Fireman Jim Flynn

Andrew Chiariglione (24 December 1879 – 12 April 1935), usually known as Fireman Jim Flynn, was an American boxer of the early twentieth century who twice attempted to take the World Heavyweight Title without success. He is often remembered as the only boxer to ever knock out the formidable Jack Dempsey.[1][2]

Fireman Jim Flynn
Statistics
Real nameAndrew Chiariglione
Nickname(s)Andrew Haynes
Weight(s)Heavyweight
Height5 ft 9.5 in (1.77 m)
Nationality American
Born(1879-12-24)24 December 1879
Hoboken, New Jersey
Died12 April 1935(1935-04-12) (aged 55)
Los Angeles, California
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights168
Wins81
Wins by KO56
Losses58
Draws26
No contests2

Professional career

A native of Hoboken, New Jersey, Flynn's first recorded fight was in 1899. Beginning his career in earnest by 1900, he was working as a Railroad Fireman in Pueblo, Colorado at the time.[3]

Flynn was a relatively short but sturdy, tough, and clever light heavyweight who took on the greatest boxers of his era.[2]

First attempt at World Heavyweight Title, October 1906
Tommy Burns

He was first offered a shot at the World Heavyweight Title by heavyweight champion Tommy Burns. They met on 2 October 1906 in Los Angeles, California, with Burns stopping Flynn in the 15th round. The fight was an exciting one from the start, and Flynn was nearly down for the count more than once in the fourteenth. In the fifteenth round, Burns knocked Flynn to the canvas in the center of the ring for a full ten minutes before he could be revived.[4] According to the Los Angeles Times, Burns was "given one of the hardest battles of his career", and "up to the fourteenth round Flynn was a strong as Burns". Flynn took terrible punishment in the fourteenth and final fifteenth round, however.[5]

Flynn met Jack "Twin" Sullivan three times in 1906–07, drawing twice, and beating him once on points.[1]

On 14 July 1909, Flynn met future Hall of Fame boxer Billy Papke in a ten-round Draw according to the Los Angeles Herald. The Los Angeles Times, however, gave the bout to Papke, as did the United Press. He had previously defeated Papke by newspaper decision in 19 March of that year in Los Angeles.[1]

Flynn fought the highly rated Sam Langford in 1908 and twice more in 1910, losing twice and gaining a draw in their second match.[1]

Second attempt at World Heavyweight Title, July 1912
Jack Johnson boxing on right with Jim Jeffries

On 4 July 1912, in one of his most important bouts, Flynn challenged for the World Heavyweight Title a second time against Jack Johnson in Las Vegas, New Mexico. Despite being warned by the referee, Flynn continually attempted to headbutt Johnson, and the local sheriff eventually stepped in during the ninth round to stop the fight in Johnson's favor.[1] Johnson won the fight decisively and was barely touched by the fists of Flynn, who was repeatedly the victim of Johnson's blows.[6]

He continued to fight rated contenders including Battling Levinsky, Jack Dillon and Gunboat Smith.

Knockout victory over Jack Dempsey, February 1917

Flynn knocked out Jack Dempsey in a first round win in Murray, Utah, on 13 February 1917. Charging Dempsey from the opening bell, Flynn pushed Dempsey into position with his right, and knocked him out with a left to the chin, twenty-five seconds into the first round. Both boxers may have been distracted by a late start to the fight which began at midnight. Dempsey later denied having thrown the fight and said he lost because he was unable to warm up properly before the match and that he had injured his hand earlier setting pins in a bowling alley.[7][8] Flynn became the only fighter to ever knock out Dempsey. Although boxing historian Monte Cox and others have questioned the legitimacy of the result claiming a pre-arranged fix, most contemporary historians concede the knockout to Flynn.[9] A year later Flynn met Dempsey again, and this time Dempsey knocked out Flynn in the first round.[1]

Flynn continued to fight into his 40s. He fought three bouts against Sam Langford, losing all three, and beat Tiger Flowers, the future middleweight champion, in 1923. He finally retired in 1925 after a 26-year ring career, with a final record of 47–53–20, including 33 wins by knockout.[1]

He died of a heart attack on 12 April 1935 at the City Hospital in Los Angeles.[3]

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References
  1. "Fireman Jim Flyn". BoxRec. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
  2. ""Fireman" Jim Flyn". Cyber Boxing Zone. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
  3. Zimmerman, Paul, "Fireman Jim Flynn Who Kayoed Dempsey", The Morning Call, Allentown, Pennsylvania, pg. 19, 13 April 1935
  4. "Burns Knocks Out Jim Flynn", Oakland Tribune, Oakland, California, pg. 13, 3 October 1906
  5. "Burns Knocks Out Flynn in the Fifteenth Round", Los Angeles Times', Los Angeles, California, pg. 6, 3 October 1906
  6. "Johnson Has Little Trouble Holding His Title", Oakland Tribune, Oakland, California, pg. 19, 5 July 1912
  7. Kahn, Roger, "A Flame of Pure Fire", Harcourt and Brace, New York, New York, pg. 447
  8. "J. Dempsey Forgets to Duck", Salt Lake Telegram, Salt Lake City, Utah, pg. 10, 14 February 1917
  9. "Did Jack Dempsey Take a Dive?". Cox's Corner. Retrieved 16 July 2008.
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