George Rooke

Name: George Rooke
Hometown: New York, New York, USA
Birthplace: Dundalk, Ireland
Died: 1904-11-01 (Age:62)
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 182cm
Pro Boxer: Record

Biography

Rooke (sometimes referred to as Rook), was a one-time claimant of the bare-knuckle middleweight boxing championship. Rooke’s claim to the title came because he had challenged Tommy Chandler, the recognized champion, but Chandler had refused the bout. In the late nineteenth century, this was equivalent to vacating the title and Rooke subsequently claimed it for his own on July 17, 1872, though he made no attempt to prove his right in the ring until he was scheduled to meet Mike Donovan in Long Point, Canada. However, the fight was halted by police before it even started and the men never fought each other. After the Donovan fiasco, Rooke spent much of his time living off of his reputation and fighting exhibitions. He also owned and operated a gymnasium in New York City. On June 28, 1880, he was easily handled in an exhibition match against the much larger future heavyweight champion, John L. Sullivan. Though he was considered well “over the hill” for a boxer, Rooke continued fighting exhibitions until suffering a loss to Patsy Cardiff in 1886. He died on November 1, 1904 at the age of sixty-two in Newark, New Jersey.

Sources:
Isenberg, Michael T. John L. Sullivan and His America
Fleischer, Nat and Sam Andre. An Illustrated History of Boxing
Johnston, Alexander. Ten and Out.