Paddy Duffy

Paddy Duffy (12 November 1864 in Boston, Massachusetts – 10 July 1890) was an American boxer of Irish descent. He was considered the first world welterweight champion of boxing's gloved era.

For the Irish nationalist politician, see Paddy Duffy (politician).
Paddy Duffy
Statistics
Weight(s)Welterweight
Height5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Nationality American
BornNovember 12, 1864
Boston, Massachusetts
DiedJuly 10, 1890(1890-07-10) (aged 25)
Boston, Massachusetts[1]
StanceOrthodox
Right-handed
Boxing record
Total fights50
Wins31
Wins by KO18
Losses3
Draws16

Boxing career highlights

Paddy Duffy was born on November 12, 1864 to an Irish-American family in Boston. According to one source he worked for a while in his youth as a bootblack or shoeshine in a Boston West End saloon. He began his career as a boxer around 1883.[2]

Duffy won his first professional fight by knockout over Skin Doherty around February 1, 1884 at the age of 19.[3]

In 1884, he fought three bouts with Paddy Sullivan in Massachusetts with the first two ending in draws, and the third on June 28, 1884 ending in a six round win by points decision in Gloucester according to the Boston Daily Globe. The bout was fast and hotly contested but the referee ruled in Duffy's favor.[3][4]

Jack McGee

He lost to hard hitting Jack McGee in Boston on December 19, 1884 in a fast second round knockout before a crowd of around 100. Both contestants were Boston natives, though McGee was four years older. After this rare knockout loss, Duffy lost only once more in his career.[5][3]

Black boxer Walter Edgerton, better known as "Kentucky Rosebud" fell to Duffy in a four round points decision in Philadelphia on July 28, 1886. Though Duffy towered over his opponent, Edgerton gave an even fight in the third scoring with a right to the side of his opponents head near the end of the round. The fit black boxer stood up to considerable punishment in the short contest and used agility and speed to avoid many of the blows he received in the first round. Duffy dominated the first two rounds, knocking his opponent to the mat in the first, and though the fourth began cautiously, he backed Edgerton against the ropes inflicting a rain of blows. Edgerton performed a double shuffle at the end of the bout, and though he often entertained during his matches, he was a serious pugilist.[6]

Billy Frazier

Duffy fought Billy Frazier to a four round draw on January 14, 1887 at the Adelphi Ring in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Additional meetings, fought as exhibitions took place with Frazier that winter and into the spring. Frazier was a well-known short, muscular, scientifically skilled boxer, who would later teach boxing at Harvard College.[7]

Duffy drew with Bill Dunn on March 1, 1887 at the Theatre Comique in Philadelphia. The bout was close, with intense fighting on both sides, particularly in the third round, when Duffy went frequently to Dunn's mid-section. The fourth saw Duffy scoring frequently again to Dunn's midsection, and at least twice to his eye, though he was not quite able to finish him due to clinching. The Times of Philadelphia felt Duffy had the better of the bout by a shade, but the referee called a draw to the close contest.[8]

He fought a four fight series with Jack McGinty in Boston in 1887, which ended in a seven round win on April 19, two seven round draws in May and October, and an eight round draw on November 17, 1888. The club which sponsored their bout did not allow more than eight round bouts.[3] Duffy defeated McGinty on February 9, 1888, by a ninth technical knockout before a crowd of around 300. The match had been close until McGinty broke his thumb in the ninth, and was forced to retire at the end of the round. McGinty had seemed exhausted by the end of the sixth, but recovered enough to fight on.[9] The Boston Globe, recognizing the skill of both boxers, considered their 1888 meeting an American welterweight championship.[10]

Duffy won a fourth round technical knockout against Tom Murphy on May 10, 1888. In a close bout, Duffy staggered Murphy at the close of the second that may have allowed him to subsequently end the bout, if not for the closing bell. Making it clear the match was nearing an end, Duffy dominated the third, punching Murphy across the ring, with little return, and putting him down twice for brief counts. In the fourth, a right from Duffy sent Murphy down for a long count of twelve, and when he arose, Duffy put him to the mat four additional times.[11]

