Significant dates before 1800's
1856: Simon Endighfy KO 5 Charley Lynch (wins world bantamweight title) 1858: October 15, John L. Sullivan was born 1859: Charley Lynch KO 43 Simon Endighfy, London, England (wins world bantamweight title) 1861: July 3, Peter Jackson was born World bantamweight champion Charley Lynch retires. 1862: December 15, Jack "The Nonpareil" Dempsey was born 1863: May 25, Bob Fitsimmons was born as Robert James Fizsimmons 1866: March 24, Jack McAuliffe was born September 1, James J. Corbett was born 1868: November 8, Joe Choynski was born as Joseph Bartlett Choynski 1869: April 15, Young Griffo was born as Albert Griffiths December 6, George "Kid" Lavigne was born 1870: March 31, Tommy Ryan was born as Joseph Youngs July 29, George Dixon was born 1871: May 15, Mysterious Billy Smith was born June 10, Battling Levinsky was born 1872: October 13, Charles "Kid" McCoy was born 1873: March 13, Joe Walcott was born 1874: November 25, Joe Gans was born as Joseph Gaines 1875: January 8, Frank Erne was born April 15, James J. Jeffries was born 1876: May 25, Jack Root was born 1878: January 17, Philadelphia Jack O’Brien was born as James Francis Hagen March 31, Jack Johnson was born as John Arthur Johnson 1879: August 26, Joe Jeannette was born 1880: March 9, Terry McGovern was born as John Terrence McGovern December 15, Jem Driscoll was born 1881: June 17, Tommy Burns was born as Noah Brusso December 29, Jess Willard was born 1882: February 7, John L. Sullivan KO 9 Paddy Ryan (Wins Bareknuckle Heavyweight Title) June 5, Battling Nelson was born as Oscar Matthew Nielson 1883: March 4, Sam Langford was born May 14, John L. Sullivan KO 3 Charley Mitchell, New York City, New York, USA 1884: February 22, Abe Attell was born March 24, Jack McAuliffe makes pro debut. July 30, Jack "The Nonpareil" Dempsey KO 22 George Fulljames, Staten Island, USA (wins first World Middleweight title) 1885: August 29, John L. Sullivan W 6 Dominick McCaffrey, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA (Wins first Marquis of Queensbury World Heavyweight Title) October 14, Jack Britton was born 1886: February 3, Jack "NonPareil" Dempsey KO 27 Jack Fogarty, New York City, USA (retains world middleweight title) March 4, Jack "NonPareil" Dempsey KO 13 George LaBlanche, Larchmont, New York,USA (retains world middleweight title) March 5, Freddie Welsh was born as Frederick Hall Thomas September 7, George "Kid" Lavigne KO 1 Morris McNally, Saginaw, Michigan, USA (Lavigne’s pro debut) September 14, Stanley Ketchel was born October 29, Jack McAuliffe KO 21 Billy Frazier, Boston, Massasschutes, USA (wins world lightweight title) November 1, George Dixon KO 3 Young Johnson (Dixon’s pro debut) November 13, John L. Sullivan KO 3 Paddy Ryan, San Francisco, California, USA 1887: January 14, Jack McAuliffe KO 28 Harry Gilmore, Lawrence, Kansas, USA (retains world lightweight title) July 20, Mike Gibbons was born November 16, Jack McAuliffe D 74 Jem Carney, Revere, Massasschutes, USA (retains world lightweight title) December 13, Jack "Nonpareil" Dempsey KO 15 Johnny Regan, Manhasset, New York,USA (retains world middleweight title) December 24, Hughey Boyle KO 8 Tommy Kelly, Harlem, New York, USA (wins world bantamweight title) 1888: ?? world bantamweight champion Hughey Boyle retires. February 8, Ad Wolgast was born March 10, John L. Sullivan D 39 Charley Mitchell, Chantilly, France (retains Bare-knuckle World Heavyweight Title) October 10, Jack McAuliffe KO 10 Billy Dacey, Dover, New Jersey, USA (retains world lightweight title) October 30, Paddy Duffy KO 17 Billy McMillan, Fort Foote, Maryland, USA (wins world welterweight title) November 15, Jack "The Nonpareil" Dempsey D 6 Mike Donovan, Brooklyn, New York, 1889: February 3, Jack McAuliffe D 64 Billy Myer, Judson, Illinois , USA (retains world lightweight title) March 29, Paddy Duffy W D.Q 45 Tom Meadows, San Francisco, California, USA (retains world welterweight title) April 18, Johnny Kilbane was born May 21, Chappie Moran KO 14 Frank Donovan, Staten Island, New York, USA (wins world bantamweight title) June 5, James J. Corbett KO 27 Joe Choynski, Benecia, California, USA June 5, Chappie Moran KO 10 Tommy Kelly, ??, New York, USA (retains world bantamweight title) July 15, James J. Corbett W 4 Joe Choynski, San Francisco, California, USA 1890: January 13, Billy Murphy KO 14 Ike