Born
James Edward Britt
Died
January 21, 1940(1940-01-21) (aged 60)
Nationality
Statistics
Weight(s)
Boxing record
Total fights
23
Wins
13
Wins by KO
4
Losses
7
Draws
3
Jimmy Britt (October 5, 1879, in San Francisco, California – January 21, 1940) was a boxer from 1902 to 1909. He fought Joe Gans twice for the World lightweight title but lost both bouts. In a career spanning 23 bouts, Britt met 6 different Hall of Famers for a combined total of 10 fights; going 4-4-2. After retiring from boxing in 1909, Britt toured the United States as a vaudeville performer, then later worked as a WPA superintendent. He died of a heart attack in his San Francisco home on January 21, 1940, and was interred at Holy Cross Cemetery (Colma, California).[1] Britt was elected to the Ring Magazine hall of fame in 1976.
In 1901 Jimmy Britt, who was the 135Ib Champion of the Pacific Coast, boxed three rounds with World Featherweight champion Terry McGovern. In this encounter Britt was described as boxing "exceedingly well" by The San Francisco Call.[2]
In 18 February 1902 Jimmy Britt had his professional debut in a 15-round scheduled fight against Toby Irwin[3] Britt outclassed his opponent over the 15 rounds to win on points.[4] On 19 May 1902, Britt fought former Lightweight Champion Kid Lavigne. Britt outboxed Lavigne throughout the contest until Kid Lavigne's brother stopped the contest to prevent him from taking any more punishment. Lavigne was discovered to have broken bones in his left forearm after the fight, near where they had broken previously.[5]
Britt then fought former Featherweight and Lightweight Champion Frank Erne on November 26, 1902. Britt knocked out his Swiss opponent in the seventh round; he hurt his opponent with a left to the body early in the round, and after sending him down multiple times, stopped him with a left to the stomach. The San Francisco Call described Britt as finishing the fight "unscathed", with Erne "unable to get in an effective blow", while Frank Erne showed all the signs of his punishment, with his nose, lips, and under his left eye swollen.[6]
Britt then fought Young Corbett II, winning a hard-fought decision over 20 rounds. Britt's face was covered in blood in the fifth round and was staggered in the 10th round, while Corbett was helping in the eighth round, and staggered Corbett in the 15th round. However, Britt took over after the 16th round. The audience was described as not knowing which way the decision would go, until referee Eddie Graney gave it to Jimmy Britt.[7]
On 31 October 1904, Britt challenged World Lightweight Champion Joe Gans. The San Francisco Call said that "Gans was outboxed, outfought, and outgamed" by Britt. Britt fought on the offensive in the first round, but the punching was light in this round. The second round saw both fighting aggressively and throwing hard shots. The third round saw Britt take the lead with a straight right with the body early seriously hurting Gans. In the fourth round, Britt knocked Gans down, and Gans went down twice more, with Britt hitting Gans while still on the ground. In the fifth round, Britt sent Gans back, before the latter once again went down. Britt struck Gans as he came up and was disqualified. The furious Britt then attacked the referee Eddie Graney[8]
On 20 December 1904, Britt fought his first of four fights with Battling Nelson. Britt won a decision after 20 rounds, outboxing Nelson despite being badly hurt multiple times by the Durable Dane, by keeping the fight at range and using his superior boxing science.[9]
Nelson and Britt would once again fight on 9 September 1905. R. A. Smyth said Britt did not fight with his usual cleverness, and in the 18th round Nelson caught Britt with a light left, and then a right that sent Britt down until he was counted out.[10]
Their third fight was held on 31 July 1907, with Britt winning another decision over the 20 rounds.[11] The referee, Jack Welsh, said that Nelson only won two of the 20 rounds, and that "the rest of the time Britt outclassed him at every point".[12]
Joe Gans announced his challenge to the winner of the third fight between Battling Nelson and Jimmy Britt in a speech before that fight.[11] On 9 September 1907, Joe Gans and Jimmy Britt would once again fight for the World Lightweight Championship, however Britt was unable to repeat his success of the first fight. R. A. Smyth said, "Britt was hopelessly outclassed from the second round until the end came at the close of the fifth round." Britt quit after the end of the fifth round with an injury.[13] Britt was examined by multiple physicians, three of which diagnosed a fractured ulna, while Gans' physician said it was bruised.[14]
Jimmy Britt would then fight a 10-round no-decision contest with Battling Nelson on 3 March 1908, with newspapers differing as to who was better.[15]
Britt would then be stopped in the sixth round by Packey McFarland on 11 April 1908. After this he would have three fights with Johnny Summers in the United Kingdom, winning the first on decision in 1908, before losing a decision, and being knocked out in 1909.[15]
23 fights
13 wins
7 losses
By knockout
4
4
By decision
9
3
Draws
1
2
All Newspaper decisions are regarded as “no decision” bouts as they have “resulted in neither boxer winning or losing, and would therefore not count as part of their official fight record."
