 |
Casper Leon
(Gaspare Leoni)
(the "Sicilian Swordfish")
| BORN |
December 8
1872; Palermo, Sicily |
| DIED |
May 6 1926;
New York, New York |
| HEIGHT |
5-3 1/2 |
| WEIGHT |
103-112 lbs |
| RACE |
White;
Sicilian-American |
|
|
Leon was a scrappy fighter and a
top contender who went up against the best men in his weight class on
many occasions; He was quick, clever and game; Leon won the
105 Pound Championship of America
during his career
Casper defeated such men as Charley Roden, Connie Sullivan, Tommy
"Spider" Kelly, Joe Elms, George Justice, Jack "Kid" Madden, Patsy
Haley, Johnny Connors, "Torpedo" Billy Murphy, Jack Ward, Morris Rauch,
Jack Lynch, "Turkey Point" Billy Smith and Joe Sturch
Leon met the great Jimmy Barry in the ring seven times, three times for the
World Championship. Perhaps, his greatest ring performance came in a
losing cause, his 28 round battle against Barry for the
105 Pound Championship of America in 1894 |
1891
Jim Burns KO 1
1892
Feb 16 Eddie Curry New York, NY D 4
Aug 2 Willie Conley New York, NY KO 2
Aug Billy Hill New York, NY ND 4
-Some sources report "W 4"
Aug 15 Billy Hill New York, NY LT 2
-Some sources report "LK 1" on 8/18/92
Oct 3 Sammy Myers New York, NY ND 6
Dec 12 Terry Lee Brooklyn, NY SCH
-This bout was scheduled but cancelled;
Lee was too heavy
Dec 12 Billy Steele Brooklyn, NY ND 4
-Police intervened;
Some sources report "D 4"
1893
Andrew Cuneo KO 4
Apr 22 Eugene Garcia New York, NY D 8
-Some sources report "W 8"
Sep 11 Mike Bent Brooklyn, NY W 10
Oct 20 John Simpson Brooklyn, NY KO 2
Sammy Myers New York, NY W 6
Dec 27 Peter Gillespie Philadelphia, Pa W 6
1894
Jack Grimes KO 4
Feb 3 Fred Hinckman Rockaway Beach, NY KO 5
Feb 24 Jack Levy New York, NY EX 3
Sep 15 Jimmy Barry Lemont, Il LK 28
-105 lb Championship of America;
Weights were announced as 105-105;
The men actually fought at 112 lbs;
Following this fight, Barry claimed the
Bantamweight Championship of the World
Nov 5 -Leon refereed the Lou Agnew-Jack Ryan bout in Chicago, Il
Nov 15 Joe Bertrand Chicago, Il SCH
-This bout was scheduled but postponed;
Bertrand could not make the 110 lb limit
Dec 11 Jim "Kid" Ryan Chicago, Il W 8
-Some sources report 12/18/94
1895
Jan -Leon had George Siler helping him with ring tactics
and the finer points of boxing
Feb -Leon refused the offer of the National Sporting Club
of London, Eng to meet George Corfield
Feb Joe Bertrand Chicago, Il SCH
-This bout was scheduled but not held;
Bertrand could not make the 110 pound limit
Mar 30 Jimmy Barry Chicago, Il D 14
-Bantamweight Championship of the World;
Police intervened; Barry was pounding Leon
Apr 27 Charles Roden Jersey City, NJ W 8
-Some sources report 4/28/95;
Some sources report "W 10"
May 2 Connie Sullivan New York, NY KO 5
-Some sources report 5/09/95;
Some sources report 5/16/95
Some sources report 5/02/96
May 13 Dave Cullen Brooklyn, NY SCH
-This bout was scheduled but cancelled;
Cullen was the overweight limit
May 13 Mike Newman Brooklyn, NY LF 5
-Police intervened
May 17 Ed Vaughn Jersey City, NJ KO 4
