Jimmy McLarnin

James Archibald McLarnin (19 December 1907 – 28 October 2004) was an Irish-Canadian professional boxer who became a two-time welterweight world champion and an International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee.[1] McLarnin has been referred to as the greatest Irish boxer of all time. BoxRec ranks McLarnin as the 11th best pound-for-pound fighter of all-time, the second best Canadian boxer of all time after Sam Langford, and the third greatest welterweight of all time.[2][3]

Jimmy McLarnin
Statistics
Real name	James McLarnin
Nickname(s)	Baby Faced Assassin Beltin' Celt Dublin Dynamiter Dublin Destroyer Murderous Mick The Belfast Spider The Jew Killer The Jew Beater Hebrew Scourge The Irish Lullaby
Weight(s)	Flyweight to welterweight
Height	5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Reach	67 in (170 cm)
Nationality	Irish
Born	(1907-12-19)19 December 1907 Hillsborough, County Down, Ireland
Died	28 October 2004(2004-10-28) (aged 96) Richland, Washington, US
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	69
Wins	55
Wins by KO	21
Losses	11
Draws	3

Background

There was often confusion over McLarnin's exact place of birth and his date of birth. McLarnin himself was unsure as to the exact location and at various times claimed to be born in Inchicore, Dublin or the Lisburn Road in Belfast. Adding to the confusion he went by nicknames the Dublin Destroyer and Belfast Spider. It was Irish boxing historian Patrick Myler who later unearthed McLarnin's birth certificate which showed that McLarnin was born in Hillsborough, County Down, Northern Ireland in 1907.[4][5]

McLarnin's father, Sam McLarnin, a Methodist from Dublin, was described as 'a typical Dublin Irishman' and traveled throughout Britain and Ireland for work. He later married Mary Ferris from Belfast and they settled in County Down before being drawn into Belfast. When McLarnin was three years of age the whole family emigrated to Saskatchewan, Canada via Liverpool. The McLarnins started out as a wheat farmers, but years later, following a particularly harsh winter, the family moved to Vancouver where they opened a second-hand clothes store in Vancouver's east end.[4][5][6][7][7]

McLarnin was prodigious athlete, his main sports were football, baseball and boxing and was considered a model of propriety by Rev. A.E. Roberts at the Methodist mission in Vancouver. He took up boxing at the age of 10 after getting into a fight defending his newspaper-selling pitch. Former professional boxer Charles "Pop" Foster recognized McLarnin's talent at the age of 13. He constructed a makeshift gym for McLarnin to train in, sure that he would one day be the champion of the world. The two of them would remain close, and when Foster died, he left everything he had to McLarnin.[6][7]

Boxing career

Following a successful start to his career in Vancouver, McLarnin's grew aggrieved at the low pay he was receiving for bouts and decided to move south. "We had to go to the United States to make our money. We owe Vancouver nothing" said McLarnin.[6]

Foster took McLarnin to San Francisco, where his youthful appearance made it difficult to get a fight until he lied about his age. It is for this reason that McLarnin was known as the "Baby-faced Assassin". Despite his youthful appearance, McLarnin had incredible power with both fists, his right being particularly feared. However, like many similar fighters McLarnin suffered several hand injuries throughout his career. Towards the end of his career McLarnin was forced to become more of a scientific boxer to reduce further injuries to his hands.[8]

McLarnin lost his first title shot on 21 May 1928 in New York against world lightweight champion Sammy Mandell. However, he did go on to beat him twice in the following two years. It would be five years before McLarnin would next get a title shot, during which time he knocked out gifted Jewish fighters Al Singer, Ruby Goldstein, and Sid Terris.[9]

McLarnin's second title shot came against welterweight champion Young Corbett III. McLarnin won by knockout after only 2 minutes 37 seconds. Following his title success, McLarnin fought an epic three-fight series with Barney Ross. The first fight, on 28 May 1934, was won by Ross, but McLarnin regained his title in their next match four months later. In the deciding fight on 28 May 1935, McLarnin lost his title for the final time in a narrow decision.

