Joe Gans - Revision history

Ric: IBRO articles linked

2025-05-26T17:01:08Z

IBRO articles linked

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:01, 26 May 2025
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	[[file:Joe Gans.jpg\|left\|~~thumb\|250px\|Joe Gans~~]]		[[file:Joe Gans.jpg\|left\|200px]]
	[[file:Ibhof-logo.jpg\|thumb\|right\|Class of 1990<br>Old Timer Category<br>Hall of Fame bio:[http://www.ibhof.com/pages/about/inductees/oldtimer/gans.html click]]]		[[file:Ibhof-logo.jpg\|thumb\|right\|Class of 1990<br>Old Timer Category<br>Hall of Fame bio:[http://www.ibhof.com/pages/about/inductees/oldtimer/gans.html click]]]
	[[File:WBHF Logo.jpg\|right\|thumb\|200px\|World Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee]]		[[File:WBHF Logo.jpg\|right\|thumb\|200px\|World Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee]]
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	'''Manager''': [[Al Herford]]<br>		'''Manager''': [[Al Herford]]<br>
	'''[[:Category:Joe Gans Gallery\|Joe Gans Gallery]]'''<br>		'''[[:Category:Joe Gans Gallery\|Joe Gans Gallery]]'''<br>
	~~'''Official Web site:''' [http://www.joegans.com/]<br>~~
	~~Contemporary Obituary: [http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85066387/1910-08-11/ed-1/seq-11/]~~

	~~Great Uncle of [[Tevin Farmer]]~~

	~~<br clear~~=~~all>~~		== Biography ==
			'''Joe Gans''' was born "Joseph Gant" (although most later sources claim his real name was Joseph Gaines) in Baltimore, Maryland. Gans claimed he didn't know his exact date of his birth, and neither did his foster parents. He is the Great Uncle of [[Tevin Farmer]].

	'''Joe Gans''' was born "Joseph Gant" (although most later sources claim his real name was Joseph Gaines) in Baltimore, Maryland. Gans claimed he didn't know his exact date of his birth, and neither did his foster parents. Gans was rated as the greatest lightweight boxer of all time by boxing historian and ''[[The Ring Magazine\|The Ring]]'' Magazine editor, [[Nat Fleischer]]. He fought from 1891 to 1909, and is believed to have contracted tuberculosis in 1907 or 1908. His final record included 131 wins (88 KOs), 9 losses, and 13 draws. (His known record was printed in the August 11, 1910 ''Tacoma Daily Ledger''.)		Gans was rated as the greatest lightweight boxer of all time by boxing historian and ''[[The Ring Magazine\|The Ring]]'' Magazine editor, [[Nat Fleischer]]. He fought from 1891 to 1909, and is believed to have contracted tuberculosis in 1907 or 1908. His final record included 131 wins (88 KOs), 9 losses, and 13 draws. (His known record was printed in the August 11, 1910 ''Tacoma Daily Ledger''.)

	Gans won the lightweight championship by knocking out [[Frank Erne]] on May 12, 1902. Erne had successfully defended the title against Gans earlier, when Gans was forced to quit due to a serious eye injury as the result of a head-butt.		Gans won the lightweight championship by knocking out [[Frank Erne]] on May 12, 1902. Erne had successfully defended the title against Gans earlier, when Gans was forced to quit due to a serious eye injury as the result of a head-butt.
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	Gans fought many great fighters during his career. He drew with the original [[Joe Walcott]], whom [[Nat Fleischer]] ranked as the greatest welterweight ever. He also fought and defeated [[Jack Blackburn]] (who would go on to greater fame as [[Joe Louis]]'s trainer), and lost a fifteen round decision to fellow all time great [[Sam Langford]] (though in fairness to Gans, it should be noted that he had fought master boxer [[Dave Holly]] the previous day in Philadelphia and then had to travel 300 miles by train to face Langford in Boston).		Gans fought many great fighters during his career. He drew with the original [[Joe Walcott]], whom [[Nat Fleischer]] ranked as the greatest welterweight ever. He also fought and defeated [[Jack Blackburn]] (who would go on to greater fame as [[Joe Louis]]'s trainer), and lost a fifteen round decision to fellow all time great [[Sam Langford]] (though in fairness to Gans, it should be noted that he had fought master boxer [[Dave Holly]] the previous day in Philadelphia and then had to travel 300 miles by train to face Langford in Boston).

