| Harris Martin | |
| Nickname: | The Black Pearl |
| Weight: | 150 lbs |
| Height: | 5 ft 6 in |
| Birth Date: | April 2,1865 |
| Birth Place: | Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Death Date: | April 26, 1903 |
| Death Place: | Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Wins: | 53 |
| Ko: | 39 |
| Losses: | 11 (7 by KO) |
| Draws: | 15 (1 newspaper loss) |
Harris Martin (April 2, 1865 – April 26, 1903) was an American boxer known as "The Black Pearl". He declared himself the first colored middleweight champion of the world after a fight with "Black Frank" Taylor in Minneapolis in 1887. Harris' legacy is that of being one of the first African-American boxing celebrities in the United States, with public acclaim during his time extending throughout the Midwest region. Over a century after his death, Harris was inducted into the Minnesota Boxing Hall of Fame in 2010.
Harris Martin was born in Washington, D.C., on April 2, 1865. There is little historic record of his pre-boxing career life.
Harris' boxing acumen was discovered while he worked as a waiter at a hotel in Minneapolis, Minnesota.[1] As Harris began boxing in backrooms and outside saloons,[2] he gained a reputation for his "sledgehammer" punches and came to be known as "The Black Pearl". At just tall and weighing 150 pounds, Martin was a muscular and compact fighter.[3] Charles Hadley and George Phillips, two other prominent African American boxers, served as his trainers.
Martin declared himself the world colored middleweight champion after beating "Black Frank" Taylor in Minneapolis on May 2, 1887, when he knocked out Taylor in the 38th or 40th round of their bout. Harris and Taylor had fought six times between December 22, 1886, and the title bout; Martin lost their first fight, won the second, then drew the next four contests. (They then fought an exhibition.)[4]
After beating Taylor, Martin declared himself the World Colored Middleweight Champion. (They fought one more time that December, a bout that resulted in a draw.) Harris lost his title to Ed Binney on November 30, 1891, in San Francisco, California. On February 29, 1892, he was defeated by Charley Turner, "The Stockton Cyclone", who claimed the title but never defended it.[5] Binney was considered the lineal champ.
Martin racked up a career record of 53 wins (with 39 K.O.s) against 11 losses (K.O.-ed seven times) and 15 draws. He lost one newspaper decision.[6]
Harris was married, but later divorced. Drinking and socializing dominated the later part of his boxing career and post-career life. After several arrests, he was banned from being in the City of Minneapolis. In 1900, after he retired from his 15-year boxing career, he moved to Seattle, Washington. He later moved back to Minnesota and resided in Saint Paul.
Harris died from heart failure on April 26, 1903, in Saint Paul at the age of 38. His funeral was a major event in the Twin Cities. He was buried at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Maplewood.
