McGuigan Harrison Athletic Club

The McGuigan Harrison Athletic Club, also known as McGuigan's Arena or The Casino, was a popular sports and social club in Harrison, NJ in the early 1900s owned by NJ Hall of Fame boxer and promoter Paddy McGuigan.[1] The club was used primarily to host boxing matches, but also hosted dances and other functions.[2]

McGuigan A.C. Harrison PBA Benefit
McGuigan Harrison Athletic Club
McGuigan's A.C.
McGuigan's Arena
The Casino
"Bucket of Blood"
"Tub of Gore"
Address56 Harrison Avenue, Harrison, NJ
OwnerPatrick Daniel McGuigan
TypeAthletic
Genre(s)Boxing

Fight records

McGuigan opened his club after the conclusion of his boxing career, which may have gone well into his 50s. Sometimes referred to as Old Paddy McGuigan's "Bucket of Blood,"[3] the club was a widely popular venue for at least 18 years, based on dates found in surviving fight records.

Fights at the club were regularly followed by the Newark Evening News and the Newark Star-Eagle.

Surviving Records[4]

Date Boxer Weight Opponent Weight Result Rounds Type Notes
10-13-1910Dave KurtzCharley SmithWin10NewsDecision from New York City newspaper(s).
11-17-1910Dave KurtzFrank KennyDraw10NewsDecision from New York City newspaper(s).
01-03-1911Hank Griffin"Dutch" ZimmerWin3KOWatertown Daily Times.
01-03-1911Hank GriffinJack McCargoWin5UNKWatertown Daily Times.
01-03-1911Hank GriffinBull AndersonUNKUNKUNKTook the place of Freddie Dipples who failed to show. Watertown Daily Times.
01-16-1911Valentine "Knockout" BrownJack RitchieWin2KO
02-06-1911Battling HurleyTony BenderWin10NewsDecision from the Philadelphia Record.
03-11-1911Angelo "Young Foster" VenizonaWilliam KennedyUNK4UNKVenizona died the next day as a result of injuries sustained during the fight.
02-04-1918Allentown Joe GansWillie GradwellWin8News
02-25-1918Allentown Joe GansLew CardellDraw8News
12-09-1918Jackie SharkeyHarold FareseLoss8News
12-23-1918Phil KrugBobby GleasonDraw8NewsGleason's pro debut. He founded the famed Gleason's Gym.
03-19-1919Jackie SharkeyPatsy JohnsonWin8News
04-14-1919Ed KinleyBattling LevinskyLoss8NewsDecision reported from the Illustrated Boxing Record.
05-20-1919Charley WeinertEd WilliamsWin2TKO
10-27-1919Phil KrugEd KinleyWin8NewsDecision from New York City newspaper(s).
12-19-1919Mickey Walker139 lbsYoung ThompsonWin5TKODecision from northern New Jersey newspaper.
05-03-1920Bobby GleasonAllentown Joe GansWin12News
12-06-1921Allentown Joe GansPanama Joe GansLoss12NewsDecision from New York City newspaper(s).
10-09-1922Spencer GardnerWillie MurphyWin12NewsDecision from the Newark Evening News.
10-09-1922Oliver GardnerJohnny DixonLoss6NewsDecision from the Newark Evening News.
10-16-1922Red ChapmanJimmy FredaWin12NewsDecision from The Ring & the Newark Evening News.
10-16-1922Billy VidabeckWillie ApplegateWin6NewsDecision from the Newark Evening News.
10-23-1922Red ChapmanSpencer GardnerWin12NewsDecision from the Newark Evening News.
11-14-1922Spencer GardnerTommy GerrardWin12NewsDecision from the Newark Evening News.
12-07-1922Red ChapmanSpencer GardnerWin10NewsDecision from the Newark Evening News.
01-25-1923Willie Herman138.5 lbsMarty Mandeville140 lbsWin3TKO
01-25-1923Panama Billy Walker138 lbsBobby Morris140 lbsWin8NewsDecision from the New York Evening Telegram.
01-25-1923Snowball Moore148 lbsBattling Walker141 lbsLoss6NewsDecision from the New York Evening Telegram.
01-25-1923Joe Barry116.5 lbsEddie West116.25 lbsLoss4NewsDecision from the New York Evening Telegram.
01-25-1923Clyde Jones131 lbsYoung Ross133 lbsDraw4NewsDecision from the New York Evening Telegram.
01-25-1923Charley Murray127.5 lbsKid Callahan128.15 lbsDraw4NewsDecision from the New York Evening Telegram.
02-01-1923Lew Seltzer146.5 lbsYoung Banne143.5 lbsWin8NewsDecision from the New York Evening Telegram.
02-01-1923Johnny Ryan138 lbsJoe Bean135 lbsWin4NewsDecision from the New York Evening Telegram.
02-01-1923Charley Reed136.5 lbsKid Beans135 lbsWin4NewsDecision from the New York Evening Telegram.
02-01-1923Joe Ross133.5 lbsLew Farrell132.5 lbsWin2TKO
02-01-1923Johnny Dixon126 lbsArtie Gold124 lbsWin4NewsDecision from the New York Evening Telegram.
02-13-1923Tommy StapletonBert SmithersWin8KO
02-13-1923Joe O'BrienMickey GriffinLoss4NewsDecision from the Newark Star-Eagle.
02-20-1923Battling JohnsonJoe SenterCancelled0XFight was canceled due to Johnson's illness, declined to fight others.
04-03-1923Billy MooreJim HallidayScheduledUNKUNKOutcome unknown.
04-03-1923Mickey LeborJohnny DixonScheduledUNKUNKOutcome unknown.
04-24-1923Willie CrystalJack McFarlandLoss12NewsDecision from the Newark Star-Eagle.
04-24-1923Larry EstridgeJames ThomasWin1KO
05-10-1923Ray PryelJimmy DuffyScheduled12UNKOutcome unknown.
05-21-1923Billy WhiteJack RitchieWin6NewsDecision from the Newark Star-Eagle.
05-21-1923Joey RussellFrankie MasonWin4NewsDecision from the Newark Star-Eagle.
06-07-1923Joey RussellPatsy MooreWin1TKO
06-28-1923Leo GatesBill HollidayScheduled12UNKOutcome unknown.
08-09-1923George MulhollandJackie BrownScheduledUNKUNKOutcome unknown. Rematch of Mulholland's victory a week before in West New York, NJ.
09-06-1923Jack Rappaport140 lbsShamus O'Brien144 lbsLoss12NewsDecision from the Newark Star-Eagle.
02-11-1924Mickey WaltersCharley TrainoWin10NewsSometimes attributed to Mickey Walker.
Decision from New York City newspaper(s).
02-05-1925Benny TressitoPhilly GriffinLoss6NewsDecision from the Newark Star-Eagle.
02-05-1925Sollie CastellaneBobby RinkerWin1KO
02-05-1925Jack StoneSid KellyWin3KO
02-05-1925Sammy TuckerMatty DiSantisWinUNKNewsDecision from the Newark Star-Eagle.
06-12-1925Nate IsaacsonSteve SamskyWinUNKNewsDecision from the Newark Star-Eagle.
06-19-1925Charley WellsNick ResaWin4News
06-30-1925Willie FergusonJimmy BrittWin1KO
06-30-1925Midget HermanNick CarterWin6TKO
07-09-1925Larry RoachKid LeonWin1KO
07-09-1925Bobby MorrisWhitney MillerWin8NewsDecision from the Newark Evening News.
07-17-1925Benny TressitoPhilly GriffinLoss6NewsDecision from the Newark Star-Eagle.
07-17-1925Abie BainWillie FergusonWin3KO
07-17-1925Joe HarbeltDal HawkinsWin6NewsDecision from the Newark Star-Eagle.
09-11-1925Nate IsaacsonSailor Joe DowneyWin10News
03-26-1926Buddy DawsonSollie CastellaneLoss8NewsDecision from the Newark Star-Eagle.
07-09-1926Sammy TuckerSammy ParkerWin1KO
08-20-1926Sailor Darden145 lbsJoe Moresco142 lbsWin10NewsDecision from the Chester Times in PA.
09-14-1926Abie BainSailor DardenLoss10NewsDecision from the Newark Star-Eagle.
09-14-1926Phil KrugDanny FaganWin10NewsDecision from the Newark Star-Eagle.
09-14-1926Joey RussellBabe AdamsWin8NewsDecision from the Newark Star-Eagle.
09-14-1926Lenny BanksBilly DevoeWin1TKO
08-27-1928Tony GalentoJames Jay LawlessLoss5DQ

