Something I found at the Lemont Historical Society today. I'll try to post the rest tomorrow along with a photo or two of how the site of Barry-Leon fight looks today.
PART 1
It was apparent that some unusual event was to occur that September evening in 1894. The ticket seller at the Polk St. Station had sold hundreds of tickets to Lemont, and all of the purchases were made by men of the "sporting set."
Mr. James Connelly (better known as "one eyed Jimmy") walked around the train depot complaining bitterly about the high cost of sporting entertainment. Jimmy, a friend of Alderman "Bathhouse" Coughlin, was a notorious gatecrasher who prided himself on his ability to avoid paying admission to any event. This time, however, he had to pay in advance and the cost was $10.00 a large sum in those days.
But neither cost nor the law could discourage this crowd. They were going out to Lemont to watch Chicago's own Jimmy Barry battle for the American Bantamweight crown. Boxing was illegal in Illinois in 1894--a fact that did not seem to effect the sporting crowd in the least. For in Lemont they knew they would be safe from a raid. Mayor McCarthy supported the fight. The only possible problem that could arise would be interference from Lemont's Civic Federation and the crusading Rev. Clancy.
The fight was promoted by Charles "Parson" Davis and Mike Jacobs. Both men collected money at the station and saw to it that all necessary supplies were on the train to Lemont. The fight was to be staged in a large white tent which the promoters had to erect at the site.
The train arrived in Lemont in the early evening and the excited crowd surged up the hill to Peterson's Park--an outdoor gambling resort at the corner of Warner and Logan Streets. There the tent was quickly erected. News of the fight spread through town and soon Peterson's was doing a booming business in liquid refreshments.
The purse for the fight was $1,000 with $800 going to the winner, plus side bets.
The promoters and "sports" were very concerned with the betting. The odds swung back and forth . Jimmy Barry was the sentimental favorite while his opponent, Casper Leon, the Italian bantamweight champ, was the favorite of the eastern sportsmen.
The ring was lit by torches and lanterns held by the fans who crowded as close as possible to see the action. When Mayor McCarthy arrived the crowd gave him a loud cheer and the fight began.
JIMMY BARRY - AMERICAN BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMP
Re: JIMMY BARRY - AMERICAN BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMP
PART 2
Leon was the larger of the two--5 ft. 3', and 112 pounds. Barry was 5 ft. 2", and 105 pounds. Leon's style of fighting was to crouch with his feet spread wide apart and his left shoulder uplifted (a stance that protected his head and neck, but opened him to body blows). Barry began with an aggressive pursuit of Leon from the opening round. Jimmy's style was to play away, bob and weave, then come in on his opponent. The fans enjoyed his display of footwork which was closely patterned after the famous Bob Fitzsimmons.
Barry never let up; he pursued Leon all around the ring. Casper resorted to frequent clinching in order to regain his balance and breath. The pace of the fight was almost unbearable; both fighters jabbed and hit in a constant barrage, with the points slightly in favor of Barry.
In the eleventh round Casper Leon delivered a direct straight right blow to Jimmy's head and eyes. Barry staggered, but did not fall and by the next round was in full strength.
The betting pace increased as the bout continued. The torches and lanterns burned down and the fans' voices grew hoarse, but the struggle continued...Leon shifting, crouching, waiting for another chance for a telling blow, while attempting to ward off Barry's constant left jabs. Jimmy, meanwhile was looking for the opportunity to get in some good body shots. The sweat poured off their bodies, even in the cool fall evening and it attracted insects to add extra irritation to the struggle.
By the twentieth round, the "sporting crowd" began to realize that this was a special fight. Both men had given all from the first round and now were going on sheer gut and determination. Casper Leon and Jimmy Barry had defeated all contenders to get this title fight. Both wanted to win at all costs.
Finally, after one and a half hours of constant fighting, in the 28th round, Barry hit Casper Leon with a body punch and the Italian fell unconscious to the canvas. Jimmy Barry, the Chicago "street fighter" was big time now. To cheers of the crowd Barry claimed the American Bantamweight Championship that memorable evening in Lemont.
