Tommy Gibbons Explained

Tommy Gibbons
Realname:Thomas Joseph Gibbons
Weight:Heavyweight
Birth Date:March 22, 1891
Birth Place:Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
Style:Orthodox
Boxrec:11254
Total:106; with the inclusion of newspaper decisions
Wins:96
Ko:48
Losses:5
Draws:4
No Contests:1

Thomas Joseph Gibbons (March 22, 1891 – November 19, 1960) was an American professional heavyweight boxer.

Life and career

He was born on March 22, 1891, in Saint Paul, Minnesota, to Thomas John Gibbons and Mary (Burke) Gibbons. He had a brother, Mike.

Tommy started boxing professionally in 1911 as a middleweight. Like his brother he was a master scientific boxer who chose to outbox his opponents. In time, he advanced to the heavyweight boxing class and developed a respectable punch.

On May 27, 1916, he married Helen Constance Moga in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

His biggest fight came near the end of his career in Jack Dempsey vs. Tommy Gibbons when he met heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey on July 4, 1923, in Shelby, Montana. The local backers and the town of Shelby went broke putting on the fight. The great Dempsey battled through the full fifteen rounds before winning by decision. Dempsey was awarded $200,000, whereas Gibbons received expense money. Tommy Gibbons record was 56-4-1 with 44 no decisions, and 1 no contest. He scored 48 knockouts, and was stopped only once by Gene Tunney on June 5, 1925. The names dotting his record read like boxing's hall of fame. Tommy recorded wins over George Chip, Willie Meehan, Billy Miske, Chuck Wiggins, Jack Bloomfield, and Kid Norfolk. Tommy had no decision matches with George "K.O." Brown, Billy Miske, Harry Greb, Battling Levinsky, Bob Roper, Chuck Wiggins, Georges Carpentier, and others. Only Harry Greb, Billy Miske, Jack Dempsey, and Gene Tunney were able to score wins over Gibbons.

Following his retirement from boxing, Tommy Gibbons was elected four times as the Sheriff of Ramsey County. He won for six consecutive four year terms before retiring at the age of 68. He died on November 19, 1960, in Saint Paul, Minnesota.[1] [2]

Legacy

Gibbons became a member of the Ring Boxing Hall of Fame in 1963, and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1993, and the Minnesota Boxing Hall of Fame in 2010.[3]

Professional boxing record

All information in this section is derived from BoxRec,[4] unless otherwise stated.

Official record

All newspaper decisions are officially regarded as “no decision” bouts and are not counted in the win/loss/draw column.

