Jan 1934
New York Coliseum, The Bronx, New York
Dec 1933
Ridgewood Grove, Queens, New York
Oct 1933
Ridgewood Grove, Queens, New York
Sep 1933
Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
Jul 1933
Polo Grounds, New York, New York
The bout was halted after round 4 because of a cut over Van Klaveren's right eye.
Mar 1933
Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
According to the Chicago Tribune, Ross won 8 of the 10 rounds.
Nov 1932
Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
World Lightweight Title
Canzoneri was "squarely at his peak: a Canzoneri so magnificently conditioned, so beautifully attuned that even the old-timers at the ringside admitted he was worthy to stand alongside the lightweight giants of the past." (United Press)
Jun 1932
Greenlee Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
May 1932
Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
"Battalino dropped Petrolle for a count of nine with a left hook to the chin in the first round, but thereafter the Fargo Express came thundering along to victory." New York Times According to the Chicago Tribune (Bob Soderman), Petrolle won seven rounds and Battalino took three. 10, 000 fans were on hand and the net was "25, 000. Both Petrolle and Battalino received $6.750.
Mar 1932
Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
A crowd of 18, 000 watched as "Petrolle cut Battalino to pieces with vicious rights and lefts to the head, brought blood streaming from a dozen cuts, and finally stopped him after one minute and 31 seconds of the twelfth and final round. Two smashing punches to the body made Battalino sway. Another volley to the head sent him reeling into the ropes. Still he refused to go down but he was obviously out on his feet and Referee Gunboat Smith stepped in and awarded the fight to Petrolle on a technical knockout." (AP)
Jan 1932
Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Dec 1931
Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Nov 1931
Convention Hall, Kansas City, Missouri
Aug 1931
Yankee Stadium, The Bronx, New York
Jun 1931
Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
May 1931
Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Apr 1931
Coliseum, Saint Louis, Missouri
Newspaper decision from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis Star, and The Ring, June 1931
Feb 1931
Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Tut "charging out at the starting gong battered Petrolle with savage fire which was sustained through the 1st round and found Petrolle rocking and shaken under staggering rights and lefts to the jaw." However the pendulum swung dramatically the other way in the 2nd round, Petrolle decking Tut in that round, again in the 3rd and twice in the 4th. A crowd of 14193 payed $438690 to see a great program of fights.(James P. Dawson, New York Times)
Feb 1931
Memorial Coliseum, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Feb 1931
Auditorium, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Jan 1931
Fargo Auditorium, Fargo, North Dakota
Newspaper decision from the Salt Lake Tribune (A.P. wire)
Nov 1930
Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
"The greatest welterweight in America and believed heretofore to be the uncrowned world ruler of the class was knocked from his lofty perch last night in Madison Square Garden and supplanted by an overgrown lightweight. Billy Petrolle, Fargo veteran, who owns no respect for individual or ability, conquered Jimmy McLarnin, Coast Irishman with the devastating punch, in a 10 round battle which furnished one of the most exciting welterweight struggles seen in a local ring in years and provided about the biggest upset boxing has seen here in recent times. Battering and pounding away at his foe, whose hitting skills and strength have of late claimed victims with monotonous regularity, Petrolle, an ironman of the ring and a hitter of no mean ability himself, carried off the decision" and "did everything but knock-out McLarnin and missed that climax to a wonderful effort because of the Irish lad's recuperative powers". McLarnin was down twice in the 4th round for nine counts. His manager later claimed McLarnin injured his right hand in the 2nd round and "it was noted that he used his right hand seldom after the 4th session." (James P. Dawson, New York Times). McLarnin was unable to fight for months.
Nov 1930
Armory, Duluth, Minnesota
Petrolle "won every round" and put Myers down twice in the second round. (Associated Press)
Oct 1930
Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Sep 1930
Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
From Chicago Tribune (Bob Soderman). Petrolle took at least six rounds and "looked like a million dollars, " while Canzoneri's timing seemed off.
Sep 1930
Lake Kampeska Arena, Watertown, South Dakota
Turner nine pounds heavier.
Aug 1930
Forest Park, Dayton, Ohio
Aug 1930
Congress Outdoor Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
From the Chicago Tribune (Bob Soderman). Other bouts scheduled for this program, but not reported: Joey Thomas v. Don Barnett; Sammy Adducci v. Johnny Lazar; Billy Kennedy v. Joe Brown.
