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| The Cyber Boxing Zone Encyclopedia -- Old Timer |
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John Van Heest
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Van Heest was a top featherweight of the 1890s and very popular; As a fighter, he applied pressure and was a stiff puncher who retained his punching power over the rounds; He was also durable and took a solid punch - always willing to take punches in order to throw them; Later in his career, the toll of taking too many punches overcame his ability to take them Van Heest
and "Solly" Smith often traveled the country together, sharing the same
hotel rooms, and approaching local promoters, offering to fight each
other; Although friends, they always put on great fights |
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1887 Oct 7 Billy Rhodes Ashland, Wi D 6 -Police intervened Dec 16 J. Sheldon Ashland, Wi EX 3 1888 Mar 17 Frank Sutton Ashland, Wi KO 4 Aug 28 Tommy Warren Ashland, Wi LT 4 Nov 10 Billy Campbell Ashland, Wi EX 4 Nov 10 Charles Tolliver Ashland, Wi KO 2 -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date 1889 Jan 12 John McGill Ashland, Wi KO 5 -Some sources report Featherweight Championship of the Northwest Feb 2 Billy Welch Ashland, Wi KO 18 Feb 16 George Finney Escanaba, Mi WF 3 Mar 2 Billy Welch Ashland, Wi W116 -Some sources report 3/03/1889; Some sources report 3/04/1889 Mar 28 Billy Campbell Ashland, Wi KO 3 Apr 9 Ed Hanley Washburn, Wi KO 6 -Featherweight Championship of the Northwest; Some sources report "KO 5" Apr 28 Johnny O'Brien Hurley, Wi KO 6 -Some sources report 4/29/1889 Jun 7 Doc Mack Ironwood, Mi KO 6 Jul 12 Billy O'Brien Ashland, Wi W 10 Aug 2 Billy O'Brien Ashland, Wi KO 23 -Featherweight Championship of the Northwest Aug 16 Billy O'Brien Ashland, Wi EX 3 Aug 16 Charles Kemmick Ashland, Wi EX 3 -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date Sep 4 Arthur Purcell Ashland, Wi KO 1 -Some sources report "KO 2"; Some sources report "KO 3" Sep 14 Tom Connors Ashland, Wi D 4 -Some sources report 9/16/1889 1890 Sep 16 Tommy Warren near Buffalo, NY D 11 -Some sources report "Bradford, Pa" Oct 17 Mike Coburn Tonawanda, NY KO 18 -Reports vary - "KO 11", "KO 13", "KO 18" Nov 13 Martin "Fiddler" Neary near Bradford, Pa KO 7 -This bout was held in New York state but near Bradford, Pa; Some sources report "W 7" on 11/14/1890 Dec 23 Tommy Hogan Minneapolis, Mn KO 22 -Some sources report Bantamweight Championship of the Northwest 1891 Jan 20 Charles Marks Bradford, Pa D 10 Jan 29 Jimmy Kennard Buffalo, NY SCH -An attempt was made to hold this bout; Sheriff Veiling prevented it Feb 13 John Hawthorne Jamestown, NY W 3 Feb 16 Jack Smith New York, NY EX 3 Mar 6 Joe Innes Jamestown, NY SCH -This was a wrestling match Mar 6 John Hawthorne Jamestown, NY SCH Mar 6 Jimmy Carroll Jamestown, NY SCH -The previous 3 bouts were scheduled/held the same date; The outcomes are not known Apr 3 Ed Schoenborn Minneapolis, Mn W 6 Apr 10 George Warner Minneapolis, Mn KO 1 -Some sources report "George Franklyn" Apr 21 Ed Schoenborn St. Paul, Mn D 6 Apr 22 Young Hogan Minneapolis, Mn KO 4 May 1 Danny Needham Minneapolis, Mn L 4 May 4 Black Pearl (Harris Martin) Minneapolis, Mn EX May 4 Danny Needham Minneapolis, Mn EX -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date May 5 Jack Campbell Minneapolis, Mn W 6 May 8 Tom King Minneapolis, Mn KO 6 -Some sources report "KO 5" Jun 7 Charles Kemmick Minneapolis, Mn SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known Jun 30 Dan Daly Minneapolis, Mn KO 12 Jul 6 Eugene Roper Minneapolis, Mn ND -Police intervened Sep 24 William