George LaBlanche
(George Blais; the "Marine")

George LaBlanche article by Lou Eisen
 

BORN   December 17 1856; Point Levi, South Quebec, Canada
DIED May 3 1918; Lawrence, Massachusetts
HEIGHT 5-6 1/2
WEIGHT 140-160 lbs
MANAGERS Tom Bogue; Warren Lewis (backer);
TRAINERS Charles Gleason, Mike Quilligan

LaBlanche was not a great boxer but he was quick and agile; Neither was he a great slugger but he carried a good punch; His fighting nature was scrappy and game; He is most famous for his "Pivot Punch" that he used against "Nonpareil" Jack Dempsey in 1889; It looked as if he had won the Middleweight Championship but the blow was ruled illegal and Dempsey kept the crown

During his career, LaBlanche defeated such men as "Nonpareil" Jack Dempsey, Tom Henry, Denny Kelliher, Frank Bosworth, Sam Bittle, Tom Hinch and Mike Lucie (see Boston (Ma) Daily Globe 8/18/88 p 16)

1883
Sep 18 L. Wetzell Brown           Lewiston, Me                     LF   
Oct 19 Mike Barry                 Lewiston, Me                      W   
Dec 11 -LaBlanche enlisted in the United States Marine Corps
          at Charlestown, ---, Canada

1884
Jan 28 George "Deacon" Smith      Boston, Ma                        D  6
          -Smith was a heavyweight;
           Some sources report "W 6
Feb 28 Tommy McManus              Boston, Ma                        W  6
Mar 21 Tom Bates                  Boston, Ma                       TK  5
          -Some sources report "W 5"
May  7 Jimmy Hurst                Cambridgeport, Ma                LT  5
          -Some sources report "L 5"
Jun 11 -LaBlanche was discharged from the United States Marine Corps
Jun 13 Jimmy Hurst                Boston, Ma                       TK  6
          -Some sources report "W 6"
Jun 24 Ned Hanratty               Boston, Ma                       KO  3
Aug  1 Jimmy Hurst                Gloucester, Ma                    D  4
Aug  8 Charles Randall            Gloucester, Ma                   TK  2
          -Randall was the Heavyweight Champion of Vermont;
           Some sources report "W 2"
Aug 25 Tom Henry                  Boston, Ma                       TK  3
          -Some sources report 4/25/84;
           Reports vary - "W 2 - "TK 2 - "EX 3"
Aug 31 Denny Kelliher             Boston, Ma                        W  3
          -Reports vary - "KO 3" - "W 4"; Some sources report 9/01/84; 
           Police intervened
Oct 31 Denny Kelliher             Boston, Ma                       TK  4
          -Some sources report 10/03/84;
           Some sources report "W 4"
Nov 24 Young Murphy               Boston, Ma                       EX  3
Dec 12 Jack Green                 Boston, Ma                        W  6

1885
Jan 27 Mike Gorman                Fall River, Ma                   KO  2
          -Gorman was a heavyweight
Feb 12 Frank Bosworth             Fall River, Ma                   KO  1
          -Some sources report "W 2"
Feb 20 Denny Kelliher             Boston, Ma                        D  3
          -Reports vary - "TK 3" - "W 2" - "W 3"; Police intervened
Apr 17 Pete McCoy                 Boston, Ma                        D  2
          -Some sources report "D 8"; Police intervened 
       "Nonpareil" Jack Dempsey   Boston Ma                       SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but cancelled
May 22 Jack Green                 Boston, Ma                       EX  3
Jun 12 -LaBlanche refereed the Joe Lannon-Denny Kelliher bout in Boston, Ma
Jul  3 Jake Kilrain               Gloucester, Ma                   EX  3
Aug  6 Pete McCoy                 Fall River, Ma                    D  4
          -Some sources report "KO 4"; Some sources report "W 4";
           Police intervened
Sep 15 Pete McCoy                 Saugus Center, Ma                 D  5
          -Some sources report "Lynn, Ma"; Some sources report "D 6"
Sep 15 Denny Kelliher             Quincy, Ma                       EX  3
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Nov  6 Jack Magee                 Boston, Ma                       EX  1
Nov  6 Patsy Kerrigan             Boston, Ma                       EX  1
Nov  6 Paddy Duffy                Boston, Ma                       EX  1
          -Different sources report the same date for the 
           previous 3 bouts