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateAgeLocationNotes
106Loss56–4–1 Gene TunneyKO12 (15)Jun 5, 1925
105Win56–3–1 Tiny Jim HermanKO3 (10)Jan 30, 1925
104Win55–3–1 Jack BurkeTKO6 (10)Jan 7, 1925
103Win54–3–1 Kid NorfolkTKO6 (15)Dec 9, 1924
102Win53–3–1 Ted JamiesonKO1 (15)Oct 24, 1924
101Win52–3–1 Bill ReedTKO3 (20)Oct 10, 1924
100Win51–3–1 Jack BloomfieldKO3 (20)Aug 9, 1924
99Win50–3–1 Georges CarpentierNWS10May 31, 1924
98Win50–3–1 Jack McFarlandKO2 (8)Apr 3, 1924
97Win49–3–1 Soldier LeeTKO3 (8)Mar 31, 1924
96Win48–3–1 Joe DowneyKO1 (12)Mar 24, 1924
95Win47–3–1 Jack MooreKO2 (10)Mar 14, 1924
94Loss46–3–1 Jack DempseyPTS15Jul 4, 1923
93Win46–2–1 Chuck WigginsTKO10 (15)Apr 30, 1923
92Win45–2–1 Andy SchmaderKO1 (10)Mar 26, 1923
91Win44–2–1 Jim TraceyKO2 (10)Mar 5, 1923
90Win43–2–1 Billy MiskeUD10Dec 15, 1922
89Win42–2–1 Joe BurkeKO1 (10)Dec 11, 1922
88Win41–2–1 George AsheKO1 (10)Nov 13, 1922
87Loss40–2–1 Billy MiskeDQ10 (15)Oct 13, 1922
86Win40–1–1 Sailor MartinKO2 (12)May 29, 1922
85Win39–1–1 Harry FoleyTKO6 (15)May 1, 1922
84Loss38–1–1 Harry GrebUD15Mar 13, 1922
83Win38–0–1 Pat McCarthyTKO4 (10)Feb 2, 1922
82Win37–0–1 Bartley MaddenNWS10Dec 19, 1921
81Win37–0–1 Hope MullenKO1 (15)Dec 2, 1921
80Win36–0–1 Dan O'DowdKO6 (15)Nov 25, 1921
79Win35–0–1 Soldier JonesKO1 (10)Nov 16, 1921
78Win34–0–1 Fred AllenTKO1 (12)Oct 14, 1921
77Win33–0–1 Clay TurnerKO1 (10)Oct 7, 1921
76Win32–0–1 Joe BurkeKO2 (10)Sep 20, 1921
75Win31–0–1 Bill ReedTKO2 (10)Sep 12, 1921
74Win30–0–1 Dan O'DowdTKO3 (10)Sep 5, 1921
73Win29–0–1 Willie MeehanTKO1 (12)Jun 22, 1921
72Win28–0–1 Willie KeelerKO2 (10)Jun 7, 1921
71Win27–0–1 Jack CliffordKO3 (12)May 30, 1921
70Win26–0–1 Sergeant Ray SmithKO2 (12)May 27, 1921
69Win25–0–1 Jack HeinenKO1 (12)May 23, 1921
68Win24–0–1 Hugh WalkerTKO2 (10)Apr 29, 1921
67Win23–0–1 Porky Dan FlynnTKO11 (12)Apr 19, 1921
66Win22–0–1 Larry WilliamsTKO4 (12)Apr 12, 1921
65Win21–0–1 Sergeant NorcrossKO1 (12)Mar 31, 1921
64Win20–0–1 Paul Samson KoernerTKO2 (15)Mar 22, 1921
63Win19–0–1 Al ReichKO1 (10)Mar 18, 1921
62Win18–0–1 Hugh WalkerNWS10Feb 14, 1921
61Win18–0–1 Tony MelchiorKO1 (12)Feb 10, 1921
60Win17–0–1 Chuck WigginsNWS10Jan 11, 1921
59Win17–0–1 Chuck WigginsNWS12Dec 6, 1920
58Win17–0–1 Hugh WalkerNWS10Nov 11, 1920