YES, I too was puzzled about Leon being knocked unconscious from a bodypunch.
Leon was the larger of the two--5 ft. 3', and 112 pounds. Barry was 5 ft. 2", and 105 pounds. Leon's style of fighting was to crouch with his feet spread wide apart and his left shoulder uplifted (a stance that protected his head and neck, but opened him to body blows). Barry began with an aggressive pursuit of Leon from the opening round. Jimmy's style was to play away, bob and weave, then come in on his opponent. The fans enjoyed his display of footwork which was closely patterned after the famous Bob Fitzsimmons.
Barry never let up; he pursued Leon all around the ring. Casper resorted to frequent clinching in order to regain his balance and breath. The pace of the fight was almost unbearable; both fighters jabbed and hit in a constant barrage, with the points slightly in favor of Barry.
In the eleventh round Casper Leon delivered a direct straight right blow to Jimmy's head and eyes. Barry staggered, but did not fall and by the next round was in full strength.
The betting pace increased as the bout continued. The torches and lanterns burned down and the fans' voices grew hoarse, but the struggle continued...Leon shifting, crouching, waiting for another chance for a telling blow, while attempting to ward off Barry's constant left jabs. Jimmy, meanwhile was looking for the opportunity to get in some good body shots. The sweat poured off their bodies, even in the cool fall evening and it attracted insects to add extra irritation to the struggle.
By the twentieth round, the "sporting crowd" began to realize that this was a special fight. Both men had given all from the first round and now were going on sheer gut and determination. Casper Leon and Jimmy Barry had defeated all contenders to get this title fight. Both wanted to win at all costs.
Finally, after one and a half hours of constant fighting, in the 28th round, Barry hit Casper Leon with a body punch and the Italian fell unconscious to the canvas. Jimmy Barry, the Chicago "street fighter" was big time now. To cheers of the crowd Barry claimed the American Bantamweight Championship that memorable evening in Lemont.
YES, I too was puzzled about Leon being knocked unconscious from a bodypunch.
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BroughtonRulesRefuge
- Heavyweight
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- Joined: 16 Dec 2008, 06:55
Re: JIMMY BARRY - AMERICAN BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMP
- In a war of attrition, body shot could be the straw that broke the camel's back.Seamus wrote: YES, I too was puzzled about Leon being knocked unconscious from a bodypunch.
Here's a pic of Barry in his physical prime it appears:
http://www.boxrec.com/media/index.php/I ... .1890s.jpg
Re: JIMMY BARRY - AMERICAN BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMP
PART 3
Barry was born on Goose Island on March 1, 1870. It was said from the moment he entered the world, the only time he stopped swinging his fists was when he was sleeping. That was not surprising, since he was the smallest kid around, and Goose Island was a tough neighborhood. He was a |"street fighter" who loved to fight, and soon he was known throughout the area for his skills. He had a pride in that accomplishment-nobody dared to pick a fight with Barry.
When he was 12 years old, Jimmy went down to McGurn's Handball Court where they were giving boxing lessons. Small and skinny, he weighed all of 90 pounds, but his fast speed and clever mind came to the attention of Harry Gilmore, a well known featherweight boxer. Gilmore encouraged Jimmy, and soon Barry was boxing in local amateur competition. By the time he was 23, the "street fighter" had developed into a fine boxer who had never lost a fight.
When his father died, Jimmy decided to earn extra money for the family by entering professional boxing. He was introduced to Charles Davis and Mike Jacobs, early fight promoters.
Gilmore, Davis, and Jacobs recognized in Jimmy Barry not only a great skill, but a special desire to win, and they began grooming him for the championship.
The Bantamweight title had been vacated by George Dixon (who could no longer meet the weight requirements), and there were many claimants. Barry was an unknown and he had trouble getting fights with the acknowledged contenders. His first important fight was with Springfield's Jimmy Connors. He beat Connors and won a side bet of $1.500. After Connors there was New York's Joe McGrath and New Orleans' Jimmy Gorman. Both were beaten. That left only Casper Leon and the Lemont championship.