Jul 1930
Forest Park, Dayton, Ohio
Jul 1930
Arena, Schenectady, New York
Jul 1930
Calumet, Michigan
May 1930
Avalon Arena, La Crosse, Wisconsin
Apr 1930
Fargo Auditorium, Fargo, North Dakota
Apr 1930
Armory, Indianapolis, Indiana
Mar 1930
Avalon Arena, La Crosse, Wisconsin
Kane was down eight times
Feb 1930
National Theater, Louisville, Kentucky
Jan 1930
Armory, Indianapolis, Indiana
Newspaper decision from the Indianapolis News (Purvis), Indianapolis Times (Purvis) and Indianapolis Star (Petrolle)
Sep 1929
Navin Field, Detroit, Michigan
"Petrolle wasn't the Petrolle who made many sizzling fights here."--Detroit Times. Petrolle announced his retirement afterward. Moorhead Daily News--"Tut takes 8 Rounds from Billy"
Jul 1929
Armory, Duluth, Minnesota
Petrolle won the newspaper decision. (Daily Northwestern)
Jul 1929
Janesville, Wisconsin
According to the Milwaukee Journal, Kahn was hit low and given five minutes to recover. However, he then refused to continue and the referee disqualified him!
Jun 1929
Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan
May 1929
Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan
The Detroit Times agreed with the referee's decision. The Detroit News disagreed.
Apr 1929
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Petrolle suffered a cut over his right eye which forced him to withdraw from a ten-rounder with Herman Perlick, scheduled for April 19 at La Crosse, Wi. (Daily Northwestern)
Mar 1929
Dance Palace, Huron, South Dakota
Mar 1929
Armory, Duluth, Minnesota
Petrolle won the newspaper decision. (Havre Daily News Promoter)
Mar 1929
Metropolitan Theatre, Grand Forks, North Dakota
Oct 1928
Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Newspaper decision from the Bismarck Tribune. "Petrolle is badly beaten"--Minneapolis Journal
Sep 1928
Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan
Aug 1928
Mills Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
From the Chicago Tribune (Bob Soderman). "Berg took a monumental beating; he was down nine times in the first round and once in the third."
Aug 1928
Duluth, Minnesota
Petrolle won the newspaper decision. (Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune)
Jul 1928
Mills Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Jul 1928
Aberdeen, South Dakota
Jul 1928
Duluth, Minnesota
Jack Hurley's personal records of Petrolle's record as given to Petrolle family.
Jun 1928
Dugdale Park, Seattle, Washington
Jun 1928
Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan
Jun 1928
Muehlebach Field, Kansas City, Missouri
Petrolle won the newspaper decision. (Bismarck Tribune)
Jun 1928
Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan
Schaeckels took the count of ten.
May 1928
Lake Kampeska Arena, Watertown, South Dakota
Apr 1928
City Auditorium, Omaha, Nebraska
Lincoln Evening Journal. Jack Hurley stopped the fight when Petrolle sustained an injury to his right eye. Petrolle was ahead at the time of the stoppage. Grogan floored for a nine count in the second round.
Mar 1928
Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Feb 1928
Auditorium, Bismarck, North Dakota
Feb 1928
Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan
Feb 1928
Fargo Auditorium, Fargo, North Dakota
Newspaper decision from the Fargo Forum
Jan 1928
Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
"Sammy Mandell, world's lightweight champion, won a shade newspaper decision in 10 rounds over Billy Petrolle, Duluth, here tonight, but barely escaped a knockout. A terrific right to the jaw early in the eighth round knocked Mandell into the ropes and a smashing left to the head had him groggy. Sensing a knockout, Petrolle pumped both hands to the head and body, but Mandell's footwork saved him." (Helena Independent). Tommy Gibbons was in Mandell's corner.
Jan 1928
Fargo Auditorium, Fargo, North Dakota
Dec 1927
Armory, Duluth, Minnesota
Newspaper decision from the Milwaukee Journal. This was a rousing fight in which Kahn was down three times and Petrolle twice.
Sep 1927
Baker Bowl, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Results from the Syracuse Herald. The bout was stopped due to a huge gash over Petrolle's eye. Petrolle was winning the bout at the time of the stoppage.
Aug 1927
Auditorium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Newspaper decision from the Milwaukee Journal. Kahn was down for "two" in round one, but gave Petrolle a hard fight.