Harris Ironwood, Mi KO 1 -Some sources report "William Norris"; Some report "William Morris" Sep 24 Billy Ricky Ironwood, Mi KO 5 -Some sources report "William Rickney"; The previous 2 bouts were held the same date Dec 2 Tommy White Chicago, Il D 6 -Lightweight Championship of the Northwest; Some sources report "W 6" on 12/03/1891 Dec 5 Arthur Stackpole Chicago, Il EX 3 Dec 21 Jack Connor Chicago, Il W Dec 30 Joe Jeroux Chicago, Il KO 2 -Reports vary - "George Jeroux", "Joseph Jerout", "Joe Geroux" Dec 30 Joe Roulo Chicago, Il KO 2 -Reports vary - "Joseph Roult", "Joe Ranlo", "Joe Rulo"; "Joe Roule" The previous 2 bouts were held the same date 1892 Jan 9 -Van Heest seconded Mike Boden vs Mike Queenan in Chicago, Il Jan 11 Harry Finnick Chicago, Il ND 4 -Some sources report "D 4" on 1/12/1892 Jan 13 Fred Clark Chicago, Il KO 2 Jan 13 Pete Peterson Chicago, Il W 4 -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date Jan 25 Fred Williams Chicago, Il KO 5 Feb 1 Alex Ahearn Chicago, Il KO 6 -Some sources report "Alec O'Hearn" Feb 19 Bob Fitzsimmons Bay St. Louis, Ms EX 5 Feb 20 Bob Fitzsimmons Bay St. Louis, Ms EX Feb 21 Bob Fitzsimmons Bay St. Louis, Ms EX Feb 22 Bob Fitzsimmons Bay St. Louis, Ms EX Feb 23 Bob Fitzsimmons Bay St. Louis, Ms EX Feb 24 Bob Fitzsimmons Bay St. Louis, Ms EX 5 Feb 25 Bob Fitzsimmons Bay St. Louis, Ms EX Feb 28 Frank "Dutch" Neil New Orleans, La EX Mar 4 Jimmy Carroll New Orleans, La EX Mar 10 Jimmy Carroll New Orleans, La SCH Mar 10 Andy Bowen New Orleans, La SCH -The previous 2 bouts were scheduled for the same date; The outcomes are not known Apr 27 George Siddons New Orleans, La KO 7 May 28 George Siddons New Orleans, La D 46 Dec 29 Solomon "Solly" Smith San Francisco, Ca LT 14 1893 Apr 17 Jimmy Lynch Brooklyn, NY SCH -This bout was scheduled but cancelled Apr 17 Danny Russell Brooklyn, NY TK 3 Apr 21 Paddy McPhillips Philadelphia, Pa ND 4 -Some sources report 4/22/1893; Some sources report 4/25/1893 May 30 "Torpedo" Billy Murphy Philadelphia, Pa ND 4 Jul 5 Jack Randall Philadelphia, Pa ND 4 -Some sources report "ND 6" Jul 11 Walter Edgerton Philadelphia, Pa ND 4 -Edgerton used the name "Kentucky Rosebud" Jul 23 Walter Edgerton Philadelphia, Pa ND 4 -Edgerton used the name "Kentucky Rosebud" Aug 15 Walter Campbell Atlantic City, NJ SCH -This bout was scheduled but cancelled Sep 20 Hugh Napier New Orleans, La KO 28 Dec 4 Jimmy Barry Chicago, Il EX 6 Dec 28 Al Neist St. Louis, Mo KO 10 1894 Jan 23 Young Griffo Chicago, Il D 6 -Some sources report "D 8" Feb 5 Billy Plimmer Chicago, Il EX 3 -Some sources report "LK 3" on 2/06/1894 Mar 29 Oscar Gardner Minneapolis, Mn D 40 -Some sources report "D 41" Aug 15 Kid Vance St. Joseph, Mo KO 5 Oct 20 Mike Gillespie Cincinnati, Oh TK 1 -Police intervened; Some sources report "D 5" on 10/21/1894 Oct 26 Solomon "Solly" Smith Buffalo, NY D 15 Nov 24 Jack Grace Buffalo, NY KO 3 1895 Jan 12 Walter Edgerton Philadelphia, Pa ND 4 -Edgerton used the name "Kentucky Rosebud" Feb 9 Billy Price New York, NY D 2 Mar 30 John Parry Wheeling, WV D 6 -Is this the same as the 5/30/95 bout ? Apr 13 Joe Gans Baltimore, Md W 9 Apr 20 Fred Ross L 10 May 30 John Parry Wheeling, WV D 6 Jun 25 Jerry Marshall Wheeling, WV D 39 -Some sources report "D 31" Jul 23 Jerry Marshall Washington, DC D 21 Sep 2 Billy Whistler Baltimore, Md W 25 Sep 9 Jack McDonald Baltimore, Md W 8 Sep 13 Oliver Lewis Baltimore, Md KO 5 Sep 13 Henry Mason Baltimore, Md KO 5 -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date; Some sources report 9/11/95 for the previous 2 bouts Sep 14 Billy Whistler Baltimore, Md D 10 Oct 3 Tommy White Terre Haute, In D 20 -Some sources report 10/04/95 Dec 2 