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Wegner
writes (2009) --
Kemmick was regarded as the best
Welterweight in the world in the 1880's. His remarkable speed
and power were legendary in his time. Welterweight Champion of
the World Tommy Ryan, twice backed out of facing him for title
defenses. He had such difficulty getting fights, that he
frequently fought Heavyweights and often fought under the alias
of Charles Hearld and Charlie Kemmic.
His record continues to be the object of much research by
historians of the International Boxing Research Organization (IBRO),
as he was one of the few boxers in history to retire undefeated,
reportedly having an unbeaten record throughout 33 fights, with
his health forcing him into an early retirement at the age of 23
due to tuberculosis, which ultimately claimed his life.
Kemmick's skills were so far ahead of his time, that newspapers
didn't just report on his victories, instead they frequently
reported on how he often played with his opponents in efforts to
make more money off of side-bets on how long his opponents would
last with him. In interviews with the Saint Paul newspapers, he
often alluded that he could make more money by allowing a fight
to go the distance than he could by KO; an almost
self-admittance of carrying his opponents to later rounds in
efforts to collect more cash from bets. In his last few years of
boxing, while battling tuberculosis and with greatly
deteriorated skills, Kemmick still could not be bested in a
ring. In 1895, his doctor advised him to leave his Saint Paul
home to take a vacation in Denver, Colorado in hopes that the
drier air may help his illness, but he died shortly after
arriving there. |
1888
Mar 25 Dick Moore St. Paul, Mn KO 7
Nov 13 Tom Osborne St. Paul, Mn KO 3
Dec 15 Paddy Nolan St. Paul, Mn KO 2
Dec 18 George Lamar Minneapolis, Mn KO 1
1889
Jan 13 -Kemmick was reported by newspapers to have had several
battles and was unbeaten
Jan 22 Joe Lamera Minneapolis, Mn KO 3
-This was a fast and furious fight
Mar 3 Tom Hanley Minneapolis, Mn KO 3
-Police Gazette names this man "Ed Hanley" and reports a
"W 2" verdict; Some sources report 03/02/1889
Mar 3 Tom Failes Minneapolis, Mn W 10
-Police Gazette names this man "Dick Failes" and reports a
"W 6" verdict;
The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Ed Moehler Minneapolis, Mn KO 1
Paddy Shea Ashland, Wi KO 2
Jul 16 Frank Morrissey Ashland, Wi KO 1
Aug 16 John Van Heest Ashland, Wi EX 3
Sep 27 Frank Kellar Ashland, Wi D 10
-Kellar was badly punished; Some sources report 07/21/1889
Oct 13 -Kemmick refereed the Danny Needham-Frank Besow bout
in Ashland, Wi
Oct 15 George Curtis Ashland, Wi KO 2
-Danny Needham was the referee; Police intervened and
arrested the fighters and some others; Some sources
report 01/15/1889 vs "John W. Curtis"
1890
Jan 1 Jim Duval Denver, Co KO 1
Apr 2 Gus Brown El Paso, Tx KO 2
Apr 22 Davey Crockett El Paso, Tx KO 1
Apr 24 Fred Neilson El Paso, Tx KO 3
Apr 25 Fred Robinson El Paso, Tx KO 3
Jun 1 Tom Standard El Paso, Tx KO 1
Jun 7 Gus Green El Paso, Tx KO 1
Jun 23 Fred Neilson Fort Worth, Tx KO 1
Jul 3 Paddy Shea Fort Worth, Tx KO 2
Jul 28 Jim Foster San Antonio, Tx KO 2
Aug 15 Red Hennessey Fort Worth, Tx KO 3
1891
Feb 18 -Kemmick seconded Danny Needham vs Tommy Ryan at Minneapolis, Mn
Apr 24 Jim Scully Minneapolis, Mn KO 2
May 4 Charles McManus Minneapolis, Mn W
May 8 Joe McManus St. Paul, Mn KO 4
Jun 7 John Van Heest Minneapolis, Mn SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Jul 11 Joe Tansey Janesville, Wi EX
Jul 21 Jimmy Murphy St. Paul, Mn D 12
Aug Billy Mahan San Francisco, Ca SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Aug 21 Ed Leroy Fort Worth, Tx KO 1
1892
Feb 26 Hite Peckham San Francisco, Ca NC 3
-There were several suspicious knockdowns;
The referee declared a "No Contest";
Some sources report "KO 3"
Apr 25 James Scully Minneapolis, Mn KO 3
-Some sources report "KO 2" on 04/24/1891
May 6 Con Doyle Minneapolis, Mn SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Jun 6 Jack Wilkes Minneapolis, Mn D 10
1893
Jun 18 -The Philadelphia (Pa) Item reported that Kemmick,
one of the best 142-lb men a few years ago, now
looks like a wreck, battling with consumption
Sep 9 Jim Sullivan Brooklyn, NY D 10
1895
Aug 24 -The Philadelphia (Pa) Item reported that Kemmick
(of St. Paul) died of consumption; He was 25 years
of age
*** Much Data Was Provided By Jake Wegner ***
*** Photo Was Provided By Bill Schutte ***
Review courtesy of Tracy
Callis, Historian, International Boxing Research
Organization
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