McLarnin retired in November 1936 still at the top of his game, having won his last two fights against all-time greats Tony Canzoneri and Lou Ambers. His record was 54 wins, 11 losses, and 3 draws in 68 contests. In 1996 Ring Magazine voted McLarnin the fifth-greatest welterweight of all time.

Life after boxing

McLarnin never returned to the ring despite large incentives for him to do so.[10] Unlike many boxers, McLarnin invested his money wisely and retired a wealthy man. He opened an electrical goods store, and also did some acting, golfing, and lecturing.[10]

In 1937, he appeared with boxers Maxie Rosenbloom, James J. Jeffries, Jack Dempsey, and Jackie Fields, in MGM's Big City, a film involving rough competition between two rival taxi companies.[11]

In 1938, he appeared in a background gymnasium scene for the successful 1938, MGM boxing movie, The Crowd Roars with boxers Abe "The Newsboy" Hollandersky, Joe Glick, Maxie Rosenbloom, Jack Roper, and Tommy Herman.[12]

In 1946, he appeared in Monogram Pictures' boxing movie, Joe Palooka, Champ, with cameos by real boxing greats Joe Louis, Henry Armstrong, Ceferino Garcia, and Manual Ortiz. Heavyweight Jack Roper appeared as the character Waldo. The simple plot involved young boxer Joe and his girl resisting mob influence while Joe trains to fight the champ.[13]

Death

McLarnin died on 28 October 2004 at the age of 96 in Richland, Washington.[14] He was interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.