	Gans is listed among the ''The Ring'' magazine's list of [[The 100 Greatest Punchers of All-Time!\|100 greatest punchers]] of all time and is generally considered to be one of the greatest boxers of all time, pound-for-pound . Perhaps, the most fitting testament to Gans's greatness as a fighter is the esteem in which he was held by other all time greats. For example, Sam Langford deemed him the greatest boxer of all time{{fact}}; [[Benny Leonard]], who is generally considered the next best lightweight in history, idolized Gans{{fact}}; and [[Bob Fitzsimmons]]--the first of only two fighters in history to capture undisputed, lineal world titles in three of boxing's eight traditional [[weight divisions]]--called Gans the cleverest fighter he'd ever seen{{fact}}. [[Abe Attell]] gave his opinion that "Joe Gans was the greatest lightweight that ever entered a ring. In his prime no fighter of his weight was his equal." ''Baltimore American'', August 15, 1910.		Gans is listed among the ''The Ring'' magazine's list of [[The 100 Greatest Punchers of All-Time!\|100 greatest punchers]] of all time and is generally considered to be one of the greatest boxers of all time, pound-for-pound.

			Perhaps the most fitting testament to Gans's greatness as a fighter is the esteem in which he was held by other all time greats. For example, Sam Langford deemed him the greatest boxer of all time{{fact}}; [[Benny Leonard]], who is generally considered the next best lightweight in history, idolized Gans{{fact}}; and [[Bob Fitzsimmons]]--the first of only two fighters in history to capture undisputed, lineal world titles in three of boxing's eight traditional [[weight divisions]]--called Gans the cleverest fighter he'd ever seen{{fact}}. [[Abe Attell]] gave his opinion that "Joe Gans was the greatest lightweight that ever entered a ring. In his prime no fighter of his weight was his equal." ''Baltimore American'', August 15, 1910.

	==Miscellaneous==		==Miscellaneous==
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	* Gans died of tuberculosis in Baltimore.		* Gans died of tuberculosis in Baltimore.
	* He inspired countless boxers, many of whom adopted his name: [[Baby Joe Gans]], [[Italian Joe Gans]], [[Dago Joe Gans]], etc.		* He inspired countless boxers, many of whom adopted his name: [[Baby Joe Gans]], [[Italian Joe Gans]], [[Dago Joe Gans]], etc.
	* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=8253 Find a Grave]

	~~==Little-known facts==~~
	*'''1896-03-18''': Gans's wife, Mary Beulah Gans died of consumption. This affected Gans not making stipulated weight for his scheduled fight with Frank Erne. ''Baltimore Sun'', March 19, 1896:		*'''1896-03-18''': Gans's wife, Mary Beulah Gans died of consumption. This affected Gans not making stipulated weight for his scheduled fight with Frank Erne. ''Baltimore Sun'', March 19, 1896:
	*'''1897-02-16''': Gans was presented with a gold medal by the colored citizens of Baltimore in recognition of his success in the ring. ''Baltimore Sun'', February 16, 1897		*'''1897-02-16''': Gans was presented with a gold medal by the colored citizens of Baltimore in recognition of his success in the ring. ''Baltimore Sun'', February 16, 1897
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	*'''1900-04-08''': Gans married for the 3rd time; his spouse's name was Madge Wadkins. ''Philadelphia Inquirer'', April 10, 1900		*'''1900-04-08''': Gans married for the 3rd time; his spouse's name was Madge Wadkins. ''Philadelphia Inquirer'', April 10, 1900