57Loss17–0–1 Harry GrebNWS10Jul 31, 1920
56Win17–0–1 Clay TurnerNWS10Jul 22, 1920
55Win17–0–1 Harry GrebNWS10May 15, 1920
54Win17–0–1 Bob RoperNWS10Apr 9, 1920
53Win17–0–1 Jack ReevesKO2 (15)Feb 19, 1920
52Draw16–0–1 Noel "Boy" McCormickPTS10Feb 11, 1920
51Win16–0 George K.O. BrownNWS10Feb 2, 1920
50Win16–0 Jimmy DarcyPTS10Dec 16, 1919
49Win15–0 Frank FarmerPTS6Dec 3, 1919
48Win14–0 Mick KingPTS15Nov 27, 1919
47Win13–0 George K.O. BrownNWS12Jul 3, 1919
46Draw13–0 Billy MiskeNWS10Jun 19, 1919
45Win13–0 Tom RoperNWS10Apr 28, 1919
44Win13–0 George ChipPTS10Apr 10, 1919
43Win12–0 Larry WilliamsNWS10Feb 10, 1919
42Win12–0 Len RowlandsNWS10Jan 30, 1919
4112–0 Bartley MaddenNC4 (6)Jan 25, 1919
40Win12–0 George ChipNWS12May 3, 1918
39Win12–0 Gus ChristiePTS10Apr 26, 1918
38Win11–0 Silent MartinNWS15Apr 20, 1918
37Win11–0 Clay TurnerNWS10Apr 18, 1918
36Win11–0 Gus ChristieNWS12Mar 22, 1918
35Win11–0 Silent MartinKO10 (15)Mar 13, 1918
34Win10–0 George ChipNWS10Mar 7, 1918
33Win10–0 Clay TurnerNWS10Feb 11, 1918
32Win10–0 Gus ChristieNWS10Feb 4, 1918
31Win10–0 Gus ChristiePTS15Sep 3, 1917
30Win9–0 George ChipNWS10Aug 22, 1917
29Win9–0 Battling LevinskyNWS10Mar 23, 1917
28Win9–0 Jackie ClarkNWS10Mar 15, 1917
27Win9–0 Bert KennyNWS10Mar 3, 1917
26Win9–0 Bob MohaNWS10Feb 6, 1917
25Win9–0 Joe HerrickNWS12Nov 16, 1916
24Win9–0 Joe HerrickNWS12Oct 27, 1916
23Win9–0 Vic HansenPTS10Mar 8, 1916
22Win8–0 Gus ChristieNWS12Feb 15, 1916
21Win8–0 Harry GrebNWS10Nov 16, 1915
20Win8–0 Billy MiskeNWS10Jul 12, 1915
19Win8–0 Billy MurrayNWS10Feb 2, 1915
18Win8–0 Billy GloverTKO6 (10)Nov 26, 1914
17Win7–0 Bert FaganKO2 (10)Sep 2, 1914
16Draw6–0 Young MahoneyNWS10Jun 5, 1914
15Win6–0 Buck CrouseTKO4 (10)May 22, 1914
14Win5–0 George K.O. BrownNWS10Apr 21, 1914
13Win5–0 Billy MiskeNWS10Mar 24, 1914
12Win5–0 George K.O. BrownNWS10Feb 9, 1914
11Win5–0 Al WorginKO4 (?)Jan 15, 1914
10Win4–0 Willie K.O. BrennanNWS10Sep 29, 1913
9Win4–0 Jack DenningNWS10Jun 13, 1913
8Draw4–0 Frank LoganNWS6Jun 9, 1913
7Win4–0 Johnny ShawTKO3 (10)May 27, 1913
6Win3–0 Young Mike DonovanNWS10May 16, 1913
5Win3–0 Joe BorrellNWS10Apr 29, 1913
4Win3–0 Tommy BerginNWS10Apr 22, 1913
3Win3–0Tommy NelsonTKO1 (?)Dec 7, 1912
2Win2–0Colored BrownKO5 (?)Oct 2, 1911
1Win1–0Oscar KellyKO5 (?)Sep 5, 1911

