Jimmy McLarnin
Encyclopedia
James McLarnin, known as Jimmy McLarnin (19 December 1907; County Down
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...

, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...

 – 28 October 2004; Richland
Richland, Washington
Richland is a city in Benton County in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Washington, at the confluence of the Yakima and the Columbia Rivers. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 48,058. April 1, 2011 estimates from the Washington State Office of Financial Management put the...

, Washington, USA), was an Irish Canadian
Irish Canadian
Irish Canadian are immigrants and descendants of immigrants who originated in Ireland. 1.2 million Irish immigrants arrived, 1825 to 1970, at least half of those in the period from 1831-1850. By 1867, they were the second largest ethnic group , and comprised 24% of Canada's population...

 professional boxer
Professional Boxing
Professional boxing, or prizefighting, emerged in the early twentieth century as boxing gradually attained legitimacy and became a regulated, sanctioned sport. Professional boxing bouts are fought for a purse which is divided among the fighters and promoters as determined by contract...

 who became two-time welterweight world champion and an 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...

 inductee.

Background

McLarnin was born in Hillsborough, County Down
Hillsborough, County Down
Hillsborough is a village and townland in County Down, Northern Ireland, situated from the city of Belfast. It is within the Lisburn City Council area....

, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...

, into a large Methodist family who emigrated to Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...

 when he was three. He took up boxing at the age of 10 after getting into a fight trying to defend his newspaper-selling pitch. Former professional Charles "Pop" Foster recognised McLarnin's talent at the age of 13. Foster constructed a makeshift gym for McLarnin to train in, sure that he would one day be the champion of the world. The two of them would remain close, so much so that when Foster died, he left everything he had to McLarnin.

Boxing career

Following a successful start to his career in Vancouver, Foster took McLarnin to San Francisco, where his youthful appearance made it difficult to get a fight until he lied about his age, it is for this reason that McLarnin was known as the "Baby-faced Assassin". Despite his youthful appearance, McLarnin had incredible power with both fists, his right being particularly feared. However, like many similar fighters McLarnin suffered several hand injuries throughout his career; towards the end of his career McLarnin was forced to become more of a boxer due to this.

McLarnin lost his first title shot on 21 May 1928 in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

 against world 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....

 champion Sammy Mandell. However, he did go on to beat him twice in the following two years. It would be five years before McLarnin would next get a title shot, during which time he knocked out several top names, including Al Singer
Al Singer
Al Singer was an American boxer. He was born in the Lower East Side in New York City....

, Ruby Goldstein
Ruby Goldstein
"Ruby" Goldstein , the "Jewel Of The Ghetto," was an American boxer and prize fight referee.-Boxing career:Before he became a referee, Goldstein boxed professionally from 1925 to 1937...

, and Sid Terris
Sid Terris
Sidney Terris was an American boxer....

.

McLarnin's second title shot came against welterweight champion Young Corbett III
Young Corbett III
Young Corbett III was the world Welterweight boxing champion. He was born Raffaele Capabianca Giordano and began boxing in 1919 as Young Corbett III while still a 14-year-old "newsboy."...

. McLarnin won by knockout after only 2 minutes 37 seconds. Following his title success, McLarnin fought an epic three-fight series with Barney Ross
Barney Ross
Barney Ross , born Beryl David Rosofsky, was a world champion boxer in three weight divisions and decorated veteran of World War II.-Early life:...

. The first fight, on 28 May 1934, was won by Ross, but McLarnin regained his title in their next match four months later. In the deciding fight on 28 May 1935, McLarnin lost his title for the final time in a narrow decision, and for the rest of his life McLarnin claimed he had done enough to retain his belt.

McLarnin retired in November 1936 still at the top of his game, having won his last two fights against all-time greats Tony Canzoneri
Tony Canzoneri
Tony Canzoneri was an American boxer who was born in the town of Slidell, Louisiana.Canzoneri, an Italian American, was one of the members of the exclusive group of boxing world champions who have won titles in three or more divisions.- Early life :When he was a teenager, he and his family moved...

 and Lou Ambers
Lou Ambers
Luigi Giuseppe d'Ambrosio , aka Lou Ambers, was a lightweight boxer who fought from 1932 to 1941.Managed by Al Weill and trained by Charley Goldman, the "Herkimer Hurricane", as he was known, began his career losing only once in more than three years when he faced future hall of fame lightweight...

. His record was 54 wins, 11 losses, and 3 draws in 68 contests. In 1996 Ring Magazine voted McLarnin the fifth-greatest welterweight of all time.