May 30 -Some sources reported that Leon and Bob Cunningham
may fight if they can agree on the weight limit
Jun 8 Frank Erne New York, NY EX
-This bout was part of a Benefit for "Nonpareil"
Jack Dempsey; Some sources report "ND"
Jun 27 Charles Kelly New York, NY SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known;
It was part of a Benefit for John L. Sullivan
Jul 15 Charles Roden Jersey City, NJ W 10
Aug 19 Emil Moore New York, NY SCH
-This bout was scheduled but cancelled
Aug 19 Jimmy Barry New York, NY EX 3
-Some sources report "ND 3"
Aug 22 Bill Klemm Hoboken ,NJ KO 8
Sep 19 Jim Anthony Brooklyn, NY EX 3
Oct 7 Charles Roden Constable Hook, NJ W 10
-Some sources report 10/08/95
Oct 19 Sammy Kelly Constable Hook, NJ SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known;
Some sources report 10/07/95
Oct 26 Young Corfield New York, NY KO 2
Oct 28 Patsy Haley New York, NY W 10
Nov 11 "Turkey Point" Billy Smith Maspeth, NY W 6
Nov 29 Frank Burns Brooklyn, NY KO 4
Dec 2 Joe Elms Maspeth, NY WF 4
-Some sources report "W 4"
1896
Jan 4 Frank Burns Brooklyn, NY W
-Some sources report "Frank Brennan"
Jan 18 Sammy Myers New York, NY W 4
Jan 30 George Justice New York, NY W 4
Feb 22 Jack "Kid" Madden New York, NY W 12
Mar 24 Jack Lynch New York, NY TK 7
Mar 31 Jack Lynch Philadelphia, Pa W 10
-This was a "private" fight
Apr 7 "Turkey Point" Billy Smith Shenandoah, Pa KO 2
Apr 25 Tommy "Spider" Kelly New York, NY KO 5
-Some sources report Sep 1896
May 2 Connie Sullivan New York, NY KO 5
-Some sources report "W 8"
Jun 14 Johnny Connors Miowanda, NY TK 9
-105-lb Championship of America
Jun 15 Johnny Connors Niagara Falls, NY W 3
Jul 14 Jack Moran Albany, NY KO 8
-Some sources report "KO 3"
Jul 24 Jimmy Barry Elmira, NY EX 6
-Some sources report "ND 6"
Aug 22 Jack Lynch Philadelphia, Pa D 6
Oct 16 Jimmy Rose New York, NY D 10
Nov 24 Dave Sullivan Maspeth, NY D 20
Dec 12 Jack Lynch Toronto, Ont, Can W 20
1897
Jan 8 Jack McKeck Troy, NY W
Jan 18 Jack McKeck Brooklyn, NY W 15
Mar 1 George Church Buffalo, NY W 20
-Some sources report "Frank Church";
Some sources report "Jack Church";
Some sources report 3/02/97
Mar 30 Jack Ward New York, NY W 20
-Some sources report 4/01/97
May 22 Ed Vaughn New York, NY KO 11
-Reports vary - "KO 1" - "KO 4" - "KO 10"
May 31 Tom Myers Hartford, Ct D 15
-Some sources report "W 15"
Nov 8 Johnny "Midget" Glynn Brooklyn, NY D 20
-Some sources report 11/02/97
Dec 2 Tom Myers Bridgeport, Ct W 15
-Some sources report 12/21/97
1898
Jan 11 Jack Ward Trenton, NJ D 15
-This bout was an "agreed draw"
Mar 3 George Munroe New Haven, Ct W 15
-Some sources report "W 20"
Apr 29 Jack Ward Baltimore, Md D 8
May 30 Jimmy Barry New York, NY D 20
-Bantamweight Championship of the World
Sep 30 Steve Flanagan New York, NY D 25
-105/106 lb Championship of America
Oct 22 Harry Forbes Chicago, Il D 6
Nov 7 Joe Sturch Chicago, Il W 6
Nov 12 John Whittaker Chicago, Il EX 3
Nov 21 Jimmy Barry Chicago, Il D 6
Nov 26 Sammy Harris Chicago, Il L 6
-Some sources report "D 6"
Dec 29 Jimmy Barry Davenport, Ia D 20
