Mike Conley
(the "Ithaca Giant")
BORN September 27 1860; Towanda, Pennsylvania (in upper Pennsylvania near the New York state border) DIED March 14 1920; Ithaca, New York HEIGHT 6-0 WEIGHT 180-200 lbs Conley was very muscular and a very hard hitter; He was a bonafide heavyweight with a "heavyweight" punch; His greatest weakness was his lack of boxing finesse; Reportedly, Conley was Heavyweight Champion of the Northwest during his career
During his career, Conley defeated such men as John Clow, Frank Glover, Mike Boden, Denny Kelliher, Bill Gabig, Bob Caffrey and Mike BurkeUndated -As a child, Mike moved to Ithaca, New York; Later, in his adult life, he relocated to Ashland, Wisconsin 1883-1884 -Conley went to Professor John S. Clark's Academy for boxing instruction in Philadelphia, Pa; He was a great attraction there, meeting all-comers 1884-1886 John W. Dickerson Philadelphia, Pa ND -Dickerson was the Heavyweight Champion of Pennsylvania; Conley was better 1886 May 15 Jack Ashton Ithaca, NY D 3 -Police intervened Jun 21 Frank Herald New York, NY LK 1 -Some sources report 1883 Jun 25 Harry Umlah Elmira, NY KO 2 Aug 30 John W. Dickerson Philadelphia, Pa KO 3 Sep 1 Bill Gabig Philadelphia, Pa ND 4 -Conley knocked Gabig down 5 times but Gabig lasted and claimed win Sep 27 Tom Kelly Philadelphia, Pa TK 2 Oct 3 Mike Boden Philadelphia, Pa KO 4 -Some sources report "W 4" Oct 5 Mike Monahan Philadelphia, Pa TK 2 -Some sources report 10/02/86 Nov 2 Denny Kelliher Philadelphia, Pa KO 1 Nov 4 John Moody Philadelphia, Pa KO 1 Nov 6 Fatty Langtry Philadelphia, Pa TK 2 -Some sources report 11/13/86 Dec 2 Jack King KO 1 -Some sources report 12/14/86 Dec Mike McGuire Philadelphia, Pa KO 1 -Some sources report "John Maguire"; Dec John Heenan Philadelphia, Pa KO 2 -Some sources report "KO 1" Dec Dave Clemens Philadelphia, Pa KO 1 Dec Mike Monahan Philadelphia, Pa KO 1 Dec Joe Godfrey Philadelphia, Pa KO 1 Dec John Donnelly Philadelphia, Pa KO 1 Dec John Ballard Philadelphia, Pa KO 1 Dec Mike Monahan Philadelphia, Pa KO 1 1886-1887 Pat McAnney Philadelphia, Pa KO 1 John Wiley Philadelphia, Pa TK 2 -Some sources report "Dick Wiley" an unnamed opponent KO an unnamed opponent KO an unnamed opponent KO an unnamed opponent KO -The previous 4 bouts were probably held from mid-December 1886 thru mid-February 1887 1887 Feb Bill Gabig Philadelphia, Pa ND 4 Feb 21 James "Sparrow" Golden Philadelphia, Pa ND 4 -Conley knocked Golden down 20 times Mar 1 Bob Caffrey Philadelphia, Pa KO 2 Mar 10 Bill Gabig Philadelphia, Pa KO 2 Mar Henry Anders Philadelphia, Pa KO 1 Oct 15 O.H. Smith Ashland, Wi KO 2 Dec 16 Tom Fraker Ashland, Wi LF 1 1886-1888 Jim Fell W 1888 Mar 1 Pat Killen SCH -This bout was scheduled but not held; Killen's hands were ailing Apr 7 John Clow Ashland, Wi TK 4 -This bout was promoted as the Heavyweight Championship of the Northwest; Some sources report "TK 3" on 4/08/88 Apr 9 -Conley challenged any man in the world to a fight Apr 20 Paddy McDonald Antigo, Wi EX 4 Oct 26 Joe McAuliffe San Francisco, Ca LK 2 -Some sources report "L 2" Alec Greggains L 2 1889 Sep 7 Patsy Cardiff Ashland, Wi SCH -This bout was scheduled but not held; Police intervened Sep 21 Frank Keller Ashland, Wi EX 3 -Some sources report "ND 3" Oct 5 John Clark Ashland, Wi EX 3 1890 Mar Dave Flaherty Portland, Or KO 3 Mar 22 Frank Glover Portland, Or W 2 -Police intervened Apr 12 Tom Fraker Oregon City, Or EX 4 Jun Mike Burke Denver, Co KO 1 Jul 2 Billy Woods Denver, Co D 3 -Police intervened; Some sources report 7/02/91; Conley was to knock out Woods inside of five rounds or 20 minutes; Conley began knocking Woods around and Woods resorted to fouling techniques and falling when Conley came near Jul Abe Nixon Idaho Springs, Co KO 3 -Some sources report Sep 1890 Aug 30 Fred Stoll Dallas, Tx KO 1 Oct 19 Dick Sullivan Dallas, Tx WF 2 1891 Feb 9 Billy Woods New Orleans, La LK 2 -Some sources report 1892 Tommy Monoghan Philadelphia, Pa D 4 1892 Apr 30 C.F. Fisher El Paso, Tx KO 10 -Some sources reports "W 10" on 4/28/92 1894 Oct 20 Con Riley Cincinnati, Oh W 1 -Police intervened 1896 Mar Jim Corbett EX Apr 7 Jim Corbett St. Louis, Mo EX -This bout was part of a play, A Naval Cadet; Corbett and Conley were arrested but let go; The play and the sparring continued for the week of Apr 7-11 1896 -Conley retired to Memphis, Tn where he operated a hotel 1897 Oct -Conley contracted to spar with Bob Fitzsimmons who was touring in the Cincinnati, Oh area Oct 17 Bob Fitzsimmons Indianapolis, In EX Nov 14 Bob Fitzsimmons Kansas City, Mo EX Nov 25 Bob Fitzsimmons Topeka, Ks EX 3 -Some sources report "EX 4"; Conley knocked a tooth out of Fitzsimmons' mouth 1901 Apr 8 -Some sources report that Conley was wanted by the authorities for the murder of Charles Gildea *** The Following Bout Is Reported But Not Confirmed *** 1890 Aug 18 John Clark Dallas, Tx EX *** Much Data Was Provided By William Schutte *** *** Some Data Provided By Jake Wegner ***
Record courtesy of Tracy Callis, Historian, International Boxing Research Organization
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