In a bout with Charles Gleason, on January 7, 1889, Duffy was given "the fight of his life", in a ten round points decision in Boston. The official ruling was a draw, but Gleason proved a hard hitter and a clever sparrer and was game throughout the match. Gleason seemed to do his better work in the later rounds, pushing the judges to make the draw ruling.[12]

Taking the world welterweight championship, October, 1888

Duffy fought an important bout against William McMillan on October 30, 1888, winning from a seventeenth round foul, around Fort Foote, Virginia, South of Washington D.C. McMillan had taken the championship of both Lancastershire England against Tom Keenan and of Scotland against Tom Kelly around 1887.[7] Both competitors wore thin, skin tight gloves.[3] As a result of McMillan's championship status, Duffy claimed the world welterweight championship after his victory, though it was recognized mostly in the United States at the time. After the fourteenth round, Duffy clearly dominated the fighting with brutal blows to McMillan. The bout was fought before an audience of around 100 near the shore of the Potomac for a purse of around $350 and lasted around one hour and eight minutes. Duffy was not considered seriously injured after the bout, except for his hands, though McMillan was considered in a dangerous condition from the long and brutal exchange, with serious swelling in his right eye.[13] According to the Saint Paul Globe, and other sources the fight was called from a foul when McMillan headbutted Duffy in the final round, though head butting fouls by McMillan may have started as early as the eleventh round. According to one source, the actual fighting took place in an old barn with a ring, six miles south of Washington D.C.[14][15][16][17]

Securing the championship against Tom Meadows, March, 1889

He secured the world welterweight title against British-born Australian champion Tom Meadows on March 29, 1889 in an exhausting 45 round bout at San Francisco's California Athletic Club. The purse was $1,000, and light gloves were used. One reporter wrote that spectators lost interest when both fighters occasionally ceased boxing in the latter rounds, with Meadows leaning on a post, and Duffy folding his arms in the center of the ring. It would have been deadly in a forty-five round bout for both boxers to have been in continuous combat. Meadows was down four times in the forty-third round and three times more in the forty-fourth.[3][18] According to Chicago's Inter-Ocean, McMillan fouled when he realized he could not win the bout, and started as early as the tenth round. Duffy won from a disqualification in the final round that was caused by a head butt from Meadows according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Meadows was weak and groggy by the forth-fifth and clinching frequently, which gave him greater opportunity to butt with his head. The referee agreed when Duffy's seconds claimed the head butting foul.[19]

According to Cyber Boxing Zone, Duffy fought three additional fights in 1889, an exhibition with Patsy Kerrigan on April 24, a no decision bout with Jimmy Conley in May, and a second no decision benefit bout with Johnny Reagan in Brooklyn on August 26, though these bouts were less well publicized.[7]

Death at 25 from tuberculosis

Just over a year after his win over Tom Meadows, while still reigning champion, he died of tuberculosis, then known as consumption, on July 10, 1890, at the age of 25, at his home at 5 Endicott Court in North Boston. He had been diagnosed with an incurable lung and heart ailment around six months earlier, though may have suffered from the illness for at least a year. Friends attributed his health problems to his boxing career, particularly his last brutal bout with Tom Meadows where he received frequent blows to his chest.[1] He ended his career with a 33-3-21 win-loss-draw record with 18 knockout victories. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2008.[20][21]