After Lemont, Jimmy Barry gained world fame. He met and defeated Jim Anthony, the Australian title holder in San Francisco. After that, all that was left to gain was the world title held by Walter Croot of London.
So, in 1897, Barry sailed for England with his trainers, manager and two close Chicago friends--Ted Sloan the jockey, and Cap Anson, of the Chicago White Stockings.
The match was held on December 5 in the National Sporting Club in London. Walter Croot was the same kind of scrapper as Barry. The fight was fast-paced and tough. Jimmy had to work harder than ever before--Croot was a good boxer.
The lights were hot and the crowd hostile to the Irish-American. The referees were partial to Croot, and Barry began to lose his timing. At the end of the 19th round, when Jimmy returned to his corner exhausted, he found his trainer and friends in tears. Barry then realized that he was losing the fight on points. He would have to return to Chicago humiliated, minus not only the world crown, but the American crown as well.
The "street fighter" returned to Jimmy's soul, and he charged out at the bell and began beating Croot about the head. Enraged, he pounded at Croot until he fell to the canvas. Walter Croot never got up ! He died shortly thereafter of a skull fracture. The English authorities charged Barry with manslaughter, but the courts dismissed the charges.
Barry returned home with the title , but the sheer joy of fighting had gone forever. He fought only one more professional fight in 1898 when he met Casper Leon for "old times sake," and they fought 20 rounds to a draw.
After that Barry vacated the title and the fans and friends forgot him. He never fought again, with the exception of a training program for the soldiers in World War I. The rest of his life was spent quietly in the Cook County Clerk's office. When he died in 1943 in the Chicago Sanitarium, the newspapers barely noticed his death. Barry's lifetime record was 36 professional fights, 5 K.O.'s 14 draws and 17 wins. But those who know boxing history say his greatest fight was that September evening in Lemont.
NOTE Obviously there were some discrepancies regarding professional and exhibition matches on Barry's record, and the author completely missed the final 20 rounder with Casper Leon. Jimmy Connors doesn't show up on BoxRec's record for Barry, but he did apparently fight in Springfield around that time. Still I liked the Lemont and Goose Island references.
Barry was born on Goose Island on March 1, 1870. It was said from the moment he entered the world, the only time he stopped swinging his fists was when he was sleeping. That was not surprising, since he was the smallest kid around, and Goose Island was a tough neighborhood. He was a |"street fighter" who loved to fight, and soon he was known throughout the area for his skills. He had a pride in that accomplishment-nobody dared to pick a fight with Barry.
When he was 12 years old, Jimmy went down to McGurn's Handball Court where they were giving boxing lessons. Small and skinny, he weighed all of 90 pounds, but his fast speed and clever mind came to the attention of Harry Gilmore, a well known featherweight boxer. Gilmore encouraged Jimmy, and soon Barry was boxing in local amateur competition. By the time he was 23, the "street fighter" had developed into a fine boxer who had never lost a fight.
When his father died, Jimmy decided to earn extra money for the family by entering professional boxing. He was introduced to Charles Davis and Mike Jacobs, early fight promoters.
Gilmore, Davis, and Jacobs recognized in Jimmy Barry not only a great skill, but a special desire to win, and they began grooming him for the championship.
The Bantamweight title had been vacated by George Dixon (who could no longer meet the weight requirements), and there were many claimants. Barry was an unknown and he had trouble getting fights with the acknowledged contenders. His first important fight was with Springfield's Jimmy Connors. He beat Connors and won a side bet of $1.500. After Connors there was New York's Joe McGrath and New Orleans' Jimmy Gorman. Both were beaten. That left only Casper Leon and the Lemont championship.
After Lemont, Jimmy Barry gained world fame. He met and defeated Jim Anthony, the Australian title holder in San Francisco. After that, all that was left to gain was the world title held by Walter Croot of London.
So, in 1897, Barry sailed for England with his trainers, manager and two close Chicago friends--Ted Sloan the jockey, and Cap Anson, of the Chicago White Stockings.