Oscar Gardner Excelsior Springs, Mo ND 6 1896 Jan 17 John Parry Homestead, Pa NC Jan 27 Eddie Campbell McKees Rocks, Pa ND Apr 9 Billy Burris Philadelphia, Pa W 6 -Some sources report "ND 6" May 8 George Dixon Philadelphia, Pa ND 4 Jun 4 Jack "Fish" Ferris Philadelphia, Pa TK 6 Jun 18 Reddy Connelly Philadelphia, Pa D 6 -Some sources report "Billy Connelly" Jul 14 Tommy White Albany, NY LT 5 Jul 21 "Denver" George Williams Syracuse, NY D 6 Aug 30 Johnny Jones Toledo, Oh D 6 1897 Feb 13 Patsy O'Leary Hot Springs, Ar D 15 Feb 24 Andy Powell Hot Springs, Ar KO 2 Mar 6 Andy Powell Hot Springs, Ar KO 3 -Some sources report 3/05/97 Mar 20 Billy Layton Hot Springs, Ar LK 8 May 5 George Stout Lexington, Ky KO 14 Jun 14 Eugene Bezenah West Covington, Ky D 20 Jun 30 Jack Dougherty Columbus, Oh W 10 Jul 26 George Stout Cincinnati, Oh D 10 Aug 5 Dave Seville Columbus, Oh W 12 Oct 6 Oscar Gardner Lexington, Ky LK 11 Nov 11 Jack O'Keefe Zanesville, Oh D 20 Nov 19 Oscar Gardner Dayton, Oh D 20 Dec 13 Jack Grace Chicago, Il D 6 -Some sources report "D 5" Dec 23 Peter Boyle Chicago, Il D 6 1898 May 5 Eddie Santry South Omaha, Ne SCH -This bout was scheduled but cancelled Jun 22 George "Kid" McCarthy near Indianapolis, In KO 5 Jul 25 Ole Oleson Chicago, Il ND 4 Aug 8 Eugene Bezenah Fort Wayne, In D 20 Sep 21 Tommy "Kid" Hogan Louisville, Ky LK 17 Nov 26 Al Neist St. Louis, Mo L 10 1899 Feb 11 Eugene Bezenah Indianapolis, In L 10 Mar 4 Kid Ashe Cincinnati, Oh D 10 Mar 7 "Torpedo" Billy Murphy Dayton, Oh TK 6 Mar 20 George Elliott Indianapolis, In W 10 Apr 15 Kid Ashe Cincinnati, Oh L 8 Apr 19 Gilbert "Kid" Goulette Sandusky, Oh D 10 May 16 Barney Furey Cincinnati, Oh D 6 Jun 8 Eddie Gardner Newark, Oh D 20 -Some sources report 6/09/1899 Jul 23 Jack Dougherty Cincinnati, Oh D 6 Oct 16 Eddie Gardner Wheeling, WV LT 17 Nov 7 Frank Stackhouse Detroit, Mi L 8 -Some sources report 11/08/1899 Nov 16 Jack Prince Anderson, In D 10 Nov 30 Charles Cross Detroit, Mi L 10 Dec 27 Tom Prendergast Bay City, Mi LK 4 Dec 29 Charles Cross Detroit, Mi SCH -This bout was scheduled but cancelled 1900 Jan 19 Frank Stackhouse Detroit, Mi LK 11 Feb 19 -Van Heest seconded Tom Sharkey vs Jim Jeffords in Detroit, Mi Mar 28 Scotty Cross Detroit, Mi D 8 Apr 6 -Van Heest seconded Jack Finnegan vs Jim Jeffries in Detroit, Mi Jun 13 Jimmy Reeder Youngstown, Oh LT 2 Aug 17 -Cincinnati (Oh) Enquirer reported Van Heest had knocked out two men recently in Mount Clemens, Mi 1901 Feb 26 Young Ownie Chicago Heights, Il KO 1 1902 Aug 3 "Torpedo" Billy Murphy Union County, SD LK 4 -Some sources report 8/04/1902*** The Following Bouts Are Reported But Not Confirmed ***
1887
Henry "Harry" Maxey Ashland, Wi KO 5
1888
Tommy Warren Ashland, Wi D 5
-Some sources report "EX 5"
Tommy "Spider" Kelly Philadelphia, Pa L
-This bout ended in a riot
1887-1889
Charles Hawley Ashland, Wi KO 1
Paddy Welch Jr. Ashland, Wi KO 2
Bob Chambers Ashland, Wi KO 7
Ed Roarke Ashland, Wi KO 11
Jim Mullen Ashland, Wi KO 5
1889
Apr Jimmy Conley Hurley, Wi W
1890
Jim Tacker Philadelphia, Pa W 5
Jack Lynch D
Tommy "Spider" Kelly Philadelphia, Pa L
1891
Billy Foster Minneapolis, Mn ? 2
Mike Ryan Minneapolis, Mn ? 3
Jim Porter Minneapolis, Mn ? 4
Morris McNally Ironwood, Mn ? 2
Bob Morrison Ironwood, Mn ? 1
Gus Brown Denver, Co ? 1
-Reportedly, the previous 6 bouts were held; The results are not known
Dec 3 Tommy Hogan Chicago, Il D 3
1895
Nov Jack Gardner Chicago, Il L 15
1898
Apr Jimmy Hatfield St. Louis, Mo L 15
Undated
Frank Maciewski L
Bob Anderson D
Harry Fails L 6
*** Photo and much data provided by William Schutte ***
Review courtesy of Tracy Callis, Historian, International Boxing Research Organization
