While in Australia during late 1933 and early 1934, Dave Shade, a future International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee, fought Ambrose Palmer and Fred Henneberry two times each in Sydney. He won and lost decisions in two fifteen-round bouts with Henneberry while losing a decision in a fifteen-round bout and winning on a foul in the sixth round while facing Palmer.
Although on the downside of his long career while in Australia and never being much of a puncher, Shade still remained a formidable middleweight while giving his opponents fits with his safety-first and distinctive bob-and-weave boxing style. He was rarely defeated in a decisive manner with many of his losses being due to disputed or close decisions. With his safety-first boxing style, Shade was far from being a crowd-pleasing fighter, which resulted in him being in quite a few boring bouts.
Shade's peak years as a fighter was when he was a welterweight from 1921 to late 1925. Although not as formidable afterwards, Shade remained a top fighter as a middleweight well into the 1930s. It appears that Shade's earning power as a fighter peaked when he was managed by a well-known and well-connected New York City boxing man, Leo Flynn, from late 1921 to the year of Flynn's death in 1930. But one should also keep in mind that the Great Depression dealt a severe economic blow to American professional boxing during the 1930s. Ticket prices were reduced in a drastic manner in order to continue to attract fans at many American boxing venues at the time, resulting in much smaller gates and purses for the most part.
Shade appeared to be very disappointed with his purses while fighting in Australia. It was estimated that Shade grossed 1,500 pounds for his four bouts. But it was reported that he expected to make 1,000 pounds a bout. He had been scheduled to fight Jack Carroll in a fifth bout in Australia, but came down with a hand injury while losing to Henneberry in his final bout in Australia. Rather than staying in Australia while waiting for his hand to heal, Shade opted to go back to the United States as soon as possible.
Shade's wife, Irene, accompanied him to Australia. She reportedly acted as his manager and trainer at the time. Ironically, Irene went out of her way not to see her husband's bouts, but reportedly went to see other fights. After being married as teenagers during 1920 and having their only child, a son, being born in early 1921, the couple stayed together until Shade passed away during 1983.
- Chuck Johnston
Dave Shade in Australia
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Old_Scores
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Re: Dave Shade in Australia
I wrote about Dave Shade for Boxing.com a little while back.
http://www.boxing.com/a_shade_unlucky.html
http://www.boxing.com/a_shade_unlucky.html
Re: Dave Shade in Australia
Since both Dave Shade and Jack Dempsey were known for their bob-and-weave styles, it may be that Shade was invaluable to Dempsey when the latter was trying find a way to refine his style. But it does appear that Shade also was invaluable as a sparring partner. During 1927, both Shade and Dempsey were being managed by Leo Flynn when Dempsey fought Jack Sharkey and, for a second time, Gene Tunney. At the time, it appears that Dempsey's sparring partners came from Flynn's stable of fighters. With the exception of Shade, Benny Leonard felt that the quality of the sparring partners was less than stellar at Dempsey's training camps during 1927.
Shade had quite a number of hand injuries during his career. The earliest one that I know about was when he sustained an injury to his left hand in his first recorded fifteen-round bout with a very tough journeyman, Joe Simonich, in the latter's hometown of Butte, Montana on July 4, 1921. The 19-year-old Shade was able to win a decision in a highly competitive bout. I have read that Shade's grandson, Bob, said in an interview that his grandfather's hands were misshapen, much like those of some old catchers in the sport of baseball.
In a widely reported incident in New York City during the early 1930s, a highly intoxicated Shade got into a brawl with a group of policemen who were trying to arrest him. With an apparent alcoholism problem, Shade spent some time in Bellevue Hospital in New York City after being arrested.
Otherwise, Shade appeared to have been a very stable and normal individual during his lifetime.
Shade reportedly had a substantial amount of money that had been invested well (Although many newspaper reports about well-known boxers having substantial nest eggs or wise investments later proved to be wrong). For over sixty years until his death in 1983, Shade was married to his capable and supportive wife, Irene. After his boxing career ended, Shade was an active partner in an establishment which included a café and a bar in Pittsfield, Massachusetts for about fifteen years. Starting in the early 1950s, Shade and his wife operated a motel, which they apparently owned, in New Smyrna, Florida, where they would live the rest of their lives.
- Chuck Johnston
Shade had quite a number of hand injuries during his career. The earliest one that I know about was when he sustained an injury to his left hand in his first recorded fifteen-round bout with a very tough journeyman, Joe Simonich, in the latter's hometown of Butte, Montana on July 4, 1921. The 19-year-old Shade was able to win a decision in a highly competitive bout. I have read that Shade's grandson, Bob, said in an interview that his grandfather's hands were misshapen, much like those of some old catchers in the sport of baseball.
In a widely reported incident in New York City during the early 1930s, a highly intoxicated Shade got into a brawl with a group of policemen who were trying to arrest him. With an apparent alcoholism problem, Shade spent some time in Bellevue Hospital in New York City after being arrested.