1886
Jan  8 Jack Burgess               Boston, Ma                       LF  2
Mar 14 "Nonpareil" Jack Dempsey   Larchmont, NY                    LK 13
          -Middleweight Championship of the America; 
           Some sources report Middleweight Championship
           of the World; Some sources report 3/04/86; 
           This bout was held at "Long Island, NY"
Apr  7 Matt Cunningham            Manchester, NH                   KO   
Apr 16 -LaBlanche refereed the Jack Magee-Joe Mullen bout in Boston, Ma
Apr 27 Jack Fogarty               New York, NY                    SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but cancelled
Jun 18 Tommy McManus              New Bedford, Ma                 SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but not held; LaBlanche did not show;
           McManus claimed a forfeit win
Jul 20 W.L. Leighton              Bradford, Pa                     TK  5
          -Some sources report "W 5";
           Perhaps, this man was "W.S. Layton"; 
           Police intervened
Aug 28 Sam Bittle                 Denver, Co                       KO  1
       J. Haley                                                   SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Sep 11 Patrick "Reddy" Gallagher  Cleveland, Oh                    EX   
Oct 31 Dan Murphy                 St. Paul, Mn                     EX   
Oct 31 Jimmy Carroll              St. Paul, Mn                     EX   
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
           as part of the John L. Sullivan Combination
Nov  2 Tom Hinch                  St. Paul, Mn                     EX  3
Nov  2 Jimmy Carroll              St. Paul, Mn                     EX   
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Nov 10 Octavius Beaudois          St. Paul, Mn                     KO  1
Nov 10 Jimmy Carroll              St. Paul, Mn                     EX  4
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Nov 26 Tom Robinson               Springfield, Oh                 SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Dec  9 Jimmy Carroll              Seattle, Wa                     SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but not held;
           Authorities prevented the bout
Dec 10 Jimmy Carroll              Portland, Or                     EX  3
Dec 10 Butler                     Portland, Or                     EX  3
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Dec 18 Duncan McDonald            Butte, Mt                        EX  3

1886-1887
         -LaBlanche traveled with the John L. Sullivan Combination and had
          numerous exhibition bouts with Jimmy Carroll, Robert "Cocky" Turnbull 
          and others

