Lightweight · Bare-Knuckle & Gloves (1880–1919)

Joe Gans

"The Old Master"

160

Wins

Losses

Draws

101

KOs

63%

KO %

Born: 1874
Died: 1910
Nationality: USA
Career: 1891–1909

The first African-American world champion of the 20th century, celebrated for his precise, scientific style.

Titles & Honours

World Lightweight Champion (1902–1904, 1906–1908)

Career Timeline

1891–1909

1893-10-23Milestone
First recorded professional bout
vs Buck Myers · ND ND
View fight record
1895-05-04Milestone
25th recorded win
vs Frank Peabody · TKO. Newspaper decisions excluded.
View fight record
1898-01-03Milestone
50th recorded win
vs Billy Young · TKO. Newspaper decisions excluded.
View fight record
1901-10-04Milestone
100th recorded win
vs Dan McConnell · KO. Newspaper decisions excluded.
View fight record
1902Title history
Title reign begins
World Lightweight Champion (1902–1904, 1906–1908). Year from profile title history; exact title-winning bout not identified.
View title / honour details
1906Title history
Title reign begins
World Lightweight Champion (1902–1904, 1906–1908). Year from profile title history; exact title-winning bout not identified.
View title / honour details
1906-09-03Signature fight
vs Battling Nelson
W DQ · Casino Amphitheatre, Goldfield, Nevada, US. Archive selection: one of the first three wins over distinct fighters profiled here, not an expert-selected signature fight.
View fight record
1909-03-12Milestone
Latest recorded bout
vs Jabez White · W NWS. Not necessarily the retirement date.
View fight record

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

Photograph of Barbados Joe Walcott and Joe Gans

3 archival photographs under their original licences.