Otherwise, Shade appeared to have been a very stable and normal individual during his lifetime.
Shade reportedly had a substantial amount of money that had been invested well (Although many newspaper reports about well-known boxers having substantial nest eggs or wise investments later proved to be wrong). For over sixty years until his death in 1983, Shade was married to his capable and supportive wife, Irene. After his boxing career ended, Shade was an active partner in an establishment which included a café and a bar in Pittsfield, Massachusetts for about fifteen years. Starting in the early 1950s, Shade and his wife operated a motel, which they apparently owned, in New Smyrna, Florida, where they would live the rest of their lives.
- Chuck Johnston
Re: Dave Shade in Australia
Nice posts Chuck. Really interesting stuff 
Re: Dave Shade in Australia
Thanks, Tinnie!
There were a couple of things that I learned about Dave Shade while reading old Australian newspapers. One is that Shade made humorous comments during his first bout with Ambrose Palmer that caused the normally serious Palmer to laugh. Palmer talked about Shade's humorous comments after the bout. The other thing I learned is that Shade had a jump rope routine that impressed Australian onlookers. Star Frisco, a Filipino fighter who had at least two stints in Australia during the 1930s, also had an impressive jump rope routine, according to some items I found in at least one California newspaper.
Shade was known for smoking cigars even in training camps. There are a number of stories, including humorous ones, about Shade and cigars.
One newspaperman saw Shade hitting a speed bag while smoking a cigar.
Warren Brown, a noted American sportswriter, had a story in a book of his about Shade when the latter was a sparring partner for Jack Dempsey in a training camp According to Brown, he was preparing to sit down with Shade for a conversation at Jack Dempsey's training camp. While preparing to have a talk with Brown, Shade started to smoke a cigar, but the conversation was cut short unexpectedly when Shade was told that he was needed to spar with Dempsey on very short notice. After dressing for the sparring session, Shade came out of the dressing room and walked to the ring while smoking the cigar. Between rounds of the sparring session, Shade took some puffs on the cigar in his corner. After the sparring session, Brown remembers seeing Shade continuing to smoke the cigar while walking back to the dressing room with a trail of smoke behind him. Brown claimed this story involving Shade was the most vivid memory that he had of that training camp.
- Chuck Johnston
There were a couple of things that I learned about Dave Shade while reading old Australian newspapers. One is that Shade made humorous comments during his first bout with Ambrose Palmer that caused the normally serious Palmer to laugh. Palmer talked about Shade's humorous comments after the bout. The other thing I learned is that Shade had a jump rope routine that impressed Australian onlookers. Star Frisco, a Filipino fighter who had at least two stints in Australia during the 1930s, also had an impressive jump rope routine, according to some items I found in at least one California newspaper.
Shade was known for smoking cigars even in training camps. There are a number of stories, including humorous ones, about Shade and cigars.
One newspaperman saw Shade hitting a speed bag while smoking a cigar.
Warren Brown, a noted American sportswriter, had a story in a book of his about Shade when the latter was a sparring partner for Jack Dempsey in a training camp According to Brown, he was preparing to sit down with Shade for a conversation at Jack Dempsey's training camp. While preparing to have a talk with Brown, Shade started to smoke a cigar, but the conversation was cut short unexpectedly when Shade was told that he was needed to spar with Dempsey on very short notice. After dressing for the sparring session, Shade came out of the dressing room and walked to the ring while smoking the cigar. Between rounds of the sparring session, Shade took some puffs on the cigar in his corner. After the sparring session, Brown remembers seeing Shade continuing to smoke the cigar while walking back to the dressing room with a trail of smoke behind him. Brown claimed this story involving Shade was the most vivid memory that he had of that training camp.
- Chuck Johnston
Re: Dave Shade in Australia
For a number of years, Dave Shade and his longtime manager, Leo Flynn, lived near each other in residences (most likely apartments) that they owned and were located on a major thoroughfare named the Grand Concourse in the borough of Bronx, which is part of New York City. According to the 1930 U.S. Census, each of their residences had a value of twenty-five thousand dollars at a time when the average new house cost a little over seven thousand dollars in the United States.
There was quite a bit of newspaper coverage about Shade and Flynn being avid golf enthusiasts. Flynn apparently came down with his fatal illness while playing golf during 1930.
Yet it was reported that Shade and Flynn had their disagreements. Like many boxing men, Flynn had some press coverage which was unflattering.
Flynn was one of the most important boxing figures after World War I. For a time, he was Tex Rickard's matchmaker at Madison Square Garden, reportedly with quite a bit of success. Flynn had a huge stable of fighters which included Shade; Shade's brothers, George and Billy; Kid Norfolk; Bill Brennan; Jack Dempsey for a short while; and quite a number of other boxers with varied abilities. Promoters and matchmakers from all parts of the United States would contact Flynn's New York office to get fighters for their boxing shows. Both Flynn and his wife were very capable in negotiating deals with boxing people. At times, Flynn had boxers fighting in various American venues during a given day or week.
