Schedule News Current Champs WAIL! Encyclopedia Links Store Home
The Cyber Boxing Zone Encyclopedia -- American Bare Knuckle Champion

Mike McCoole
(the "Deck Hand Champion")

BORN   March 12 1837; in England
DIED October 17 1886; New Orleans, Louisiana
HEIGHT.. 6-2
WEIGHT 200 lbs
BACKER Harry Hill

McCoole was big and strong but slow and clumsy; During his career, he won the Heavyrweight Championship of America

Mike defeated such men as Tom Allen, Bill Davis, Aaron Jones, William Blake and Tom Jennings

 
1858
Apr    Bill Nary                  Louisville, Ky             (17:00)  W  8
          -Nary was 6-1 and 210 lbs

1859
Jun 29 William Blake              Twelve Mile Island         (37:00)  W 29

1861
May  2 Tom Jennings               New Orleans, La            (33:00)  W 27

1862
       "Professor" Ottignon       New York, NY                (5:00) EX   

1863
May  5 Joe Coburn                 Charlesworth, Md         (1:10:00)  L 67
          -Heavyweight Championship of America

1864
Oct 10 -McCoole challenged Joe Coburn to another fight

1866
Sep 19 Bill Davis                 near St. Louis, Mo         (35:00)  W 34
          -McCoole claimed the Heavyweight Championship
           of America; This fight was held at "Rhodes Point"

1867
Aug 31 Aaron Jones                Busenbord's Station, Oh    (26:00)  W 34
          -Heavyweight Championship of America

1868
May 27 Joe Coburn                 Cold Spring Station, In           SCH   
          -Heavyweight Championship of America;
           This fight was scheduled but not held;
           Police intervened and prevented the fight;
           Coburn and his trainer, Jim Cusick, were 
           arrested; Some sources report 9/19/1868
Sep  4 Tom Heenan                                                   SCH   
          -This fight was scheduled but cancelled

1869
Jun 15 Tom Allen                  near St. Louis, Mo                 WF  9
          -Heavyweight Championship of America;
           This fight was held at "Foster's Island";
           Allen was better but was disqualified due 
           to an alleged foul

1870
Nov 10 Tom Allen                                                    SCH   
          -This fight was scheduled but cancelled

1873
Sep 23 Tom Allen                  near St. Louis, Mo         (20:00)  L  7
          -Heavyweight Championship of America;
           This fight was held at "Chateau Island"

Oct 29 -McCoole was arrested and later convicted for shooting
           Patsy Mavery, pugilist, at St. Louis, Mo


*** Assistance Was Provided By Tony Triem ***
Record courtesy of Jan Skotnicki, Historian, International Boxing Research Organization
 

Schedule

News

Current Champions

Boxing Journal

Encyclopedia

Store

Home

[Return to Top]