Jimmy Britt boxer

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