Harry Harris (boxer)
Encyclopedia
Harry Harris was an American boxer
.
Harris was World Bantamweight
Champion in 1901–02.
Exceptionally tall for a bantamweight, his physique belied his considerable knockout power. Nonetheless, Harris was known as "The Human Hairpin."
Harris stood a shade less than 5' 8", and weighed only 105 pounds. At the turn of the century there was no class to accommodate his weight, so he was relegated to the 116-pound Bantamweight Division. At the outset of his career, Harris weighed only 96 pounds and was pitted against opponents who were as many as 20 pounds heavier.
Harris claimed the Bantamweight title in 1900, when titleholder Terry McGovern
vacated his throne due to excess weight. However, two Englishmen, Harry Ware and Pedlar Palmer
(born Thomas Palmer), also claimed the title, so Harris sailed to England to meet the claimants. Once there, Ware declined to fight Harris, preferring to forfeit his title claim. Palmer accepted the challenge, but not without his handlers proffering gamesmanship
provocations in Harris’ direction. Nonetheless, Harris fought and beat Palmer in 15 rounds for the undisputed crown.
A year later, however, weight problems forced Harris to relinquish his title.
He successfully fought five more bouts as a featherweight
and retired.
In 1906, he returned to the ring as a lightweight
, scoring one victory and three no-decisions. Although the win was over the leading lightweight title contender, Harris decided to retire for good.
In an 11-year career he was never knocked out.
His career record over 54 bouts was W-39 (15 by KO, 1 by foul), drew 7, L-2, 5 no-decisions.
, who taught him the famed "corkscrew
punch." He was an excellent jabber and two-handed puncher.
in 2001.
He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame
in 2002.
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
.
Harris was World Bantamweight
Bantamweight
Bantamweight is usually a class in boxing for boxers who weigh above 115 pounds and up to 118 pounds . However, in Mixed Martial Arts it is 134-136 pounds . Wrestling also has similar weight classes including bantamweight...
Champion in 1901–02.
Boxing career
Harris turned professional in 1896 at the age of 16.Exceptionally tall for a bantamweight, his physique belied his considerable knockout power. Nonetheless, Harris was known as "The Human Hairpin."
Harris stood a shade less than 5' 8", and weighed only 105 pounds. At the turn of the century there was no class to accommodate his weight, so he was relegated to the 116-pound Bantamweight Division. At the outset of his career, Harris weighed only 96 pounds and was pitted against opponents who were as many as 20 pounds heavier.
Harris claimed the Bantamweight title in 1900, when titleholder Terry McGovern
Terry McGovern (boxer)
Terrible Terry McGovern , born John Terrence McGovern in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, United States, was a boxer who held the world bantamweight and featherweight titles.-Professional career:...
vacated his throne due to excess weight. However, two Englishmen, Harry Ware and Pedlar Palmer
Pedlar Palmer
Alfred Brian Palmer MBE, DSC was a Royal Navy Reserve captain and near the end of his career was the commander of the shore base HMS Furneaux in Brisbane. He is known for his bravery in breaking the German blockade of Tobruk in the Second World War with his small schooner Maria Giovanni...
(born Thomas Palmer), also claimed the title, so Harris sailed to England to meet the claimants. Once there, Ware declined to fight Harris, preferring to forfeit his title claim. Palmer accepted the challenge, but not without his handlers proffering gamesmanship
Gamesmanship
Gamesmanship is the use of dubious methods to win a game. It has been described as "Pushing the rules to the limit without getting caught, using whatever dubious methods possible to achieve the desired end"...
provocations in Harris’ direction. Nonetheless, Harris fought and beat Palmer in 15 rounds for the undisputed crown.
A year later, however, weight problems forced Harris to relinquish his title.
He successfully fought five more bouts as a featherweight
Featherweight
Featherweight is a weight class division in the sport of boxing. There are similarly named divisions under several Mixed Martial Arts organizations and in Greco-Roman wrestling.-Professional boxing:...
and retired.
In 1906, he returned to the ring as a lightweight
Lightweight
Light-weight is a class of athletes in a particular sport, based on their weight.-Professional boxing:The lightweight division is over 130 pounds and up to 135 pounds weight class in the sport of boxing....
, scoring one victory and three no-decisions. Although the win was over the leading lightweight title contender, Harris decided to retire for good.
In an 11-year career he was never knocked out.
His career record over 54 bouts was W-39 (15 by KO, 1 by foul), drew 7, L-2, 5 no-decisions.
Boxing style
His fighting style was greatly influenced by Kid McCoyKid McCoy
Charles "Kid" McCoy, who was born Norman Selby was an American world champion boxer.-Overview:Born in Moscow, Rush County, Indiana, McCoy would eventually weigh 160 pounds, stand 5' 11", and go on to a record 81 wins...
, who taught him the famed "corkscrew
Corkscrew
A corkscrew is a kitchen tool for drawing stopping corks from wine bottles. Generally, a corkscrew consists of a pointed metallic helix attached to a handle. The user grips the handle and screws the metal point into the cork, until the helix is firmly embedded, then a vertical pull on the...
punch." He was an excellent jabber and two-handed puncher.
Halls of Fame
Harris, who was Jewish, was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of FameInternational Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
The International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame was opened July 7, 1981, in Netanya, Israel. It honors Jewish athletes and their accomplishments from anywhere around the world....
in 2001.
He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame
International Boxing Hall of Fame
The modern International Boxing Hall of Fame is located in Canastota, New York, United States, within driving distance from the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown and the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta...
in 2002.
Miscellaneous
- Harris was a twin. His brother Sammy, also a top boxer, died suddenly at age 20.
- Upon retirement he became successful in the theater and a Wall StreetWall StreetWall Street refers to the financial district of New York City, named after and centered on the eight-block-long street running from Broadway to South Street on the East River in Lower Manhattan. Over time, the term has become a metonym for the financial markets of the United States as a whole, or...
tycoon.