In the process of researching Billy Irwin’s boxing career a number of interesting and informative articles, illustrations and factoids were discovered.  Some of this information pertains to Billy Irwin and some does not.  I am including many of these items in the “scrapbook” appendix and hope it will be useful to boxing historians and enthusiasts who may come across my website:

 

​

​

1. “Alleged” Tampered Boxing Gloves:

 

After completing this photo-essay, “Lightweight Champion (Disputed) of Colorado (1898)”, I continued to ponder Coogan’s boast on fight day

“that if I hit Irwin on the head I will kill him.”  “Tampered gloves” … “kill him” are very incriminating words when coupled with the results of round one of this Lightweight championship match.  The preceding being said I decided to do a little bit of investigative research in order to see if I could shed more light onto this dark and murky issue.

 

I began by interviewing a number of boxing enthusiasts who may know something about “tampered” boxing gloves.  In separate interviews I was informed by these people that such “tampering” could entail three possibilities:  Something could be subtracted from the gloves.  Something could be pre-inserted inside of the boxing gloves or a combination of adding and subtracting could be done to the boxing gloves.

 

Upon further investigation I learned that as far as subtraction was concerned, a maldoer could massage, manipulate or remove the padding from the glove so that the wearer of the glove would be delivering a punch tantamount to bare knuckles.  As far as addition was concerned a brass knuckle or a door knob could be clandestinely stashed inside a glove which would magnify the punching power of the wearer of such a glove.  As far as both subtraction and an addition are concerned a glove could be modified to have no padding and it could also be fortified to include some sort of punching enhancement (i.e. brass knuckles, door knob, etc.).

 

Upon obtaining such preliminary information I considered it mandatory that I at least try to make some sort of determination as to what kind of alleged glove tampering Billy Irwin had come up against.  I knew from my previous research that there were three Coogan brothers (Reddy, Jimmy and Danny) who had been prize fighters in Colorado at this time.  I also knew from previous research that these three brothers had been managed by Johnny Mosconi and trained at his ranch near Denver.  They also, in later years, worked at the Mosconi Tavern in Denver as saloon waiters.  

​

I thought it possible that between Johnny Mosconi and the Coogan brothers that, over the years, there may have been accusation(s) or conviction(s) of glove tampering incidents in the records which would, in turn, shed light on Billy Irwin’s unfortunate encounter with tampered boxing gloves.

 

Given the limited research I did regarding this matter I did not divulge any sort of “smoking gun.”  However I did come across evidence that at least one of the Coogan’s (Jimmy) did carry a door knob on his person.  Could this door knob evidence possibly be a clue to the alleged “tampered” gloves worn by Coogan during this match?”

 

Jimmy Coogan did indeed have a door knob on his person at the time of his death at age 23.  As the story goes on March 14, 1901 “Jimmy Coogan, one of the celebrated family of fighters was killed, according to men who claim to know, as a result of a quarrel over a woman of the town” (Denver Post March 14, 1901).  “He was killed by Plunk Salter who has been mixed up with many crooked transactions in the city during the past few years.” (Rocky Mountain News March 14, 1901). Then, according to the Rocky Mountain News dated March 15, 1901, “the coroner found a porcelain doorknob wrapped up in a handkerchief, in the clothing of the corpse” (Jimmy Coogan).

 

Porcelain doorknob…wrapped in a tampered unpadded boxing glove…could this be the clue searched for to explain the uncharacteristic “flooring” of Billy Irwin four humiliating times within a couple of minutes of the first round on August 23, 1898 at Glenwood Springs?  If this is how Billy Irwin met his defeat that day then he was truly lucky that Coogan did not “kill him” when as per Coogan boast, he hit Irwin on the head!”