Professional boxing record
Professional record summary
49 fights 32 wins 1 loss
By knockout 18 1
By decision 13 0
By disqualification 1 0
Draws 16
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
49 Win 31–3–16 Tom Meadows DQ 45 (?) Mar 29, 1889 California A.C., San Francisco Retained lineal welterweight title
Duffy died from tuberculosis on July 10, 1890.
48 Draw 30–3–16 Charles Gleason PTS 10 Jan 07, 1889 Pelican Club, Boston
48 Win 30–3–15 Billy McMillian KO 17 (?) Oct 30, 1888 Fort Foote Won inaugural lineal welterweight title
47 Draw 29–3–15 Dick Moorehouse PTS 6 Jun 13, 1888 Way Street Gymnasium, Boston
46 Win 29–3–14 Paddy Sullivan RTD 8 (10) Jun 12, 1888 Racquet Club, Providence
45 Win 28–3–14 Tom Murphy TKO 4 (?) May 10, 1888 Athenian Club, Boston
44 Win 27–3–14 Dan Custy TKO 3 (?) Apr 14, 1888 Athenian Club, Boston
43 Win 26–3–14 Jack McGinty TKO 9 (10) Feb 09, 1888 Athenian Club, Boston
42 Win 25–3–14 Jim Meehan PTS 7 (?) Jan 17, 1888 Athenian Club, Boston
41 Draw 24–3–14 Jack McGinty PTS 8 Nov 17, 1887 Athenian Club, Boston
40 Draw 24–3–13 Jack McGinty PTS 7 May 17, 1887 Athenian Club, Boston
39 Win 24–3–12 Jack McGinty PTS 7 Apr 19, 1887 Athenian Club, Boston
38 Draw 23–3–12 Frank Burke PTS 4 Mar 05, 1887 Theatre Comique, Philadelphia
37 Draw 23–3–11 Fred Woods PTS 4 Mar 03, 1887 Theatre Comique, Philadelphia
36 Win 23–3–10 Bill Dunn KO 3 (?) Mar 02, 1887 Boston
35 Draw 22–3–10 Bill Dunn PTS 4 Mar 01, 1887 Theatre Comique, Philadelphia
34 Win 22–3–9 Tommy Wells KO 5 (?) Feb 18, 1887 Athenian Club, Boston
33 Draw 21–3–9 Bill Frazier PTS 4 Jan 14, 1887 Adelphi Rink, New Bedford
32 Draw 21–3–8 Tom Wall PTS 4 Aug 21, 1886 Clarks Club, Philadelphia
31 Win 21–3–7 Tommy Merrill TKO 3 (4) Aug 20, 1886 Clarks Club, Philadelphia
30 Win 20–3–7 Frank Burke PTS 4 Aug 16, 1886 Clarks Club, Philadelphia
29 Loss 19–3–7 Billy Teese PTS 4 Aug 07, 1886 Clarks Club, Philadelphia
28 Win 19–2–7 Charles Bull McCarthy PTS 4 Aug 06, 1886 Clarks Club, Philadelphia
27 Draw 18–2–7 Charles Gleason PTS 4 Aug 04, 1886 Clarks Club, Philadelphia
26 Win 18–2–6 Charley Hermon KO 2 (8) Aug 02, 1886 Clarks Club, Philadelphia
25 Draw 17–2–6 Frank Burke PTS 4 Jul 31, 1886 Clark's Theatre, Philadelphia
24 Win 17–2–5 Kentucky Rosebud PTS 4 Jul 28, 1886 Clarks Club, Philadelphia
23 Win 16–2–5 Charles Gleason PTS 4 Jul 27, 1886 Clarks Club, Philadelphia
22 Win 15–2–5 Charles Gleason PTS 4 Jul 17, 1886 Philadelphia
21 Win 14–2–5 Charley White PTS 4 Jul 05, 1886 Philadelphia
20 Win 13–2–5 Frank Brooks PTS 4 Jul 01, 1886 Philadelphia
19 Win 12–2–5 Butler's Unknown PTS 4 Jun 15, 1886 Unknown
18 Win 11–2–5 Pete Conley PTS 4 Jun 10, 1886 Philadelphia
17 Win 10–2–5 Danny Shea KO 7 (?) May 1, 1886 Baltimore
16 Win 9–2–5 George Milton KO 2 (?) Apr 24, 1886 Washington
15 Win 8–2–5 Billy Nalley KO 4 (?) Apr 22, 1886 Washington
14 Win 7–2–5 Billy Young KO 2 (?) Mar 01, 1886 Baltimore
13 Draw 6–2–5 Billy Young PTS 6 Jan 28, 1886 Baltimore
12 Win 6–2–4 Bill Rosamond KO 4 (?) Oct 27, 1885 Boston
11 Draw 5–2–4 George Wilson PTS 4 Jun 08, 1885 Riverside Kennel Club Rooms, Boston
10 Win 5–2–3 Dan Murphy KO 3 (?) Feb 18, 1885 Boston
9 Loss 4–2–3 Jack McGee KO 2 (?) Dec 19, 1884 Boston
8 Draw 4–1–3 Tug Collins PTS 6 Oct 31, 1884 Boston
7 Loss 4–1–2 Paddy Sullivan PTS 6 Jun 28, 1884 Western Ave A.C., Gloucester
6 Draw 4–0–2 Paddy Sullivan PTS 6 Jun 25, 1884 Hub A.C., Boston
5 Draw 4–0–1 Paddy Sullivan PTS 6 Jun 01, 1884 Lowell
4 Win 4–0 Bob Lyons KO 4 (?) May 15, 1884 Boston
3 Win 3–0 Bob Lyons KO 11 (?) Apr 01, 1884 Boston
2 Win 2–0 Young Shannon PTS 4 Mar 01, 1884 Boston
1 Win 1–0 Skin Doherty KO 3 (?) Feb 01, 1884 Boston
gollark: Oh no.
gollark: Fix it or you will not have fixed it.
gollark: Doesn't exist, yes.
gollark: I would say in polls, but that appears to not exist.
gollark: I should really be made admin again, for purposes.

