis WWWWWW Public Hall, Cleveland WIN
Unanimous decision
1940-10-22 Vince Pimpinella LWWLLL Arena, Cleveland WIN
Unanimous decision
1940-09-23 Larry Kellum WWLLLL Hickey Park, Millvale WIN
KO
1940-09-09 Johnny Barbara WLWWLL Marigold Gardens Outdoor Arena, Chicago WIN
Technical knockout
1940-09-03 Charley Burley WWWWDW Hickey Park, Millvale WIN
Unanimous decision
1940-08-05 Johnny Barbara LWLWWL Marigold Gardens Outdoor Arena, Chicago WIN
KO
1940-07-15 Paul Frazier LWLWWW Marigold Gardens Outdoor Arena, Chicago WIN
Points
1940-07-01 Mose Brown WWWWWW Hickey Park, Millvale WIN
Points
1940-06-24 Frankie Hughes LWWWWW Marigold Gardens Outdoor Arena, Chicago WIN
Points
1940-06-13 Stoney Jackson WLLLL Hickey Park, Millvale WIN
Technical knockout
1940-05-13 Paul Frazier WLW Marigold Gardens, Chicago WIN
KO
1940-04-25 Enzo Iannozzi LLLLLL Public Hall, Cleveland WIN
KO
1940-04-15 Marine Johnny Dean WWDLLL Public Hall, Cleveland WIN
KO
1940-04-08 Nate Bolden WWWWLL Marigold Gardens, Chicago WIN
Points
1940-03-27 Young Flowers WWWLLW Public Hall, Cleveland WIN
Technical knockout
1940-03-18 Joe Sutka WWWLDL Marigold Gardens, Chicago WIN
Points
1940-02-26 Joe Sutka WWWWLD Marigold Gardens, Chicago WIN
Points
1940-02-12 Tito Taylor LLLWWW Marigold Gardens, Chicago WIN
Points
1940-01-15 Emory Morgan LLLL Public Hall, Cleveland WIN
Technical knockout

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