Aug 1927
American Legion, West Springfield, Massachusetts
Aug 1927
New Hippodrome Arena, Saint Paul, Minnesota
According to the Minneapolis Tribune (Bob Soderman) Petrolle won decisively. Tut seemed to be overly careful about fouling Petrolle, as he had done in the previous fight between the two. This fight was an official decision, where the MN Boxing Commission agreed in advance to waive the ND law for this fight. There were actually 4 judges appointed by the state commission, the other being Henry J. Lund.
Aug 1927
New Hippodrome Arena, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Tut landed several low blows in the fourth round. Petrolle said that he would continue the fight if given several minutes to recover. However, after the respite, he was in no condition to resume the fight and the referee disqualified Tut.
Jul 1927
Fargo Auditorium, Fargo, North Dakota
Petrolle caught Brady with a short right hook to the chin when they met in the center of the ring, it was all over in 46 seconds. Fargo American Legion promotion. John Comrie matchmaker. Both weighed under 138lbs.
Jun 1927
Shibe Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Jun 1927
Polo Grounds, New York, New York
The NY Times felt Petrolle was "unmistakably entitled to the honors" and should have been given the decision. Charles Lindbergh, fresh from his world-famous flight, attended part of this card. The Brooklyn times thought Petrolle deserved a draw at the very least.
May 1927
Armory, Akron, Ohio
May 1927
Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Apr 1927
Laurel Garden, Newark, New Jersey
Referee Hen Lewis stopped the fight in round four. Lewis afterwards stated that "I was convinced by their showing that the two fighters had made an agreement between themselves, and I don't think even their managers or anyone else were aware of the agreement." In retrospect, this doesn't seem to hold water. Even before the fight it had been stated that DeMarco's style would give Petrolle trouble.
Apr 1927
Coliseum, Chicago, Illinois
Chicago Tribune. Mueller was a substitute for King Tut, who took ill.
Feb 1927
Sioux Falls Coliseum, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Jawson was down four times and took the count for the first time in his career.
Feb 1927
Shrine Auditorium, Duluth, Minnesota
Ray Hughes promoter. Both weighed under 135lbs.
Feb 1927
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Jan 1927
Coliseum, Chicago, Illinois
From the Chicago Tribune (Bob Soderman). Petrolle was down in round five and Myers in round nine.
Jan 1927
Fargo Auditorium, Fargo, North Dakota
Dec 1926
Auditorium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Dec 1926
Broadway Arena, Brooklyn, New York
DeMarco down for a nine count in round three. Petrolle was a last minute substitute for Ruby Goldstein. (Brooklyn Daily Eagle).
Nov 1926
Auditorium, Saint Paul, Minnesota
O'Donnell suffered a broken collarbone and was unable to continue. He suffered a lot of punishment from Petrolle in their short fight.
Nov 1926
Laurel Garden, Newark, New Jersey
Oct 1926
Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Sep 1926
Fargo Auditorium, Fargo, North Dakota
"With the exception of the fifth round, it was Petrolle's fight all the way." (Lincoln Star) Jack Hurley promotion. Phil Terk matchmaker.
Aug 1926
Laurel Garden, Newark, New Jersey
Petrolle won the newspaper decision. (Decatur Daily Review)
Aug 1926
Newark, New Jersey
Petrolle won the newspaper decision. (Bismarck Tribune)
Jul 1926
Comiskey Park, Chicago, Illinois
Jul 1926
Lexington Park, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Jerk Doran's first promotion in St. Paul. Rocco down 10 times in the bout.
Jul 1926
Coney Island Stadium, Brooklyn, New York
Jun 1926
East Chicago, Indiana
From the Chicago Tribune (Bob Soderman). Schaefer received hard punches to the head, sank to his knees and was counted out. After the count was finished he got to his feet and attempted to resume the fight but was led to his corner. Schaefer, hopelessly outclassed, failed to land a solid blow while Petrolle swarmed all over him from the start and had things all his own way.
Jun 1926
Coney Island Stadium, Brooklyn, New York
May 1926
Fargo Auditorium, Fargo, North Dakota
Cooney landed two accidental low blows.
May 1926
Knights of Columbus Gym, Sioux City, Iowa
Newspaper decision from the Sioux City Journal, which reported that Petrolle won 9 of the 10 rounds.