No.
Result
Record
Opponent
Type
Round, time
Date
Location
Notes
23
Loss
13–7–1 (2)
KO
9 (20)
1909-07-31
Memorial Ground, West Ham, London
22
Loss
13–6–1 (2)
PTS
20
1909-02-22
National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London
21
Win
13–5–1 (2)
PTS
10
1908-11-02
20
Loss
12–5–1 (2)
TKO
6 (20)
1908-04-11
Mission Street Arena, Colma, California
19
Draw
12–4–1 (2)
NWS
10
1908-03-03
Naud Junction Pavilion, Los Angeles, California
Newspaper Decision
18
Loss
12–4–1 (1)
TKO
6 (20)
1907-09-09
Recreation Park, San Francisco, California
For world lightweight title
17
Win
12–3–1 (1)
PTS
20
1907-07-31
Auditorium Rink, Los Angeles, California
Won world 'white' lightweight title
16
Draw
11–3–1 (1)
NWS
10
1906-05-28
Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Newspaper Decision
15
Loss
11–3–1
KO
18 (20)
1905-09-09
Mission Street Arena, Colma, California
Lost world 'white' lightweight title
14
Win
11–2–1
Kid Sullivan
PTS
20
1905-07-21
Woodward's Pavilion, San Francisco, California
Retained world 'white' lightweight title
13
Win
10–2–1
Jabez White
TKO
20 (20)
1905-05-05
Woodward's Pavilion, San Francisco, California
Retained world 'white' lightweight title
12
Win
9–2–1
PTS
20
1904-12-20
Mechanic's Pavilion, San Francisco, California
Won vacant world 'white' lightweight title
11
Loss
8–2–1
DQ
5 (20)
1904-10-31
Recreation Park, San Francisco, California
10
Win
8–1–1
PTS
20
1904-03-25
Woodward's Pavilion, San Francisco, California
Won world featherweight title;
At 130lbs
9
Win
7–1–1
Martin Canole
PTS
25
1903-11-20
Colma A.C, Colma, California
Retained world 'white' lightweight title
8
Win
6–1–1
Charley Sieger
PTS
20
1903-11-10
Mechanic's Pavilion, San Francisco, California
Retained world 'white' lightweight title
7
Draw
5–1–1
Jack O'Keefe
PTS
20
1903-06-13
Old Baseball Park, Butte, Montana
Retained world 'white' lightweight title
6
Win
5–1
Willie Fitzgerald
PTS
20
1903-04-28
Mechanic's Pavilion, San Francisco, California
Retained world 'white' lightweight title
5
Loss
4–1
Jack O'Keefe
DQ
6 (20)
1903-03-09
Pastime A.C., Portland, Oregon
Retained world 'white' lightweight title
O'Keefe received no recognition as he had been KO'd by the last punch
4
Win
4–0
Frank Erne
KO
7 (20)
1902-11-26
Mechanic's Pavilion, San Francisco, California
Won vacant 'white' lightweight title
3
Win
3–0
TKO
8 (20)
1902-05-29
Woodward's Pavilion, San Francisco, California
2
Win
2–0
Tim Hegarty
KO
8
1902-02-28
Mechanic's Pavilion, San Francisco, California
1
Win
1–0
Toby Irwin
PTS
15
1902-02-18
Acme A.C., Oakland, California
World White Lightweight Champion
June 24, 1902 – September 9, 1905
World White Lightweight Champion
July 31, 1907 – September 9, 1909
Lost bid for Undisputed Title
Title Defunct