- Chuck Johnston
There was quite a bit of newspaper coverage about Shade and Flynn being avid golf enthusiasts. Flynn apparently came down with his fatal illness while playing golf during 1930.
Yet it was reported that Shade and Flynn had their disagreements. Like many boxing men, Flynn had some press coverage which was unflattering.
Flynn was one of the most important boxing figures after World War I. For a time, he was Tex Rickard's matchmaker at Madison Square Garden, reportedly with quite a bit of success. Flynn had a huge stable of fighters which included Shade; Shade's brothers, George and Billy; Kid Norfolk; Bill Brennan; Jack Dempsey for a short while; and quite a number of other boxers with varied abilities. Promoters and matchmakers from all parts of the United States would contact Flynn's New York office to get fighters for their boxing shows. Both Flynn and his wife were very capable in negotiating deals with boxing people. At times, Flynn had boxers fighting in various American venues during a given day or week.
- Chuck Johnston
Re: Dave Shade in Australia
Like his two older brothers, George and Billy, Dave Shade got his start in the California four-round boxing game during the late 1910s. At the time, state law mandated that bouts could not be scheduled for more four rounds. In Northern California at the time, the average four-round boxing card had six, seven or eight bouts. Fighters usually fought in four-round bouts at a much quicker pace than they would in longer bouts. It appears that the promoters and matchmakers of such boxing cards did their utmost to have competitive bouts. That may be one reason while there were lots of draws and relatively few stoppages in California four-round bouts of the period. Moreover, few four-round fighters had impressive records by today's standards.
In the four-round ranks, Dave Shade never really stood out as a fighter. During his first three years as a fighter, Shade had 36 wins (three by stoppage), nine losses (one by stoppage), 38 draws and two no-contests in his known bouts. Shade later said that he felt overshadowed by his two older brothers when it came to getting the attention of promoters and matchmakers during this time. But while fighting in the bantamweight, featherweight and lightweight divisions during this period, Shade undoubtedly gained invaluable experience by facing a large number of fighters who went on to have interesting careers. His opponents during this period included Oakland Jimmy Duffy, Oakland Frankie Burns, Danny Kramer, Frankie Farren, Phil Salvadore, Ever Hammer, Willie Hunefeld, Gene Cline, Larry Jones, George Eagel, Joe Gorman, Georgie Spencer, Joe "Petie" Coffey, Charlie Moy and Danny Edwards. During the third year of his career in 1920, Dave was fighting in main events in smaller venues and in featured events in larger venues such as the Dreamland Rink in San Francisco and the Oakland Civic Auditorium in Oakland.
- Chuck Johnston
In the four-round ranks, Dave Shade never really stood out as a fighter. During his first three years as a fighter, Shade had 36 wins (three by stoppage), nine losses (one by stoppage), 38 draws and two no-contests in his known bouts. Shade later said that he felt overshadowed by his two older brothers when it came to getting the attention of promoters and matchmakers during this time. But while fighting in the bantamweight, featherweight and lightweight divisions during this period, Shade undoubtedly gained invaluable experience by facing a large number of fighters who went on to have interesting careers. His opponents during this period included Oakland Jimmy Duffy, Oakland Frankie Burns, Danny Kramer, Frankie Farren, Phil Salvadore, Ever Hammer, Willie Hunefeld, Gene Cline, Larry Jones, George Eagel, Joe Gorman, Georgie Spencer, Joe "Petie" Coffey, Charlie Moy and Danny Edwards. During the third year of his career in 1920, Dave was fighting in main events in smaller venues and in featured events in larger venues such as the Dreamland Rink in San Francisco and the Oakland Civic Auditorium in Oakland.
- Chuck Johnston
Re: Dave Shade in Australia
The only recorded bout in which Dave Shade knocked out for a count of ten was when he fighting a four-round fighter from San Francisco named Joe "Petie" Coffey, whose real name was Peter J. Kerr. Coffey knocked out Shade with a left to the pit of the stomach in the third round at the Dreamland Rink in San Francisco, California on April 4, 1919. Shade was in distress for a time after the bout ended.
According to his record on the BoxRec website, Coffey had 119 known bouts in a career which lasted from 1916 to 1924. His brother, John Kerr who had a career in professional baseball as a ballplayer, a coach and a manager. After his boxing career end, Coffey worked as a miner until he was killed in a mining accident during 1925.
- Chuck Johnston
According to his record on the BoxRec website, Coffey had 119 known bouts in a career which lasted from 1916 to 1924. His brother, John Kerr who had a career in professional baseball as a ballplayer, a coach and a manager. After his boxing career end, Coffey worked as a miner until he was killed in a mining accident during 1925.
- Chuck Johnston