			== External Links ==
			*Official Web site: [http://www.joegans.com/]<br>
			*Contemporary Obituary: [http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85066387/1910-08-11/ed-1/seq-11/]
			* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=8253 Find a Grave]
			*"Joe Gans Championship Years: Setting the Record Straight" by Monte Cox: [https://ibroresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/IBRO82.18-23.pdf]
			*"Joe Gans, The Old Master: Was He the Greatest of Them All?" by Monte Cox: [https://ibroresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/IBRO83.18-30.pdf]
			*"First Fight: Joe Gans vs. 'Terrible' Terry McGovern" by Joel Levin & Mitch Levin: [https://ibroresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ibro-journal-52.10-21.pdf]
			*Gans Centennial Events in Baltimore: [https://ibroresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IBRO107.57-59.pdf]

	----		----

	==Professional ~~record~~==		==Professional Record==
	'''Championship record'''		'''Championship record'''
	*15 opponents (9 by KO) beaten in World Lightweight Title fights.		*15 opponents (9 by KO) beaten in World Lightweight Title fights.
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	</table>		</table>

	A bout that is often listed on Joe Gans' record actually belongs to [[Shorty Gans]] of Hartford, CT.:		A bout that is often listed on Joe Gans's record actually belongs to [[Shorty Gans]] of Hartford, CT.:

	<table border="1" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="0">		<table border="1" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="0">
	<tr bgcolor="pink"><td>1902-09-25</td><td>Harry Duffy</td><td>National A.C., New Britain, Connecticut, United States</td><td>W-KO2</td></tr>		<tr bgcolor="pink"><td>1902-09-25</td><td>Harry Duffy</td><td>National A.C., New Britain, Connecticut, United States</td><td>W-KO2</td></tr>
	</table>		</table>


	{{DEFAULTSORT:Gans, Joe}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Gans, Joe}}
	[[Category:African American Boxers]]		[[Category:African American Boxers]]

Artur128: /* Little-known facts */

2020-07-22T12:32:38Z

Little-known facts

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:32, 22 July 2020
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	----		----

			==Professional record==
			'''Championship record'''
			*15 opponents (9 by KO) beaten in World Lightweight Title fights.

	==Unconfirmed Bouts & Exhibitions==		==Unconfirmed Bouts & Exhibitions==

Mthompson95 at 20:56, 1 November 2017

2017-11-01T20:56:50Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:56, 1 November 2017
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	'''Official Web site:''' [http://www.joegans.com/]<br>		'''Official Web site:''' [http://www.joegans.com/]<br>
	Contemporary Obituary: [http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85066387/1910-08-11/ed-1/seq-11/]		Contemporary Obituary: [http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85066387/1910-08-11/ed-1/seq-11/]

			Great Uncle of [[Tevin Farmer]]

	<br clear=all>		<br clear=all>

AntonS at 04:50, 13 March 2017

2017-03-13T04:50:31Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:50, 13 March 2017
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	[[file:Joe Gans.jpg\|left\|thumb\|~~200px~~\|Joe Gans]]		[[file:Joe Gans.jpg\|left\|thumb\|250px\|Joe Gans]]
	[[file:Ibhof-logo.jpg\|thumb\|right\|Class of 1990<br>Old Timer Category<br>Hall of Fame bio:[http://www.ibhof.com/pages/about/inductees/oldtimer/gans.html click]]]		[[file:Ibhof-logo.jpg\|thumb\|right\|Class of 1990<br>Old Timer Category<br>Hall of Fame bio:[http://www.ibhof.com/pages/about/inductees/oldtimer/gans.html click]]]
	[[File:WBHF Logo.jpg\|right\|thumb\|200px\|World Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee]]		[[File:WBHF Logo.jpg\|right\|thumb\|200px\|World Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee]]

Ric: contemporary obituary linked

2013-08-09T03:36:36Z

contemporary obituary linked

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:36, 9 August 2013
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	'''Manager''': [[Al Herford]]<br>		'''Manager''': [[Al Herford]]<br>
	'''[[:Category:Joe Gans Gallery\|Joe Gans Gallery]]'''<br>		'''[[:Category:Joe Gans Gallery\|Joe Gans Gallery]]'''<br>
	'''Official Web site:''' [http://www.joegans.com/]		'''Official Web site:''' [http://www.joegans.com/]<br>
			Contemporary Obituary: [http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85066387/1910-08-11/ed-1/seq-11/]

