Billy Plimmer

BORN   February 6 1869; Birmingham, England (Some sources report February 9 1869)
DIED February 3 1929
HEIGHT 5-3 1/2
WEIGHT 105-122 lbs
MANAGER Benny Murphy

Plimmer was a very capable fighter and a clever ring general; He was a classical British boxer who relied much upon his left hand; But, Plimmer could get very aggressive and rough when challenged; His fighting style has been compared to that of the unbeaten American boxer, Jimmy Barry - careful aggression

Harry Mullan, the British boxing historian, wrote in 1989, "Any British boxer who wins a world title in America and successfully defends it there three times should be assured of immortality - yet Birmingham's Billy Plimmer, who did just that almost a hundred years ago, is merely a footnote in the record books. He deserves better."

During his career, Plimmer won the Bantamweight Championship of the World, Great Britain and England; He defeated such men as George Dixon, Tommy "Spider" Kelly, Johnny Murphy, Elwood McCloskey, Michael "Chappie" Moran, John Van Heest, Charley Kelly, George Corfield, Billy Willis, Arthur Westley, Jem Stevens, Joe McGrath and Maxie Haugh

1888
       Charley Sallade            Birmingham, Eng                   W  4
       Jack Brown                 Birmingham, Eng                   W  4
       Jack Shannon               Birmingham, Eng                   W  6
       Sol Phillips               Birmingham, Eng                   W  8
       Bill Moore                 Birmingham, Eng                   W  8

1889
Feb 18 Jack Sweeney               London, Eng                       W  3
Feb 18 Tim Buckley                London, Eng                       W  4
Feb 18 Patsy Sheehan              London, Eng                       L  4
          -The previous 3 bouts were held the same date
           as part of Hinde's 104-lb Tournament;
           Some sources report 2/23/88
Mar    Michael "Chappie" Moran    Birmingham, Eng                  KO  3
          -Some sources report "KO 4"
Mar    Michael "Chappie" Moran    Birmingham, Eng                   W  8
Jun  2 Joe Farrell                London, Eng                       W  6
Aug 13 Billy Willis               London, Eng                       W 12

1890
Apr  2 Tim Buckley                London, Eng                      TK  5
Aug 11 Arthur Westley             London, Eng                      TK 13
          -107 pound Championship of London

1891
Feb 13 Charles Mansford           London, Eng                      TK 10
          -Bantamweight Championship of England;
           Some sources report "W 10"
Apr  2 Jem Stevens                London, Eng                      TK 15
          -Bantamweight Championship of Great Britain;
           Some sources report 5/30/91;
           Some sources report "W 10" on 5/31/91 
           against "Arthur Stevens"
Oct  4 -Plimmer arrived in New York, NY
Oct 27 Jim Watson                 Paterson, NJ                      W  4
Nov 13 Jack Lynch                 Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  4
Dec 19 Jimmy Dwyer                Philadelphia, Pa                 EX  4
          -Some sources report "ND 4"
Dec 30 Matt McCarthy              Philadelphia, Pa                 TK  2
          -Some sources report "W 2"

1892
Jan 12 Kid Hogan                  Coney Island, NY                  D  8
Feb 15 Benny Murphy               Boston, Ma                       EX   
Apr 18 -Plimmer was challenged by Jimmy Kennard to a bout
May  9 Tommy "Spider" Kelly       Coney Island, NY                 KO 10
          -Bantamweight Championship of the World
Jun 14 Willie Tucker              Newark, NJ                       KO  3
Aug  8 Jerry Barnett              Coney Island, NY                  W  8
          -Some sources report "D 8"
Oct 24 Jimmy McReavy              Philadelphia, Pa                 EX  4
          -Some sources report "ND 4"
Oct 26 Jack Lynch                 Philadelphia, Pa                 EX  4
         