O'Nei, San Francisco, California, USA (Wins world featherweight title) January 31, Tommy Kelly KO 10 Chappie Moran, New York City, New York, USA (wins world bantamweight title) February 18 Jack "NonPareil" Dempsey KO 28 Billy McCarthy, San Francisco, USA (retains world middleweight title) March 5, Tommy Kelly KO 3 Benny Murphy, New York City, New York, USA (retains world bantamweight title) March 31, Jack McAuliffe KO 47 Jimmy Carroll, San Francisco, California, USA (wins world lightweight title) July 18, welterweight champion Paddy Duffy dies. September 3, Billy Murphy TKO 15 Young Griffo, Sydney, Australia (retains world featherweight title) 1891: January 14, Bob Fitzsimmons KO 13 Jack "The Nonpareil" Dempsey, New Orleans, USA (Wins world middleweight title) January 31, George Dixon TKO 22 Cal McCarthy, Troy, New York, USA (retains world featherweight title) February 2, Jack Dillon was born as Ernest Cutler Price March 12, Young Griffo W D.Q 20 George Powell, Sydney, Australia (retains disputed version of world featherweight title) July 28, George Dixon KO 5 Abe Williams, San Francisco, California, USA (retains world featherweight title) August 9, Tommy Ryan KO 3 Billy McMillan, Richardson, Texas, USA (wins disputed version of the world welterweight title) December 13, Tommy Ryan KO 14 Frank Howson, Chicago, Illinois, USA (retains disputed version of world welterweight title)
1892
May 30 - Peter Jackson KO 10 Frank Slavin, London, England June 27 - George Dixon KO 14 Fred Johnson, Coney Island, New York, USA (retains world featherweight title) September 5 - Jack McAuliffe KO 15 Billy Meyer, New Orleans, Louisians, USA (world lightweight title) September 6 - George Dixon KO 8 Jack Skelly, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA (retains world featherweight title) September 7 - James J. Corbett KO 21 John L. Sullivan, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA (wins world heavyweight title) March 2 - Bob Fitzsimmons KO 12 Peter Maher, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA May 9 - Billy Plimmer KO 10 Tommy Kelly, Coney Island, New York, USA (wins world bantamweight title) December 14 - Mysterious Billy Smith KO 14 Danny Needham, San Francisco, California, USA (wins disputed version of world welterweight title) Boxing Wise Fighter of the Year: James J. Corbett Boxing Wise Fight of the Year: James J. Corbett KO 21 John L. Sullivan
1893
March 8 - Bob Fitszimmons KO 4 Jem Hall, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA April 6 - Andy Bowen D 110 Jack Burke, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA April 17 - Mysterious Billy Smith KO 2 Tom Williams, New York City, New York, USA (retains disputed version of the world welterweight title) May 31 - Andy Bowen KO 85 Jack Everhardt, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA August 8 - George Dixon KO 3 Eddie Pierce, Coney Island, New York, USAA (retains world featherweight title) September 25 - George Dixon KO 7 Solly Smith, Coney Island, New York, USA December 5 - Jimmy Barry KO 17 Jack Levy, Roby, Indiana, USA (wins world flyweight title) December 5 - Kid Williams was born as John Gutenko Boxing Wise Fighter of the year: Jimmy Barry Boxing Wise Fight of the year: George Dixon KO 7 Solly Smith
1894
January 12 - Georges Carpentier was born January 14 - Bob Fitzimmons KO 2 Dan Creedon, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA (retains world middleweight title) January 25 - James J. Corbett KO 3 Charley Mitchell, Jacksonville, Florida, USA (retains world heavyweight title) February 10 - George "Kid" Lavigne D 8 Young Griffo, New York City, New York, USA June 6 - Harry Greb born as Edward Henry Greb June 17 - Joe Choynski D 5 Bob Fitzsimmons, Boston, Massasschutes, USA June 29 - George Dixon D 20 Young Griffo, Boston, Massasschutes, USA July 26 - Tommy Ryan W 20 Mysterious Blly Smith, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA (wins world welterweight title) August 27 - Jack McAuliffe W 10 Young Griffo, New York City, New York, USA September 15 - Jimmy Barry KO 28 Casper Leon, Lamont, Illinois, USA (wins world flyweight title) September 24 - Billy Plimmer D 25 Johnny Murphy, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA (retains world bantamweight title) October 24 - Ted "Kid" Lewis was born December 14 - George Lavigne KO 18 Andy Bowen, New Orleans, Louisiana, (Bowen dies after hitting his head on the unpadded floors) Boxing Wise Fighter of the Year: Bob Fitzsimmons Boxing Wise Fight of the Year: Tommy Ryan KO 28 Mysterious Billy Smith
