Lightweight · Bare-Knuckle & Gloves (1880–1919)
Battling Nelson
"The Durable Dane"
Top 100 · #98 · 52.9 points59
Wins
19
Losses
19
Draws
38
KOs
64%
KO %
- Born
- 1882
- Died
- 1954
- Nationality
- Denmark / USA
- Career
- 1896–1917
Famed for absorbing punishment, he fought Joe Gans in a 42-round epic.
Titles & Honours
- World Lightweight Champion (1908–1910)
Career Timeline
1896–1917- Milestone
First recorded professional bout
vs Wallace Kid · W KO
- Milestone
25th recorded win
vs Sammy Maxwell · KO. Newspaper decisions excluded.
- Signature fight
vs Terry McGovern
W NWS · National A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.. Archive selection: one of the first three wins over distinct fighters profiled here, not an expert-selected signature fight.
- Title history
Title reign begins
World Lightweight Champion (1908–1910). Year from profile title history; exact title-winning bout not identified.
- Signature fight
vs Joe Gans
W KO · Mission Street Arena, Colma, California, U.S.. Archive selection: one of the first three wins over distinct fighters profiled here, not an expert-selected signature fight.
- Milestone
50th recorded win
vs Monte Dale · PTS. Newspaper decisions excluded.
- Milestone
Latest recorded bout
vs Freddie Welsh · L NWS. Not necessarily the retirement date.
Derived from the current archive and profile honours. Title-reign years are not exact bout dates; title claims are not independently verified. Signature fights use existing profile selections, or clearly labelled wins over other archived fighters when no selections exist. Year-only dates retain their original precision.
Photo Archive
1 archival photographs under their original licences.
Fight-by-Fight Record
| Date | Result | Opponent | Method | Round | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1896-09-03 | W | Wallace Kid | KO | 1 | Hammond, Indiana, U.S. |
| 1897-06-05 | W | Ole Olsen | PTS | 3 | Hegewisch, Illinois, U.S. |
| 1898-05-10 | W | Freddie Green | KO | 7 | Sioux Falls, South Dakota, U.S. |
| 1898-05-11 | W | Soldier Williams | KO | 3 | Sioux Falls, South Dakota, U.S. |
| 1899-01-01 | D | Eddie Herman | PTS | 6 | Hegewisch, Illinois, U.S. |
| 1899-04-06 | W | Eddie Penny | KO | 1 | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| 1899-05-03 | W | Bull Winters | KO | 1 | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| 1899-06-01 | W | John Smith | KO | 2 | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| 1900-08-30 | W | Charles Dougherty | KO | 1 | Star Theatre, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| 1900-09-14 | L | Joe Hedmark | PTS | 6 | Star Theatre, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| 1900-09-21 | W | Young Griffin | PTS | 6 | Orpheus A.C., Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| 1900-10-08 | W | Young Bay | PTS | 6 | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| 1900-11-02 | D | Clarence Class | PTS | 6 | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| 1900-11-15 | W | Black Griffo | KO | 3 | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| 1900-11-22 | W | Ed Burley | KO | 5 | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| 1900-12-01 | D | Danny McMahon | PTS | 4 | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| 1900-12-01 | L | Pete Boyle | DQ | 4 | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| 1900-12-07 | W | Joe Percente | DQ | 2 | Star Theatre, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| 1900-12-08 | W | Jack Martin | PTS | 4 | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| 1901-03-17 | W | Black Griffo | KO | 3 | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| 1901-04-19 | L | Mickey Riley | PTS | 6 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| 1901-05-03 | D | Charles Berry | PTS | 6 | Milwaukee Boxing Club, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| 1901-05-24 | D | Harry Fails | PTS | 10 | Rhinelander, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| 1901-11-15 | L | Joe Percente | PTS | 6 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| 1901-11-29 | L | Eddie Santry | PTS | 6 | Pyramid A.C., Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| 1901-12-02 | D | Joe Percente | PTS | 6 | Milwaukee Boxing Club, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| 1901-12-16 | W | Mike Walsh | KO | 6 | American A.C., Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| 1901-12-17 | L | Charles Berry | PTS | 6 | Badger A.C., Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| 1902-01-13 | W | Frank Colifer | KO | 5 | West Pullman, Illinois, U.S. |
| 1902-01-21 | L | Charles Berry | PTS | 8 | Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| 1902-03-13 | W | Joe Percente | PTS | 8 | Oshkosh, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| 1902-03-17 | W | Kid Ryan | KO | 5 | American A.C., Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| 1902-03-21 | W | Cyclone Johnny Thompson | PTS | 6 | Wabash A.C., Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| 1902-04-05 | W | William Rossler | KO | 1 | Harvey, Illinois, U.S. |
