Tommy Burns

Titles: Heavyweight champion from 1906-1908
   
Record: 46-5-9 (36 K.O's)
   
Born: June 17, 1881 in Chesley Canada
   
Years active: 1900-1920

Nickname: None

Burns, the shortest heavyweight champion, was the original globe trotter 
defending the title all over the world. If for nothing else should be 
included in a Hall of Fame for not ducking the famed black heavyweight 
contender Jack Johnson. But it must be said he did so after avoiding him 
for several years, it was also his downfall. Burns was never a particularly 
skilled fighter, he possessed a good punch and could take one as well but 
did not have the hand or foot speed needed to be a great. Burns became 
champion by outpointing Marvin Hart in a ugly match to say the least. The 
strange thing was how he even got a title shot, since he had only won 3 of 
his previous 9 bouts. To make up for his lack of fame he took the title on 
the road traveling to 4 different countries beaten local fighters. Finally
he boxed the 20 pound heavier Jack Johnson and won some recognition for his
courage going 14 rounds. In the next 12 years he only fought 6 times and 
retired after loosing in a English Empire title bout. 

Tommy Burns
Career record: 48 W, 5 L, 8 D, 1 ND (37 K.O's)

1900
     
-----           Fred Thornton, Delray, Mich............KO 5

1901

------          Billy Walsh, Detroit...................KO 5
------          Archie Steele, Detroit.................KO 2
------          Ed Sholtreau, Detroit..................KO 1
------          Billy Walsh, Detroit...................KO 6

1902

Jan. 16         Fred Thornton, Delray..................KO 5
Mar. 3          Harry Peppers, Detroit.................KO 2
Mar. 5          George Steele, Detroit.................KO 2
May  16         Ed Sholtreau, Detroit..................W 10
Jun. 27         Dick Smith, Mt. Clemens, Mich..........KO 2
Jul. 9          Dick Smith, Mt. Clemens, Mich..........W 10
Sep. 19         Jack O'Donnell, Butler, Ind............KO 8
Nov. 6          Reddy Phillips, Lansing, Mich..........KO 9
Dec. 26         Tom McCune, Detroit....................KO 7

1903
Jan. 16         Mike Schreck, Detroit...................L 10
Feb. 13         Jim O'Brien, Delray.....................W 10     
Mar. 25         Dick Smith, Delray......................KO 2    
Mar 25          Reddy Phillips, Delray..................KO 3    
Apr. 18         Earl Thompson, Detroit..................KO 3     
Sep. 25         Jimmy Duggan, Houghton, Mich............KO 9    
Oct. 12          Jack Hammond, S. Ste. Marie, Mich......KO 3   
Oct. 25         Billy Moore, Haughton, Mich.............D 10
Nov 8           Jack Butler, S. Ste. Marie..............KO 2     
Nov 25          Jack O'Donnell, Evanston................KO 11    
Dec. 31         Tom McCune, Detroit....................W 10*    

1904

Jan. 28         Ben O'Grady, Detroit....................KO 3     
Feb. 26         George Shrosbree, Chicago...............KO 5    
Feb. 27         Mike Schreck, Milwaukee.................D 6      
Mar. 18         Tony Caponi, Chicago....................D 6      
Apr. 9          Tony Caponi, Chicago....................W 6      
Jul -           Joe Wardinski, Salt Lake City...........KO 1     
Aug. 20         Cyclone Kelly, Tacoma, Wash.............KO 4     
Sep. 16         Billy Woods, Seattle....................D 15     
Oct. 7           "Phila. Jack O'Brien", Milwaukee.......L 6     

1905

Jan. 31         "Indian Joe" Schildt, Ballard, Wash.....KO 6
Mar. 7          Jack "Twin" Sullivan, Tacoma............D 20
May 3           Dave Barry, Tacoma......................W 20
Jun. 7          Hugo Kelly, Detroit.....................D 10
Jul. 28         Hugo Kelly, Los Angeles.................D 20
Aug. 31         Dave Barry, San Francisco...............KO 20
Oct. 17         Jack "Twin" Sullivan, Los Angeles.......L 20*

1906

Feb. 23         Marvin Hart, Los Angeles................W 20
                      (Won Heavyweight Championship)

Mar. 28         Jim O'Brien, San Diego..................KO 1
Mar. 28         James J. Walker, San Diego..............KO 1     
              Although most regard these as exhibition bouts, 
              these two fights both received the only official 
              sanctioning of their day, billing by promoter and 
              newspapers as being for the Title
Oct. 2          Fireman Jim Flynn, Los Angeles..........KO 15
                      (Title Bout)
Nov. 28         Phila. Jack O'Brien, Los Angeles.........D 20
                      (Title Bout)

1907

May 8           Phila. Jack O'Brien, Los Angeles........W 20 
                      (Title Bout)
Jul. 4          Bill Squires, Colma.....................KO 1
                      (Title Bout)
Dec. 2          James "Gunner Moir", London, Eng........KO 10
                      (Title Bout)

1908

Feb. 10         Jack Palmer, London, Eng................KO 4
Mar. 17         Jem Roche, Dublin.......................KO 1 
Apr. 18         Jewey Smith, Paris......................KO 5
Jun. 13         Bill Squires, Paris.....................KO 8
Aug. 24         Bill Squires, Sydney, Australia.........KO 13
Sep. 2          Bill Lang, Melbourne....................KO 6
Dec. 26         Jack Johnson, Rushcutter's Bay..........L 14 
                (Lost World Heavyweight Championship)

1910

Apr.  7         Bill Lang, Sydney, N.S.W...............W 20
     (Won British Empire Heavyweight Championshp)

1912

Aug. 8  Bill Rickard, Saskatoon, Sask.................KO 6

1913

Apr. 2  Arthur Pelkey, Calgary, Alberta...............ND 6

1914

Jan. 26  Battling Brant, Taft, Calif...................KO 4

1918

Sep. 19         Tex Foster, Pr. Rupert, B.C............KO 4

1920

Jul. 16         Joe Beckett, London, Eng...............KO by 7