Jimmy Britt
(James Edward Britt)

BORN   October 5 1879; San Francisco, California
DIED January 21 1940; San Francisco, California (Some sources report January 29 1940)
HEIGHT 5-6
WEIGHT 127-137 lbs
MANAGER Willus Britt
RECORD 14-8-1 (6 KO, 2 ND)

Britt was a scrappy fighter who carried a good punch and had great confidence in his ability to win; He was "heady," trained hard, and maintained a good pace throughout an entire fight; He never underrated an opponent

He defeated George "Kid" Lavigne, Frank Erne, Young Corbett II, Battling Nelson and gave Joe Gans a whipping before losing on a foul; He never received just credit for his skills

Britt starred in vaudeville after retiring from boxing; He was elected to the Ring Boxing Hall of Fame in 1976

 
1902
Feb 18 Toby Irwin                 Oakland, Ca                       W 15
          -Some sources report "San Francisco, Ca"
Feb 28 Tim Hegarty                San Francisco, Ca                TK  8
May 29 George "Kid" Lavigne       San Francisco, Ca                TK  8
          -Lavigne broke a hand in round two;
           Some sources report 5/25/02
Nov 26 Frank Erne                 San Francisco, Ca                KO  7

1903
Mar  9 Jack O'Keefe               Portland, Or                     LF  6
Apr 28 Willie Fitzgerald          San Francisco, Ca                 W 20
Jun 13 Jack O'Keefe               Butte, Mt                         D 20
Nov 10 Charlie Sieger             San Francisco, Ca                 W 20
Nov 20 Martin Canole              Colma, Ca                         W 25

1904
Mar 25 Young Corbett II           San Francisco, Ca                 W 20
Oct 31 Joe Gans                   San Francisco, Ca                LF  5
          -Lightweight Championship of the World;
           Britt gave Gans a terrific beating and knocked him down four times; 
           The last time, he hit Gans when he was rising and was disqualified
Dec 20 Oscar "Battling" Nelson    San Francisco, Ca                 W 20
          -Lightweight Championship of the World

1905
May  5 Jabez White                San Francisco, Ca                TK 20
          -Lightweight Championship of the World
Jul 21 Kid Sullivan               San Francisco, Ca                 W 20
          -Lightweight Championship of the World
Sep  9 Oscar "Battling" Nelson    Colma, Ca                        LK 18
          -Lightweight Championship of the World

1906
Feb 19  -Joe Gans claimed the fight with Britt was a fake which 
          was arranged by the managers of the fighters; It
          is thought he did this to get another fight with Britt
May 28 Terry McGovern             New York, NY                     ND 10

1907
Jul 31 Oscar "Battling" Nelson    San Francisco, Ca                 W 20
Sep  9 Joe Gans                   San Francisco, Ca                LT  6
          -Lightweight Championship of the World;
           Britt broke his wrist in the fourth round

1908
Mar  3 Oscar "Battling" Nelson    Los Angeles, Ca                  ND 10
Apr 11 Packey McFarland           Colma, Ca                        LT  6
Nov  2 Johnny Summers             London, Eng                       W 10

1909
Feb 19 George Hoey                New York, NY                     TK  5
Feb 22 Johnny Summers             London, Eng                       L 20
Jul 31 Johnny Summers             London, Eng                      LK  9

*** Assistance Was Provided By Sergei Yurchenko ***
Review courtesy of Tracy Callis, Historian, International Boxing Research Organization