Fight-by-Fight Record

Date	Result	Opponent	Method	Round	Venue
1893-10-23	ND	Buck Myers	ND	0	Avon Club, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1893-11-27	W	William Jones	RTD	6	Avon Club, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1894-02-12	W	William Jones	KO	4	Avon Club, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1894-04-19	ND	Dave Horn	ND	3	Beach's Hall, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1894-04-25	W	Harry Brian	PTS	0	Allerino Gannic Casino, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1894-05-21	ND	Robert Cook	ND	0	M F Conklin's Hall, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1894-06-26	W	Gustav Wilkie	PTS	4	Monumental Theatre, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1894-06-27	L	Paul Johnson	PTS	5	Monumental Theatre, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1894-07-10	W	Jackson	TKO	3	Kernan's Theatre, Washington, D.C., US
1894-11-12	ND	Paul Johnson	ND	3	Grand Army Hall, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1894-11-27	ND	Bud Young	ND	4	Canton Academy, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1894-12-17	W	Travis Brown	PTS	6	Avon Club, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1894-12-21	W	Fred Sweigert	NWS	10	Monumental A.C., Baltimore, Maryland, US
1894-12-27	W	John Coates	PTS	10	Monumental A.C., Baltimore, Maryland, US
1894-12-28	W	Jack McDonald	TKO	8	Monumental Theatre, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1895-01-01	W	Fred Sweigert	PTS	0	Monumental Theatre, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1895-01-07	W	Bud Brown	PTS	10	Monumental Theatre, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1895-01-07	W	Samuel Allen	KO	3	Monumental Theatre, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1895-01-11	W	Paul Johnson	PTS	10	Monumental Theatre, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1895-01-19	W	George Brummell	TKO	5	Monumental Theatre, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1895-01-23	D	Dave Horn	PTS	10	Monumental Theatre, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1895-02-06	W	Fred Sweigert	PTS	10	Monumental Theatre, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1895-02-07	W	Samuel Young	KO	3	Monumental Theatre, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1895-02-11	W	John Coates	PTS	11	Monumental Theatre, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1895-02-12	W	James Davis	KO	3	Kernan's Theater, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1895-02-12	W	John Ball	PTS	6	Kernan's Theater, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1895-02-16	D	James Daly	PTS	11	Monumental Theatre, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1895-03-04	W	Max Wirsing	TKO	3	Monumental Theatre, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1895-03-06	W	Solomon English	TKO	10	Monumental Theatre, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1895-03-07	D	Fred Sweigert	PTS	10	Monumental Theatre, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1895-03-18	D	Howard Wilson	PTS	10	Monumental Theatre, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1895-03-20	W	Harry Hunt	TKO	4	Monumental Theatre, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1895-03-22	W	Paul Johnson	PTS	6	Monumental Theatre, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1895-04-01	W	Kentucky Rosebud	NWS	6	Monumental Amphitheater, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1895-04-13	L	Johnny Van Heest	PTS	9	Monumental Amphitheatre, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1895-04-18	W	David Armstrong	TKO	3	Monumental Amphitheatre, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1895-04-25	W	Kentucky Rosebud	TKO	8	Front Street Theater, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1895-05-04	W	Frank Peabody	TKO	3	Monumental Amphitheatre, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1895-05-09	D	Howard Wilson	PTS	6	Monumental Amphitheatre, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1895-05-14	W	George Willis	KO	4	Monumental Amphitheatre, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1895-05-20	W	Benny Peterson	KO	17	Riverside Athletic Club, New York City, US
1895-05-28	W	Howard Wilson	PTS	10	Kernan's Theatre, Washington, D.C., US
1895-07-15	D	George Siddons	PTS	20	Eureka Athletic Club, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1895-10-21	W	Joe Elliott	KO	9	Eureka Athletic Club, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1895-11-18	D	Young Griffo	PTS	10	Front Street Theater, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1895-11-28	W	George Siddons	KO	7	Eureka Athletic Club, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1896-01-11	W	Benny Peterson	PTS	4	Ariel A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