1887
Jan 18 Duncan McDonald            Minneapolis, Mn                  EX  4
Jan 18 Jimmy Carroll              Minneapolis, Mn                  EX  4
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Feb 14 John W. Curtis             Eau Claire, Wi                    D  2
          -Curtis tore a glove in round two and the fight
           was stopped
Feb 23 "Colorado" Jack Hanley     Omaha, Ne                         D  6
Feb 25 -LaBlanche refereed the Danny Needham-Octavius Beaudoin bout 
          in St. Paul, Mn
Mar  4 -LaBlanche refereed the Billy Wilson-Tom Manning bout in Minneapolis, Mn
Mar    -Businessmen in Chicago, Il were trying to arrange a bout between 
          LaBlanche and Bill Bradburn
Mar 11 -LaBlanche refereed the Frank Taylor-Andy Goldsmith bout in St. Paul, Mn
Mar 13 Jack Fogarty               Greenpoint, NY                   KO 11
Mar 18 -LaBlanche refereed the Harris Martin-Frank Taylor bout in St. Paul, Mn
       Brady                      Cleveland, Oh                    KO   
Mar 25 Tom Hinch                  St. Paul, Mn                     KO  7
Mar 28 Robert "Cocky" Turnbull    Hoboken, NJ                      EX   
Apr  1 Robert "Cocky" Turnbull    Paterson, NJ                     EX   
Apr  1 Jimmy Carroll              Baltimore, Md                    EX  3
          -The previous 2 bouts were reported for the same date
           by different sources
Apr  4 Robert "Cocky" Turnbull    Washington, DC                   EX   
Apr  8 Robert "Cocky" Turnbull    Wilkes-Barre, Pa                 EX   
Apr  9 Robert "Cocky" Turnbull    Altoona, Pa                      EX   
May  2 Joe Lannon                 Logansport, In                   EX  3
May  2 Jimmy Carroll              Logansport, In                   EX  3
          -The previous 2 bouts were reported for the same date
Jun  7 Patsy Kerrigan             Boston, Ma                       EX   
Jun  7 Dick Cronin                Boston, Ma                       EX   
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date;
           Some sources report "Lowell, Ma"
Jun  9 Patsy Kerrigan             Brockton, Ma                     EX  4
Jun  9 Dick Cronin                Brockton, Ma                     EX  4
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Aug  2 Harry Gilmore              Quebec, Que, Can                 EX  4
Aug  8 Patsy Kerrigan             Boston, Ma                       EX  3
Aug  8 Jimmy Hurst                Boston, Ma                       EX   
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Oct 18 Edward L. Buchanan         Boston, Ma                       KO  5
Oct 24 Mike Gillespie             Hoboken, NJ                      KO  4
Oct 26 Harry Langdon              Hoboken, NJ                      KO  2
Oct 29 Bill Dunn                  Hoboken, NJ                       W  3
Nov  9 Denny Kelliher             Wilmington, De                   KO  2
Nov 10 Bill Gabig                 Wilmington, De                    D  4
Nov 12 Mike Boden                 Wilmington, De                    W  4
Nov 30 Jack Files                 New York, NY                     EX  4
Dec 19 Patsy Kerrigan             Boston, Ma                       EX   
Dec 22 Jack Fallon                Hoboken, NJ                       D  6
          -Some sources report 12/12/86
          Some sources report 12/22/86;
          Some sources report "D 4";
          Some sources report "Wilmington, De";
          Police intervened
Dec 28 Patsy Kerrigan             Boston, Ma                      SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known

1888
Jan 19 Mike Burns                 Waterbury, Ct                     W  3
Jan 27 Patsy Kerrigan             Bridgeport, Ct                   EX   
Jan 27 Ike Williams               Bridgeport, Ct                   EX   
          -The previous 2 bouts ere held the same date
Feb 24 Con Riley                  Dayton, Oh                       TK  2
          -Some sources report "W 2"
Mar 22 J. Peters                  Detroit, Mi                      KO  2
          -Perhaps, this man was "George Peters"
Apr 19 John Martin                Newark, NJ                        W  3
May  7 -LaBlanche and Patsy Kerrigan appeared in Brooklyn, NY
           during the week May 7-11
May 15 Jim Fell                                                   SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
May 15 Patsy Kerrigan             Boston, Ma                       EX   
Aug 18 Jack Varley                Yonkers, NY                      TK  3
          -Some sources report 8/20/88
Sep  8 Billy Baker                Buffalo, NY                      ND  1

1889
Jan 19 -LaBlanche challenged any man to a fight at 150-160 lbs 
Jan 25 Jack Fallon                Boston, Ma                      SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but not held; Fallon did not show
Jan 27 -LaBlanche was challenged by Denny Killen to a bout 
Jan 28 -LaBlanche was scheduled to appear at Fitchburg, Ma 
Jan 31 Paddy Brennan              Buffalo, NY                      ND  4
          -Some sources report "EX 4";
           Police intervened
Feb  2 Dan Lynch                  Buffalo, NY                      KO  2
          -Some sources report "KO 3" against "Tom Lynch"
Feb 21 "Denver" Ed Smith          Denver, Co                       NC  2
          -Police intervened;
           Some sources report 3/02/89; 
           Some sources report "L 2"; 
           Some sources report "D 2"
Feb 25 -Some sources report that LaBlanche had been in
           prison prior to the "Denver" Ed Smith bout
Mar  6 Murdy Buchanan             Butte, Mt                        KO  1
          -Some sources report "KO 2" in "Leadville, Co" 
Mar    Young Mitchell             San Francisco, Ca               SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Apr 11 -LaBlanche seconded Charles Gleason vs Patsy McCartin 
          at Parker's City, Co
Apr 26 -LaBlanche was challenged by Denny Kelliher to a bout
May  8 Patrick "Reddy" Gallagher  San Francisco, Ca               SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but cancelled;
           Gallagher would not agree to the stipulated
           weight of 158 lbs
May  8 Jimmy Carroll              San Francisco, Ca               SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
May 28 "Brooklyn" Jimmy Carroll   San Francisco, Ca               SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
May 28 Mike Lucie                 San Francisco, Ca                KO 13
         -This bout was promoted as the Middleweight Championship
          of America; Some sources report "KO 10"; Some sources
          report 1890
Jun  7 -LaBlanche was scheduled to appear at San Francisco, Ca 
          at a benefit for the Johnstown, Pa flood victims
Aug 27 "Nonpareil" Jack Dempsey   San Francisco, Ca                KO 32
         -This bout was originally called a Middleweight 
          Championship of the World contest; But, when 
          LaBlanche weighed in at 161 lbs, it was declared 
          a non-title bout; Also, LaBlanche was accused of
          using an illegal punch, the "pivot" blow; LaBlanche 
          claimed the title as a result of the win
Sep 19 Jack Burke                 Seattle, Wa                       D  9
          -Police intervened; LaBlanche was better
Sep 28 Jimmy Carroll              San Francisco, Ca                EX  3
Oct  5 "Brooklyn" Jimmy Carroll   Portland, Or                    SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Nov 30 Gleason                    San Francisco, Ca                EX   