​

​

 

2.   In 2014 at Box Rec’s Ratings: Bantamweights Annuals - (1890s) Box Rec (Googled) the best Bantamweights in the U. S. A., ranked in order were:

 

• Best one of 1890

1. Fred Johnson

         

• Best 4 of 1891

1. George Dixon

2. Fred Johnson

3. Billy Plimmer

4. James Anderson

 

• Best 6 of 1892

1. George Dixon

2. Tim Murphy

3. Willy Smith

4. Billy Plimmer

5. Fred Johnson

6. Kid Hogan

 

• Best 7 of 1893

1. Billy Plimmer

2. Maxey Haugh

3. Dolly Adolph Lyons

4. Tim Murphy

5. Martin Flaherty

6. Kid Hogan

7. Fred Johnson

 

• Best 5 of 1894

1. Billy Plimmer

2. Tim Murphy

3. Kid Hogan

4. Maxey Haugh

5. Billy Whistler

 

• Best 7 of 1895

1. Pedlar Palmer

2. Jack Ward

3. Dolly Adolph Lyons

4. Billy Plimmer

5. Jimmy Barry

6. Casper Leon

7. Billy Whistler

 

• Best 8 of 1896

1. Pedlar Palmer

2. Billy Plimmer

3. Martin Flaherty  -   (Billy Irwin was his trainer for  “Fight of the Century” 03/17/1897)

4. Dolly Adolph Lyons

5. Jimmy Barry

6. Casper Leon

7. Casper McKeeck

8. Jack Ward

 

• Best 13 of 1897

1.  Pedlar Palmer

2.  Martin Flaherty

3.  Jack Kid Madden

4.  Dave Sullivan

5.  Jimmy Barry

6.  Billy Plimmer

7.  Casper Leon

8.  Dolly Adolph Lyons

9.  Will Curley

10. Jack Levy

11. Danny Baugh

12. Alf Allen

13. Charley Kelly

 

• Best 15 of 1898

1.  Pedlar Palmer

2.  Patsey Haley

3.  Martin Flaherty     -  (Billy Irwin was his trainer for  “Fight of the Century” 03/17/1897)

4.  Jack Kid Madden

5.  Harry Brodigan

6.  Charley Kelly

7.  Will Curley

8.  Jimmy Barry

9.  Ned Starkey

10. Casper Leon

11. Patsy Corrigan

12. Jack Ward

13. Joe Barrett

14. Bob Bailey

15. Jimmy Rose

 

• Best 15 of 1899

1.  Terry McGovern

2.  Pedlar Palmer

3.  Danny Dougherty

4.  Patsey Haley

5.  Martin Flaherty     -  (Billy Irwin was his trainer for  “Fight of the Century” 03/17/1897)

6.  Charley Kelly

7.  Jimmy Barry

8.  Jack Kid Madden

9.  Morris Rauch

10. Jack Hare

11. Ned Starkey

12. Doc Kennedy

13. Billy Forsyth

14. Harry Brodigan

15. Llew Morgan

 

 

​

​

3.       In 2014 at Box Rec’s Ratings: Featherweight Annuals - (1890s) Box

Rec (Googled) the best Featherweights in the U. S. A., ranked in order, were:

 

• Best 6 of 1890

1.  Young Griffo

2.  George Dixon

3.  Jack King

4.  Abe Willis

5.  Jack Gavin

6.  Alf Gower

 

• Best 8 of 1891

1.  Jim (Iron Bark) Burge

2.  Young Griffo

3.  Torpedo Billy Murphy

4.  George Powell

5.  Jack King

6.  Abe Willis

7.  Cal McCarthy

8.  Mick McCarthy

 

• Best 9 of 1892

1.  Young Griffo

2.  Chiddy Ryan

3.  Yankee?

4.  Solly Smith

5.  Nipper Peakes

6.  Johnny T. Griffin

7.  Torpedo Billy Murphy

8.  Mick McCarthy

9.  Jack King

 

• Best 11 of 1893

1.  George Dixon

2.  Young Griffo

3.  Morgan Crowther

4.   Solly Smith

5.  Ike “Spider” Weir

6.  Nipper Peakes

7.  Ed Gorman

8.  Johnny T. Griffin

9.  Reg Agnew

10. Jack McGowan

11. Tommy White

 