1896-01-17	W	Joe Elliott	KO	7	Eureka Athletic Club, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1896-02-22	W	Jimmy Kennard	TKO	6	West Newton Street Armory, Boston, Massachusetts, US
1896-06-08	W	Jimmy Watson	PTS	10	Bijou Theater, Paterson, New Jersey, US
1896-06-29	W	Tommy Butler	PTS	12	South Brooklyn A.C., New York City, US
1896-08-20	W	Jack Williams	TKO	2	Eureka Athletic Club, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1896-08-31	D	Danny McBride	PTS	20	Eureka Athletic Club, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1896-09-28	W	John Ball	PTS	4	East Side A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
1896-10-06	L	Dal Hawkins	PTS	15	Bohemian Sporting Club, New York City, US
1896-10-19	W	Jack Williams	TKO	3	Eureka Athletic Club, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1896-11-12	W	Jerry Marshall	PTS	20	Eureka Athletic Club, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1896-12-14	W	Charles Rochette	RTD	4	Woodward's Pavilion, San Francisco, California, US
1897-04-03	W	Howard Wilson	KO	9	Polo A.C., New York City, US
1897-05-18	W	Mike Leonard	PTS	20	Olympic A.C., San Francisco, California, US
1897-08-24	W	Jack McCue	TKO	6	Shell road, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1897-08-24	W	John Coates	TKO	5	Shell road, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1897-08-24	W	Jerry Marshall	TKO	8	Shell road, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1897-08-24	W	George Thomas	TKO	3	Shell road, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1897-08-24	W	August Stenzie	TKO	3	Shell road, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1897-08-30	W	Izzy Strauss	KO	5	Eureka Athletic Club, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1897-09-21	D	Young Griffo	PTS	15	Olympic A.C., Athens, Pennsylvania, US
1897-09-27	L	Bobby Dobbs	PTS	20	Greenpoint S.C., New York City, US
1897-11-06	D	Wilmington Jack Daly	NWS	6	Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
1897-11-29	W	Stanton Abbott	TKO	5	Academy of Music, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1898-01-03	W	Billy Young	TKO	2	Eureka Athletic Club, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1898-01-17	W	Frank Garrard	TKO	15	Central Armory, Cleveland, Ohio, US
1898-03-11	W	Tommy Shortell	TKO	6	Academy Music Hall, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1898-04-11	W	Young Starlight	TKO	3	Music Hall, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1898-04-11	W	Young Smyrna	TKO	3	Music Hall, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1898-05-11	W	Steve Crosby	RTD	6	Music Hall, Louisville, Kentucky, US
1898-06-02	NC	Joe Kid Robinson	NC	3	Tattersall's, Chicago, Illinois, US
1898-06-03	W	Joe Kid Robinson	PTS	6	Tattersall's, Chicago, Illinois, US
1898-07-01	W	George Brown	TKO	6	Ford Opera House, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1898-08-08	W	Billy Ernst	KO	11	Greater New York A.C., New York City, US
1898-08-26	W	Young Smyrna	TKO	15	Ford Opera House, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1898-09-01	W	Thomas Jackson	KO	3	Talbot county fair, Easton, Maryland, US
1898-09-26	W	Herman Miller	PTS	4	Monumental Amphitheatre, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1898-09-27	W	Joseph Smith	TKO	1	Monumental Amphitheatre, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1898-09-27	W	William Hinton	TKO	1	Monumental Amphitheatre, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1898-09-27	W	Buck Baynor	TKO	3	Monumental Amphitheatre, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1898-09-28	W	James Martin	TKO	4	Monumental Amphitheatre, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1898-09-29	W	Fred Sweigert	PTS	4	Monumental Amphitheatre, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1898-09-30	W	William Duke	PTS	4	Monumental Amphitheatre, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1898-11-04	W	Kid McPartland	PTS	25	Lenox A.C., New York City, US
1898-12-27	W	Wilmington Jack Daly	PTS	25	Lenox A.C., New York City, US
1899-01-13	W	Young Smyrna	KO	2	Germania Maennerchor Hall, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1899-01-28	W	Martin Judge	PTS	20	Crescent A.C., Toronto, Ontario, Canada
1899-02-06	W	Billy Ernst	DQ	10	Olympic A.C., Buffalo, New York, US
1899-04-14	L	George 'Elbows' McFadden	KO	23	Broadway A.C., Brooklyn, New York City, US
1899-07-24	W	Jack Dobbs	TKO	4	Seabright Casino, Ocean City, Maryland, US
1899-07-28	D	George 'Elbows' McFadden	PTS	25	Broadway A.C., New York City, US
1899-09-01	W	Eugene Bezenah	KO	10	Broadway A.C., New York City, US
