Jimmy O'Hara

James John O'Hara (born James John Ehrich[1]) was a commissioner and then executive secretary for the Minnesota Board of Boxing from 1976–2001. When O'Hara was elected to the Minnesota Board of Boxing, he was a retired light heavyweight amateur and retired professional heavyweight boxer. O'Hara retired from the ring in 1953 with a claim to the Minnesota professional heavyweight title after a win over Don Jasper.[2][3][4]

Boxing Career

Golden Gloves

O'Hara competed in the Northwest Golden Gloves tournament in 1943, 1944, and 1945 as a light heavyweight (with one fight possibly as a welterweight).[5][6][7][8] He was 4-F, unfit for military service, due to gout attacks, which he suffered all his life.

Over the winter of 1943-1944, Jimmy won the St. Paul Golden Gloves tournament as a light-heavy. He finished runner up at the Northwest Golden Gloves tournament, having been rated an even chance to win the championship.[9]

During the 1945 Golden Gloves, a rivalry began between O'Hara and Erle Adkinson that followed the fighters into their professional careers. O'Hara and Adkinson fought three times in 1945, with O'Hara never managing the upper hand over Adkinson.[8][10][11][12]

Minnesota State Heavyweight Champion

O'Hara's unanimous decision over Don Jasper on August 27, 1953, gave him a claim to the Minnesota professional heavyweight title, though there was some controversy, as the fight was only six rounds as opposed to ten.[13][3][4]

Amateur fight record

Date	Opponent	Result
1943
February 4, 1943	Dave Gagaliardi	Win[14]
February 9, 1943	Gene Fensenmeir	Loss, WO[5]
April 28, 1943	Bill Luff	Loss[15]
May 14, 1943	Bill Luff	Loss[16]
July 7, 1943	Pvt. Nick Mauro[17]
October 26, 1943	Les Supkolvis[18]
November 26, 1943	Casey Milespie	Win, KO[19]
November 29, 1943	Roger La Count	Win[20]
December 7, 1943	Al Cotton[21]
1944
February 4, 1944 (Welterweight)	Warren Wellers	Win[6]
February 4, 1944	Dick Woodley	Win[6]
February 8, 1944	Art Skipton	Win, TKO[22]
February 9, 1944	Gene Fesenmaier	Win[23]
February 14, 1944	Waldo Serie	Win[7]
February 14, 1944	Larry Rasley	Loss[7]
February 21, 1944	Bud Bunn[24]
March 6, 1944	Roger La Count[25]
March 17, 1944	Gene Fessenmaier	Win[26]
April 18, 1944	Bud Bunn[27]
May 16, 1944	Joe Stepka	Loss[28]
October 10, 1944	Chuck Hensel	Loss[29]
October 25, 1944	Bill Shoberg	Win[30]
November 3, 1944	Chuck Hensel	Win[31]
November 8, 1944	Bearcat Fischer	Win, KO[32]
November 20, 1944	Budd Bunn	Win[33][34]
December 1, 1944	Budd Bunn	Win, TKO[35]
1945
January 12, 1945	Dick Radman	Win[36]
January 26, 1945	Jim Tappe	Win[37]
January 30, 1945	Erle (Earl[38]) Adkinson	Loss[8]
March 16, 1945	Alton Thostenson	Win[39]
March 20, 1945	Erle (Earl) Adkinson	Loss[10]

Professional fight record

Source[40]

Date	Opponent	Result
1945
May 18, 1945	Jack Taylor	Win, KO
June 8, 1945	Earl Adkinson	Loss, KO
1948
April 8, 1948	Willie Dee Jones	Loss, PTS
September 7, 1948	Willie Dee Jones	Loss, PTS
1950
June 1, 1950	Big Jack Herman	Win, KO
June 14, 1950	Big Jack Herman	Loss, KO
September 27, 1950	Tony Gallus	Win, PTS
1953
March 5, 1953	Tom Tierney	Win, TKO
August 27, 1953	Don Jasper	Win, PTS
October 27, 1953	Jack Wagner	Loss, TKO
November 24, 1953	Joe Thomas	Win, KO