• Best 15 of 1894

1.  Tim Hagerty

2.   George Dixon

3.   Alf Tompkins

4.  Young Griffo

5.  Oscar Gardner

6.  Jack Downey

7.  Johnny Van Heest

8.  Solly Smith

9.  Ted O’Neill

10. Ike “Spider” Weir

11. Tommy White

12. Jack Skelly

13. Johnny T. Griffen

14. Jack McGowqn

15. Eddie Pierce

 

• Best 15 of 1895

1. Jerry Barrett

2. Tommy Dixon

3. Tim Hegarty

4.  Joe Gans

5.  George Dixon

6.  Solly Smith

7.  Tom Wilson

8.  Jack McGowan

9.  Tom Ireland

10. Eddie Pierce

11. Frank Erne

12. John Ball

13. Pittsburgh Kid Hogan

14. Danny McBride

15. Jack Smith

 

• Best 15 of 1896

1.  Solly Smith

2.  Sammy Kelly

3.  Tommy Dixon

4.  Tommy White

5.  Mike Sears

6.  Marty McCue

7.  Eddie Curry

8.  Johnny Lavack

9.  George Dixon

10. Torpedo Billy Murphy

11. Jack McGowan

12. Eddie Pierce

13. Jury Barnett

14. Nipper Peakes

15. John Ball

 

• Best 15 of 1897

1.  Solly Smith

2.  Sammy Kelly

3.  Ben Jordan

4.  Billy Rotchford

5.  Tim Hegarty

6.  Austin Rice

7.  Oscar Gardener

8.  George Stout

9.  Mike Stears

10. Eddie Curry

11. Ben Marks

12. Danny McMahon

13. Benny Leon

14. Jack McGowan

15. Johnny Van Heest

 

• Best 15 of 1898

1.  George Dixon

2.  Ben Jordan

3.  Dave Sullivan

4.  Terry McGovern

5.  Tommy White

6.  Billy Rotchford

7.  Oscar Gardner

8.  Aurelio Herrera

9.  Solly Smith

10. Charley Miner

11. Luke Steves

12. Jerry Marshall

13. Gil “Kid” Goulette

14. Tommy Hogan

15. Jack Farrell

• Best 15 of 1899

1.  George Dixon

2.  Eddie Santry

3.  Austin Rice

4.  Kid Ned Broad

5.  Tommy Sullivan

6.  Oscar Gardner

7.  Jack Farrell

8.  Joe Bernstein

9.  Ben Jordan

10. Aurelio Herrera

11. Arthur Jones

12. Marty McCue

13. Danny McMahon

14. Harry Forbes

15. Charley Miner

 

​

​

4. In 2014 at Box Rec’s Ratings: Lightweight Annuals – (1890s) BoxRec (Googled) the best Lightweights in the U. S. A., ranked in order were:

 

• Best 15 of 1890

1.  Jimmy Carroll

2.  George Dawson

3.  Billy “Shadow” Maber

4.  Torpedo Billy Murphy

5.  Paddy Smith

6.  Andy Bowen

7.  Tom Tracey

8.  William Young Lindsay

9.  Martin Denny

10. Jim “Iron Bark” Burge

11. Billy Meyer

12. Jimmy Murphy

13. Jack McAuliffe

14. Tom Barron

15. Dave Reese     - (Billy Irwin, in a newspaper decision win, knocked out Dave Reese in a  bare knuckle impromptu fight in a                                       Cripple Creek  saloon on 03/11/1895)

 

• Best 15 of 1891

1.  Jack McAuliffe

2.  Austin Gibbons

3.  Jimmy Dime

4.  Jimmy Carroll

5.  Harry Overton

6.  George Dawson

7.  Charles Turner

8.  Billy Eyles

9.  Arthur Valentine

10. Jimmy Shadow Maber

11. Young Jack McAuliffe

12. Billy Water

13. Tom Tracey

14. Stanton Abbott

15. Frank Young McShane

 