Unofficial record

All newspaper decisions are officially regarded as “no decision” bouts and are not counted in the win/loss/draw column.

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateAgeLocationNotes
106Loss96–5–4 Gene TunneyKO12 (15)Jun 5, 1925
105Win96–4–4 Tiny Jim HermanKO3 (10)Jan 30, 1925
104Win95–4–4 Jack BurkeTKO6 (10)Jan 7, 1925
103Win94–4–4 Kid NorfolkTKO6 (15)Dec 9, 1924
102Win93–4–4 Ted JamiesonKO1 (15)Oct 24, 1924
101Win92–4–4 Bill ReedTKO3 (20)Oct 10, 1924
100Win91–4–4 Jack BloomfieldKO3 (20)Aug 9, 1924
99Win90–4–4 Georges CarpentierNWS10May 31, 1924
98Win89–4–4 Jack McFarlandKO2 (8)Apr 3, 1924
97Win88–4–4 Soldier LeeTKO3 (8)Mar 31, 1924
96Win87–4–4 Joe DowneyKO1 (12)Mar 24, 1924
95Win86–4–4 Jack MooreKO2 (10)Mar 14, 1924
94Loss85–4–4 Jack DempseyPTS15Jul 4, 1923
93Win85–3–4 Chuck WigginsTKO10 (15)Apr 30, 1923
92Win84–3–4 Andy SchmaderKO1 (10)Mar 26, 1923
91Win83–3–4 Jim TraceyKO2 (10)Mar 5, 1923
90Win82–3–4 Billy MiskeUD10Dec 15, 1922
89Win81–3–4 Joe BurkeKO1 (10)Dec 11, 1922
88Win80–3–4 George AsheKO1 (10)Nov 13, 1922
87Loss79–3–4 Billy MiskeDQ10 (15)Oct 13, 1922
86Win79–2–4 Sailor MartinKO2 (12)May 29, 1922
85Win78–2–4 Harry FoleyTKO6 (15)May 1, 1922
84Loss77–2–4 Harry GrebUD15Mar 13, 1922
83Win77–1–4 Pat McCarthyTKO4 (10)Feb 2, 1922
82Win76–1–4 Bartley MaddenNWS10Dec 19, 1921
81Win75–1–4 Hope MullenKO1 (15)Dec 2, 1921
80Win74–1–4 Dan O'DowdKO6 (15)Nov 25, 1921
79Win73–1–4 Soldier JonesKO1 (10)Nov 16, 1921
78Win72–1–4 Fred AllenTKO1 (12)Oct 14, 1921
77Win71–1–4 Clay TurnerKO1 (10)Oct 7, 1921
76Win70–1–4 Joe BurkeKO2 (10)Sep 20, 1921
75Win69–1–4 Bill ReedTKO2 (10)Sep 12, 1921
74Win68–1–4 Dan O'DowdTKO3 (10)Sep 5, 1921
73Win67–1–4 Willie MeehanTKO1 (12)Jun 22, 1921
72Win66–1–4 Willie KeelerKO2 (10)Jun 7, 1921
71Win65–1–4 Jack CliffordKO3 (12)May 30, 1921
70Win64–1–4 Sergeant Ray SmithKO2 (12)May 27, 1921
69Win63–1–4 Jack HeinenKO1 (12)May 23, 1921
68Win62–1–4 Hugh WalkerTKO2 (10)Apr 29, 1921
67Win61–1–4 Porky Dan FlynnTKO11 (12)Apr 19, 1921
66Win60–1–4 Larry WilliamsTKO4 (12)Apr 12, 1921
65Win59–1–4 Sergeant NorcrossKO1 (12)Mar 31, 1921
64Win58–1–4 Paul Samson KoernerTKO2 (15)Mar 22, 1921
63Win57–1–4 Al ReichKO1 (10)Mar 18, 1921
62Win56–1–4 Hugh WalkerNWS10Feb 14, 1921
61Win55–1–4 Tony MelchiorKO1 (12)Feb 10, 1921
60Win54–1–4 Chuck WigginsNWS10Jan 11, 1921
59Win53–1–4 Chuck WigginsNWS12Dec 6, 1920
58Win52–1–4 Hugh WalkerNWS10Nov 11, 1920
57Loss51–1–4 Harry GrebNWS10Jul 31, 1920
56Win51–0–4 Clay TurnerNWS10Jul 22, 1920
55Win50–0–4 Harry GrebNWS10May 15, 1920
54Win49–0–4 Bob RoperNWS10Apr 9, 1920