Mar 1926
Foot Guard Hall, Hartford, Connecticut
All the bouts on this card appear to have been newspaper decisions and not official verdicts. The Hartford Courant has no mention of the referee or any judges deciding these fights. Kaplan won decisively according to the Courant.
Feb 1926
Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Vogel down in the second and tenth rounds, but won the majority of rounds to get the decision.
Feb 1926
Fargo Auditorium, Fargo, North Dakota
Jan 1926
Foot Guard Hall, Hartford, Connecticut
Both the Hartford Times and the Hartford Courier disagreed with the decision and reported that Petrolle won handily, but The Ring (March 1926, page 35) simply said it was a close fight.
Dec 1925
Foot Guard Hall, Hartford, Connecticut
Dec 1925
Empress Theater, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Nov 1925
City Hall, Holyoke, Massachusetts
Nov 1925
City Hall, Holyoke, Massachusetts
Oct 1925
American Legion Hall, La Crosse, Wisconsin
Newspaper verdict supplied by the La Crosse Tribune. It was an action-packed fight.
Oct 1925
Fargo Auditorium, Fargo, North Dakota
Petrolle won the newspaper decision. (Bismarck Tribune)
Sep 1925
Auditorium, Bismarck, North Dakota
Sep 1925
Fargo Auditorium, Fargo, North Dakota
Jul 1925
Maier Park, Vernon, California
Jul 1925
Arena, Vernon, California
Jun 1925
Arena, Vernon, California
May 1925
Grand Forks Auditorium, Grand Forks, North Dakota
Newspaper decision from the Grand Forks Herald
May 1925
Fargo Auditorium, Fargo, North Dakota
Petrolle won the newspaper decision. (Bismarck Tribune) Jack Hurley promoter.
Apr 1925
Grand Forks Auditorium, Grand Forks, North Dakota
Knauf was disquallifed after hitting Petrolle low twice early in the 4th round, and leaving him unable to continue.
Apr 1925
City Hall, Holyoke, Massachusetts
Mar 1925
Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Mar 1925
City Hall, Holyoke, Massachusetts
Mar 1925
Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Petrolle took a 9-count in round four.
Feb 1925
City Hall, Holyoke, Massachusetts
Jan 1925
Fargo Auditorium, Fargo, North Dakota
(Chicago Tribune) Jack Hurley promoter.
Jan 1925
Minot, North Dakota
Jack Hurley's personal records of Petrolle's record as given to Petrolle family. Exact date and location not given, only year and result.
Jan 1925
Fargo Auditorium, Fargo, North Dakota
Dec 1924
Auditorium, Sioux City, Iowa
Newspaper decision from the Sioux City Journal
Nov 1924
Fargo, North Dakota
(Chicago Tribune) Jack Hurley promoter.
Nov 1924
Auditorium, Sioux City, Iowa
Nov 1924
Coliseum, Des Moines, Iowa
Newspaper decision from the Davenport Democrat and Leader. The Sioux City Journal reported that Petrolle had 40 fights, 28 while under the management of Jack Hurley.
Oct 1924
Fargo Auditorium, Fargo, North Dakota
The Squared Circle, Boxing & Wrestling News. Fargo Forum and Fargo Daily Tribune both called it a draw also. Fargo Daily tribune reported that Petrolle was outweighed by at least 10 pounds. Jack Hurley promoter.
Oct 1924
Shrine Auditorium, Duluth, Minnesota
From Boxing Blade, 8 November 1924, page 7.
Aug 1924
Curling Rink Arena, Duluth, Minnesota
Fargo Forum and Fargo Daily News-Courier.
Jul 1924
Cudahy Recreation Hall, Sioux City, Iowa
Newspaper decision from the Sioux City Journal
Jul 1924
Milbank, South Dakota
Jul 1924
Carrington, North Dakota
Jun 1924
Shrine Arena, Helena, Montana
Jun 1924
Fargo Auditorium, Fargo, North Dakota
Fight probably belongs to this Joe McCabe and not Joe McCabe (Nate Isaacsom) who was fighting in California at the time.
May 1924
Jamestown, North Dakota
Fargo Forum and Fargo Daily Tribune.
Apr 1924
Fargo, North Dakota
Fargo Forum and Fargo Daily Tribune. Jack Hurley promotion
Apr 1924
Shrine Auditorium, Duluth, Minnesota
Fargo Forum and Fargo Daily Tribune. Petrolle down in 1st round.
