Harry Woodson
(the "Black Diamond")

BORN   c 1859 (Some reports state 1852) Fought out of Cincinnati, Ohio
DIED   September 1887; Chicago, Illinois
HEIGHT 5-8 (Some sources report 5-9)
WEIGHT 165-180 lbs

Woodson was a scrappy, determined fighter who carried a stiff punch; His overall boxing skills were lacking but his quickness made up for this

During his career, he fought mostly black fighters but did meet some white men too; He tangled with some top black men of his day and gained a couple of wins over "Professor" Charles Hadley

1882
       Alec Thompson               Cincinnati, Oh                    W   
          -Some sources report 1883

1883
Jan 10 Charles Hadley              New York, NY                     LK  2
          -Perhaps, this is the same as the 01/25/1883 Hadley-Woodside bout;
           See Charles Hadley's record
Feb  7 Charles Hadley              New York, NY                      W  3
Feb 15 George Taylor               Jersey City, NJ                  EX  3
Feb 17 George Taylor               New York, NY                     EX   
Mar  7 Steve Williams              Troy, NY                         KO 67
          -Some sources report "W 63"
Mar  8 Viro Small                  New York, NY                      W  4
Mar 15 Viro Small                  New York, NY                     EX   
          -Some sources report "D 4"
       Charles Hadley              New York, NY                      L   
          -Colored Heavyweight Championship of the World;
           Some sources report "W"
       Gregory                     Boston, Ma                       KO   
       O'Connell                   Troy, NY                        SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but not held;
           Authorities prevented it
Apr  6 Jim McLaughlin              Long Island, NY                  KO  7
Apr  9 Gus Lambert                 New York, NY                     EX   
           -Some sources report "ND 4"
Apr 17 Big Bailey                  Philadelphia, Pa                 KO  2
Jun  3 John Connors                Philadelphia, Pa                 LK  6
Jul 16 C.A.C. Smith                Troy, NY                         ND  3
          -Some sources report "W 4"
Sep 20 George Taylor               New York, NY                     ND   

1884
Jan 10 McHenry Johnson             New York, NY                      L  3
          -Johnson was called the "Minneapolis Star"
Feb 13 McHenry Johnson             New York, NY                     EX   
Mar 14 Bob Farrell                 Mt. Vernon, Oh                   EX  3
Mar 23 "Professor" Hurley          Columbus, Oh                     KO  3
Mar 23 Bob Farrell                 Columbus, Oh                     EX   
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Jul 26 Abe Williams                Chicago, Il                       W   
May 26 Ben Williams                Pittsburgh, Pa                    L  4

1887
Feb 24 Billy Wilson                St. Paul, Mn                      D  9
Mar 28 Billy Wilson                St. Paul, Mn                     LF  6
          -Police intervened;
          Some sources report 3/29/87;
          Some sources report "WF 6"
Apr 11 Charles Hadley              St. Paul, Mn                      W 10
May  1 Billy Wilson                St. Paul, Mn                     LK 13
          -Some sources report "LK 3" on 5/02/87
May  4 J. Ross Fitzgerald          Chicago, Il                       D   
Nov  1 Black Pearl (Harris Martin) Minneapolis, Mn                  LT  5
          -Reports vary - "LT 6" - "D 10"
Nov 11 Black Pearl (Harris Martin) Minneapolis, Mn                  LF 13
          -Some sources report 11/14/87;
           Some sources report "LF 12"

1888
Apr  6 Jim McLaughlin              Long Island City, NY              ?   
          -Some sources reference this contest (boxing or wrestling ?);
           The result is not known

1890
May  2 Black Frank (Frank Taylor)  Sault Ste. Marie, Mi              D 12

1892
       George Ryan                                                  LK  5

*** The Following Bout Is Reported But Not Confirmed ***

1886
       Black Pearl (Harris Martin)                                   L  4

Review courtesy of Tracy Callis, Historian, International Boxing Research Organization