1895
January 18 - Tommy Ryan KO 3 Jack "The Nonpareil" Dempsey, Coney Island, New York, USA (retains world welterweight title) January 19 - George Dixon D 25 Young Griffo, Coney Island, New York, USA May 25 - Billy Plimmer KO 7 George Corfield, London, England (retains world bantamweight title) May 27 - Tommy Ryan NC 18 Mysterious Billy Smith, Coney Island, New York, USA June 24 - Jack Dempsey was born as William Harrison Dempsey August 5 - Tiger Flowers was born as Theodore Flowers August 27 - George Dixon W 15 Johnny Griffin, Boston, Massasschutes, USA (retains world featherweight title) October 12 - Kid Lavigne D 20 Young Griffo, Masbeth, New York, USA October 28 - George Dixon D 10 Young Griffo, New York City, New York, USA October 31 - Les Darcy was born November 11 - Peter Maher KO 1 Steve O'Donnell, Long Island, USA November 25 - Pedlar Palmer KO 14 Billy Plimmer, London, England (wins world bantamweight title) December 2 - George Lavigne W 15 Joe Walcott, Long Island, USA Boxing Wise Fighter of the Year: George Lavigne Boxing Wise Fight of the Year: George Dixon D 25 Young Griffo
1896
February 12 - Pete Herman was born as Peter Gulotta February 21 - Bob Fitzsimmons KO 1 Peter Maher, Langtry, Texas, USA March 2 - Kid McCoy KO 15 Tommy Ryan, Long Island, USA (wins a disputed version of the world middleweight title) April 7 - Benny Leonard was born as Benjamin Leiner May 6 - Kid McCoy W D.Q 6 Mysterious Billy Smith, Boston, Massaschutess, USA (retains disputed version of world middleweight title) June 1 - George Lavigne KO 17 Dick Burge, London, England (wins vacant world lightweight title) September 3 - Battling Nelson KO 1 Wallace’s Kid, Hammond, Indiana, USA (Nelson’s pro debut) September 25 - George Dixon D 20 Tommy White, New York City, New York, USA (retains world featherweight title) October 12 - Pedlar Palmer W 20 Johnny Murphy, London, England (retains world bantamweight title) October 27 - George Lavigne KO 24 Jack Everhardt, New York City, New York, USA (retains world lightweight title) November 27 - Frankie Erne W 20 George Dixon, New York City, New York, USA (wins world featherweight title) December 2 - Tom Sharkey W D.Q 8 Bob Fitzsimmons, San Francisco, California, USA December 23 - Tommy Ryan KO 4 Bill Payne, Syracuse, New York, USA (retains world welterweight title) December 26 - Kid McCoy KO 9 Billy Doherty Johannesburg, South Africa (retains disputed version of world middleweight title) Boxing Wise Fighter of the Year: George Lavigne Boxing Wise Fight of the Year: Kid McCoy KO 15 Tommy Ryan
1897
February 8 - George Lavigne W 25 Packy McPartland, New York City, New York, USA (retains world lightweight title) February 24 - Tommy Ryan KO 9 Tom Tracy, Syracuse, New York, USA (retains world welterweight title) April 7 - George Dixon W 25 Frank Erne, New York City, New York, USA (wins back world featherweight title) April 28 - George Lavigne KO 11 Eddie Connolly, New York City, New York, USA (retains world lightweight title) March 17 - Bob Fitzsimmons KO 14 James J. Corbett, Carson City, Nevada, USA (wins world heavyweight title) George Green KO 12 Mysterious Billy Smith, Carson City, Nevada, USA (wins disputed version of the world welterweight title) May 26 - Gene Tunney was born as James Joseph Tunney August 26 - Joe Walcott KO 18 George Green, San Francisco, California, USA September 8 - Charles "Kid" McCoy NC 5 Tommy Ryan, Syracuse, New York, USA September 21 - Joe Gans D 15 Young Griffo, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA October 4 - Solly Smith W 20 George Dixon, San Francisco, California, USA (wins world featherweight title) October 18 - Pedlar Palmer W 20 Dave Sullivan, London, England (retains world bantamweight title) October 29 - George "Kid" Lavinge W 12 Joe Walcott, San Francisco, California, USA (retains world ligtweight title) November 30 - James J. Jefferies D 20 Joe Choynski, San Francisco, California, USA December 6 - Jimmy Barry KO 20 Walter Croot, London, England (retains world flyweight title) December 17 - Kid McCoy W 15 Dan Creedon, New York City, New York, USA (retains disputed version of world middleweight title) Boxing Wise Fighter of the Year: Bob Fitzsimmons Boxing Wise Fight of the Year: Bob Fitzsimmons KO 14 James J. Corbett
