Denver Ed Martin
| Denver Ed Martin | |
|---|---|
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| Statistics | |
| Real name | Ed Martin |
| Nickname(s) | The Colorado Giant |
| Weight(s) | Heavyweight |
| Height | 6 ft 3.5 in (1.92 m) |
| Nationality | American |
| Born |
September 10, 1881 Denver, Colorado |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 35 |
| Wins | 23 |
| Wins by KO | 17 |
| Losses | 9 |
| Draws | 3 |
Ed "Denver Ed" Martin (born September 10, 1881) was an African American boxer who was the World Colored Heavyweight Champion from 24 February 1902, when he beat Frank Childs, until 5 February 1903, when he lost his title to Jack Johnson, the only colored heavyweight champion (and first African American) to win the world's heavyweight championship.
Known as "Denver Ed Martin" and "The Colorado Giant", Martin was born in Denver on September 10, 1881. His height was listed as 6 feet 3 1⁄2 inches (1.918 m), while some sources report that he was 6' 6" or 6' 6½" tall.
Martin was a strong boxer with renowned footwork who was a strong puncher.
Martin made his debut against former colored heavyweight champ Bob Armstrong on 6 June 1899 at the Lenox Athletic Club in New York City and was knocked out in the second round. He became the colored heavyweight champ when he beat title-holder Frank Childs in a bout in Chicago on 25 February 1902, out-pointing the champ in a six-round contest.
He defended the colored heavyweight title against Armstrong at the Crystal Palace in London on 25 July 1902. According to the Associated Press coverage of the fight:
"Martin proved the cleverer and never gave his opponent a chance, being declared an easy winner on points at the close of the fifteenth round; Martin, it is announced, will challenge the winner of the Jeffries-Fitzsimmons fight in San Francsico."
World heavyweight champ James J. Jeffries, who had fought Armstrong and other African American boxers on the way up through the ranks, maintained the color bar erected by bare-knuckles champ John L. Sullivan, though Martin was not given a title shot. Instead, he met Armstrong for a rematch in Philadelphia on 10 December. According to the Daily Gazette and Bulletin:
"The bout was fast from the start and both men narrowly escaped a knockout. The bell saved Armstrong in the third and fifth and Martin was floored six times in the fourth round."
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