	<br clear=all>		<br clear=all>

Ric: cleaned-up some more

2011-08-06T19:30:41Z

cleaned-up some more

@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 Gans is listed among the ''The Ring'' magazine's list of [[The 100 Greatest Punchers of All-Time!|100 greatest punchers]] of all time and is generally considered to be one of the greatest boxers of all time, pound-for-pound .  Perhaps, the most fitting testament to Gans's greatness as a fighter is the esteem in which he was held by other all time greats.  For example, Sam Langford deemed him the greatest boxer of all time{{fact}};  [[Benny Leonard]], who is generally considered the next best lightweight in history, idolized Gans{{fact}}; and [[Bob Fitzsimmons]]--the first of only two fighters in history to capture undisputed, lineal world titles in three of boxing's eight traditional [[weight divisions]]--called Gans the cleverest fighter he'd ever seen{{fact}}. [[Abe Attell]] gave his opinion that "Joe Gans was the greatest lightweight that ever entered a ring. In his prime no fighter of his weight was his equal." ''Baltimore American'', August 15, 1910.
 ==Unconfirmed Bouts & Exhibitions==
@@ Line 47: / Line 63: @@
 Several bouts (marked in green) from the above list were mentioned by Gans himself in one interview, but without dates or exact results:
-:"The first time I fought it was with David Armstrong. The fight took place on Bond street and the purse was $2.80. I won and got $1.40. My next fight was near the Lexington market with D. Coates. I put him out and got $8. Then I fought David Horn at the Crib Club, which was being run by the Neptune Boat Club. There was about $1,200 in the house. The police interfered, but I got $15. The rest of my fights, which number over 150, have been recorded."
+:"The first time I fought it was with David Armstrong. The fight took place on Bond street and the purse was $2.80. I won and got $1.40. My next fight was near the Lexington market with D. Coates. I put him out and got $8. Then I fought David Horn at the Crib Club, which was being run by the Neptune Boat Club. There was about $1,200 in the house. The police interfered, but I got $15. The rest of my fights, which number over 150, have been recorded." ''Baltimore Sun'', November 7, 1898
 Two fights below could not be confirmed using either ''Baltimore Sun'' or ''Washington Post'', and are possibly duplicates of other fights between Gans and Wilson.
@@ Line 58: / Line 73: @@
 Gans had had one catch-as-catch-can wrestling match with Joseph Neal, on <u>April 15, 1895</u>, at Front Street Theatre, Baltimore:
-:"The Eureka Club's opening event was a wrestling match, catch-as-catch-can, between Joseph Gans and Joseph Neal. Gans is a Canton man and Neal an East Baltimorean. Neal was the bigger. Each got a fall, and then they killed time during the third bout. Finally the referee, Mr. George Mantz, declared the bout a draw, much to the relief of the spectators."
+:"The Eureka Club's opening event was a wrestling match, catch-as-catch-can, between Joseph Gans and Joseph Neal. Gans is a Canton man and Neal an East Baltimorean. Neal was the bigger. Each got a fall, and then they killed time during the third bout. Finally the referee, Mr. George Mantz, declared the bout a draw, much to the relief of the spectators." ''Baltimore Sun'', April 16, 1895
 Another bout that appears on some versions of Gans's record:
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 <tr bgcolor="pink"><td>1902-09-25</td><td>Harry Duffy</td><td>National A.C., New Britain, Connecticut, United States</td><td>W-KO2</td></tr>
 </table>
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Gans, Joe}}
 [[Category:African American Boxers]]

Ric: cleaned-up

2011-08-06T19:24:38Z

cleaned-up

Show changes

Ric: WBHF icon added

2010-05-29T14:28:47Z

WBHF icon added

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:28, 29 May 2010
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	[[file:Joe Gans.jpg\|left\|thumb\|200px\|Joe Gans]]		[[file:Joe Gans.jpg\|left\|thumb\|200px\|Joe Gans]]
	[[file:Ibhof-logo.jpg\|thumb\|right\|Class of 1990<br>Old Timer Category<br>Hall of Fame bio:[http://www.ibhof.com/pages/about/inductees/oldtimer/gans.html click]]]		[[file:Ibhof-logo.jpg\|thumb\|right\|Class of 1990<br>Old Timer Category<br>Hall of Fame bio:[http://www.ibhof.com/pages/about/inductees/oldtimer/gans.html click]]]
			[[File:WBHF Logo.jpg\|right\|thumb\|200px\|World Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee]]
	<boxer>009026</boxer>		<boxer>009026</boxer>
	'''Division''': Lightweight<br>		'''Division''': Lightweight<br>

