Bill Brennan (boxer)
| Bill Brennan | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Wilhelm Schenck |
| Nickname(s) | K.O. Bill Brennan Battling Bill the Bartender |
| Rated at | Heavyweight |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Nationality | American |
| Born |
June 23, 1893 Louisville, Kentucky |
| Died | June 15, 1924 (aged 30) New York City |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 126 |
| Wins | 74 |
| Wins by KO | 68 |
| Losses | 10 |
| Draws | 42 |
| No contests | 0 |
Bill Brennan (June 23, 1893 – June 15, 1924) was an American boxer who fought and lost to World Heavyweight Champion Jack Dempsey in a well attended title fight that ended in a twelfth-round knockout on December 14, 1920 in Madison Square Garden. He lost to Dempsey for the first time in a non-title fight on February 5, 1918 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in a sixth-round technical knockout.
He began fighting under the name Bill Shanks, close to his actual name, and knocked out 11 of his first 12 opponents, fighting in the Midwest and then the New York City area. He had a strong punch and an exceptional knockout percentage. Brennan's manager was the great Leo P. Flynn and his trainers included Dia Dollings and Frank Cline.
Brennan was born on June 23, 1893 in Louisville, Kentucky. Though many sources of his time stated he was born in County Mayo, Ireland or Chicago, these are fabrications he perpetuated to bolster the myth of his Irish ancestry. He was, in fact, of German ancestry. He did live in the Chicago area during his early boxing career before moving to Manhattan where the boxing was more lucrative, and there were still plenty of Irish fans who would flock to see who they assumed was a native son.
Between May 1913 through May 1916 Brennan started professional boxing primarily in the New York area. With a powerful punch, he won an impressive 11 of his first fifteen fights by knockout losing only once in his first bout in Wisconsin. Brennan worked as a Bartender being fights earning him the nickname "Battling Bill the Bartender".
According to one source, Brennan achieved a third-round knockout of Jack Cameron in 1914, and two ten-round newspaper decisions from Marty Cutler on April 13 and July 2, 1914 in Aurora, Illinois. Cutler fought some talented opposition in his career including Jack Johnson, Sam Langford, and Jack Dillon, though his record was poor.
On January 22, 1916, he knocked out 6' 1" heavyweight George Rodel in the seventh round at the Clermont Rink in Brooklyn. On March 20, 1916, Brennan knocked out Brooklyn-born Italian boxer Al Benedict in the second round at the Military Athletic Club in Brooklyn, New York. Both were important wins that brought him recognition in his early career.
On May 1, 1916, Brennan achieved a second-round knockout of 6 foot, Buffalo native George "One Round" Davis, a competent heavyweight, in Rochester, New York. On May 4, 1916, he TKO'd Rodel in the third round at the same location.
On May 16, 1916, Brennan achieved a sixth-round technical knockout of Al Williams at the Pioneer Sporting Club in New York City.
On May 23, 1916, he knocked out Tony Ross in the eighth round. Ross would meet some of the greatest heavyweights of his day, including a heavyweight title bout with Black boxing great Jack Johnson on June 30, 1919.
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