Red Burman
Encyclopedia
For the judge who shares the same birth-name, see Clarence H. Burns
.
James Clarence 'Red' Burman (born James Clarence Burns, March 18, 1915-January 25, 1996) was an American boxer in the Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight divisions. During the 1940s
, he was a top rated contender who challenged Joe Louis
for the world Heavyweight title.
. On April 28, 1930, he made his professional boxing debut, losing to Mickey Nielson by a 4 round decision at the 104th regiment Armory, Baltimore.
Burman had his first victory on May 9, 1930, when he beat Young Nelson by a decision in four at the Arena, Salisbury, Maryland
. On January 2, 1934, he faced Ken Overlin
, who outpointed him over 8 rounds at Portner's Arena, Alexandria, Virginia
.
After losing to Bob Turner by a third round knockout on October 29, 1934 in Newport News, Virginia
, Burman tallied off 12 wins in a row, including avenging the loss to Turner by an eighth round knockout on February 4, 1935, at Carlin's Park
in Baltimore. Burman fought at Oriole Park
, Yankee Stadium
and Comiskey Park
during this period. He beat Billy Ketchel, brother of Stanley Ketchel
, and Steve Dudas, among others, during that streak.
Burman lost to Dudas in a rematch, then followed up with 14 more victories in a row. Included among his victims were Ketchel two more times, the dangerous Buddy Knox (29-2 coming into their fight) and Dutch Weimer. On October 2, 1936, he faced fellow Louis title challenger John Henry Lewis
, losing to the future world Light Heavyweight Champion by a 2nd round knockout at the Chicago Stadium
in Chicago, Illinois.
Burman then faced Eduardo Primo, beating him by a knockout in 3 rounds. On April 21, 1937, Burman upset until then undefeated Gus Dorazio by a ten round decision at the Naval Armory in Detroit, Michigan
. He then defeated 17-2 Eddie Blunt but lost to 14-1 Alberto Santiago Lovell at Gilmore Stadium
in Los Angeles
.
On February 2, 1938, Burman ascended to the Heavyweight top ten rankings by defeating Johnny Risko, another top contender of the era. In 1939, he split two fights with Welshman Tommy Farr
, winning the first in New York and losing the second one in London (Burman had previously fought internationally, in Mexico
). Both fights were decision wins for the victor.
A third fight with Steve Dudas took place on August 26, 1940 and Burman won by ten rounds decision at Baltimore. Then, on October 21, also at Baltimore, Burman faced Tony Musto. The winner would receive a title shot at Joe Louis. In what the Associated Press
called "a savage 10-round scrap" Burman came out victorious by decision, in a bout in which both contestants bled.
in New York City. The referee for the bout, contested for the world Heavyweight title, was Frank Fullam. Burman dropped Louis out of the ring with a right hook in round three , but he was stopped at 2:49 of the fifth round by the defending champion, befallen by a Louis body blow.
and Joey Maxim
, both by ten round decisions. After losing by a ninth round knockout to Tami Mauriello on July 23, 1942 at the Madison Square Garden, and, later on, on October 26 of the same year to Alfred Brown by a fifth round knockout at Baltimore, Burman retired, with a record of 78 wins, 22 losses and 3 draws in 103 professional boxing bouts, 33 wins by way of knockout.
, 1941 issue of Ring Magazine.
Clarence H. Burns
For the boxer named Clarence Burns, see Red Burman.Clarence H. "Du" Burns was a Democratic politician and mayor of Baltimore, Maryland in 1987....
.
James Clarence 'Red' Burman (born James Clarence Burns, March 18, 1915-January 25, 1996) was an American boxer in the Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight divisions. During the 1940s
1940s
File:1940s decade montage.png|Above title bar: events which happened during World War II : From left to right: Troops in an LCVP landing craft approaching "Omaha" Beach on "D-Day"; Adolf Hitler visits Paris, soon after the Battle of France; The Holocaust occurred during the war as Nazi Germany...
, he was a top rated contender who challenged Joe Louis
Joe Louis
Joseph Louis Barrow , better known as Joe Louis, was the world heavyweight boxing champion from 1937 to 1949. He is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time...
for the world Heavyweight title.
Early Life
Clarence Burns was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He lived there his entire life. He changed his ring name to Red Burman in 1936.Boxing career
Red Burman fought under the names "K.O. Burns" or "Kayo Burns" and under his real name of Clarence Burns, until sometime in 1936. Entering that year, Burman had engaged in 44 professional bouts, sporting a record of 32 wins, 11 losses and 1 draw (tie), 7 wins by knockout. Burman was a protege of former world Heavyweight Champion Jack DempseyJack 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...
. On April 28, 1930, he made his professional boxing debut, losing to Mickey Nielson by a 4 round decision at the 104th regiment Armory, Baltimore.
Burman had his first victory on May 9, 1930, when he beat Young Nelson by a decision in four at the Arena, Salisbury, Maryland
Salisbury, Maryland
-Demographics:Salisbury is the principal city of the Salisbury-Ocean Pines CSA, a Combined Statistical Area that includes the Salisbury metropolitan area and the Ocean Pines micropolitan area , which had a combined population of 176,657 at the 2010 census.As of the census of 2000, there were...
. On January 2, 1934, he faced Ken Overlin
Ken Overlin
Ken Overlin , was an American-born middleweight boxer who fought professionally from 1931 to 1944, compiling a record of 131 wins , 18 losses, and 9 draws....
, who outpointed him over 8 rounds at Portner's Arena, Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
.
After losing to Bob Turner by a third round knockout on October 29, 1934 in Newport News, Virginia
Newport News, Virginia
Newport News is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia. It is at the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula, on the north shore of the James River extending southeast from Skiffe's Creek along many miles of waterfront to the river's mouth at Newport News...