Harris is considered a pioneer in the sport of boxing around the turn of the 20th century alongside Oscar Gardner, Danny Needham, Patrick Killen, and others. He was one of the first notable African American athletes in the Midwestern United States. Harris was inducted into the Minnesota Boxing Hall of Fame in 2010.
All information in this section is derived from BoxRec,[7] unless otherwise stated.
All newspaper decisions are officially regarded as “no decision” bouts and are not counted to the win/loss/draw column.
| Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 83 | Win | 54–11–15 | Mr. Thomas | TKO | 4 (?) | Dec 15, 1900 | ||
| 82 | Loss | 53–11–15 | Young Peter Jackson | KO | 2 (?) | Dec 20, 1899 | ||
| 81 | Draw | 53–10–15 | Jim Sellars | PTS | 8 | Oct 20, 1899 | ||
| 80 | Loss | 53–10–14 | Con Jacobus | TKO | 4 (?) | Sep 18, 1899 | ||
| 79 | Draw | 53–9–14 | Jim Sellars | PTS | 10 | Sep 13, 1899 | ||
| 78 | Loss | 53–9–13 | Charley Holcombe | NWS | 6 | Feb 6, 1897 | ||
| 77 | Loss | 53–9–13 | Andy Watson | PTS | 4 | Jan 16, 1897 | ||
| 76 | Draw | 53–8–13 | Jack Ramsey | PTS | 20 | Mar 3, 1894 | ||
| 75 | Loss | 53–8–12 | Bobby Dobbs | KO | 19 (?) | Jan 30, 1893 | ||
| 74 | Loss | 53–7–12 | Joe King | KO | 36 (?) | Oct 21, 1892 | ||
| 73 | Win | 53–6–12 | Tom Harrington | KO | 2 (?) | May 31, 1892 | ||
| 72 | Draw | 52–6–12 | Jimmy Lawler | PTS | 10 | Apr 18, 1892 | ||
| 71 | Win | 52–6–11 | Ed Moehler | KO | 2 (?) | Apr 7, 1892 | ||
| 70 | Loss | 51–6–11 | Hank Griffin | KO | 4 (?) | Apr 1, 1892 | ||
| 69 | Loss | 51–5–11 | Charles Turner | KO | 19 | Feb 29, 1892 | ||
| 68 | Loss | 51–4–11 | Ed Binney | RTD | 25 (?) | Nov 30, 1891 | ||
| 67 | Win | 51–3–11 | Paddy Gorman | KO | 4 (?) | Oct 26, 1891 | ||
| 66 | ND | 50–3–11 | Spike Trainor | ND | 4 | Sep 5, 1891 | ||
| 65 | Win | 50–3–11 | George Gannon | KO | 3 (?) | Aug 23, 1891 | ||
| 64 | Win | 49–3–11 | Joe Ellingsworth | KO | 5 (?) | Jul 21, 1891 | ||
| 63 | Win | 48–3–11 | Tom Murray | KO | 7 (?) | May 29, 1891 | ||
| 62 | Win | 47–3–11 | Mike Sullivan | KO | 1 (?) | May 16, 1891 | ||
| 61 | Loss | 46–3–11 | Jerry Heggerty | PTS | 5 | May 12, 1891 | ||
| 60 | Win | 46–2–11 | Frank Lewis | TKO | 5 (6) | May 7, 1891 | ||
| 59 | 45–2–11 | Bob Fitzsimmons | ND | 4 | May 1, 1891 | |||
| 58 | Draw | 45–2–11 | Denny Kelliher | PTS | 10 | Feb 10, 1891 | ||
| 57 | Win | 45–2–10 | Jim Hightower | KO | 3 (?) | Nov 20, 1890 | ||
| 56 | Win | 44–2–10 | Denny Kelliher | PTS | 20 | Nov 3, 1890 | ||
| 55 | Win | 43–2–10 | Jim Hightower | PTS | 8 | Sep 9, 1890 | ||
| 54 | Draw | 42–2–10 | Frank Lewis | PTS | 8 | Jun 27, 1890 | ||
| 53 | Win | 42–2–9 | Dick Moore | TKO | 4 (6) | May 23, 1890 | ||
| 52 | Win | 41–2–9 | Dick Moore | KO | 7 (?) | Feb 3, 1890 | ||
| 51 | Win | 40–2–9 | Ed Moehler | KO | 8 (?) | Dec 9, 1888 | ||
| 50 | Win | 39–2–9 | James Aster | KO | 1 (?) | Oct 5, 1888 | ||
| 49 | Draw | 38–2–9 | Charles Hadley | PTS | 8 | Aug 10, 1888 | ||
| 48 | Draw | 38–2–8 | James Legger | PTS | 10 | Aug 3, 1888 | ||
| 47 | Win | 38–2–7 | J.P. Smith | KO | 4 (?) | Jul 14, 1888 | ||
| 46 | Win | 37–2–7 | Dick Haley | PTS | 4 | Jun 15, 1888 | ||