1890
Jan    -Jack Fogarty challenged LaBlanche to a bout 
Jan    -LaBlanche refereed the George Mulholland-Jimmy Griffen 
          bout at San Francisco, Ca
Feb    Charles "Toff" Wall        in England                      SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Feb 26 -Some sources report that "Nonpareil" Jack Dempsey
          and LaBlanche attended a meeting of the Board of 
          Directors of the San Francisco California AC; 
          LaBlanche turned down $1,000 for a rematch
Feb 27 -LaBlanche seconded Patsy Kerrigan vs Danny Needham 
          at San Francisco, Ca
Mar 13 -LaBlanche was challenged by Alf Mitchell (of England) 
          to a bout
Mar 23 -LaBlanche was challenged by Patrick "Reddy" Gallagher 
          to a bout
May 24 Mike Lucie                 Chicago, Il                      EX  3
Nov 17 George Kessler             Butte City, Mt                   LF 13
          -LaBlanche kicked Kessler and lost the fight on the foul;
           Some sources report "LK 13" in 1889
       Billy Hennessey            Missoula, Mt                      D  6

1891
Feb 20 Young Mitchell             San Francisco, Ca                LK 12
         -This fight was determined to be a fake; 
          The purse was withheld; Prior to the bout,
          LaBlanche wrote to a friend to bet on Mitchell; 
          No evidence was found against Mitchell
May 30 Ed Gorman                  Salt Lake City, Ut               KO 10
Oct    George Morrison                                              W   
          -This bout was held during Oct-Nov 1891
Nov 26 Jim Williams               San Francisco, Ca                LT 17
          -Some sources report "L 17";
           Some sources report "L 6";
           Some sources report "Ogden, Ut"
Dec 14 Alec Greggains             San Francisco, Ca                LT 18
          -Police intervened; 
           Some sources report "Salt Lake City, Ut";
           Some report 12/12/91; Reports vary - 
           "L 3" - "L 14" - "LT 14" -"L 18" 

1892
Jan 27 Billy Manning              Los Angeles, Ca                 SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Feb 10 Joe Cotton                 Los Angeles, Ca                  EX   
Feb 18 Frank Childs               Los Angeles, Ca                  LK  3
          -Some sources report "KO 7" on 2/19/92
Feb 19 Jim Lawson                 Los Angeles, Ca                  LK  7
Mar 24 Frank Childs               Los Angeles, Ca                  LF  8
          -Some sources report 3/08/92;
           Reports vary - "L 6" - "LF 6" - "L 8"
May 11 Charles Bernard            Los Angeles, Ca                  ND  4
May 11 -LaBlanche seconded Frank Purcell vs. Billy Maber at
          Los Angeles, Ca 
           -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
May 24 Charles Bernard            Los Angeles, Ca                 SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Jun 15 Graham                     Los Angeles, Ca                  ND   