Life after boxing

Unlike many boxers, McLarnin invested his money wisely and retired a wealthy man. He opened an electrical goods store, and also did some acting, golfing, and lecturing. He never returned to the ring despite the large incentives for him to do so.

Death

McLarnin died in 2004, aged 96, and was interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California
Glendale, California
Glendale is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the city population is 191,719, down from 194,973 at the 2000 census. making it the third largest city in Los Angeles County and the 22nd largest city in the state of California...

.

Professional boxing record

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="8"|54 Wins (21 Knockouts), 11 Defeats (1 Knockout), 3 Draws
|- style="text-align:center; background:#e3e3e3;"
| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Res.
| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Record
| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Opponent
| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Type
| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Rd., Time
| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Date
| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Location
| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Notes
|- align=center
|Win
|54-11-3
|align=left| United States Lou Ambers
Lou Ambers
Luigi Giuseppe d'Ambrosio , aka Lou Ambers, was a lightweight boxer who fought from 1932 to 1941.Managed by Al Weill and trained by Charley Goldman, the "Herkimer Hurricane", as he was known, began his career losing only once in more than three years when he faced future hall of fame lightweight...


|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|53-11-3
|align=left| United States Tony Canzoneri
Tony Canzoneri
Tony Canzoneri was an American boxer who was born in the town of Slidell, Louisiana.Canzoneri, an Italian American, was one of the members of the exclusive group of boxing world champions who have won titles in three or more divisions.- Early life :When he was a teenager, he and his family moved...


|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|52-11-3
|align=left| United States Tony Canzoneri
Tony Canzoneri
Tony Canzoneri was an American boxer who was born in the town of Slidell, Louisiana.Canzoneri, an Italian American, was one of the members of the exclusive group of boxing world champions who have won titles in three or more divisions.- Early life :When he was a teenager, he and his family moved...


|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|52-10-3
|align=left| United States Barney Ross
Barney Ross
Barney Ross , born Beryl David Rosofsky, was a world champion boxer in three weight divisions and decorated veteran of World War II.-Early life:...


|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|52-9-3
|align=left| United States Barney Ross
Barney Ross
Barney Ross , born Beryl David Rosofsky, was a world champion boxer in three weight divisions and decorated veteran of World War II.-Early life:...


|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|51-9-3
|align=left| United States Barney Ross
Barney Ross
Barney Ross , born Beryl David Rosofsky, was a world champion boxer in three weight divisions and decorated veteran of World War II.-Early life:...


|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|51-8-3
|align=left| United States Young Corbett III
Young Corbett III
Young Corbett III was the world Welterweight boxing champion. He was born Raffaele Capabianca Giordano and began boxing in 1919 as Young Corbett III while still a 14-year-old "newsboy."...


|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|50-8-3
|align=left| United States Sammy Fuller
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|49-8-3
|align=left| United States Benny Leonard
Benny Leonard
Benny Leonard was an American lightweight boxer. He was named as number 8 on Ring Magazine's list of the 80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years and number 7 on ESPN's 50 Greatest Boxers of All-Time....


|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|48-8-3
|align=left| Canada Lou Brouillard
Lou Brouillard
Lucien Pierre Brouillard, better known as Lou Brouillard, , was a professional boxer in the welterweight division....


|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|48-7-3
|align=left| United States Billy Petrolle
Billy Petrolle
William Michael Petrolle was a world lightweight boxing title contender.-Personal:Brother of fellow boxers Pete Petrolle and Frank Petrolle...


|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|47-7-3
|align=left| United States Billy Petrolle
Billy Petrolle
William Michael Petrolle was a world lightweight boxing title contender.-Personal:Brother of fellow boxers Pete Petrolle and Frank Petrolle...


|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|46-7-3
|align=left| United States Billy Petrolle
Billy Petrolle
William Michael Petrolle was a world lightweight boxing title contender.-Personal:Brother of fellow boxers Pete Petrolle and Frank Petrolle...


|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|46-6-3
|align=left| United States Al Singer
Al Singer
Al Singer was an American boxer. He was born in the Lower East Side in New York City....


|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|45-6-3
|align=left| United States Jack Thompson
Jack Thompson (boxer)
Cecil Lewis "Jack" Thompson was an American boxer who twice held the welterweight championship of the world. Born Cecil Thompson, his name was changed when he decided to become a professional fighter...