| 45 | Win | 36–2–7 | J.P. Donner | PTS | 10 | Jun 1, 1888 | ||
| 44 | Win | 35–2–7 | John Dwyer | KO | 2 (?) | May 25, 1888 | ||
| 43 | Win | 34–2–7 | Charles Gleason | PTS | 6 | May 18, 1888 | ||
| 42 | Win | 33–2–7 | Ed Harris | PTS | 4 | Apr 8, 1888 | ||
| 41 | Win | 32–2–7 | Hunter Briscoe | KO | 6 (8) | Mar 2, 1888 | ||
| 40 | Win | 31–2–7 | Ed Moehler | PTS | 8 | Dec 30, 1887 | ||
| 39 | Draw | 30–2–7 | Frank Taylor | PTS | 10 | Dec 10, 1887 | ||
| 38 | Win | 30–2–6 | James Legger | DQ | 13 (15) | Nov 11, 1887 | ||
| 37 | Win | 29–2–6 | James Legger | TKO | 5 (10) | Nov 1, 1887 | ||
| 36 | Win | 28–2–6 | Paddy Norton | KO | 3 (?) | Sep 6, 1887 | ||
| 35 | Win | 27–2–6 | OH Smith | PTS | 4 | Aug 5, 1887 | ||
| 34 | Win | 26–2–6 | Tom Jackson | KO | 5 (?) | Jul 15, 1887 | ||
| 33 | Win | 25–2–6 | Frank Taylor | KO | 38 (?) | May 2, 1887 | ||
| 32 | Win | 24–2–6 | Desperate Coon | TKO | 3 (4) | Apr 22, 1887 | ||
| 31 | Win | 23–2–6 | Charles Hadley | PTS | 8 | Apr 15, 1887 | ||
| 30 | Draw | 22–2–6 | Frank Taylor | PTS | 12 | Apr 1, 1887 | ||
| 29 | Win | 22–2–5 | Charles Hadley | PTS | 8 | Mar 25, 1887 | ||
| 28 | Draw | 21–2–5 | Frank Taylor | PTS | 10 | Mar 18, 1887 | ||
| 27 | Win | 21–2–4 | Dan Sommers | KO | 4 (?) | Mar 11, 1887 | ||
| 26 | Win | 20–2–4 | Tom Devine | KO | 5 (5) | Mar 3, 1887 | ||
| 25 | Win | 19–2–4 | Will Young | KO | 2 (?) | Feb 27, 1887 | ||
| 24 | Win | 18–2–4 | Black Strap | KO | 4 (10) | Feb 18, 1887 | ||
| 23 | Win | 17–2–4 | Jim O'Brien | KO | 4 (?) | Feb 7, 1887 | ||
| 22 | Draw | 16–2–4 | Dan Manning | PTS | 10 | Jan 28, 1887 | ||
| 21 | Win | 16–2–3 | Frank Taylor | PTS | 15 | Jan 21, 1887 | ||
| 20 | Win | 15–2–3 | Dan Sommers | KO | 3 (?) | Jan 7, 1887 | ||
| 19 | Win | 14–2–3 | George Gannon | KO | 11 (?) | Jan 3, 1887 | ||
| 18 | Loss | 13–2–3 | Frank Taylor | PTS | 10 | Dec 22, 1886 | ||
| 17 | Win | 13–1–3 | Young McKay | KO | 4 (8) | Dec 21, 1886 | ||
| 16 | Win | 12–1–3 | Dan Sommers | TKO | 7 (?) | Dec 5, 1886 | ||
| 15 | Win | 11–1–3 | Black Strap | PTS | 4 | Dec 3, 1886 | ||
| 14 | Draw | 10–1–3 | Jim O'Brien | PTS | 4 | Dec 2, 1886 | ||
| 13 | Win | 10–1–2 | Cass Brown | PTS | 8 | Nov 14, 1886 | ||
| 12 | Win | 9–1–2 | Billy Young | KO | 9 (?) | Sep 27, 1886 | ||
| 11 | Win | 8–1–2 | Jack Murphy | KO | 3 (?) | Sep 7, 1886 | ||
| 10 | Win | 7–1–2 | Billy Young | KO | 9 (?) | Sep 6, 1886 | ||
| 9 | Loss | 6–1–2 | Joe Butler | PTS | 4 | Aug 7, 1886 | ||
| 8 | Win | 6–0–2 | Tom Henderson | KO | 3 (?) | Jul 3, 1886 | ||
| 7 | Draw | 5–0–2 | Mike Highland | PTS | 4 | Jun 22, 1886 | ||
| 6 | Win | 5–0–1 | Charles Johnson | KO | 3 (4) | Jun 16, 1886 | ||
| 5 | Win | 4–0–1 | Bill Boughbly | KO | 3 (?) | Jun 11, 1886 | ||
| 4 | Win | 3–0–1 | Bill Travers | KO | 1 (4) | Jun 4, 1886 | ||
| 3 | Win | 2–0–1 | Bill Davis | KO | 3 (4) | May 18, 1886 | ||
| 2 | Win | 1–0–1 | Tom Henderson | KO | 5 (?) | May 8, 1886 | ||
| 1 | Draw | 0–0–1 | Jack Burke | PTS | 4 | Mar 19, 1886 | ||
Record with the inclusion of newspaper decisions to the win/loss/draw column.
| Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 83 | Win | 54–12–15 | Mr. Thomas | TKO | 4 (?) | Dec 15, 1900 | ||
| 82 | Loss | 53–12–15 | Young Peter Jackson | KO | 2 (?) | Dec 20, 1899 | ||
| 81 | Draw | 53–11–15 | Jim Sellars | PTS | 8 | Oct 20, 1899 | ||
| 80 | Loss | 53–11–14 | Con Jacobus | TKO | 4 (?) | Sep 18, 1899 | ||
| 79 | Draw | 53–10–14 | Jim Sellars | PTS | 10 | Sep 13, 1899 | ||
| 78 | Loss | 53–10–13 | Charley Holcombe | NWS | 6 | Feb 6, 1897 | ||
| 77 | Loss | 53–9–13 | Andy Watson | PTS | 4 | Jan 16, 1897 | ||
| 76 | Draw | 53–8–13 | Jack Ramsey | PTS | 20 | Mar 3, 1894 | ||
| 75 | Loss | 53–8–12 | Bobby Dobbs | KO | 19 (?) | Jan 30, 1893 | ||
| 74 | Loss | 53–7–12 | Joe King | KO | 36 (?) | Oct 21, 1892 | ||
| 73 | Win | 53–6–12 | Tom Harrington | KO | 2 (?) | May 31, 1892 | ||
| 72 | Draw | 52–6–12 | Jimmy Lawler | PTS | 10 | Apr 18, 1892 | ||
| 71 | Win | 52–6–11 | Ed Moehler | KO | 2 (?) | Apr 7, 1892 | ||
| 70 | Loss | 51–6–11 | Hank Griffin | KO | 4 (?) | Apr 1, 1892 | ||
| 69 | Loss | 51–5–11 | Charles Turner | KO | 19 | Feb 29, 1892 | ||
| 68 | Loss | 51–4–11 | Ed Binney | RTD | 25 (?) | Nov 30, 1891 | ||
| 67 | Win | 51–3–11 | Paddy Gorman | KO | 4 (?) | Oct 26, 1891 | ||
| 66 | ND | 50–3–11 | Spike Trainor | ND | 4 | Sep 5, 1891 | ||
| 65 | Win | 50–3–11 | George Gannon | KO | 3 (?) | Aug 23, 1891 | ||
| 64 | Win | 49–3–11 | Joe Ellingsworth | KO | 5 (?) | Jul 21, 1891 | ||
| 63 | Win | 48–3–11 | Tom Murray | KO | 7 (?) | May 29, 1891 | ||
| 62 | Win | 47–3–11 | Mike Sullivan | KO | 1 (?) | May 16, 1891 | ||
| 61 | Loss | 46–3–11 | Jerry Heggerty | PTS | 5 | May 12, 1891 | ||
| 60 | Win | 46–2–11 | Frank Lewis | TKO | 5 (6) | May 7, 1891 | ||
| 59 | 45–2–11 | Bob Fitzsimmons | ND | 4 | May 1, 1891 | |||
| 58 | Draw | 45–2–11 | Denny Kelliher | PTS | 10 | Feb 10, 1891 | ||
| 57 | Win | 45–2–10 | Jim Hightower | KO | 3 (?) | Nov 20, 1890 | ||
| 56 | Win | 44–2–10 | Denny Kelliher | PTS | 20 | Nov 3, 1890 | ||
| 55 | Win | 43–2–10 | Jim Hightower | PTS | 8 | Sep 9, 1890 | ||
| 54 | Draw | 42–2–10 | Frank Lewis | PTS | 8 | Jun 27, 1890 | ||
| 53 | Win | 42–2–9 | Dick Moore | TKO | 4 (6) | May 23, 1890 | ||
| 52 | Win | 41–2–9 | Dick Moore | KO | 7 (?) | Feb 3, 1890 | ||
| 51 | Win | 40–2–9 | Ed Moehler | KO | 8 (?) | Dec 9, 1888 | ||
| 50 | Win | 39–2–9 | James Aster | KO | 1 (?) | Oct 5, 1888 | ||
| 49 | Draw | 38–2–9 | Charles Hadley | PTS | 8 | Aug 10, 1888 | ||
| 48 | Draw | 38–2–8 | James Legger | PTS | 10 | Aug 3, 1888 | ||
| 47 | Win | 38–2–7 | J.P. Smith | KO | 4 (?) | Jul 14, 1888 | ||
| 46 | Win | 37–2–7 | Dick Haley | PTS | 4 | Jun 15, 1888 | ||
| 45 | Win | 36–2–7 | J.P. Donner | PTS | 10 | Jun 1, 1888 | ||
| 44 | Win | 35–2–7 | John Dwyer | KO | 2 (?) | May 25, 1888 | ||
| 43 | Win | 34–2–7 | Charles Gleason | PTS | 6 | May 18, 1888 | ||