1899-09-15	W	Martin Judge	PTS	12	Music Hall, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1899-10-03	W	Jimmy 'Spider' Kelly	PTS	25	Lenox A.C., New York City, US
1899-10-07	D	Wilmington Jack Daly	NWS	6	Nonpareil A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
1899-10-11	W	Martin Judge	PTS	20	Germania Maennerchor Hall, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1899-10-31	W	George 'Elbows' McFadden	PTS	25	Broadway A.C., New York City, US
1899-11-24	W	Steve Crosby	PTS	6	Star Theatre, Chicago, Illinois, US
1899-12-11	W	Kid Ash	PTS	15	Robinson Opera House, Cincinnati, Ohio, US
1899-12-22	D	Kid McPartland	PTS	6	Star Theatre, Chicago, Illinois, US
1900-02-09	W	Spike Sullivan	TKO	14	Broadway A.C., New York City, US
1900-03-23	L	Frank Erne	TKO	12	Broadway A.C., New York City, US
1900-04-01	W	Chicago Jack Daly	TKO	5	Penn Art Club, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
1900-05-25	W	Dal Hawkins	KO	2	Broadway A.C., New York City, US
1900-06-26	W	Barney Furey	KO	9	People's Theater, Cincinnati, Ohio, US
1900-07-10	W	Young Griffo	TKO	8	Seaside A.C., Coney Island, New York, US
1900-07-12	W	Whitey Lester	KO	4	Ford Opera House, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1900-08-31	W	Dal Hawkins	KO	3	Broadway A.C., New York City, US
1900-09-07	W	George 'Elbows' McFadden	NWS	6	Penn Art Club, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
1900-10-02	D	George 'Elbows' McFadden	PTS	10	Olympic A.C., Denver, Colorado, US
1900-10-05	W	Joe Youngs	PTS	10	Colorado A.A., Denver, Colorado, US
1900-10-11	W	Alec Johnson	KO	1	Leadville Athletic Club, Leadville, Colorado, US
1900-10-11	W	Bird Leg Collins	TKO	4	Leadville Athletic Club, Leadville, Colorado, US
1900-10-16	W	Otto Sieloff	KO	9	Olympic A.C., Denver, Colorado, US
1900-10-19	W	Jimmy 'Spider' Kelly	TKO	8	Colorado A.C., Denver, Colorado, US
1900-11-16	W	Kid Parker	KO	4	Colorado A.C., Denver, Colorado, US
1900-12-13	L	Terry McGovern	KO	2	Tattersall's, Chicago, Illinois, US
1901-02-13	W	Wilmington Jack Daly	DQ	5	Music Hall, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1901-04-01	W	Martin Flaherty	TKO	4	Ford's Theater, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1901-05-31	W	Bobby Dobbs	KO	7	Eureka Athletic Club, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1901-07-15	W	Kid Thomas	NWS	6	Ford Opera House, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1901-07-15	W	Jack Donahue	TKO	2	Ford Opera House, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1901-07-15	W	Harry Berger	NWS	6	Ford Opera House, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1901-08-23	D	Steve Crosby	PTS	20	Music Hall, Louisville, Kentucky, US
1901-09-20	W	Steve Crosby	TKO	12	Germania Maennerchor Hall, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1901-09-30	W	Joe Handler	TKO	1	Trenton A.C., Trenton, New Jersey, US
1901-10-04	W	Dan McConnell	KO	3	Germania Maennerchor Hall, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1901-11-15	W	Jack Hanlon	KO	2	Germania Maennerchor Hall, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1901-11-22	W	Billy Moore	KO	3	Eureka Athletic Club, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1901-12-13	W	Bobby Dobbs	TKO	14	Germania Maennerchor Hall, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1901-12-30	W	Joe Youngs	TKO	4	Washington S.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
1902-01-03	W	Tom Broderick	KO	6	Germania Maennerchor Hall, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1902-01-06	W	Eddie Connolly	DQ	5	Washington S.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
1902-02-17	W	George 'Elbows' McFadden	NWS	6	Penn Art Club, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
1902-03-07	W	Jack Ryan	TKO	4	Keystone A.C., Allentown, Pennsylvania, US
1902-03-27	W	Jack Bennett	KO	5	Ford Opera House, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1902-05-12	W	Frank Erne	KO	1	International A.C., Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada
1902-05-27	W	Joe Burke	RTD	2	Monumental Theater, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1902-05-28	W	Charles Boyer	TKO	2	Monumental Theater, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1902-05-28	W	Edward Snowden	KO	2	Monumental Theater, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1902-05-29	W	St. Mary's County Bully	DQ	3	Monumental Theater, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1902-06-27	W	George 'Elbows' McFadden	TKO	3	Woodward's Pavilion, San Francisco, California, US
1902-07-24	W	Rufe Turner	KO	15	Acme A.C., Oakland, California, US
1902-09-17	W	Gus Gardner	KO	5	Music Hall, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1902-09-22	W	Jack Bennett	KO	2	Golden Gate A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