Minnesota Boxing Commissioner

O'Hara was appointed to the Minnesota Board of Boxing in 1976 by Minnesota Governor Wendell Anderson.[41] Soon after, O'Hara was voted by the board to serve as its executive secretary, a paid advisory position, in which capacity he served for 25 years.[42][2]

"He was a great mediator and diplomat," said Joe Azzone, past Chair of the Boxing Board. [43] "I always thought Jim was the wisest guy I ever met," said international boxing referee Denny Nelson. "He knew how to handle people."[44]

O'Hara was one of four long-term leaders in the history of boxing regulation in Minnesota. The others were George Barton (who served 27 years), Jack Gibbons (19 years), and Scott LeDoux (23 years, including 18 years with O'Hara). A journalist for over 50 years, Barton received in 1952 the James J. Walker Award from the Boxing Writers' Association of New York. Jack Gibbons, the son of boxing legend Mike Gibbons, boxed professionally as a light-heavy and retired with a record of 57 wins (20 by KO), five losses (none by KO), and one draw. LeDoux was a former heavyweight contender in the 1970s.

Personal life and death

Mike O'Hara

On November 3, 1951, Jimmy O'Hara's brother and fellow boxer, Michael Ehrich (known as Mike O'Hara), was shot and killed by Bernard L. "Mutt" Martineau.[45] Martineau was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to ten to twenty years in Stillwater prison.[46] After his retirement from the ring, Jimmy helped create a boxing program at Stillwater prison.[2]

Cancer

Jimmy O'Hara died January 17, 2002, from late-stage bladder cancer.[2]

Legacy

Mr. Boxing

Jimmy O'Hara was inducted into the Minnesota Boxing Hall of Fame in 2014.[47] His commemoration reads, in part:

"He was an iconic figure on the streets of St. Paul [Minnesota], a man recognized by countless of his fellow citizens. He was very simply Mr. Boxing."[47]

O'Hara's ring performances alone would not have gotten him in the Minnesota Boxing Hall of Fame; he is ultimately recognized for his work outside the squared circle, including 25 years as head of the Minnesota Boxing Board. [48]

Upon Jimmy's death in 2002, St. Paul Pioneer Press sportswriter Tom Powers offered this assessment: "O'Hara, as much a part of the fabric of St. Paul as the cathedral or the capitol building, worked with promoters, handlers and fighters, always gently steering them in the right direction. He could tell them where to get proper health insurance as easily as he could recommend a qualified referee.[49]

O'Hara's legacy to the world of boxing is the reminder to do your research and, when making decisions, figure long term like a good referee. [50]

