Jack Blackburn
| Jack Blackburn | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Charles Henry Blackburn |
| Rated at |
Welterweight Lightweight |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
| Nationality |
 American
|
| Born |
May 20, 1883 Versailles, Kentucky |
| Died | April 24, 1942 (aged 59) Chicago, Illinois |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 166 |
| Wins | 113 |
| Wins by KO | 32 |
| Losses | 25 |
| Draws | 13 |
| No contests | 5 |
Charles Henry "Jack" Blackburn (May 20, 1883 – April 24, 1942) was an American boxer and boxing trainer. Fighting in the first half of his career as a lightweight and later a welterweight, he was known for an exceptional defense and fought many men above his weight class, including six bouts with the great Sam Langford. He fought Joe Gans three times in no-decision bouts, defeating him once according to newspaper accounts and made good showings against Harry Lewis, Philadelphia Jack O'Brien, and Harry Greb. He found most of his fame training 1937 World Heavyweight Champion Joe Louis, but had a significant role in training 1926 Lightweight Champion Sammy Mandell. He also helped to train World Bantamweight Champion Bud Taylor and World Light-Heavyweight Champion John Henry Lewis.
Blackburn was born the son of a Minister on May 20, 1883 in Versailles, Kentucky. At the age of ten he moved to Indiana, where he was raised in Indianapolis and Terra Haute. In one of his earliest bouts, according to the Pittsburgh Courier, he knocked out Eddie Gardner, brother of the better known Oscar, in eleven rounds in 1899. Frank Sutton was his trainer for a large portion of his career after Blackburn came to Pittsburgh to box around 1903. At one time Sutton operated a boxing club on Ross Street in Pittsburgh, though Blackburn did much of his mid-career boxing in Philadelphia.
Blackburn fought 147 recorded professional fights, often against considerably heavier opponents, though many of his fights were never recorded. He fought notable boxing legends Joe Gans, Sam Langford, Philadelphia Jack O'Brien, Panama Joe Gans, and Harry Greb and finished with a final record omitting newspaper decisions of 99-26-19. After retiring from boxing around 1923 he became a trainer, most notably of legendary heavyweight champion Joe Louis.
Blackburn met Black Philadelphia boxer Dave Holly on at least five occasions. He first met Holly on May 4, 1903 drawing with him in a newspaper decision at the Sports Club in Philadelphia. Blackburn likely lost to Holly in a close six-round newspaper decision on November 21, 1903 at the National Athletic Club in Philadelphia. On August 26, 1904, three Philadelphia newspapers considered Blackburn the victor over Holly in a close six-round match at the Manhattan Athletic Club in Philadelphia. On January 20, 1905, the two met again in a no-decision bout in Philadelphia.
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