Jack McAuliffe (boxer)

Jack McAuliffe (March 24, 1866 – November 5, 1937) was an Irish-American boxer who fought mostly out of Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Nicknamed "The Napoleon of the Ring," McAuliffe is one of only fifteen world boxing champions to retire without a loss.[1] He was the World Lightweight champion from 1886 to 1893. He was inducted into The Ring Boxing Hall of Fame in 1954 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1995.[1]

Jack McAuliffe
Statistics
Real nameJack McAuliffe
Nickname(s)Napoleon of the Ring
Weight(s)Lightweight
Height5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
NationalityIrish American
Born(1866-03-24)March 24, 1866
Cork, Ireland
DiedNovember 5, 1937(1937-11-05) (aged 71)
Queens, New York
Stanceorthodox
Boxing record
Total fights38
Wins28
Wins by KO20
Losses0
Draws10
No contests0

Early life
1887 color lithograph of Jack McAuliffe, made for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes

McAuliffe's parents were Cornelius McAuliffe and Jane Bailey, who were living at 5 Christ Church Lane, Cork, Ireland, at the time of Jack's birth. McAuliffe emigrated to the United States in 1871, where he spent his early years in Bangor, Maine.

Amateur and professional career

He made his first appearance as an amateur boxer in 1883. He turned professional soon after, fighting Jem Carney 78 rounds to a draw at Revere Beach, Massachusetts. He fought Billy Dacey for the lightweight championship and a $5,000 purse in 1888, and knocked him out in eleven rounds.[2] He was known as a strong two-handed fighter with "cat-like" reflexes. In 1897 he successfully defended his title against Billy Myer in a highly publicized match at the Olympic Club, New Orleans .

Personal life

McAuliffe was married twice, both times to stage actresses. His first wife was Katie Hart, who played in farce comedies. After her death, McAuliffe married Catherine Rowe in 1894, whose stage name was Pearl Inman, of the song and dance team The Inman Sisters. Between marriages he dated a third actress, Sadie McDonald. McAuliffe and Rowe moved back to Bangor, Maine, in 1894, where he undertook preliminary training for a fight later that year at the Seaside Athletic Club on Coney Island.[3]

Death and retirement from the ring

McAuliffe retired in 1897. According to the International Boxing Hall of Fame, he had 36 professional fights. McAuliffe was undefeated with 30 bouts, 22 by knockout. He had five draws, one no decision. He successfully defended his world lightweight title against six different boxers.[4]

He died on November 5, 1937, at his home on Austin Street in Forest Hills, Queens.[5]

See also
  • List of lightweight boxing champions


References
  1. McAuliffe at Cyber Boxing Zone
  2. Brooklyn Daily Eagle, August 26, 1894, p. 3
  3. "Jack McAuliffe Married", Brooklyn Daily Eagle, July 30, 1894, p. 1
  4. "Jack McAuliffe, p. 200" (pdf). The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall Of Fame Official Record Book. International Boxing Hall Of Fame. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  5. "Jack M'Auliffe, 71, Ex-Ring Champion – Retired Undefeated in 1896 After Holding Lightweight Crown for 12 Years". The New York Times. November 5, 1937. Retrieved June 18, 2009. Jack McAuliffe, who retired in 1896 as the undefeated professional lightweight-boxing champion of the world after holding the title for twelve years, died yesterday at his home, 73-20 Austin Street, Forest Hills.
Achievements
Inaugural Champion World Lightweight Champion
October 29, 1886 – November 1893
Retired undefeated		 Vacant
Title last held by
George "Kid" Lavigne
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