Controversy

On March 4, 1911, a boy boxer named Angelo "Young Foster" Venizona died after being hospitalized due to injuries sustained in a bout with boxer William Kennedy at McGuigan's club the previous night. Reportedly, the match ended without a knockdown or knockout after four rounds and both competitors shook hands in the dressing room. Shortly afterwards, Venizona fell backwards onto the ground while sitting on a railing inside the club. A physician instructed Venizona to be taken home after evaluating him. After a confrontation between the boy's father and the men who took him home regarding the source of his injury, Venizona was taken to the City Hospital in Newark. Harrison detectives ruled that Venizona's death was caused by a blood clot at the base of his brain due to a blow to the head sustained during the match, which may have also caused him to fall off of the railing afterwards. Kennedy was arrested and charged with manslaughter. McGuigan and two other men were arrested and charged with aiding and abetting, arraigned in the Harrison Police Courts, and taken to the Hudson County Courthouse. McGuigan was released on $500 bail, while the two others were held as material witnesses. Upon receiving a letter from the case prosecutor, Harrison's Chief of Police notified McGuigan that boxing matches would no longer be permitted at the club. It is unknown how this ban was resolved or circumvented, as bouts continued to take place at the club for at least the following 15 years.[5]

References

  1. "Corporations of New Jersey: List of Certificates Filed in the Department of State During the Year 1917", November 25, 2011
  2. Anthony Marenghi, "Mourners Recall McGuigan's Foes", September 14, 1938, The Newark Star-Eagle, November 4, 2010
  3. "New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame, "Jack McFarland," October 5, 2011". Archived from the original on February 1, 2012. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
  4. Boxrec Boxing Records, McGuigan's Arena Harrison NJ, November 25, 2011
  5. The New York Times, "Boy Boxer Died After Bout", March 5, 1911, "", July 7, 2011
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