1902-10-13	W	Kid McPartland	KO	5	International A.C., Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada
1902-10-14	W	Dave Holly	NWS	10	Maennerchor Hall, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, US
1902-11-14	W	Charley Siegar	TKO	14	Germania Maennerchor Hall, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1902-12-19	W	Howard Wilson	TKO	3	Scituate Athletic Club, Scituate, Rhode Island, US
1902-12-31	D	Charley Siegar	PTS	10	Criterion A.C., Boston, Massachusetts, US
1903-01-01	W	Gus Gardner	DQ	11	Casino, New Britain, Connecticut, US
1903-03-11	W	Steve Crosby	TKO	11	Whittington Park, Hot Springs, Arkansas, US
1903-03-23	W	Jack Bennett	KO	5	Masonic Hall, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, US
1903-05-13	W	Tom Tracey	TKO	9	Pastime A.C., Portland, Oregon, US
1903-05-29	W	Willie Fitzgerald	KO	10	Mechanic's Pavilion, San Francisco, California, US
1903-07-04	W	Buddy King	KO	5	Old Baseball Park, Butte, Montana, US
1903-10-19	W	Joe Grim	NWS	6	Washington S.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
1903-10-20	W	Eddie Kennedy	NWS	6	Southern A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
1903-10-23	D	Dave Holly	NWS	6	State A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
1903-11-02	L	Jack Blackburn	NWS	6	Washington S.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
1903-12-07	W	Dave Holly	NWS	6	Washington S.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
1903-12-08	L	Sam Langford	PTS	15	Criterion A.C., Boston, Massachusetts, US
1904-01-12	W	Willie Fitzgerald	PTS	10	Light Guard Armory, Detroit, Michigan, US
1904-01-19	W	Clarence Connors	TKO	2	Mount Clemens, Michigan, US
1904-01-22	W	Joe Grim	PTS	10	Shlegel's Hall, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1904-02-02	W	Mike Ward	TKO	10	Light Guard Armory, Detroit, Michigan, US
1904-03-25	W	Jack Blackburn	PTS	15	Germania Maennerchor Hall, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1904-03-28	W	Gus Gardner	PTS	10	Arbelten Hall, Saginaw, Michigan, US
1904-04-21	W	Sam Bolen	PTS	15	Germania Maennerchor Hall, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1904-05-27	W	Jewey Cook	RTD	7	Germania Maennerchor Hall, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1904-06-03	W	Kid Griffo	TKO	7	Germania Maennerchor Hall, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1904-06-13	W	Sammy Smith	TKO	4	National A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
1904-06-27	D	Dave Holly	NWS	6	National A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
1904-09-30	D	Barbados Joe Walcott	PTS	20	Woodward's Pavilion, San Francisco, California, US
1904-10-31	W	Jimmy Britt	DQ	5	Mechanic's Pavilion, San Francisco, California, US
1905-03-27	W	Rufe Turner	NWS	6	Washington S.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
1905-09-15	D	Mike 'Twin' Sullivan	PTS	15	Lyric Theater, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1906-01-19	W	Mike 'Twin' Sullivan	KO	15	Woodward's Pavilion, San Francisco, California, US
1906-03-17	W	Mike "Twin" Sullivan	TKO	10	Chutes Park, Los Angeles, California
1906-05-18	L	Willie Lewis	NWS	6	Madison Square Garden, New York City, US
1906-06-15	D	Harry Lewis	NWS	6	National A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
1906-06-29	W	Jack Blackburn	NWS	6	National A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
1906-07-23	W	Dave Holly	PTS	20	Pleasant Beach, Bainbridge Island, Washington, US
1906-09-03	W	Battling Nelson	DQ	42	Casino Amphitheatre, Goldfield, Nevada, US
1907-01-01	W	Kid Herman	KO	8	Casino A.C. Arena, Tonopah, California, US
1907-09-09	W	Jimmy Britt	TKO	6	Recreation Park, San Francisco, California, US
1907-09-27	W	George Memsic	PTS	20	Naud Junction Pavilion, Los Angeles, California
1908-01-03	W	Bob Blackburn	KO	3	Germania Maennerchor Hall, Baltimore, Maryland, US
1908-04-01	W	Frank 'Spike' Robson	TKO	3	National A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
1908-05-14	W	Rudy Unholz	TKO	11	Coliseum, San Francisco, California, US
1908-07-04	L	Battling Nelson	KO	17	Mission Street Arena, Colma, California, US
1908-09-09	L	Battling Nelson	KO	21	Mission Street Arena, Colma, California, US
1909-03-12	W	Jabez White	NWS	10	National S.C., New York City, US

Showing 199 of 199 recorded fights · last updated 2026-10-11. 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).

Compare with another fighter

Joe Gans

Titles & Honours

Career Timeline

First recorded professional bout

25th recorded win

50th recorded win

100th recorded win

Title reign begins

Title reign begins

vs Battling Nelson

Latest recorded bout

Photo Archive

Fight-by-Fight Record

Record notes