			-Some sources report "ND 4"; This bout was even; Plimmer hit harder
Oct 29 Jimmy McHale Philadelphia, Pa SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known Dec 28 Joe McGrath Coney Island, NY TK 8 -Bantamweight Championship of the World
1893 Jan 16 Johnny Hagen Philadelphia, Pa TK 4 Jan 16 Barney Reilly Philadelphia, Pa SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known Jan 18 Jack Harding Philadelphia, Pa KO 2 Jan 21 David Clelland Philadelphia, Pa KO 2 -Some sources report "Dan Cleland" Jan 28 Billy Rose New York, NY SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known; It was possibly cancelled since Plimmer boxed Murphy Jan 28 Benny Murphy New York, NY EX 3 Apr 26 Eddie Burke Philadelphia, Pa TK 2 Apr 29 Johnny Murphy Philadelphia, Pa KO 1 Apr 29 Johnny Murphy Philadelphia, Pa EX -After Plimmer stopped him; They boxed a friendly bout; The previous 2 bouts were held the same date Jun 3 Barney Reilly Philadelphia, Pa EX 4 -Some sources report "ND 4" Jul 15 Jack Lynch Philadelphia, Pa EX 4 Aug 22 George Dixon New York, NY W 4 Sep 4 Benny Murphy New York, NY EX Sep 22 Kid Hogan Brooklyn, NY EX 4 Oct 23 Benny Murphy Philadelphia, Pa EX Oct 26 Benny Murphy Philadelphia, Pa EX Oct 27 Joe McGrath Philadelphia, Pa EX Nov -Plimmer sparred at Troy, NY (Nov 13-18) Nov -Plimmer was scheduled to spar in New York, NY (Nov 20-26 1893) Nov 28 Joe Tracy New York, NY KO 2 Dec 1 Maxie Haugh New York, NY W 3 Dec 12 Mulholland Williamsburg, NY KO Dec 18 Pete Mace New York, NY KO 2 Dec 18 Fred Thompson New York, NY KO 2 -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date 1894 Feb 5 John Van Heest Chicago, Il EX 3 -Some sources report "KO 3" on 2/06/1894 Feb 8 Solly Smith Chicago, Il EX 4 Feb 9 Jimmy Barry Chicago, Il SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known Mar 19 Mike Gillespie Cincinnati, Oh W 3 Apr 3 William Johnson Washington, DC KO 1 Apr 5 Charles Streets Washington, DC KO 1 Apr 6 Al Stewart Washington, DC KO 1 Sep 24 Johnny Murphy New Orleans, La D 25 -Bantamweight Championship of the World Nov 26 Charley Kelly Brooklyn, NY TK 3 -Police intervened Dec 1 Billy Whistler Philadelphia, Pa ND 4 1895 Jan 2 Allan Johnson Cincinnati, Oh KO 3 Jan 12 Barney Reilly Philadelphia, Pa EX 4 -Some sources report "ND 4" Feb 23 Elwood McCloskey Philadelphia, Pa TK 4 -Some sources report "ND 4" Mar 7 Jimmy Barry Boston, Ma SCH -This bout was scheduled but cancelled; Barry had traveled to Kansas City, Mo May 27 George Corfield London, Eng KO 7 -Bantamweight Championship of the World Bantamweight Championship of the Great Britain; Some sources report 5/28/95 Nov 25 Thomas "Pedlar" Palmer London, Eng LF 14 -Bantamweight Championship of the World Bantamweight Championship of the Great Britain; Some sources report "L 14"; Some sources report "LT 14" 1896 Sep 7 George Corfield Sheffield, Eng W 20 -Bantamweight Championship of the England 1897 Mar 9 Sammy Kelly Birmingham, Eng LT 20 -Some sources report "L 20" 1898 Dec 12 Thomas "Pedlar" Palmer London, Eng LT 17 -Bantamweight Championship of the World Bantamweight Championship of the Great Britain; Some sources report "L 17" 1899 Apr 3 Harry Ware Birmingham, Eng LK 19 -Some sources report "L 19" 1900 Feb 12 Harry Ware Stalybridge, England L 20 -Some sources report "Manchester, England" Sep 21 George Corfield Stalybridge, Eng D 20 *** The Following Bouts Are Reported But Not Confirmed *** Undated Hughey Boyle SCH -The previous bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known 1900 Feb 12 Harry Ware Manchester, Eng L 20 -Bantamweight Championship of the England 1902 May 26 Billy Hamilton Philadelphia, Pa LK 1

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