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The Cyber Boxing Zone Encyclopedia -- Old Timer

Herbert A. "Maori" Slade

BORN    January 10 1851; Kaeo, New Zealand (Some sources report 1855)
DIED    1920
HEIGHT  6-1 (Some sources report 6-2 1/2)
WEIGHT  195-225 lbs
MANAGER Jem Mace, Henry J. Rice
TRAINER Jack Brighton
RACE    Maori (His father was Irish; His mother was native Maori)
Slade spent his youth on a farm; He learned the butchering trade and practiced it for a while; He engaged in athletics such as running, vaulting, and wrestling; The "Maori" was a champion with his fists and wrestling; He had a chest measurement of 45 inches

 Jem Mace began working with him in 1881; During his career, Slade was considered by Mace as a contender for the Heavyweight Championship; Whereas Slade was big and strong, he was also slow and somewhat clumsy

1882
 Jun 14 William Miller             Timaru, NZ                        L  
          -This was a wrestling match; Falls : 0-1
Jun 24 William Miller             Dunedin, NZ                       L  
          -This was a wrestling match; Falls : 1-3
Jun 29 William Miller             Dunedin, NZ                      EX  
          -This was a wrestling match
Jun 30 William Miller             Dunedin, NZ                      EX  
          -This was a wrestling match
Jul  1 William Miller             Dunedin, NZ                      EX  
          -This was a wrestling match
Aug 26 Jem Mace                   Dunedin, NZ                      EX  3
Sep 13 Jem Mace                   Timaru, NZ                       EX  3
Sep 14 Jem Mace                   Timaru, NZ                       EX  3
Oct 14 Jem Mace                   Christchurch, NZ                 EX  3
Oct 28 Jem Mace                   Christchurch, NZ                 EX  3
          -Some sources report 10/24/82
Dec  2 Jem Mace                   Auckland, NZ                     EX  4
Dec  4 "Professor" Davis          Auckland, NZ                     EX  3
Dec  4 H.A. Kessing               Auckland, NZ                     EX  3
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Dec  8 -Slade and Mace left for the USA on a mail steamer

 1883
 Jan    -Slade arrived in America with Jem Mace
Jan  8 Jem Mace                   San Francisco, Ca                EX  3
Jan 15 George Robinson            San Francisco, Ca                LK  
Feb  2 Jem Mace                   New York, NY                     EX  3
Feb  8 Jem Mace                   New York, NY                     EX  3
Mar  6 Jem Mace                   New York, NY                     EX  3
Mar    Jem Mace                   Cincinnati, Oh                   EX  
          -Slade and Mace sparred several other
          exhibitions during Mar 1883
Apr  5 Jem Mace                   Pittsburgh, Pa                   EX  3
Apr 13 Charlie Mitchell                                           SCH  
          -This bout was scheduled but not held;
          Police intervened
Apr 20 Jem Mace                                                    EX  3
Apr 20 Joe Coburn                 Troy, NY                         EX  3
          -Different sources report the previous 2 bouts
          on the same date
Apr 23 Joe Coburn                 New York, NY                     EX  
Apr 27 Joe Coburn                 New York, NY                     EX  3
May 18 Jem Mace                   Sheffield, Eng                   EX  3
May 21 Jem Mace                   London, Eng                      EX  3
May 22 Jem Mace                   London, Eng                      EX  3
May 30 Jem Mace                   Manchester, Eng                  EX  3
Jun 23 Jem Mace                   Manchester, Eng                  EX  3
 Aug  3 Jem Mace                   Boston, Ma                       EX  3
Aug  6 John L. Sullivan           New York, NY                     LT  3
Sep 11 Charlie Mitchell           Kansas City, Mo                 SCH  
          -This bout was scheduled but not held;
          Slade left town
Sep 18 Charlie Mitchell           New York, NY                     LK  
          -This was a "private" fight
Sep 28 John L. Sullivan           Baltimore, Md                    EX  
Sep 29 John L. Sullivan           Baltimore, Md                    EX  
Oct    Charlie Mitchell           Long Island, NY                   D  3
Oct 19 Pete McCoy                 Allegheny City, Pa               EX  
Oct 19 John L. Sullivan           Allegheny City, Pa               EX  
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Oct 29 John L. Sullivan           Louisville, Ky                   EX  
Oct 22 John L. Sullivan           Wheeling, WV                     EX  
Nov  3 John L. Sullivan           St. Louis, Mo                    EX  
Nov  5 John L. Sullivan           St. Louis, Mo                    EX  2
Nov  6 John L. Sullivan           St. Louis, Mo                    EX  
Nov 16 John L. Sullivan           Chicago, Il                      EX  4
Nov 26 John L. Sullivan           St. Paul. Mn                     EX  4
Nov 27 John L. Sullivan           Minneapolis, Mn                  EX  
Dec  4 John L. Sullivan           Davenport, Ia                    EX  
Dec  5 John L. Sullivan           Davenport, Ia                    EX  

1884
 Jan 10 Pete McCoy                 Helena, Mt                       EX  3
Jan 10 John L. Sullivan           Helena, Mt                       EX  
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Jan 11 John L. Sullivan           Helena, Mt                       EX  
Jan 12 John L. Sullivan           Butte City, Mt                   EX  
Jan 23 Pete McCoy                 Reno, Nv                         EX  
Jan 25 John L. Sullivan           San Francisco, Ca                EX  3
Jan 26 John L. Sullivan           San Francisco, Ca                EX  3
Feb  1 John L. Sullivan           Astoria, Or                      EX  
Feb  6 John L. Sullivan           Seattle, Wa                      EX  
Feb  9 John L. Sullivan           Seattle, Wa                      EX  
Apr 13 Harry Dunn                 San Francisco, Ca                 L  
          -This was a wrestling match; Slade lost 0-5 in falls
May  9 Pete McCoy                 Portland, Or                     EX  3
          -This bout may have been held 3/09/84
Dec 17 Jack Brady                 San Francisco, Ca                LK  2
          -Heavyweight Championship of the Pacific Coast

1886
 Jul 24 "Denver" Ed Smith          Reno, Nv                         EX  3
Aug    an unnamed opponent        on the Pacific Coast             LK  
Sep 20 Duncan McDonald            Salt Lake City, Ut               LK  9
          -Some sources report 8/28/86

 1891
 Aug 11 Charles Lange              Salt Lake City, Ut               LK 10

 *** The Following Bout Is Reported But Not For Herbert Slade ***

1881
        Bob Fitzsimmons            Timaru, NZ                       LT  2
          -Fitzsimmons always claimed to have fought
           Herbert Slade but was mistaken; He actually
           fought Herbert's brother in 1882

 *** Much Data Was Provided By Adam Pollack ***

 *** Some Data Was Provided By Dan Anderson ***
*** Assistance Was Provided By Sergei Yurchenko ***

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