The match was held on December 5 in the National Sporting Club in London. Walter Croot was the same kind of scrapper as Barry. The fight was fast-paced and tough. Jimmy had to work harder than ever before--Croot was a good boxer.
The lights were hot and the crowd hostile to the Irish-American. The referees were partial to Croot, and Barry began to lose his timing. At the end of the 19th round, when Jimmy returned to his corner exhausted, he found his trainer and friends in tears. Barry then realized that he was losing the fight on points. He would have to return to Chicago humiliated, minus not only the world crown, but the American crown as well.
The "street fighter" returned to Jimmy's soul, and he charged out at the bell and began beating Croot about the head. Enraged, he pounded at Croot until he fell to the canvas. Walter Croot never got up ! He died shortly thereafter of a skull fracture. The English authorities charged Barry with manslaughter, but the courts dismissed the charges.
Barry returned home with the title , but the sheer joy of fighting had gone forever. He fought only one more professional fight in 1898 when he met Casper Leon for "old times sake," and they fought 20 rounds to a draw.
After that Barry vacated the title and the fans and friends forgot him. He never fought again, with the exception of a training program for the soldiers in World War I. The rest of his life was spent quietly in the Cook County Clerk's office. When he died in 1943 in the Chicago Sanitarium, the newspapers barely noticed his death. Barry's lifetime record was 36 professional fights, 5 K.O.'s 14 draws and 17 wins. But those who know boxing history say his greatest fight was that September evening in Lemont.
NOTE Obviously there were some discrepancies regarding professional and exhibition matches on Barry's record, and the author completely missed the final 20 rounder with Casper Leon. Jimmy Connors doesn't show up on BoxRec's record for Barry, but he did apparently fight in Springfield around that time. Still I liked the Lemont and Goose Island references.
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The Great John L
- Heavyweight
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Re: JIMMY BARRY - AMERICAN BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMP
An excellent read. Thanks Seamus.
Re: JIMMY BARRY - AMERICAN BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMP
Barry is completely forgotten today.
In the early issues of the RING magazine every longtime trainer and referee rated Barry as the best in his weight class.
In the early issues of the RING magazine every longtime trainer and referee rated Barry as the best in his weight class.
Re: JIMMY BARRY - AMERICAN BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMP
The two photos are of the area where Peterson Park, scene of Barry's fight with Casper Leon was located.
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Fender1980
- Heavyweight
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- Joined: 06 Feb 2010, 18:17
Re: JIMMY BARRY - AMERICAN BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMP
Thanks for the article Seamus!
My family has a conection with Jimmy Barry - Bantaweight Champ.
Jimmy Barry went on to work for the City of Chicago Clerk's office after he retired from boxing. My great grandfather would have been his boss.
Of all the few stories I have heard, I'm sure that Jimmy was mostly some kind of gofer in the office and he would have been my Grandfather's (& great uncle's) babysitter in the 1910s in Springfield IL & Washington DC.
I don't have many Jimmy Barry stories, although I believe he may have taken the kids to carve their initials somewhere on the Illinois Capitol Dome.
Likewise through Jimmy, my grandfather got to meet John L. Sullivan so he (my grandfather) used to say "Shake the hand that shook the hand of John L. Sullivan" and be able to mean it.
My family has a conection with Jimmy Barry - Bantaweight Champ.
Jimmy Barry went on to work for the City of Chicago Clerk's office after he retired from boxing. My great grandfather would have been his boss.
Of all the few stories I have heard, I'm sure that Jimmy was mostly some kind of gofer in the office and he would have been my Grandfather's (& great uncle's) babysitter in the 1910s in Springfield IL & Washington DC.
I don't have many Jimmy Barry stories, although I believe he may have taken the kids to carve their initials somewhere on the Illinois Capitol Dome.
Likewise through Jimmy, my grandfather got to meet John L. Sullivan so he (my grandfather) used to say "Shake the hand that shook the hand of John L. Sullivan" and be able to mean it.
Re: JIMMY BARRY - AMERICAN BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMP
Barry was a flyweight.