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Encyclopedia Dubuque

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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.




BOXING

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BOXING. Sport. Paying four dollars, eager spectators in 1868 took the ferry to Dunleith (East Dubuque, Illinois) and then the train to Menominee. The area's first boxing match--a bare-fisted, illegal contest--was fought outside by Johnny Bernard, age 22 at 147 pounds and Peter Toohey, age 20 weighing 134 pounds. As described in the December 1868 issue of the Dubuque Herald, the fighters took "rattlers" to the jaw, "roasters" to the face, and drew "claret." Bernard eventually won the bout on a foul.

In 1871, Dubuque promoters hosted their first bout between Mike O'Connor and Danny Carr, both local men. The bruising slug-fest lasted an incredible fifty-seven rounds. A round, in those days, ended when a participant was knocked down or put his knee to the ground. John L. Sullivan, the only boxer who visited Dubuque while he was champion, gave a three-round exhibition in 1883.

C.Y.O. boxing matches brought many fighters to public attention. General admission seats cost twenty-five cents with reserved seating costing forty cents. Children were admitted for fifteen cents. A typical evening of sixteen bouts--each three rounds--began with the first bell at 8:00 p.m.

In 1936 the Cedar Rapids Golden Gloves was started. Young men sponsored by the YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION (Y.M.C.A.), American Legion, C.Y.O.,DUBUQUE BOYS' CLUB, and private business trained in several facilities throughout the Dubuque area. Names like Clement KELLY, Milt AARON, Marv CLENDENEN. Roger WELTY, Mark BURDS, and Bobby SLATTERY began appearing on sanctioned boxing cards and in newspapers throughout the United States.

Recent boxing history in Dubuque included Scott LINDECKER, Tom RUSK, and Pat Swan, the only professional boxer in Dubuque in 1997 with a record of fifteen wins and only three losses. Pete Henkels, Dave Hess, and Fran BECHEN were the only active state boxing officials from Dubuque. Henkels worked as a judge for amateur boxing matches; Hess was a supervisor of the Iowa Boxing Association and was an active judge in the NABF, USBA, WBO, and the IBC.