Delisa: /* Miscellaneous */

2009-06-16T17:22:38Z

Miscellaneous

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:22, 16 June 2009
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	* Another [[:Image:Gans.Joe.jpg\|Photo]]; [[:Image:Gans.Joe2.jpg\|Photo #2]];		* Another [[:Image:Gans.Joe.jpg\|Photo]]; [[:Image:Gans.Joe2.jpg\|Photo #2]];
	* First African-American world champion.
	* Gans is also reported as having been born Joseph Saifuss Butts and taking the surname of one Maria Gant when adopted by her at an early age; media in turn mistaking Gant for ''Gans''. [http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/speccol/sc5600/sc5604/html/november.html Maryland State Archives] This may indeed be true, as Gans' name was spelled 'Gant' or 'Gantz' in ''Baltimore Sun'' in 1893 and early 1894.		* Gans is also reported as having been born Joseph Saifuss Butts and taking the surname of one Maria Gant when adopted by her at an early age; media in turn mistaking Gant for ''Gans''. [http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/speccol/sc5600/sc5604/html/november.html Maryland State Archives] This may indeed be true, as Gans' name was spelled 'Gant' or 'Gantz' in ''Baltimore Sun'' in 1893 and early 1894.
	* Gans died of tuberculosis in Baltimore.		* Gans died of tuberculosis in Baltimore.
	* He inspired countless boxers, many of whom adopted his name: [[Baby Joe Gans]], [[Italian Joe Gans]], [[Dago Joe Gans]], etc.		* He inspired countless boxers, many of whom adopted his name: [[Baby Joe Gans]], [[Italian Joe Gans]], [[Dago Joe Gans]], etc.
	* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=8253 Find a Grave]		* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=8253 Find a Grave]


	==Little-known facts==		==Little-known facts==

Rowdytimothy: add ibhof link and logo

2009-03-17T22:40:57Z

add ibhof link and logo

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:40, 17 March 2009
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	[[file:Joe Gans.jpg\|left\|~~250px~~\|Joe Gans]]		[[file:Joe Gans.jpg\|left\|thumb\|200px\|Joe Gans]]
			[[file:Ibhof-logo.jpg\|thumb\|right\|Class of 1990<br>Old Timer Category<br>Hall of Fame bio:[http://www.ibhof.com/pages/about/inductees/oldtimer/gans.html click]]]
	<boxer>009026</boxer>		<boxer>009026</boxer>
	'''Division''': Lightweight<br>		'''Division''': Lightweight<br>
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	::''(Philadelphia Inquirer, April 10, 1900)''		::''(Philadelphia Inquirer, April 10, 1900)''


	~~==Categories==~~

	{{DEFAULTSORT:Gans, Joe}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Gans, Joe}}

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:50, 13 March 2017
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	[[file:Joe Gans.jpg\|left\|thumb\|~~200px~~\|Joe Gans]]		[[file:Joe Gans.jpg\|left\|thumb\|250px\|Joe Gans]]
	[[file:Ibhof-logo.jpg\|thumb\|right\|Class of 1990<br>Old Timer Category<br>Hall of Fame bio:[http://www.ibhof.com/pages/about/inductees/oldtimer/gans.html click]]]		[[file:Ibhof-logo.jpg\|thumb\|right\|Class of 1990<br>Old Timer Category<br>Hall of Fame bio:[http://www.ibhof.com/pages/about/inductees/oldtimer/gans.html click]]]
	[[File:WBHF Logo.jpg\|right\|thumb\|200px\|World Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee]]		[[File:WBHF Logo.jpg\|right\|thumb\|200px\|World Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee]]