-Bantamweight Championship of the World;
1899
Jan 16 "Torpedo" Billy Murphy Cincinnati, Oh W 10
Jan 30 Terry McGovern Brooklyn, NY LK 12
Apr 1 Danny Dougherty Brooklyn, NY ND 20
-Some sources report "D 20"
Apr 13 Pinky Evans Yonkers, NY ND 20
-Some sources report "W 20"
Apr 20 Patsy Donovan Wilmington, De L 10
May 25 Pinky Evans Yonkers, NY ND 20
-Some sources report "W 20"
Jun 3 Paddy Donovan Brooklyn, NY L 20
Jun 9 Clarence Forbes St. Louis, Mo L 12
-Some sources report Bantamweight Championship
of America; Some sources report "L 20"
Jun 23 Clarence Forbes St. Louis, Mo D 12
Jul 6 Frank Cabrilliac St. Louis, Mo TK 18
-Some sources report 7/07/99;
Some sources report "W 18"
Jul 24 Morris Rauch St. Louis, Mo W 20
Sep 16 Danny Dougherty Brooklyn, NY ND 20
-Some sources report "D 20"
Oct 4 Steve Flanagan New York, NY ND 20
-Some sources report Bantamweight Championship
of America; Some sources report 10/03/99
Oct 27 Steve Flanagan St. Louis, Mo L 25
-Bantamweight Championship of America;
Some sources report "L 20"
Nov 27 Johnny Ritchie Memphis, Tn D 4
-Leon suffered a broken arm
1900
Feb 17 Jimmy Smith Toronto, Ont, Can LT 10
Jun 1 Jimmy Smith Toronto, Ont, Can LF 2
-Some sources report 6/02/00
Aug 14 Johnny Reagan Coney Island, NY ND 20
-Some sources report "L 20"
Sep 6 Harry Forbes St. Joseph, Mo D 20
Oct 16 Harry Harris Chicago, Il L 6
Oct 27 Harry Forbes Chicago, Il L 6
-Some sources report "D 20";
Some sources report 11/12/00
Dec 18 Dennis "Kid" McFadden Memphis, Tn L 20
-Some sources report 12/19/00;
Some sources report "D 20"
1901
Jan 14 George Munroe Hot Springs, Ar L 20
Feb 1 George Munroe Hot Springs, Ar D 20
-Some sources report 1/31/01
Mar 8 Morris Rauch Hot Springs, Ar D 20
-Some sources report 12/12/01
Apr 2 Harry Forbes Memphis, Tn LT 15
-Some sources report 4/03/01
Apr 22 Jack "Kid" Madden Hot Springs, Ar LF 15
-Some sources report 4/23/01;
Some sources report "WF 5"
1902
Jan 6 Kid Bernasconi Philadelphia, Pa ND 6
Jan 22 Jack Ward Baltimore, Md D 8
-Some sources report "D 10" on 1/23/02
Feb 19 Alex Dunsheath Baltimore, Md W 20
Apr 7 Abe "Kid" Goodman Hartford, Ct L 15
Nov 3 Patsy Broderick Providence, RI D 10
1903
Apr 17 Danny Dougherty Philadelphia, Pa ND 6
1904
Apr 4 Jimmy Farren Baltimore, Md D 15
-Some sources report "D 8"
Oct 8 Tommy "Kid" Love Philadelphia, Pa ND 6
1906
May 22 Barney Sunshine New York, NY ND 6
1909
Dec 21 Tommy "Spider" Kelly New York, NY EX 2
-This bout was part of a Benefit for Leon
*** The Following Bouts Are Reported But Not Confirmed ***
1891
Harry Mack KO 2
Bob Lee KO 5
Harry Cohen KO 3
Mike Gilligan KO 7
Bob Steel KO 4
Mike Slattery KO 7
Dan O'Leary KO 1
Peter Hegerman KO 4
Jack Newman KO 3
Chick Johnson D 2
1892
Nick Grant KO 2
W. Hannible KO 1
H. Livingston KO 3
Jim Hoey KO 5
Eddie Curry KO 2
Eddie Curry W 6
Jack Rose W 4
Jack Adler W 4
Frank McSpeddon D 5
Jack McKeck ND 6
1892-1894
Pat Daley D 6
1895
Dec 21 Jim Corfield New York, NY KO 1
Record courtesy of Tracy Callis,
Historian, International Boxing Research Organization
4.13.06
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