References

1. "Jimmy O'Hara". BoxRec. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
2. Collins, Terry (January 21, 2002). "Boxing's O'Hara, 76, dies". Minneapolis Star Tribune. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
3. PPNS (Aug 28, 1953). "O'Hara Beats Jasper in Duluth Test". St. Paul Pioneer Press.
4. Riley, Don (Jun 13, 1976). "Don Riley's Eye Opener". St. Paul Pioneer Press.
5. "Glove Results". The Minneapolis Star. February 10, 1943.
6. "Glove Summary". The Minneapolis Star. February 5, 1944.
7. "Glove Results". Star Tribune. Feb 15, 1944.
8. "Four Finals on Slate Tonight". The Minneapolis Star. Jan 31, 1945. Retrieved Jan 22, 2020.
9. Louis H. Gollop, Stepka, Lentsh, O'Hara Rated "Even Chance" in Golden Gloves Finals, St. Paul Pioneer Press, February 13, 1944, page 1 (Sports).
10. "Adkinson Tops O'Hara Again". Star Tribune. Mar 21, 1945. Retrieved Jan 22, 2020.
11. "Johnny, Erle Meet as Pros". The Minneapolis Star. May 29, 1945. Retrieved Apr 16, 2020.
12. "Williams in Red, to Promote Again". The Minneapolis Star. Jun 9, 1945. Retrieved Apr 16, 2020.
13. "Jasper, O'Hara Battle". Duluth Herald. Aug 27, 1976.
14. "St. Paul Gloves". The Minneapolis Star. February 4, 1943.
15. "Del Cockayne Wins Verdict". The Minneapolis Star. 29 April 1943. Retrieved Aug 14, 2019.
16. "Agness Beats Marr in Snelling Bout". The Minneapolis Star.
17. "O'Hara's Head Snelling Card". The Minneapolis Star. July 2, 1943.
18. "Tyler to Sub for Cockaynes". The Minneapolis Star. October 26, 1943.
19. "Graves Again Wins 'Split'". The Minneapolis Star. November 27, 1943.
20. "31 Gophers Awarded Letters". The Minneapolis Star. November 30, 1943.
21. "Heavies Top Boxing Card". The Minneapolis Star. December 7, 1943.
22. "Results Tuesday". The Minneapolis Star. Feb 9, 1944.
23. "1944 02 10 Golden Glove Meet Results". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2019-08-28.
24. Barton, George A. (Feb 18, 1944). "Opponent sought for Spotts on Ascension fight program". Star Tribune. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
25. "La Count Heads Monday's Card". Star Tribune. Mar 4, 1944.
26. "Stepka Proves His Point--by Decision". The Minneapolis Star. Mar 18, 1944.
27. "Mert Herrick on St. Paul Card". Star Tribune. April 16, 1944. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
28. "Stepka Decisions O'Hara". Star Tribune. May 17, 1944.
29. "Chuck Hensel Beats O'Hara". The Minneapolis Star. Oct 11, 1944.
30. "Herrick Defeats Slayton Fighter". Star Tribune. Oct 26, 1944.
31. "Herrick, O'Hara Win in St. Paul". The Minneapolis Star. Nov 4, 1944.
32. "Herrick Loses at Rochester". Star Tribune. Nov 9, 1944.
33. "Bunn vs. O'Hara in Bout Tonight". The Minneapolis Star. Nov 20, 1944.
34. "O'Hara Decisions Bud Bunn in Amatuer Mitt Inaugural". Star Tribune. Nov 21, 1944.
35. "O'Hara Wins TKO in St. Paul Fight". The Minneapolis Star. Dec 2, 1944.
36. "Slavin Loses to Red Meath". Star Tribune. Jan 13, 1945. Retrieved Jan 6, 2020.
37. Barton, George A. (Jan 27, 1945). "O'Hara in Close Win in St. Paul". Star Tribune. Retrieved Jan 6, 2020.
38. "O'Hara Upset in St. Paul Finals". Star Tribune. Jan 31, 1945. Retrieved Jan 22, 2020.
39. "Glove Results". Star Tribune. Mar 17, 1945. Retrieved Jan 22, 2020.
40. "BoxRec: Jimmy O'Hara". boxrec.com. Retrieved 2019-06-04.
41. SNS (Jun 10, 1976). "Hibbing High coaches quit". The Minneapolis Star. Retrieved Apr 6, 2020.
42. "O'Hara elected to post on State Boxing Commission". The Minneapolis Star. Aug 27, 1976. Retrieved Apr 6, 2020.
43. Terry Collins, Jim O'Hara Dies; He Ran the State Boxing Board, Minneapolis Star Tribune, January 21, 2002, page B5, col. 1.
44. Jim Wells, Jim O'Hara, 76, Boxing Official, St. Paul Pioneer Press, January 19, 2002, Obituaries, City Edition.
45. "Push Probe of Slaying in St. Paul". The Minneapolis Star. Nov 5, 1951. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
46. AP (Feb 5, 1952). "Man Gets Ten Years for Manslaughter". Winona Daily News. Retrieved Apr 13, 2020.
47. "Minnesota Boxing Hall of Fame - Expanded: Jim O'Hara". Minnesota Boxing Hall of Fame. Retrieved Apr 17, 2020.
48. See id.
49. Tom Powers, Boxing Lost a Friend with O'Hara's Passing, St. Paul Pioneer Press, January 23, 2002, page D1, column 2.
50. See id.