Kid Parker Explained

William Elroy Parker
Nickname:	Denver Kid Parker Vegetarian pugilist
Height:	5 ft 6 in
Weight:	Lightweight Welterweight
Birth Date:	20 January 1877
Birth Place:	Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Style:	Orthodox
Total:	49
Wins:	30
Ko:	26
Losses:	11
Draws:	9

William Elroy Parker (born January 20, 1877), better known as Kid Parker, was an American professional boxer, physical culturist and promoter of vegetarianism. He was the first vegetarian boxer.^{[1] [2]}

Biography

Parker was born on January 20, 1877, in Boston.^{[3] [4]} Parker was considered the best boxer in Denver.^[5] He had an 18-match undefeated streak.^[6] In 1900, he fought a ten-round draw with Matty Matthews.^[3] Parker became a vegetarian in 1901.^[7] He stated that a strict vegetarian diet increased his physical endurance and increased his mental power.^[8] He was the first vegetarian boxer.^{[3] [1]}

In April 1902, The Vegetarian Magazine published a letter describing Parker's conversion to vegetarianism.^[9] He became known as the "vegetarian champion" and "vegetarian pugilist".^{[1] [9] [10] [11]} Parker's vegetarian diet consisted of cereals, fruit, milk, nuts, vegetables and a liberal amount of eggs.^{[12] [13]} In April, 1903 Parker authored an article on physical culture in the San Francisco Call, advocating a vegetarian diet for health reasons.^[13] He declared he would still be boxing at 35 and live to be 100 years old because he is vegetarian.^[13] In 1905, Parker was described as "one of the most gentlemanly fighters in the prize ring today".^[14] Parker's wife was also a boxer.^{[15] [16]}

Parker's last ring appearance was in 1906.^[3] After his boxing career ended Parker was institutionalized in an asylum at Norfolk, Nebraska as he suffered from hallucinations.^{[17] [18]} Parker would repeatedly punch the wall in his padded cell so was given boxing gloves to protect his hands.^[19]

Selected publications

• The Conversion of a Noted Pugilist (1902)
• Exercises for Women (1903)

Notes and References

1. News: Freddie Welsh Not the First Vegetarian in Ring History. The Bridgeport Evening Farmer. January 20, 1915. 8.
2. News: Vegetarian Boxers. Evening Dispatch . July 24, 1916. 4.
3. Original Vegetarian Was Champ Kid Parker. Charleston Mail (January 26, 1915).
4. Andrews, Thomas Stora. (1924). Ring Battles of Centuries. Tom Andrews Record Book Company. p. 114
5. Lang, Arne K. (2012). The Nelson-Wolgast Fight and the San Francisco Boxing Scene, 1900-1914. McFarland. p. 96.
6. Puskar-Pasewicz, Margaret. (2010). Cultural Encyclopedia of Vegetarianism. ABC-CLIO. p. 183.
7. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82016014/1902-02-05/ed-1/seq-2/ Parker Turns Vegetarian
8. Shprintzen, Adam D. (2013). The Vegetarian Crusade: The Rise of an American Reform Movement, 1817-1921. University of North Carolina Press. p. 199.
9. 1902. The Conversion of a Noted Pugilist. The Vegetarian Magazine. 6. 7. 147.
10. 1902. A Vegetarian Pugilist. The Dietetic & Hygienic Gazette. 18. 408.
11. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84022472/1917-01-20/ed-1/seq-9/ Rube Ferns, Former Walter Champion, Had Brief Reign at the Top
12. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84020274/1902-02-16/ed-1/seq-32/ Rice Earned the Decision Over Callahan
13. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85066387/1903-04-05/ed-1/seq-13/ Exercises for Women
14. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn88085421/1905-09-13/ed-1/seq-3/ "Kid" Parker Hits Town
15. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85058130/1901-08-27/ed-1/seq-3/ Mrs. Parker Will Box
16. Rouse, Wendy L. (2017). Her Own Hero: The Origins of the Women’s Self-Defense Movement. New York University Press. p. 36.
17. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82014682/1912-10-19/ed-1/seq-9/ Kid Parker in Asylum
18. Baker, Mark Allen. (2017). Battling Nelson, the Durable Dane: World Lightweight Champion, 1882-1954. McFarland. p. 209.
19. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83040198/1912-06-21/ed-1/seq-4/ Kid Parker, Once Great Fighter, Is Now Insane