| 42 | Win | 33–2–7 | Ed Harris | PTS | 4 | Apr 8, 1888 | ||
| 41 | Win | 32–2–7 | Hunter Briscoe | KO | 6 (8) | Mar 2, 1888 | ||
| 40 | Win | 31–2–7 | Ed Moehler | PTS | 8 | Dec 30, 1887 | ||
| 39 | Draw | 30–2–7 | Frank Taylor | PTS | 10 | Dec 10, 1887 | ||
| 38 | Win | 30–2–6 | James Legger | DQ | 13 (15) | Nov 11, 1887 | ||
| 37 | Win | 29–2–6 | James Legger | TKO | 5 (10) | Nov 1, 1887 | ||
| 36 | Win | 28–2–6 | Paddy Norton | KO | 3 (?) | Sep 6, 1887 | ||
| 35 | Win | 27–2–6 | OH Smith | PTS | 4 | Aug 5, 1887 | ||
| 34 | Win | 26–2–6 | Tom Jackson | KO | 5 (?) | Jul 15, 1887 | ||
| 33 | Win | 25–2–6 | Frank Taylor | KO | 38 (?) | May 2, 1887 | ||
| 32 | Win | 24–2–6 | Desperate Coon | TKO | 3 (4) | Apr 22, 1887 | ||
| 31 | Win | 23–2–6 | Charles Hadley | PTS | 8 | Apr 15, 1887 | ||
| 30 | Draw | 22–2–6 | Frank Taylor | PTS | 12 | Apr 1, 1887 | ||
| 29 | Win | 22–2–5 | Charles Hadley | PTS | 8 | Mar 25, 1887 | ||
| 28 | Draw | 21–2–5 | Frank Taylor | PTS | 10 | Mar 18, 1887 | ||
| 27 | Win | 21–2–4 | Dan Sommers | KO | 4 (?) | Mar 11, 1887 | ||
| 26 | Win | 20–2–4 | Tom Devine | KO | 5 (5) | Mar 3, 1887 | ||
| 25 | Win | 19–2–4 | Will Young | KO | 2 (?) | Feb 27, 1887 | ||
| 24 | Win | 18–2–4 | Black Strap | KO | 4 (10) | Feb 18, 1887 | ||
| 23 | Win | 17–2–4 | Jim O'Brien | KO | 4 (?) | Feb 7, 1887 | ||
| 22 | Draw | 16–2–4 | Dan Manning | PTS | 10 | Jan 28, 1887 | ||
| 21 | Win | 16–2–3 | Frank Taylor | PTS | 15 | Jan 21, 1887 | ||
| 20 | Win | 15–2–3 | Dan Sommers | KO | 3 (?) | Jan 7, 1887 | ||
| 19 | Win | 14–2–3 | George Gannon | KO | 11 (?) | Jan 3, 1887 | ||
| 18 | Loss | 13–2–3 | Frank Taylor | PTS | 10 | Dec 22, 1886 | ||
| 17 | Win | 13–1–3 | Young McKay | KO | 4 (8) | Dec 21, 1886 | ||
| 16 | Win | 12–1–3 | Dan Sommers | TKO | 7 (?) | Dec 5, 1886 | ||
| 15 | Win | 11–1–3 | Black Strap | PTS | 4 | Dec 3, 1886 | ||
| 14 | Draw | 10–1–3 | Jim O'Brien | PTS | 4 | Dec 2, 1886 | ||
| 13 | Win | 10–1–2 | Cass Brown | PTS | 8 | Nov 14, 1886 | ||
| 12 | Win | 9–1–2 | Billy Young | KO | 9 (?) | Sep 27, 1886 | ||
| 11 | Win | 8–1–2 | Jack Murphy | KO | 3 (?) | Sep 7, 1886 | ||
| 10 | Win | 7–1–2 | Billy Young | KO | 9 (?) | Sep 6, 1886 | ||
| 9 | Loss | 6–1–2 | Joe Butler | PTS | 4 | Aug 7, 1886 | ||
| 8 | Win | 6–0–2 | Tom Henderson | KO | 3 (?) | Jul 3, 1886 | ||
| 7 | Draw | 5–0–2 | Mike Highland | PTS | 4 | Jun 22, 1886 | ||
| 6 | Win | 5–0–1 | Charles Johnson | KO | 3 (4) | Jun 16, 1886 | ||
| 5 | Win | 4–0–1 | Bill Boughbly | KO | 3 (?) | Jun 11, 1886 | ||
| 4 | Win | 3–0–1 | Bill Travers | KO | 1 (4) | Jun 4, 1886 | ||
| 3 | Win | 2–0–1 | Bill Davis | KO | 3 (4) | May 18, 1886 | ||
| 2 | Win | 1–0–1 | Tom Henderson | KO | 5 (?) | May 8, 1886 | ||
| 1 | Draw | 0–0–1 | Jack Burke | PTS | 4 | Mar 19, 1886 | ||