| 1902-04-12 | D | Danny McMahon | PTS | 6 | West Pullman, Illinois, U.S. |
| 1902-05-17 | W | Pudden Burns | PTS | 6 | Hegewisch, Illinois, U.S. |
| 1902-06-14 | D | Battling Hurley | PTS | 6 | Hammond, Indiana, U.S. |
| 1902-12-02 | W | Billy Mayfield | PTS | 10 | Hot Springs, Arkansas, U.S. |
| 1902-12-26 | W | Christy Williams | KO | 17 | Hot Springs, Arkansas, U.S. |
| 1903-01-06 | W | Sammy Maxwell | KO | 10 | Hot Springs, Arkansas, U.S. |
| 1903-03-04 | D | Adam Ryan | PTS | 15 | Capital Theater, Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. |
| 1903-04-24 | W | Cyclone Johnny Thompson | PTS | 6 | Milwaukee A.C., Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| 1903-05-22 | W | Stockings Kelly | KO | 4 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| 1903-06-16 | W | Young Scotty | PTS | 8 | Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| 1903-06-19 | D | Mickey Riley | PTS | 6 | Panorama Building, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| 1903-06-20 | W | Larry McDonald | KO | 4 | Harvey, Illinois, U.S. |
| 1903-06-27 | D | Clarence English | PTS | 15 | Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. |
| 1903-07-24 | D | Mickey Riley | PTS | 15 | Hurley, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| 1903-08-26 | L | Eddie Sterns | KO | 9 | Michigan City, Indiana, U.S. |
| 1903-10-16 | L | Charles Neary | PTS | 6 | Badger A.C., Milwaukee, U.S. |
| 1903-11-10 | W | George Memsic | PTS | 6 | Badger A.C., Milwaukee, U.S. |
| 1903-12-28 | W | Clarence English | PTS | 15 | Saint Joseph, Missouri, U.S. |
| 1904-01-16 | W | Art Simms | KO | 3 | Milwaukee A.C., Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| 1904-02-05 | W | Jack O'Neil | PTS | 6 | Badger A.C., Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| 1904-04-05 | W | Joe Spider Welsh | TKO | 16 | Salt Palace, Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. |
| 1904-05-20 | W | Martin Canole | KO | 18 | Woodward's Pavilion, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 1904-07-29 | W | Eddie Hanlon | TKO | 19 | Woodward's Pavilion, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 1904-09-05 | W | Aurelio Herrera | PTS | 20 | Montana A.C., Butte, Montana, U.S. |
| 1904-11-29 | W | Young Corbett II | TKO | 10 | Woodward's Pavilion, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 1904-12-20 | L | Jimmy Britt | PTS | 20 | Mechanic's Pavilion, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 1905-02-28 | W | Young Corbett II | TKO | 9 | Woodward's Pavilion, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 1905-05-22 | L | Abe Attell | NWS | 6 | National A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| 1905-06-02 | D | Kid Sullivan | PTS | 6 | Eureka A.C., Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| 1905-06-06 | W | Jack O'Neil | NWS | 6 | National A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| 1905-09-09 | W | Jimmy Britt | KO | 18 | Mission Street Arena, Colma, California, U.S. |
| 1906-03-14 | W | Terry McGovern | NWS | 6 | National A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| 1906-09-03 | L | Joe Gans | DQ | 42 | Casino Amphitheatre, Goldfield, Nevada, U.S. |
| 1907-07-31 | L | Jimmy Britt | PTS | 20 | Auditorium Rink, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 1908-01-13 | W | Jack Clifford | KO | 5 | Opera House, Ogden, Utah, U.S. |
| 1908-02-04 | L | Rudy Unholz | NWS | 10 | Naud Junction Pavilion, Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| 1908-03-03 | D | Jimmy Britt | NWS | 10 | Naud Junction Pavilion, Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| 1908-03-31 | D | Abe Attell | PTS | 15 | Coliseum, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 1908-07-04 | W | Joe Gans | KO | 17 | Mission Street Arena, Colma, California, U.S. |
| 1908-09-09 | W | Joe Gans | KO | 21 | Mission Street Arena, Colma, California, U.S. |
| 1909-05-29 | W | Dick Hyland | KO | 23 | Mission Street Arena, Colma, California, U.S. |
| 1909-06-22 | W | Jack Clifford | TKO | 5 | Auditorium, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| 1909-07-13 | L | Ad Wolgast | NWS | 10 | Naud Junction Pavilion, Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| 1910-01-21 | W | Eddie Lang | TKO | 8 | Memphis A.C., Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
| 1910-02-22 | L | Ad Wolgast | TKO | 40 | Arena, Point Richmond, California, U.S. |
| 1910-10-10 | W | Monte Dale | TKO | 3 | Hippodrome, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. |
| 1910-10-31 | D | Anton LaGrave | PTS | 15 | Dreamland Pavilion, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 1910-11-26 | L | Owen Moran | KO | 11 | Blot's Arena, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| 1911-07-04 | D | Percy Cove | PTS | 6 | Fairgrounds, Bellingham, Washington, U.S. |
