Jimmy Britt boxer
- bouts
- 21
- won
- 13
- lost
- 7
- draw
- 1
- Status
- inactive
- Division
- lightweight
- Debut
- 1902-02-18
- Height
- 5′ 5½″/166cm
- Reach
- 65½″/166cm
- Age
- 60
- Born
- 1879-10-05
- Death
- 1940-01-21
- Nationality
- USA
Jimmy Britt (October 5, 1879, in San Francisco, California – January 21, 1940) was a boxer from 1902 to 1909. He fought Joe Gans twice for the World lightweight title but lost both bouts. In a career spanning 23 bouts, Britt met 6 different Hall of Famers for a combined total of 10 fights; going 4-4-2. After retiring from boxing in 1909, Britt toured the United States as a vaudeville performer, then later worked as a WPA superintendent. He died of a heart attack in his San Francisco home on January 21, 1940 and was interred at Holy Cross Cemetery (Colma, California). Britt was elected to the Ring Magazine hall of fame in 1976.In 1901 Jimmy Britt, who was the 135Ib Champion of the Pacific Coast, boxed three rounds with World Featherweight champion Terry McGovern. In this encounter Britt was described as boxing "exceedingly well" by The San Francisco Call.In 18 February 1902 Jimmy Britt had his professional debut in a 15-round scheduled fight against Toby Irwin Britt outclassed his opponent over the 15 rounds to win on points. On 19 May 1902, Britt fought former Lightweight Champion Kid Lavigne. Britt outboxed Lavigne throughout the contest until Kid Lavigne's brother stopped the contest to prevent him from taking any more punishment. Lavigne was discovered to have broken bones in his left forearm after the fight, near where they had broken previously.Britt then fought former Featherweight and Lightweight Champion Frank Erne on November 26, 1902. Britt knocked out his Swiss opponent in the seventh round; he hurt his opponent with a left to the body early in the round, and after sending him down multiple times, stopped him with a left to the stomach. The San Francisco Call described Britt as finishing the fight "unscathed", with Erne "unable to get in an effective blow", while Frank Erne showed all the signs of his punishment, with his nose, lips, and under his left eye swollen.Britt then fought Young Corbett II, winning a hard-fought decision over 20 rounds. Britt's face was covered in blood in the fifth round and was staggered in the 10th round, while Corbett was helping in the eighth round, and staggered Corbett in the 15th round. However, Britt took over after the 16th round. The audience was described as not knowing which way the decision would go, until referee Eddie Graney gave it to Jimmy Britt.On 31 October 1904, Britt challenged World Lightweight Champion Joe Gans. The San Francisco Call said that "Gans was outboxed, outfought, and outgamed" by Britt. Britt fought on the offensive in the first round, but the punching was light in this round. The second round saw both fighting aggressively and throwing hard shots. The third round saw Britt take the lead with a straight right with the body early seriously hurting Gans. In the fourth round, Britt knocked Gans down, and Gans went down twice more, with Britt hitting Gans while still on the ground. In the fifth round, Britt sent Gans back, before the latter once again went down. Britt struck Gans as he came up and was disqualified. The furious Britt then attacked the referee Eddie Graney
Date | Opponent | Last Opponents' Results | Place | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1909-07-31 | Johnny Summers | W | Memorial Grounds, Canning Town | LOST KO |
1909-02-22 | Johnny Summers | WWLW | National Sporting Club, Covent Garden | LOST Points |
1908-11-02 | Johnny Summers | WWWWW | Wonderland, Whitechapel Road, Mile End | WIN Points |
1908-04-11 | Packey McFarland | WWWWWW | Mission Street Arena, Colma | LOST Technical knockout |
1908-03-03 | Battling Nelson | WWLLWL | Naud Junction Pavilion, Los Angeles | DRAW |
1907-09-09 | Joe Gans | LDWWWW | Recreation Park, San Francisco | LOST Technical knockout |
1907-07-31 | Battling Nelson | LDWWWL | Auditorium Rink, San Francisco | WIN Points |
1906-05-28 | Terry McGovern | WWWWWL | Madison Square Garden, New York | DRAW |
1905-09-09 | Battling Nelson | WLWLDW | Mission Street Arena, Colma | LOST KO |
1905-07-21 | Kid Sullivan | WLWLDD | Woodward's Pavilion, San Francisco | WIN Points |
1905-05-05 | Jabez White | WLDWWW | Woodward's Pavilion, San Francisco | WIN Technical knockout |
1904-12-20 | Battling Nelson | WWWWWW | Mechanic's Pavilion, San Francisco | WIN Points |
1904-10-31 | Joe Gans | WWWWDD | Mechanic's Pavilion, San Francisco | LOST |
1904-03-25 | Young Corbett II | WWDWWW | Woodward's Pavilion, San Francisco | WIN Points |
1903-11-20 | Martin Canole | WDWWWW | Colma A.C., Colma | WIN Points |
1903-11-10 | Charley Sieger | LLDDDD | Mechanic's Pavilion, San Francisco | WIN Points |
1903-06-13 | Jack O'Keefe | LWWWLL | Old Baseball Park, Butte | DRAW Points |
1903-04-28 | Willie Fitzgerald | WWLWW | Mechanic's Pavilion, San Francisco | WIN Points |
1903-03-09 | Jack O'Keefe | LWLWDL | Pastime A.C., Portland | LOST |
1902-11-26 | Frank Erne | DLWWLW | Mechanic's Pavilion, San Francisco | WIN KO |
1902-05-29 | George (Kid) Lavigne | DWLLLW | Woodward's Pavilion, San Francisco | WIN Technical knockout |
1902-02-28 | Tim Hegarty | WDWDLW | Mechanic's Pavilion, San Francisco | WIN KO |
1902-02-18 | Toby Irwin | LWWLWW | Acme A.C., Oakland | WIN Points |