|
|
|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|44-6-3
|align=left| United States Sammy Mandell
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|43-6-3
|align=left| United States Ruby Goldstein
Ruby Goldstein
"Ruby" Goldstein , the "Jewel Of The Ghetto," was an American boxer and prize fight referee.-Boxing career:Before he became a referee, Goldstein boxed professionally from 1925 to 1937...


|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|42-6-3
|align=left| United States Sammy Mandell
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|41-6-3
|align=left| United States Sergeant Sammy Baker
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|40-6-3
|align=left| United States Ray Miller
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|39-6-3
|align=left| United States Joe Glick
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|38-6-3
|align=left| United States Joe Glick
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|37-6-3
|align=left| United States Ray Miller
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|37-5-3
|align=left| Chile Stanislaus Loayza
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|36-5-3
|align=left| Greece Phil McGraw
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|35-5-3
|align=left| United States Sammy Mandell
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|35-4-3
|align=left| United States Sid Terris
Sid Terris
Sidney Terris was an American boxer....


|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|34-4-3
|align=left| United States Billy Wallace
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|33-4-3
|align=left| United States Louis Kaplan
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|32-4-3
|align=left| United States Don Long
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|31-4-3
|align=left| United States Charlie McBride
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|30-4-3
|align=left| Philippines Lope Tenorio
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|29-4-3
|align=left| United States Johnny Lamar
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|28-4-3
|align=left| United States Freeman Black
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|27-4-3
|align=left| United States Tommy Cello
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|style="background:#abcdef;"|Draw
|26-4-3
|align=left| United States Tommy Cello
|
|
|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|26-4-2
|align=left| United States Doc Snell
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|26-3-2
|align=left| United States Joe Glick
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|25-3-2
|align=left| United States Johnny Farr
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|25-2-2
|align=left| United States Joey Sangor
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|24-2-2
|align=left| United States Bud Taylor
Bud Taylor
Charles Bernard "Bud" Taylor was an American boxer from Terre Haute, Indiana. He was nicknamed the Terre Haute Terrier and the Blonde Terror of Terre Haute.-Pro Boxing Career:...


|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|24-1-2
|align=left| United States Bud Taylor
Bud Taylor
Charles Bernard "Bud" Taylor was an American boxer from Terre Haute, Indiana. He was nicknamed the Terre Haute Terrier and the Blonde Terror of Terre Haute.-Pro Boxing Career:...


|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|23-1-2
|align=left| United States Jackie Fields
Jackie Fields
Jackie Fields was an American professional boxer who won two world championship titles.-Personal life:...


|
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|22-1-2
|align=left| Philippines Pancho Villa
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|21-1-2
|align=left| United States Bud Taylor
Bud Taylor
Charles Bernard "Bud" Taylor was an American boxer from Terre Haute, Indiana. He was nicknamed the Terre Haute Terrier and the Blonde Terror of Terre Haute.-Pro Boxing Career:...


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|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|21-0-2
|align=left| United States Eddie Spec Ramies
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|20-0-2
|align=left| United States Young Farrell
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|19-0-2
|align=left| United States Teddy Silva
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|18-0-2
|align=left| United States Fidel LaBarba
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|style="background:#abcdef;"|Draw
|17-0-2
|align=left| United States Memphis Pal Moore
Memphis Pal Moore
Memphis Pal Moore was an American boxer from Memphis. Moore began his boxing career while serving as a sailor in the United States Navy. He served as a boxing instructor while in the Navy, and was selected as a boxing representative and sent to England for a boxing tournament amongst the Allied...


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|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|style="background:#abcdef;"|Draw
|17-0-1
|align=left| United States Fidel LaBarba
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|17-0
|align=left| United States Fidel LaBarba
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|16-0
|align=left| Philippines Young Nationalista
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|15-0
|align=left| United States Frankie Dolan
|
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|14-0
|align=left| United States Benny Diaz
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|13-0
|align=left| United States Abe Gordon
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|12-0
|align=left| United States Jimmy Griffiths
|
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|11-0
|align=left| United States Jockey Joe Dillon
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|10-0
|align=left| United States Johnny Jockey Lightner
|
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|9-0
|align=left| United States Frankie Grandetta
|
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|8-0
|align=left| United States Jimmy Griffiths
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|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|7-0
|align=left| United States Sammy Lee
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|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|6-0
|align=left| United States Frankie Sands
|
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|5-0
|align=left| United States Joe Conde
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|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|4-0
|align=left| United States Eddie Collins
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|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|3-0
|align=left| United States Frankie Sands
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|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|2-0
|align=left| Republic of Ireland Mickey Gill
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|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|1-0
|align=left| Canada Young Fry
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|align=left|
|align=left|

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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