Professional boxing record

Professional record summary

69 fights	55 wins	11 losses
By knockout	21	1
By decision	34	10
Draws	3

No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, time	Date	Location	Notes
69	Win	55–11–3	Lou Ambers	UD	10	1936-11-20	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
68	Win	54–11–3	Tony Canzoneri	UD	10	1936-10-05	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
67	Loss	53–11–3	Tony Canzoneri	UD	10	1936-05-08	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
66	Loss	53–10–3	Barney Ross	UD	15	1935-05-28	Polo Grounds, New York City, New York	Lost The Ring and lineal welterweight titles
65	Win	53–9–3	Barney Ross	SD	15	1934-09-17	Madison Square Garden Bowl, Queens, New York	Won The Ring and lineal welterweight titles
64	Loss	52–9–3	Barney Ross	SD	15	1934-05-28	Madison Square Garden Bowl, Queens, New York	Lost The Ring and lineal welterweight titles The Ring magazine's "Fight of the Year" (1934)
63	Win	52–8–3	Young Corbett III	TKO	1 (10), 2:37	1933-05-29	Wrigley Field, Los Angeles, California	Won lineal welterweight title Won inaugural The Ring welterweight title
62	Win	51–8–3	Sammy Fuller	TKO	8 (10), 2:58	1932-12-16	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
61	Win	50–8–3	Benny Leonard	TKO	6 (10), 2:55	1932-10-07	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
60	Loss	49–8–3	Lou Brouillard	SD	10	1932-08-04	Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York
59	Win	49–7–3	Billy Petrolle	UD	10	1931-08-20	Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York
58	Win	48–7–3	Billy Petrolle	UD	10	1931-05-27	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
57	Loss	47–7–3	Billy Petrolle	UD	10	1930-11-21	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
56	Win	47–6–3	Al Singer	KO	3 (10), 2:21	1930-09-11	Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York
55	Win	46–6–3	Jack Thompson	UD	10	1930-03-28	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
54	Win	45–6–3	Sammy Mandell	UD	10	1930-03-01	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
53	Win	44–6–3	Ruby Goldstein	KO	2 (10)	1929-12-13	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
52	Win	43–6–3	Sammy Mandell	UD	10	1929-11-04	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
51	Win	42–6–3	Sergeant Sammy Baker	KO	1 (10), 2:01	1929-10-09	New York Coliseum, Bronx, New York
50	Win	41–6–3	Ray Miller	UD	10	1929-03-22	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
49	Win	40–6–3	Joe Glick	KO	2 (10), 1:37	1929-03-01	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
48	Win	39–6–3	Joe Glick	UD	10	1929-01-11	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
47	Loss	38–6–3	Ray Miller	RTD	7 (10)	1928-11-30	Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan
46	Win	38–5–3	Stanislaus Loayza	KO	4 (10)	1928-08-02	Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan
45	Win	37–5–3	Phil McGraw	TKO	1 (10), 2:45	1928-06-21	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
44	Loss	36–5–3	Sammy Mandell	UD	15	1928-05-21	Polo Grounds, New York City, New York	For lineal lightweight title
43	Win	36–4–3	Sid Terris	KO	1 (10), 1:47	1928-02-24	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
42	Win	35–4–3	Billy Wallace	PTS	10	1927-11-23	Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan
41	Win	34–4–3	Louis Kaplan	KO	8 (10)	1927-10-18	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
40	Win	33–4–3	Don Long	KO	3 (10)	1927-09-23	San Diego Coliseum, San Diego, California
39	Win	32–4–3	Charlie McBride	KO	2 (10)	1927-09-09	San Diego Coliseum, San Diego, California
38	Win	31–4–3	Lope Tenorio	PTS	10	1927-06-24	Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California
37	Win	30–4–3	Johnny Lamar	PTS	10	1927-05-27	Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California
36	Win	29–4–3	Freeman Black	KO	2 (10)	1927-05-06	San Diego Coliseum, San Diego, California
35	Win	28–4–3	Tommy Cello	PTS	10	1927-04-05	Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
34	Draw	27–4–3	Tommy Cello	PTS	10	1927-02-22	Recreation Park, San Francisco, California
33	Loss	27–4–2	Doc Snell	PTS	10	1926-10-15	Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California
32	Win	27–3–2	Joe Glick	PTS	10	1926-09-07	Vernon Arena, Vernon, California
31	Loss	26–3–2	Johnny Farr	PTS	10	1926-03-17	Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
30	Win	26–2–2	Joey Sangor	KO	3 (10)	1926-03-03	Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
29	Loss	25–2–2	Bud Taylor	PTS	10	1926-01-12	Vernon Arena, Vernon, California
28	Win	25–1–2	Bud Taylor	DQ	2 (10)	1925-12-08	Vernon Arena, Vernon, California
27	Win	24–1–2	Jackie Fields	KO	2 (10)	1925-11-12	Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
26	Win	23–1–2	Pancho Villa	PTS	10	1925-07-04	Oaks Park, Emeryville, California	Villa died days later of tooth infection complicated by fighting McLarnin
25	Loss	22–1–2	Bud Taylor	PTS	10	1925-06-02	Vernon Arena, Vernon, California
24	Win	22–0–2	Eddie Spec Ramies	KO	6 (6)	1925-04-18	Recreation Park, San Francisco, California
23	Win	21–0–2	Young Farrell	PTS	6	1925-04-11	Lyceum A.C., Los Angeles, California
22	Win	20–0–2	Teddy Silva	PTS	10	1925-03-24	Vernon Arena, Vernon, California
21	Win	19–0–2	Fidel LaBarba	PTS	10	1925-01-13	Vernon Arena, Vernon, California	Pacific Coast Flyweight Title
20	Draw	18–0–2	Memphis Pal Moore	PTS	4	1924-12-09	Vernon Arena, Vernon, California
19	Draw	18–0–1	Fidel LaBarba	PTS	4	1924-11-11	Vernon Arena, Vernon, California
18	Win	18–0	Fidel LaBarba	PTS	4	1924-10-28	Vernon Arena, Vernon, California
17	Win	17–0	Young Nationalista	PTS	4	1924-10-14	Vernon Arena, Vernon, California
16	Win	16–0	Frankie Dolan	PTS	4	1924-10-07	Vernon Arena, Vernon, California
15	Win	15–0	Benny Diaz	PTS	4	1924-09-30	Vernon Arena, Vernon, California
14	Win	14–0	Mickey Gill	MD	10	1924-8-15	Arena, Vancouver, British Columbia
13	Win	13–0	Abe Gordon	KO	2 (4)	1924-05-14	Oakland Auditorium Arena, Oakland, California
12	Win	12–0	Jimmy Griffiths	PTS	4	1924-05-02	L-st Arena, Sacramento, California
11	Win	11–0	Jockey Joe Dillon	PTS	4	1924-04-30	Oakland Auditorium Arena, Oakland, California
10	Win	10–0	Johnny Jockey Lightner	PTS	4	1924-04-23	Oakland Auditorium Arena, Oakland, California
9	Win	9–0	Frankie Grandetta	PTS	4	1924-04-09	Oakland Auditorium Arena, Oakland, California
8	Win	8–0	Jimmy Griffiths	PTS	4	1924-04-02	Oakland Auditorium Arena, Oakland, California
7	Win	7–0	Sammy Lee	PTS	4	1924-03-26	Oakland Auditorium Arena, Oakland, California
6	Win	6–0	Frankie Sands	PTS	4	1924-03-19	Oakland Auditorium Arena, Oakland, California
5	Win	5–0	Joe Conde	TKO	3 (4)	1924-03-05	Oakland Auditorium Arena, Oakland, California
4	Win	4–0	Eddie Collins	TKO	3 (4)	1924-02-22	Oakland Auditorium Arena, Oakland, California
3	Win	3–0	Frankie Sands	PTS	4	1924-02-13	Oakland Auditorium Arena, Oakland, California
2	Win	2–0	Mickey Gill	MD	7	1923-12-28	Hastings Gym, Vancouver, British Columbia
1	Win	1–0	Young Fry	KO	1 (6)	1923-12-19	Hasting Gym, Vancouver, British Columbia

