Billy Madden
Encyclopedia
Billy Madden was a champion American pugilist, trainer, and manager.
Billy Madden was born on December 10, 1852, London England of Irish immigrant parents, and died February 22, 1918 in White Plains, New York
after a protracted illness. Although some sources report that he came to the US as a boxer, he would have been in his very early teens at that time.
As a welter weight pugilist he won numerous documented fights in the United States and was involved in numerous exhibition matches ( in the US and abroad) with notable fighters such as Sullivan, McAuliffe
, and Kilrain.
Billy Madden was probably the best known of the late 19th Century American boxing managers. He was reportedly the first to use modern advertising techniques and campaigns to create laudable careers for the pugilists he managed. He was credited with discovering and was indeed the manager of John L. Sullivan
, as well as such other noteworthy fighters as Charlie Mitchell, "Nonpariel" Jack Dempsey
, Jake Kilrain
, McAuliffe, Peter Maher
, among others.
Reportedly, he coined the term "Knock-Out". His international reputation was for being "on the level" and he was highly respected in sporting circles. His friendship with sports writer and lawman Bat Masterson
was of long standing. Billy Madden's obituary in the New York Times of February 22, 1918 notes that Madden had a versatile career: as well as his sports experience, he was a candidate for the New York State Legislature from the fifth district of Brooklyn in 1906, and wanted to be known as a self-made man.
Billy Madden was inducted, as a Boxing Manager, into the Bare Knuckles Boxing Hall of Fame in 2010.
Billy Madden was born on December 10, 1852, London England of Irish immigrant parents, and died February 22, 1918 in White Plains, New York
White Plains, New York
White Plains is a city and the county seat of Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located in south-central Westchester, about east of the Hudson River and northwest of Long Island Sound...
after a protracted illness. Although some sources report that he came to the US as a boxer, he would have been in his very early teens at that time.
As a welter weight pugilist he won numerous documented fights in the United States and was involved in numerous exhibition matches ( in the US and abroad) with notable fighters such as Sullivan, McAuliffe
McAuliffe
- Other meanings :* McAuliffe , a lunar crater named after astronaut Christa McAuliffe* 3352 McAuliffe, an asteroid named after astronaut Christa McAuliffe* Christa McAuliffe Fellowship Program...
, and Kilrain.
Billy Madden was probably the best known of the late 19th Century American boxing managers. He was reportedly the first to use modern advertising techniques and campaigns to create laudable careers for the pugilists he managed. He was credited with discovering and was indeed the manager of John L. Sullivan
John L. Sullivan
John Lawrence Sullivan , also known as the Boston Strong Boy, was recognized as the first heavyweight champion of gloved boxing from February 7, 1881 to 1892, and is generally recognized as the last heavyweight champion of bare-knuckle boxing under the London Prize Ring rules...
, as well as such other noteworthy fighters as Charlie Mitchell, "Nonpariel" Jack Dempsey
Jack Dempsey
William Harrison "Jack" Dempsey was an American boxer who held the world heavyweight title from 1919 to 1926. Dempsey's aggressive style and exceptional punching power made him one of the most popular boxers in history. Many of his fights set financial and attendance records, including the first...
, Jake Kilrain
Jake Kilrain
Jake Kilrain was the popular name of John Joseph Killion, a famous bare knuckle fighter and glove boxer of the 1880s.- Early life :...
, McAuliffe, Peter Maher
Peter Maher
Peter Kevin Maher is a former Canadian marathon runner who competed mainly in the 1990s. He was a resident of Thornhill, a suburb of Toronto. He was credited for a brief period with the world record time for 25km. Maher represented Canada in the Olympic men's marathons in Seoul, 1988 and...
, among others.
Reportedly, he coined the term "Knock-Out". His international reputation was for being "on the level" and he was highly respected in sporting circles. His friendship with sports writer and lawman Bat Masterson
Bat Masterson
William Barclay "Bat" Masterson was a figure of the American Old West known as a buffalo hunter, U.S. Marshal and Army scout, avid fisherman, gambler, frontier lawman, and sports editor and columnist for the New York Morning Telegraph...
was of long standing. Billy Madden's obituary in the New York Times of February 22, 1918 notes that Madden had a versatile career: as well as his sports experience, he was a candidate for the New York State Legislature from the fifth district of Brooklyn in 1906, and wanted to be known as a self-made man.
Billy Madden was inducted, as a Boxing Manager, into the Bare Knuckles Boxing Hall of Fame in 2010.
Sources
- http://groups.google.com/group/alt.obituaries/browse_thread/thread/d59f332f92165537/216049e61a7912e6?hl=en&lnk=gst&q=billy+madden#216049e61a7912e6
- http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9806E5DC113FE433A25751C2A9649C946996D6CF
- http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/madden-billy.htm
- Boston's Boxing Heritage: Prizefighting from 1882-1955 by Kevin Smith
- The Manly Art: Bare-KnuckleBare-knuckleBare-knuckle means without gloves, bandages or any other protection for and/or dangerous 'arming' of the knuckles, a larger part or even the whole hand...
Prize FightingBoxingBoxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
in America by Elliott Gorn - John L Sullivan and His America (Sport and Society) by Michael T. Isenberg
- http://bareknuckleboxinghalloffame.com/