See also

References
  1. Died at his home in "Death of a Pugilist", The San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco, California, pg. 5, 11 July 1890
  2. "Death of a Pugilist", The San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco, California, pg. 5, 11 July 1890
  3. "Paddy Duffy". Boxrec.com. Retrieved 2014-05-07.
  4. Hotly contested bout in Gloucester in Boston Daily Globe, Boston, Massachusetts, pg. 6, 29 June 1884
  5. "Pugilistic", The Evening Telegraph, Buffalo, New York, pg. 1, 20 December 1884
  6. "A Plucky Colored Pugilist", The Times, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, pg. 1, 29 July 1886
  7. "Paddy Duffy". Cyber Boxing Zone. Retrieved 2018-05-07.
  8. "Duffy and Dunn", The Times, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, pg. 1, 2 March 1887
  9. "Jack McGinty Breaks His Thumb", Chicago Tribune, Chicago, Illinois, pg. 2, 10 February 1888
  10. Both boxers were in a championship bout, "Duffy-McGinty Fight", The Boston Globe, Boston, Massachusetts, pg. 4, 8 February 1888
  11. "Good All-Round Battles", The Boston Globe, Boston, Massachusetts, pg. 2, 11 May 1888
  12. "Paddy Duffy Wins", Pittsburgh Dispatch, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pg. 6, 8 January 1889
  13. Roberts, James B. and Skutt, Alexander, Boxing Register; International Boxing Hall of Fame, (2006), Fourth Edition, McBooks Press, Ithaca, New York, pg. 24
  14. "Done Up By Duffy", Saint Paul Globe, St. Paul, Minnesota, pg. 5, 1 November 1888
  15. Fight was called for a head butt foul in "Duffy Defeats McMillan", The Inter-Ocean, Chicago, Illinois, pg. 2, 1 November 1888
  16. Fought near the Potomac Shore and ended in a foul also in "Very Latest", The Caldwell Advance, Caldwell, Kansas, pg. 4, 8 November 1888
  17. Lasted on hour and eight minutes, and head butting started by the twelfth round in "Prize Fight on the Potomac", The Sun, New York, New York, pg. 7, 1 November 1888
  18. "A Championship Fight", The Daily Courier, San Bernardino, California, pg. 1, 30 March 1889
  19. Foul was a headbutt in "Duffy Wins On a Foul", The San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco, California, pg. 1, 30 March 1889
  20. "Paddy Duffy". International Boxing Hall of Fame. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
  21. Died of tuberculosis in "Paddy Duffy is Dying", The Evening World, New York, New York, pg. 3, 4 January 1890
Achievements
Inaugural Champion World Welterweight Champion
October 30, 1888 – July 1890
Died from tuberculosis		 Vacant
Title next held by
Mysterious Billy Smith
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