53Win48–0–4 Jack ReevesKO2 (15)Feb 19, 1920
52Draw47–0–4 Noel "Boy" McCormickPTS10Feb 11, 1920
51Win47–0–3 George K.O. BrownNWS10Feb 2, 1920
50Win46–0–3 Jimmy DarcyPTS10Dec 16, 1919
49Win45–0–3 Frank FarmerPTS6Dec 3, 1919
48Win44–0–3 Mick KingPTS15Nov 27, 1919
47Win43–0–3 George K.O. BrownNWS12Jul 3, 1919
46Draw42–0–3 Billy MiskeNWS10Jun 19, 1919
45Win42–0–2 Tom RoperNWS10Apr 28, 1919
44Win41–0–2 George ChipPTS10Apr 10, 1919
43Win40–0–2 Larry WilliamsNWS10Feb 10, 1919
42Win39–0–2 Len RowlandsNWS10Jan 30, 1919
4138–0–2 Bartley MaddenNC4 (6)Jan 25, 1919
40Win38–0–2George ChipNWS12May 3, 1918
39Win37–0–2Gus ChristiePTS10Apr 26, 1918
38Win36–0–2Silent MartinNWS15Apr 20, 1918
37Win35–0–2Clay TurnerNWS10Apr 18, 1918
36Win34–0–2Gus ChristieNWS12Mar 22, 1918
35Win33–0–2Silent MartinKO10 (15)Mar 13, 1918
34Win32–0–2George ChipNWS10Mar 7, 1918
33Win31–0–2Clay TurnerNWS10Feb 11, 1918
32Win30–0–2Gus ChristieNWS10Feb 4, 1918
31Win29–0–2Gus ChristiePTS15Sep 3, 1917
30Win28–0–2George ChipNWS10Aug 22, 1917
29Win27–0–2Battling LevinskyNWS10Mar 23, 1917
28Win26–0–2Jackie ClarkNWS10Mar 15, 1917
27Win25–0–2Bert KennyNWS10Mar 3, 1917
26Win24–0–2Bob MohaNWS10Feb 6, 1917
25Win23–0–2Joe HerrickNWS12Nov 16, 1916
24Win22–0–2Joe HerrickNWS12Oct 27, 1916
23Win21–0–2Vic HansenPTS10Mar 8, 1916
22Win20–0–2Gus ChristieNWS12Feb 15, 1916
21Win19–0–2Harry GrebNWS10Nov 16, 1915
20Win18–0–2Billy MiskeNWS10Jul 12, 1915
19Win17–0–2Billy MurrayNWS10Feb 2, 1915
18Win16–0–2Billy GloverTKO6 (10)Nov 26, 1914
17Win15–0–2Bert FaganKO2 (10)Sep 2, 1914
16Draw14–0–2Young MahoneyNWS10Jun 5, 1914
15Win14–0–1Buck CrouseTKO4 (10)May 22, 1914
14Win13–0–1George K.O. BrownNWS10Apr 21, 1914
13Win12–0–1Billy MiskeNWS10Mar 24, 1914
12Win11–0–1George K.O. BrownNWS10Feb 9, 1914
11Win10–0–1Al WorginKO4 (?)Jan 15, 1914
10Win9–0–1Willie K.O. BrennanNWS10Sep 29, 1913
9Win8–0–1Jack DenningNWS10Jun 13, 1913
8Draw7–0–1Frank LoganNWS6Jun 9, 1913
7Win7–0Johnny ShawTKO3 (10)May 27, 1913
6Win6–0Young Mike DonovanNWS10May 16, 1913
5Win5–0Joe BorrellNWS10Apr 29, 1913
4Win4–0Tommy BerginNWS10Apr 22, 1913
3Win3–0Tommy NelsonTKO1 (?)Dec 7, 1912
2Win2–0Colored BrownKO5 (?)Oct 2, 1911
1Win1–0Oscar KellyKO5 (?)Sep 5, 1911

See also

References

  1. News: Tommy Gibbons, Boxer, 69, Died. Challenger to Dempsey in 1923 Bout. Was Sheriff in Minnesota 24 Years . . November 20, 1960 . 2013-12-05 .
  2. News: Tommy Gibbons, Ex-Boxer, Dead . . November 19, 1960 . 2013-12-05 .
  3. http://www.minnesotaboxing.com/Interviews/2010/minnesota_boxing_hall_of_fame_inductees.html Minnesota boxing hall of fame inductees
  4. Web site: BoxRec: Tommy Gibbons.