1898
February 25 - Tommy Ryan KO 18 George Green, San Francisco, California, USA (wins disputed version of world middleweight title) March 17 - George Lavigne D 20 Jack Dally, Cleveland, Ohio, USA (retains world lightweight title) March 22 - James J. Jefferies KO 3 Peter Jackson, San Francisco, California, USA May 6 - James J. Jeffries W 20 Tom Sharkey, San Francisco, California, USA May 30 - Jimmy Barry D 20 Casper Leon, New York City, New York, USA (retains world flyweight title) June 3 - Tommy Ryan KO 14 Tommy West, New York City, New York, USA June 6 - George Dixon W 20 Eddie Santry, New York City, New York, USA (wins world featherweight title) June 13 - Tommy Ryan KO 14 Tommy West, Long Island, USA (retains disputed version of world middleweight title) July 29 - Mysterious Billy Smith W 25 George Green, New York City, New York, USA (wins disputed world welterweight title) August 25 - Mysterious Billy Smith W 25 Matty Matthews, New York City, New York, USA (retains disputed version of the world welterweight title) September 26 - Dave Sullivan TKO 5 Solly Smith, Coney Island, New York, USA (wins disputed version of world feathwerweight title) September 28 - George 'Kid" Lavigne D 20 Frank Erne, Coney Island, New York, USA (retains World Lightweight Title) October 7 - Mysterious Billy Smith W 25 Charley McKeever, New York City, New York, USA (wins disputed version of the world welterweight title) October 24 - Tommy Ryan W 20 over Jack Bonner, Coney Island, New York, USA (wins world middleweight title) November 11 - George Dixon W D.Q 10 Dave Sullivan, New York City, New York, USA (retains world featherweight title) November 25 - George Lavigne W 20 Tom Tracey, San Francisco, California, USA (retains world lightweight title) November 29 - George Dixon W 15 Oscar Gardner, New York City, New York, USA (retains world featherweight title) December 6 - Mysterious Billy Smith W 20 Joe Walcott, New York City, New York, USA (retains disputed version of the world welterweight title) December 12 - Terry McGovern KO 2 Harry Forber, New York City, New York, USA (retains world bantamweight title) December 29 - Jimmy Barry D 20 Claus Groth Hall, Davenport, Iowa, USA (retains world flyweight title) Boxing Wise Fighter of the year: Charles "kid" McCoy Boxing Wise Fighter of the year:
1899
??? - Jimmy Barry world flyweight champion retires. January 17 - George Dixon KO 10 Young Pluto, New York City, New York, USA (retained world featherweight title) March 10 - Mysterious Billy Smith KO 14 George Lavigne, San Francisco, California, USA (retains disputed version of the world welterweight title) March 24 - Kid McCoy W 20 Joe Choynski, San Francisco, California, USA May 5 - George Dixon W 20 Kid Broad, Buffalo, New York, USA (retains world featherweight title) June 2 - George Dixon W 25 Joe Bernstein, New York City, New York, USA (retains world featherweight title) June 9 - James J. Jeffries KO 11 Bob Fitzsimmons, Coney Island, New York, USA (wins world heavyweight title) June 30 - Mysterious Billy Smith D 20 Charley McKeever, New York City, New York, USA (retains disputed version of the world welterweight title) July 3 - Frank Erne W 20 George Lavigne, Buffalo, New York, USA (wins world lightweight title) July 11 - George Dixon W 20 Tommy White, Denver, Colorado, USA (retains world featherweight title) August 11 - George Dixon D 20 Eddie Santry, New York City, New York, USA (retains world featherweight title) August 30 - Ray Arcel was born August 31 - Tommy Ryan W 20 Jack Moffatt, Dubuque, Iowa, USA (retains world middleweight title) September 12 - Terry McGovern KO 1 Pedlar Palmer, Tuckahoe, New York, USA (wins world bantamweight title) September 19 - Tommy Ryan KO 10 Frank Craig, Brooklyn, New York, USA (retains world middleweight title) October 6 - Kid McCoy D 8 Joe Choynski, Chicago, Illinois, USA November 3 - James J. Jeffries W 25 Tom Sharkey, Coney Island, New York, USA December 4 - Frank Erne D 25 Jack O'Brien, Coney Island, New York, USA (retains world lightweight title) November 2 - George Dixon W 25 Willy Curley, New York City, New York, USA (retains world featherweight title) November 21 - George Dixon W 25 Eddie Lenny, New York City, New York, USA (retains world featherweight title) Boxing Wise Fighter of the Year: James J. Jefferies Boxing Wise Fight of the Year: James J. Jeffries W 25 Tom Sharkey