1893
Jan 30 -LaBlanche admitted he faked a loss to Young Mitchell 
          at San Francisco, Ca in 1891
May 18 Billy McCarthy             New Orleans, La                  LK 16
          -Some sources report "LK 18"
Jul 11 Bob Manning                Jackson, Mi                      NC  8
          -Reports vary - "ND 8" - "W 8" - "TK 8";
           Police intervened
Jul 21 Dick O'Brien               Lewiston, Me                     LK  3
Aug  2 Dan Dwyer                  Goshen, In                       KO  3
Aug 11 Tom O'Donnell              Grand Rapids, Mi                  L  8
Sep 21 Billy "Shadow" Maber       Minneapolis, Mn                  LK  2
Oct 23 Billy Layton               near Des Moines, Ia              LK  7
          -This bout was held in an improvised ring,
           It was about 15 miles from Des Moines;
           Some sources report "W.L. Leighton"
Dec    Jack Fitzgerald            Chicago, Il                      LT  3
          -This bout held during Dec 1893-Jan 1894

1894
Feb  1 George Kessler             Chicago, Il                       L  6
Mar 16 Charles Wickey             Muskegon, Mi                     LK  5
          -Reports vary - "ND 5" - "L 5"
Apr 24 -Some sources report that LaBlanche was arraigned
          in court 4/23/94 at Chicago for assault and battery; 
          The warrant was taken out by his wife
May 14 Martin "Buffalo" Costello  Montreal, Que, Can                L  6
May    George McKenzie            Chicago, Il                     SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
May 28 Martin "Buffalo" Costello  Montreal, Que, Can               EX  6
May 30 -Some sources report that LaBlanche and Costello
          were touring the Canadian Provinces and giving 
          exhibitions
Jun  6 Billy McMillan             near Chicago, Il                SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known

1895
Jan 21 Jack Slavin                Montreal, Que, Can               EX  6
          -Reports vary - "L 6" - "W 6";
Jan 22 -Sportsmen were trying to match LaBlanche and Jimmy Dime
Nov 25 Billy Hennessey            Lynn, Ma                         LT  1

1896
Jan 18 Joe "Stiff" Dunfee         Syracuse, NY                     LT  5
          -Some sources report "L 5" or "LO 5" on 1/17/96
Jan 30 George Kessler             Chicago, Il                      ND  6
Jul  4 Frank Moynihan             Jamestown, NY                    LT  2
         -Some sources report 7/03/96;
          Some sources report "L 2"

1897
Jan 18 John Yowpers               Cleveland, Oh                     W  6
          -Perhaps, this man was "Henry Yowpers"
Nov 12 Charles "Kid" McCoy        Dayton, Oh                       LK  1
          -Some sources report "LK 2"

1898
Apr 10 Bert Woods                 Toledo, Oh                       LT  4
          -Some sources report "Billy Woods"

1899
Jul 20 Dick O'Brien               Lewiston, Me                     LK  3

1901
Apr  4 J.H. Williams              Madison, Me                       L   

1903
Feb 13 -LaBlanche and Mike Daly were sentenced at Bangor, Me
          two years each for robbery (see the Philadelphia (Pa) Item
          and Boston (Ma) Globe newspapers)

*** The Following Bouts Are Reported But Not Confirmed ***

Undated
       Billy Leedom                                                 L   
       Young McKenzie                                               W   
       Ed Binney                                                    L   
       Jack Wilkes                                                  D  4

1882-1883
       J. Putnam                  Quebec City, Que, Can             W  4
       T. Preston                 Quebec City, Que, Can             L   
          -Preston was a heavyweight

1884
Feb 28 Tommy McManus              Boston, Ma                        W  6

1885
May  1 Denny Kelliher                                               W  2
          -Some sources report "D 2"
1885-1886
       Patrick "Reddy" Gallagher                                   EX  4
       Danny Daly                                                 SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but not held;
           Police intervened

1889
Mar  2 "Denver" Ed Smith          Denver, Co                       ND  2
          -Police intervened

1891-1892
       Frank Purcell              Philadelphia, Pa                  D  4

1900-1903
       Joe Cotton                                                   L   

*** Assistance Was Provided By Sergei Yurchenko ***

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