See also

• List of welterweight boxing champions

References

1. "The Lineal Welterweight Champs". Cyber Boxing Zone.
2. "All-time World welterweights". from BoxRec.com. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
3. Glynn Evans (18 December 2015). "9 Greatest Irish Boxers of All-Time". BoxNation. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
4. Brendan Galbraith (28 June 2013). "Relative of the great Jimmy McLarnin in action in Belfast tonight". Yahoo Sport. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
5. Jack Cavanaugh (10 November 2004). "Jimmy McLarnin, Top Boxer Called Baby Face, Dies at 96". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
6. Mike Lewis (11 November 2004). "McLarnin and Ross" (PDF). The Boxing Biographies Newsletter. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
7. "Obituaries : Jimmy McLarnin". The Observer. 11 November 2004. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
8. "Obituary: Jimmy McLarnin". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
9. Boxrec. "Jimmy McLarnin". Boxrec Fighter Page. Retrieved 13 December 2008.
10. Mike Lewis (11 November 2004). "Jimmy McLarnin". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 April 2009.
11. "IMDB Cast of Big City". IMDb. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
12. "Pretty Boy to HeMan", Dallas Morning News, pg. 12, Dallas, TX., 9 August 1938.
13. "IMDB Cast of Joe Palooka, Champ". IMDb. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
14. Jimmy McLarnin, Top Boxer Called Baby Face, Dies at 96

External links

• Boxing record for Jimmy McLarnin from BoxRec
• Jimmy McLarnin at Find a Grave

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Young Corbett III	World Welterweight Champion 29 May 1933 – 28 May 1934	Succeeded by Barney Ross
Inaugural Champion	The Ring Welterweight Champion 29 May 1933 – 28 May 1934
Preceded by Barney Ross	World Welterweight Champion 17 September 1934 – 28 May 1935
	The Ring Welterweight Champion 17 September 1934 – 28 May 1935