Jimmy Slattery
Encyclopedia
James Edward Slattery was a professional boxer
in the Light Heavyweight
(175lb
) division. (The name often appears as James Patrick Slattery, however that is incorrect. His son and grandson also had the name James Edward.)
Slattery, son of a Buffalo fire fighter, turned pro in 1921 and came up short in his challenge for the World Light Heavyweight Title against Paul Berlenbach in 1925. His KO loss in 1925 to Dave Shade was named Ring Magazine Upset of the Year. Slattery won the vacant NBA light heavyweight title in August 1927 with a decision over Maxie Rosenbloom
, only to lose it to Tommy Loughran
in December of that year.
He won the NYSAC World Light Heavyweight Title by beating Lou Scozza in 1930. Slattery lost the title later that year in a bout against Maxie Rosenbloom
for the NYSAC World Light Heavyweight Title and the Undisputed World Light Heavyweight Title. The verdict was "highly unpopular" with the 15,000 fans at the fight. The United Press score sheet gave Rosenbloom 8 rounds and Slattery 4, with 3 even. Referee Patsy Haley, after being almost knocked out by one of Rosenbloom's wild swings, gave his decision to Slattery. He was overruled by two judges, both of whom voted for Rosenbloom http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=11337.
Alcoholism almost certainly shortened Slattery's life, career and marriage (he had famously eloped with 19 year old Elizabeth A. Pendergast). During the Great Depression, Slattery was known to throw money out of the window of his car while driving through the streets in order to help the poor children buy new shoes for school. A play about Slattery's life, "Jimmytown", was produced in Buffalo in 1997 and Jimmy Slattery place, in south Buffalo was named in his honor in 2006.
Slattery died August 30, 1960 in Buffalo, New York, USA
His former wife, Elizabeth Ann Burgess (née Pendergast) died in 1998
Career Record: Won 109 (KOs 47) Lost 14 Draw 0
Inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 1992
Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2006
"Toast of the town", Buffalo News 8-20-2006, byline Tim Graham
"Ceremony to unveil Slattery Place" Buffalo News 8-22-2006, byline Tim Graham
"Fighting trim, 'Jimmytown', the ring of truth" Buffalo News 9-19-1997, byline Terry Doran
"James E. Slattery III, worked in finance" Buffalo News 7-22-99, Obit.
"Elizabeth A. Burgess, eloped with boxing champion" Buffalo News 1-26-98, Obit.
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...
in the Light Heavyweight
Light heavyweight
In boxing, the light heavyweight is a weight division above 168 pounds [12 Stone or 76.204 kilograms] and up to 175 pounds [12.5 stone or 79.38 kilograms]), falling between super middleweight and cruiserweight...
(175lb
Pound (mass)
The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the Imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement...
) division. (The name often appears as James Patrick Slattery, however that is incorrect. His son and grandson also had the name James Edward.)
Slattery, son of a Buffalo fire fighter, turned pro in 1921 and came up short in his challenge for the World Light Heavyweight Title against Paul Berlenbach in 1925. His KO loss in 1925 to Dave Shade was named Ring Magazine Upset of the Year. Slattery won the vacant NBA light heavyweight title in August 1927 with a decision over Maxie Rosenbloom
Maxie Rosenbloom
Max Everitt Rosenbloom, known as Slapsie Maxie was an American boxer, actor, and television personality.-Life and career:...
, only to lose it to Tommy Loughran
Tommy Loughran
Thomas Patrick Loughran was the light heavyweight boxing champion of the world.Loughran's effective use of coordinated foot work, sound defense and swift, accurate counter punching is now regarded as a precursor to the techniques practiced in modern boxing...
in December of that year.
He won the NYSAC World Light Heavyweight Title by beating Lou Scozza in 1930. Slattery lost the title later that year in a bout against Maxie Rosenbloom
Maxie Rosenbloom
Max Everitt Rosenbloom, known as Slapsie Maxie was an American boxer, actor, and television personality.-Life and career:...
for the NYSAC World Light Heavyweight Title and the Undisputed World Light Heavyweight Title. The verdict was "highly unpopular" with the 15,000 fans at the fight. The United Press score sheet gave Rosenbloom 8 rounds and Slattery 4, with 3 even. Referee Patsy Haley, after being almost knocked out by one of Rosenbloom's wild swings, gave his decision to Slattery. He was overruled by two judges, both of whom voted for Rosenbloom http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=11337.
Alcoholism almost certainly shortened Slattery's life, career and marriage (he had famously eloped with 19 year old Elizabeth A. Pendergast). During the Great Depression, Slattery was known to throw money out of the window of his car while driving through the streets in order to help the poor children buy new shoes for school. A play about Slattery's life, "Jimmytown", was produced in Buffalo in 1997 and Jimmy Slattery place, in south Buffalo was named in his honor in 2006.
Slattery died August 30, 1960 in Buffalo, New York, USA
His former wife, Elizabeth Ann Burgess (née Pendergast) died in 1998
Career Record: Won 109 (KOs 47) Lost 14 Draw 0
Inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 1992
Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2006
External links
Sources
"A good life scotched", Buffalo News 8-22-2006, byline Tim Graham"Toast of the town", Buffalo News 8-20-2006, byline Tim Graham
"Ceremony to unveil Slattery Place" Buffalo News 8-22-2006, byline Tim Graham
"Fighting trim, 'Jimmytown', the ring of truth" Buffalo News 9-19-1997, byline Terry Doran
"James E. Slattery III, worked in finance" Buffalo News 7-22-99, Obit.
"Elizabeth A. Burgess, eloped with boxing champion" Buffalo News 1-26-98, Obit.