Mar 1924
Fargo Auditorium, Fargo, North Dakota
Fargo Forum and Fargo Daily Tribune. Jack Hurley promoter.
Mar 1924
Athletic Club, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis Tribune. George Barton, who refereed the fight, reported that Petrolle won. (This fight appears to have been held in private.)
Mar 1924
Shrine Auditorium, Duluth, Minnesota
Feb 1924
Fargo Auditorium, Fargo, North Dakota
Kennedy retired after round 4 with a broken jaw
Feb 1924
Fargo Auditorium, Fargo, North Dakota
Newspaper decision from the Bismarck Tribune
Jan 1924
Shrine Arena, Helena, Montana
Jan 1924
Armory, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
Jan 1924
Havana, North Dakota
Jack Hurley's personal records of Petrolle's record as given to Petrolle family. Exact date and location not given, only year and result.
Jan 1924
Fargo Auditorium, Fargo, North Dakota
Fargo Forum: "Irish Kennedy pleased the fans by his classy boxing in the semiwindup but he was not strong enough to hold the hard hitting Billy Petrolle even." This was Petrolle's first fight under Hurley's management. Jack Hurley promoter.
Nov 1923
Jamestown, North Dakota
Newspaper decision from the Bismarck Tribune
Oct 1923
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Sep 1923
Jamestown, North Dakota
Jamestown Daily Alert: "Billy Petrolle showed his class Wednesday night by hanging gloves all over the veteran Eddie DeBeau of St. Paul in every round of their ten round bout."
Aug 1923
Race Track, Alan, Idaho
Attributed by the day-after Spokane Spokesman-Review to a "Wolf Larson." On August 14, at p. 15, that newspaper revealed "Wolf Larson" was actually Billy Petrolle. Billy and brother Pete had rushed back home to North Dakota, due to a report of their father's death.
Jun 1923
Valley City Fairgrounds, Valley City, North Dakota
Reported as a win for Petrolle. Source: Spokane Spokesman-Review, August 3, 1923. Additional information--Fargo Forum: "Jackie Nichols of St. Paul outpointed Billy Petrolle of Jamestown in a 10 round go here tonight...Sport fans gave the Dilworth, Minn. lad the first round and handed Nichols the other nine rounds. Petrolle was groggy toward the end of the fight." Fargo Daily Courier-News: "Jackie Nichols of St. Paul and Billy Petrolle of Jamestown fought 10 rounds to a draw here tonight. Both fighters were game and the bout was a battle from start to finish." In light of conflicting reports the determination of the outcome should probably await review of the Valley City newspapers. Fargo Forum: "About 450 spectators watched the fight. It was a cold night and the spectators were chilled to the bone." Note to Ric: this is the correct date of the fight. UPDATE: The Valley City Daily Times-Record reported the bout as a draw.
May 1923
Company H Armory, Jamestown, North Dakota
Date confirmed by Bismarck Tribune and from the Fargo Forum (Herb Goldman). Petrolle knocked out Ertle in just 40 seconds.
Apr 1923
Fargo Auditorium, Fargo, North Dakota
The Fargo Daily Courier News: "Woodhall went down for the count of nine in the sixth round but the advantage he had piled up previous to his tumble was sufficient dnough to give him the fight." Fargo Forum: "The knockdown scored by Petrolle in the final round was enough to more than even up the lead gained by Woodhall in the earlier rounds." Woodhall was outweighed by 9 pounds.
Mar 1923
Company H Armory, Jamestown, North Dakota
Jamestown Daily Alert and the Fargo Forum (Herb Goldman).
Mar 1923
Detroit Lakes, Minnesota
Newspaper decision from Fargo Forum (Herb Goldman).
Mar 1923
Fargo Auditorium, Fargo, North Dakota
Jack Hurley and Ralph Barkley promoters. Leo Kossick referee
Feb 1923
Exact date and location unknown.
Jan 1923
Fargo Auditorium, Fargo, North Dakota
Newspaper decision from the Fargo Forum (Herb Goldman).
Dec 1922
Fargo Auditorium, Fargo, North Dakota
Information taken directly from Fargo Forum.
Oct 1922
Fargo Auditorium, Fargo, North Dakota
From the Fargo Forum (Herb Goldman).
May 1922
Bolton Hall, Troy, New York
This was the professional debut for Petrolle, who had won the featherweight title in an A.A.U. tournament held in Schenectady the previous Friday.
