"Philadelphia" Tommy Ryan
(Thomas Finney)
(Thomas Phinney)
BORN December 29 1876; St, Johns, New Brunswick, Canada DIED June 28 1941; Peoria, Illinois (fell from a streetcar) HEIGHT 5-10 1/2 WEIGHT 135-145 lbs Ryan was a competitive lightweight and welterweight during the 1890s and early 1900s; He engaged in three furious non-title battles with Champions - two with William "Matty" Matthews and one with Martin Duffy
During his career, Ryan defeated such men as Young Griffo, Mike Farragher, Billy Payne and Frank Bartley; He also fought "Draws" with Jack McAuliffe, Jim Judge, Eddie Kennedy, Morgan Williams, Joe Cotton, Martin Judge and Billy Rhodes1895 Tom McGuire KO 3 Sam Doyle KO 2 Harry Davis KO 2 Joe Dougherty KO 1 Pat Cohen KO 2 Tom McGuire W 4 Joe Dougherty D 4 Owen Ziegler ND 4 1896 Jan 31 Jim Judge Philadelphia, Pa L 6 Mar 7 George Dannig Philadelphia, Pa ND 4 May 7 John O'Donnell Philadelphia, Pa KO 1 Jul 13 Billy Payne Philadelphia, Pa L 6 Frank Garrard KO 2 Jack Hanlon W 4 Fred Sweigert W 4 Billy Payne W 6 Martin Judge D 6 "Wilmington" Jack Daly D 4 1897 Jan 20 George Brown New York, NY KO 1 Jan 22 Fred Jennings New York, NY KO 2 Jan 22 Ed Otto New York, NY KO 1 -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date Feb 12 Jack Cochran Wilmington, De L 4 May 29 Joe McNamara Brooklyn, NY KO 3 -Some sources report "James McNamara" Jun 21 Young Griffo Brooklyn, NY TK 3 -Griffo quit Jul 19 William "Kid" McPartland Staten Island, NY LK 1 Aug 2 Jack Robinson Brooklyn, NY TK 1 Aug 16 Tommy Butler Brooklyn, NY D 10 Sep 20 Tommy Butler Brooklyn, NY D 20 Sep 30 Jack McAuliffe Scranton, Pa D 10 -This was an "Agreed Draw" prior to the fight; Some sources report "L 10" The referee changed his decision twice Nov 4 Harry Peterson Brooklyn, NY D 10 Nov 6 Jack Bennett Athens, Pa L 10 Dec 9 Jim Judge Scranton, Pa L 20 -Some sources report "D 20" 1898 Feb 2 Jim Judge Scranton, Pa D 20 -This was an "Agreed Draw" Jun 13 Frank Bartley Scranton, Pa D 20 Jun 24 Isadore Strauss Philadelphia, Pa ND 6 Aug 16 Mike Farragher Willoughby, Pa KO 9 Aug 27 Harry Peterson Brooklyn, NY D 10 Sep 19 Billy Payne Brooklyn, NY KO 12 -Some sources report "W 12" at "Syracuse, NY" Oct 21 William "Matty" Matthews New York, NY LT 13 Dec 2 Tommy West Philadelphia, Pa ND 6 1899 Mar 27 William "Matty" Matthews Youngstown, Oh L 20 Apr 21 Walter Nolan Chicago, Il D 6 -Some sources report "L 6" May 1 John Jenkins Grand Rapids, Mi KO 2 May 5 Tom McCune Chicago, Il L 6 May 30 Frank Bartley Elmira, NY W 20 1900 Jan 18 Kid Williams Hot Springs, Ar KO 1 Feb 10 John Jenkins Hot Springs, Ar KO 2 -Some sources report 2/11/00 at "Springfield, Oh" Feb 19 Walter Nolan Denver, Co D 10 Jun 20 Mike Donovan Grand Rapids, Mi L 20 Aug 16 Charles Bates Ashtabula, Oh KO 6 Oct 15 Mike Donovan Youngstown, Oh L 20 Dec 28 Eddie Kennedy Millvale, Pa D 10 Joe Cotton W Al Bell W 1901 Jun 21 Morgan Williams Denver, Co D 10 Aug 23 Joe Cotton Denver, Co D 10 Buck Montgomery D 6 1902 May 2 Buck Montgomery Milwaukee, Wi D 6 May 8 Otto Sieloff Chicago, Il LK 4 Jun 23 George Black St. Louis, Mo KO 7 Nov 17 Harry Walsh Chicago, Il W 6 Dec 18 Martin Judge Peoria, Il D 8 1903 Jan 15 Martin Duffy St. Louis, Mo L 15 Apr 26 Billy Rhodes St. Louis, Mo D 15 Sep 15 Martin Duffy Kansas City, Mo LK 8 Nov 6 Billy Rhodes Omaha, Ne NC 4 -The men were faking 1904 Mar 25 Billy Rhodes Council Bluffs, Ia D 6 *** Much Data Was Provided By William Schutte ***
Record courtesy of Tracy Callis, Historian, International Boxing Research Organization
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