• Best 15 of 1892

1.  Sam Baxter

2.  Sandy McGregor

3.  Stanton Abbott

4.  Bobby Dobbs

5.  Martin Denny

6.  Jack McAuliffe

7.  Jimmy Murphy

8.  Harry Overton

9.  Jimmy Dime

10. Billy Myer

11. Young Jack McAuliffe

12. Andy Bowen

13. Charles Bogan

14. Jack O’Brien

15. Billy “Shadow” Maber

 

• Best 15 of 1893

1.  Stanton Abbott

2.  Martin Denny

3.  Sam Baxter

4.  Jack McAuliffe

5.  Jimmy Murphy

6.  Sandy McGregor

7.  Young Mitchell

8.  Billy Eyles

9.  Arthur Valentine

10. Jimmy Carroll

11. Joe Walcott

12. Austin Gibbons

13. Jimmy Dime

14. Andy Bowen

15. Texas Jack Burke

 

• Best 15 of 1894

1.  Jack Everhardt

2.  Kid LaVigne

3.  Jack McAuliffe

4.  George Green

5.  Martin Denny

6.  Bill Mahan

7.  Jimmy Carroll

8.  Jimmy Dime

9.  Arthur Valentine

10. Jimmy Murphy

11. Stanton Abbott

12. Austin Gibbons

13. Young Pluto

14. Andy Bowen

15. Billy Eyles

 

• Best 15 of 1895

1.  Kid LaVigne

2.  Charles McKeever

3.  Young Griffo

4.  Owen Ziegler

5.  Jimmy Handler

6.  Jack Everhardt

7.  Charles Bull McCarthy

8.  Jerome Quigley

9.  Billy Hill

10. Tommy Hogan

11. Jimmy Dime

12. Jack Fitzgibbon

13. Bill Greaves

14. Billy Ernst

15. Fred Ross           -  (Billy Irwin knocked him out in one round on 03/11/1895 at Cripple Creek)

 

• Best 15 of 1896

1.  Kid LaVigne

2.  Charles McKeever

3.  Jack Everhardt

4.  Joe Walcott

5.  Frank Erne

6.  Young Griffo

7.  Matty Matthews

8.  Barney Malone

9.  Kid McPartland

10. Billy Ernst

11. Pat Daly

12. Joe Gans

13. Billy Hill

14. Jack Downey

15. Charles “Bull” McCarthy

 

• Best 15 of 1897

1.  Kid LaVigne

2.  Matty Matthews

3.  Kid McPartland

4.  Joe Gans

5.  Young Griffo

6.  Wilmington Jack Daly

7.  Jack Everhardt

8.  Charles McKeever

9.  Owen Ziegler

10. Young Jack McAuliffe

11. Frank Purcell

12. Jim Halloway

13. Danny McBride

14. Johnny Gorman

15. Jack Fox

 

• Best 15 of 1898

1.  Joe Gans

2.  William “Spike” Sullivan

3.  Andy Walsh

4.  Frank Erne

5.  Tom Tracey

6.  George “Elbows” McFadden

7.  Wilmington Jack Daly

8.  Young McAuliffe

9.  Jack Downey

10. Kid McPartland

11. Harry Webater

12. Frank McConnell

13. Young Griffo

14. Jack Delany

15. Tom Ireland

 

• Best 15 of 1899

1.  Frank Erne

2.  Frank McConnell

3.  New York Jack O’Brien

4.  Andy Walsh

5.  William Spike Sullivan

6.  William “Kid” Parker

7.  George “Elbows” McFadden

8.  Herb McKeel

9.  John Mahoney

10. Wilmington Jack Daly

11. Tim Kearns

12. Bill Chester

13. Tim Callahan - (On September 3,1906 Billy Irwin, Manager of the Cloud City Athletic  Association, promoted a match in Leadville between Tim Callahan of Philadelphia and Frank Hardin of Omaha, Nebraska).                                                       

14. Joe Caen

15. Jim Holloway