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The Cyber Boxing Zone Encyclopedia -- Black Dynamite

John Banks
(the "Darkey Wizard")

BORN   December 25 1861; Richmond, Virginia
Some sources report December 25 1860;
Fought out of New York
HEIGHT 5-6 (Some sources report 5-5 1/2)
WEIGHT 128-160 lbs
Banks was the Negro Middleweight Champion of the World during the mid 1880s; John made funny contortions with his mouth as he fought; He also snorted, grunted, and yelled; But, he was very clever and carried a good right hand punch

According to Nat Fleischer, he was an extremely active fighter who fought in Philadelphia as many as five times per week on some occasions; For several years, he averaged one fight per week; Fleischer contends that he won more than 90 percent of his fights; Unfortunately, reports for only a few have surfaced

During his career, Banks defeated such men as Jimmy Mitchell, Tom Butler, John Williams, Bob Frazier, Jim Fell and Johnny Stuart

The old time fighter, Johnny Stuart, called Banks "his hardest fight"
1878
       Billy Hunter                Jersey City, NJ                  W  3

1880
Oct 12 Jimmy Mitchell                                              TK  7

Undated
       Tom Butler                                                  TK  4
       John Williams               Philadelphia, Pa                TK  4
       Jim Stewart                 Philadelphia, Pa                 W  3
       Sheeny Joe                                                  TK  2
          -Some sources report "W 2"
       Bob Frazier                                                  W  8
       Joe Butler                  New York, NY                     L  4

1882
Aug 31 Kentucky Rosebud            Philadelphia, Pa                ND  4
          -This man was "Walter Edgerton"

1883
       Mike Cleary's Black                                         TK  4
          -This man was "Jimmy Smith"

1884
Apr  4 Langtry                     New York, NY                    EX   

1885
       "Nonpareil" Jack Dempsey    New York, NY                     L   
Jan 12 Tommy Ryan                  New York, NY                    EX   
Jan 30 Jim Connors                 New York, NY                     W  4
Jan 30 Jim Fell                    New York, NY                    TK  2
          -Banks knocked Fell out; When Fell came to, another 
           round was fought; Fell quit after the third round;
           The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Mar 30 Jim Fell                    New York, NY                     D  3
Apr 21 Bill Davis                  New York, NY                     W  3
May 12 Jack Ashton                 New York, NY                     D  3
May 22 Alfred Spiers               New York, NY                     W  8
Dec 20 Jim Smith                   New York, NY                    WF 20

1886
Feb  9 Jack Fallon                 New York, NY                     D  6
          -Some sources report "D 5"
Feb 13 Allen's Black               New York, NY                     D 14
Apr  6 Tommy Blackburn             New York, NY                     W  8
Apr 30 Johnny Stuart               New York, NY                    TK  7
Jul 26 Butler's Unknown            Philadelphia, Pa                TK  3
          -This man was "John Roody"; Some sources report 6/26/86
Jul 27 Baltimore Bill              Philadelphia, Pa                 W  4
Jul 31 Len Connolly                Philadelphia, Pa                 W  4
Aug  3 Kentucky Rosebud            Philadelphia, Pa                ND  4
          -This man was "Walter Edgerton"
Aug 19 Jack Lynch                  Philadelphia, Pa                ND  4
Sep 11 Kentucky Rosebud            Philadelphia, Pa                ND  4
          -This man was "Walter Edgerton"
Nov  6 Jim Connors                 Philadelphia, Pa               SCH   
        -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known

1887
Jan 26 James Desverney             New York, NY                    LF  9
          -Colored Middleweight Championship of the World; 
           Some sources report "LT 9"; Some sources report "LT 18"

1888
Feb 20 Ed Binney                   Boston, Ma                      LT 14
         -Some sources report Colored Middleweight Championship of the World;
          Some sources report the scheduled bout ended as "D 13"; Three extra
          rounds were fought to determine the winner (L 16)
       Jack Grace                  New York, NY                    LK  1
          -This bout was held at a "private" club 

1889
Mar 11 Harry Hart                  New York, NY                    ND   
Mar 24 -Banks seconded George Wiseman vs Gallagher's Unknown
           in Flushing, NY
Apr  6 Tommy Riley                                                 LK  9
May    -Banks renounced boxing and joined the church
Aug 26 Joe Fowler                  Brooklyn, NY                    ND   
Oct  4 Johnny Stuart               Brooklyn, NY                    EX  6
Oct    Johnny Keenan                                               ND  3

1890
Feb 25 Paddy McGuigan              Brooklyn, NY                    EX   
Mar  4 -Banks was scheduled to spar in Brooklyn, NY
May  5 Jack Gallagher              Brooklyn, NY                     D   
          -Some sources report "Frank Moore"
Aug 25 Joe Fowler                  Brooklyn, NY                    EX   
Oct 27 Con Dugan                                                   EX   
          -Some sources report 11/27/90
Dec 21 Mike Gorman                 New York, NY                    EX   

1891
Jan 22 Mike Leary                  New York, NY                    ND   
Feb  7 Billy Dacey                 Brooklyn, NY                   SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Apr  4 Tommy Kelly                 West Hoboken, NJ                 D 16
Nov 27 George Dixon                New York, NY                    EX   

1896
Feb 29 Paddy McGuigan              New York, NY                    ND  3
          -Some sources report "Paddy McGinnis"; 
           Some sources report "D 3" on 2/28/96
Mar 11 Paddy McGuigan              New York, NY                    EX  3
Mar 28 Paddy McGuigan              Brooklyn, NY                     D  4
          -Some sources report "W 4"; 
          Some soruces report that McGuigan fought "Johnny Barlas"
Jul 20 Paddy McGuigan              New York, NY                     D  3
Jul 25 Paddy McGuigan              Brooklyn, NY                     W  6
Aug  1 Paddy McGuigan              Brooklyn, NY                   SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Aug 31 Paddy McGuigan              New York, NY                     D  4
Nov 16 Paddy McGuigan              New York, NY                    ND  4

1897
May  6 -Banks was scheduled to spar in the 140-lb Competition at New York, NY
Jun 18 Paddy McGuigan              New York, NY                     D  3

1899
Aug 12 Jack Root                   Chicago, Il                     LK  1

*** Some Data Was Provided By Kevin Smith ***

*** Click Here To See Book Review For THE SUNDOWNERS ***

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