| 1911-08-04 | W | Tommy Gaffney | TKO | 5 | Opera House, Medford, Oregon, U.S. |
| 1911-09-19 | W | Billy Nixon | TKO | 10 | Armory A.A., Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| 1911-10-03 | L | Milburn Saylor | PTS | 12 | Armory A.A., Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| 1911-10-11 | W | Willie Beecher | NWS | 10 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. |
| 1911-10-17 | L | Philadelphia Pal Moore | PTS | 12 | Armory A.A., Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| 1911-10-19 | L | George Alger | NWS | 6 | Augusta, Maine, U.S. |
| 1911-10-25 | W | Monte Dale | PTS | 15 | Mechanics Hall, Manchester, New Hampshire, U.S. |
| 1911-11-06 | D | Frank Loughrey | NWS | 10 | Grogan A.C., Watervliet, New York, U.S. |
| 1911-11-10 | W | Tommy Moore | TKO | 9 | Convention Hall, Buffalo, New York, U.S. |
| 1911-11-25 | D | Louis De Ponthieu | NWS | 10 | Convention Hall, Buffalo, New York, U.S. |
| 1911-11-30 | W | Joseph Spero | KO | 6 | Agnes Street Theatre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| 1911-12-04 | D | Andy Bezenah | NWS | 10 | Jeffersonville, Indiana, U.S. |
| 1911-12-15 | W | Bobby Wilson | NWS | 10 | Oneida County A.C., Utica, New York, U.S. |
| 1911-12-18 | W | Willie Howard | NWS | 10 | Irving A.C., Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S. |
| 1911-12-22 | L | One Round Hogan | NWS | 10 | Madison A.C., New York City, New York, U.S. |
| 1911-12-31 | W | Jack Redmond | PTS | 20 | West Side A.C., Gretna, Louisiana, U.S. |
| 1912-01-09 | L | Tommy O'Rourke | NWS | 10 | Springfield, Missouri, U.S. |
| 1912-02-26 | D | Young Togo | PTS | 6 | Athletic Club, Fort Smith, Arkansas, U.S. |
| 1912-03-01 | D | Sammy Trott | PTS | 15 | Dayton, Ohio, U.S. |
| 1912-07-01 | W | Andy Bezenah | NWS | 12 | Auditorium Rink, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
| 1912-07-12 | L | Mickey MacIntyre | NWS | 12 | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
| 1912-09-02 | D | Steve Ketchel | PTS | 15 | Saint Joseph, Missouri, U.S. |
| 1912-11-14 | W | Art Stewart | NWS | 10 | Hammond, Indiana, U.S. |
| 1912-11-28 | L | Leach Cross | NWS | 10 | 44th Street A.C., New Amsterdam Opera House, New York City, New York, U.S. |
| 1912-12-13 | D | Teddy Maloney | NWS | 6 | Olympia A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| 1912-12-20 | D | Jim Bonner | PTS | 10 | Walker's Hall, Tamaqua, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| 1912-12-31 | L | Yankee Schwartz | NWS | 8 | Columbus, Ohio, U.S. |
| 1913-01-03 | L | Frankie Russell | PTS | 10 | Greenwall Theater, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| 1913-02-05 | W | Jack Sorenson | NWS | 10 | Lakeside Auditorium, Racine, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| 1913-02-11 | W | Harry Dillon | TKO | 10 | Tamaqua, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| 1913-02-17 | W | Joe Burke | NWS | 10 | Orpheum Theatre, Easton, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| 1913-02-22 | D | Bay Wood | PTS | 12 | Bristol Arena, New Bedford, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| 1913-03-05 | L | Frank Ray Whitney | NWS | 10 | Armory Auditorium, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| 1913-03-27 | W | Mike Malone | NWS | 10 | Pueblo, Colorado, U.S. |
| 1913-04-19 | D | Bay Wood | PTS | 12 | Elm Rink, New Bedford, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| 1913-04-29 | L | Gilbert Gallant | PTS | 12 | Arena (Armory A.A.), Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| 1913-05-03 | L | Pat Bradley | NWS | 6 | National A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| 1913-08-19 | W | Cliff Ford | PTS | 6 | Soo Opera House, Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan, U.S. |
| 1913-10-13 | L | Ad Wolgast | NWS | 10 | Southside A.A., Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| 1915-03-18 | W | Stewart Donnelly | KO | 3 | Havana, Cuba |
| 1915-03-24 | W | Jimmy Fryer | PTS | 25 | Havana, Cuba |
| 1915-04-24 | W | Dale Gardner | KO | 2 | Havana, Cuba |
| 1915-09-06 | L | Bobby Waugh | PTS | 20 | Plaza de Toros, Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico |
| 1915-11-05 | L | Jimmy Reagan | PTS | 10 | 20th Century A.C., Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. |
| 1917-03-17 | W | Pierce Matthews | TKO | 8 | Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| 1917-04-17 | L | Freddie Welsh | NWS | 12 | Coliseum, Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
Showing 129 of 129 recorded fights · last updated 2026-10-15. Imported record tables are not independently verified and may be incomplete. Early-era logs include newspaper decisions (NWS), which are not counted in the official totals above.
Record notes
Fight record last retrieved: 2026-10-11. Title histories remain subject to archival review.
Historical-era totals differ between record-keeping conventions (newspaper decisions, exhibitions).
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