, Burman tallied off 12 wins in a row, including avenging the loss to Turner by an eighth round knockout on February 4, 1935, at Carlin's Park
Carlin's Park
Carlin's Park is a park in Baltimore, MD that no long exists. It was founded in 1918 by John J. Carlin. The park was noted among members of the outdoor amusement industry for the development of profitable winter operation and activities...
in Baltimore. Burman fought at Oriole Park
Oriole Park
Oriole Park is the name of several former major league and minor league baseball parks in Baltimore, Maryland.It is also half the name of the current home of the Baltimore Orioles of the American League, its full name being Oriole Park at Camden Yards....
, Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium was a stadium located in The Bronx in New York City, New York. It was the home ballpark of the New York Yankees from 1923 to 1973 and from 1976 to 2008. The stadium hosted 6,581 Yankees regular season home games during its 85-year history. It was also the former home of the New York...
and Comiskey Park
Comiskey Park
Comiskey Park was the ballpark in which the Chicago White Sox played from 1910 to 1990. It was built by Charles Comiskey after a design by Zachary Taylor Davis, and was the site of four World Series and more than 6,000 major league games...
during this period. He beat Billy Ketchel, brother of Stanley Ketchel
Stanley Ketchel
-External links:**...
, and Steve Dudas, among others, during that streak.
Burman lost to Dudas in a rematch, then followed up with 14 more victories in a row. Included among his victims were Ketchel two more times, the dangerous Buddy Knox (29-2 coming into their fight) and Dutch Weimer. On October 2, 1936, he faced fellow Louis title challenger John Henry Lewis
John Henry Lewis
John Henry Lewis was an African American boxer who was the world Light Heavyweight champion from 1935 to 1939.One interesting fact of his is that Lewis was managed by a gambler and racketeer of the 1930s: Gus Greenlee, a man who became very important to baseball's Negro Leagues as a commissioner...
, losing to the future world Light Heavyweight Champion by a 2nd round knockout at the Chicago Stadium
Chicago Stadium
The Chicago Stadium was an indoor sports arena and theater in Chicago. It opened in 1929, and closed in 1994.-History:The Stadium hosted the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL from 1929–1994 and the Chicago Bulls of the NBA from 1967–1994....
in Chicago, Illinois.
Burman then faced Eduardo Primo, beating him by a knockout in 3 rounds. On April 21, 1937, Burman upset until then undefeated Gus Dorazio by a ten round decision at the Naval Armory in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
. He then defeated 17-2 Eddie Blunt but lost to 14-1 Alberto Santiago Lovell at Gilmore Stadium
Gilmore Stadium
Gilmore Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium in Los Angeles, California. It was opened in May 1934 and demolished in 1952, when the land was used to build CBS Television City. The stadium held 18,000. It was located next to Gilmore Field...
in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
.
On February 2, 1938, Burman ascended to the Heavyweight top ten rankings by defeating Johnny Risko, another top contender of the era. In 1939, he split two fights with Welshman Tommy Farr
Tommy Farr
Thomas George Farr was one of the most famous Welsh and British boxers of all time. Born in Clydach Vale, Wales and nicknamed "the Tonypandy Terror", he became British and Empire heavyweight champion on 15 March 1937. Prior to 1936, he had boxed in the light heavyweight division in which he was...
, winning the first in New York and losing the second one in London (Burman had previously fought internationally, in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
). Both fights were decision wins for the victor.
A third fight with Steve Dudas took place on August 26, 1940 and Burman won by ten rounds decision at Baltimore. Then, on October 21, also at Baltimore, Burman faced Tony Musto. The winner would receive a title shot at Joe Louis. In what the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
called "a savage 10-round scrap" Burman came out victorious by decision, in a bout in which both contestants bled.
Fight with Joe Louis
Joe Louis was the world Heavyweight champion and 44-1 when he was challenged by Burman, 73-17-1, on January 31, 1941, at the Madison Square GardenMadison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
in New York City. The referee for the bout, contested for the world Heavyweight title, was Frank Fullam. Burman dropped Louis out of the ring with a right hook in round three , but he was stopped at 2:49 of the fifth round by the defending champion, befallen by a Louis body blow.
Later career
Burman continued boxing after the fight with Louis. His next fight was May 19, 1941 against Mike Alfano, and he won by sixth round knockout. He later beat Al Hart (16-6 coming in) by second round knockout, but lost to world Light-Heavyweight champions Melio BettinaMelio Bettina
Melio Bettina was a professional boxer.-Amateur career:Bettina won the 1935 Intercity Golden Gloves at light-heavyweight by decision over Tony Zale.-Pro career:...
and Joey Maxim
Joey Maxim
Giuseppe Antonio Berardinelli was an American boxer. He was a light heavyweight champion of the world. He took the ring-name Joey Maxim from the Maxim gun, the world's first self-acting machine gun, based on his ability to rapidly throw a large number of left jabs.-Early career:Maxim was born in...
, both by ten round decisions. After losing by a ninth round knockout to Tami Mauriello on July 23, 1942 at the Madison Square Garden, and, later on, on October 26 of the same year to Alfred Brown by a fifth round knockout at Baltimore, Burman retired, with a record of 78 wins, 22 losses and 3 draws in 103 professional boxing bouts, 33 wins by way of knockout.
Ring Magazine cover
Burman was featured on the cover of the AprilApril
April is the fourth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars, and one of four months with a length of 30 days. April was originally the second month of the Roman calendar, before January and February were added by King Numa Pompilius about 700 BC...
, 1941 issue of Ring Magazine.