Vintage boxing artwork
THE RING ALMANAC
THE RING ALMANAC
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Middleweight–Light Heavyweight · Bare-Knuckle & Gloves (1880–1919)

Philadelphia Jack O'Brien

101
Wins
7
Losses
16
Draws
36
KOs
36%
KO %
Born
1878
Died
1942
Nationality
USA
Career
1896–1912

A slick boxer-showman who fought everyone from Fitzsimmons to Ketchel.

Titles & Honours

Career Timeline

1896–1912
  1. Milestone

    First recorded professional bout

    vs Izzy Strauss · D PTS

  2. Milestone

    25th recorded win

    vs Jimmy Handler · TKO. Newspaper decisions excluded.

  3. Milestone

    50th recorded win

    vs Charlie McKeever · KO. Newspaper decisions excluded.

  4. Signature fight

    vs Marvin Hart

    W NWS · Penn Art Club, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.. Archive selection: one of the first three wins over distinct fighters profiled here, not an expert-selected signature fight.

  5. Signature fight

    vs Tommy Burns

    W NWS · Panorama Building, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.. Archive selection: one of the first three wins over distinct fighters profiled here, not an expert-selected signature fight.

  6. Signature fight

    vs Bob Fitzsimmons

    W RTD · Woodward's Pavilion, San Francisco, California, U.S.. Archive selection: one of the first three wins over distinct fighters profiled here, not an expert-selected signature fight.

  7. Milestone

    Latest recorded bout

    vs Sam Langford · L TKO. Not necessarily the retirement date.

Title wins · dates not yet documented

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

Philadelphia Jack O'Brien · The original uploader was Richard Arthur Norton (1958- ) at English Wikipedia . · Public domain
Philadelphia Jack O'Brien · The original uploader was Richard Arthur Norton (1958- ) at English Wikipedia . · Public domain

1 archival photographs under their original licences.

Fight-by-Fight Record

DateResultOpponentMethodRoundVenue
1896-12-14DIzzy StraussPTS6Caledonian A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1896-12-19WGeorge RussellPTS6Nonpareil A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1896-12-23DBobby DobbsPTS4Chester, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1897-01-28DMartin JudgePTS6Tuxedo A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1897-02-08WIzzy StraussNWS6Quaker City A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1897-02-15WDan McConnellNWS6Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1897-03-15DBilly PayneNWS6Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1897-03-22LLeslie PearceNWS6Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1897-04-06LBilly PaynePTS10Olympic A.C., Athens, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1897-05-24LCharles Bull McCarthyNWS6Quaker City A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1897-06-03WCharles Bull McCarthyPTS6Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1897-06-07DBarney ConnorsPTS15Empire Club, Highlandtown, Maryland, U.S.
1897-06-09DPaddy SheehanPTS4Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1897-06-25WMartin JudgePTS6Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1897-06-27WJack HanlonPTS6Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1897-07-26DMartin JudgePTS6Library Hall, Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1897-10-12WJoe DoughertyKO3Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1897-12-31WIzzy StraussNWS6Arena A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1898-01-10WBarney ConnorsPTS8Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
1898-01-18WPaddy SheehanNWS6Maennerchor Hall, Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1898-01-29LIzzy StraussNWS6East Side A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1898-01-31WYoung SmyrnaPTS6Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1898-02-04DWilmington Jack DalyNWS6Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1898-02-14WJack McCannPTS3Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1898-03-25DBilly PayneNWS6Arena A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1898-04-01WBilly PayneNWS6Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1898-04-10WDick KellyPTS4Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1898-04-15WYoung SmyrnaNWS6Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1898-08-12WBilly PayneNWS6Arena A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1898-11-26WKid CarterDQ11Greenwood A.C., Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
1898-12-09DHarry WarrenNWS6Arena A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1898-12-17WHugh McWintersPTS20Pelican A.C., Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
1899-01-07WFred StrickerNWS4Quaker City A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1899-01-07DTom CavanaughNWS4Quaker City A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1899-01-21WGeorge ColeNWS6Quaker City A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1899-01-28DJack CollierNWS6Quaker City A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1899-02-23WBilly PayneNWS8Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1899-03-11DBilly PayneNWS4Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1899-03-11WDick KellyNWS4Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1899-03-20WGeorge ColePTS20Trenton, New Jersey, U.S.
1899-05-15WTony DrewKO7Trenton, New Jersey, U.S.
1899-06-23WKid BaxterPTS6Star Theatre, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1899-06-30WWalter NolanKO4Star Theatre, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1899-07-21WShorty AhearnPTS6Dearborn A.C., Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1899-08-04WTom McCuneKO12Jack Leonard's Club, Clinton, Iowa, U.S.
1899-08-29WBilly MurrayKO3Auditorium for fistic carnival, Dubuque, Iowa, U.S.
1899-09-15WTom TraceyPTS6Star Theatre, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1900-01-05DAl NeillPTS15Woodward's Pavilion, San Francisco, California, U.S.
1900-02-14LYoung Peter JacksonKO13Woodward's Pavilion, San Francisco, California, U.S.
1900-04-13WBob LongPTS6Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1900-05-25WJack MahoneyPTS6Star Theatre, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1900-06-07WCharley BellKO2Iowa City, Iowa, U.S.
1900-06-14WJack LewisKO7Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.
1900-07-03DJim AdamsPTS6Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.
1900-09-21WAndy WalshNWS6Industrial Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1900-10-01WJack BonnerNWS6Penn Art Club, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1900-10-08WGeorge ColeDQ10Trenton A.C., Trenton, New Jersey, U.S.
1900-10-15WTommy WestNWS6Penn Art Club, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1900-10-29WJimmy HandlerNWS6Penn Art Club, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1900-11-12WJimmy HandlerTKO6Penn Art Club, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1901-02-25WHarry SmithTKO4Ginnetts Circus, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England
1901-03-20WLachie ThomsonKO2Ginnetts Circus, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England
1901-05-20WGeorge ChrispKO11Ginnetts Circus, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England
1901-06-25WHarry NeumierKO6Ginnetts Circus, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England
1901-08-03WJack ScalesPTS6Ginnetts Circus, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England
1901-08-19WDido PlumbKO6Ginnetts Circus, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England
1901-09-07WMick LynchKO3West Hartlepool Gymnasium, West Hartlepool, County Durham, England
1901-09-23WJack McDonaldKO1Coronation Hall, Liverpool, Merseyside, England
1901-09-23WJasper WhiteKO2Coronation Hall, Liverpool, Merseyside, England
1901-09-28WHarry SmithKO3Leeds and County Athletic Club, Leeds, Yorkshire, England
1901-09-28WAndrew Cock RobinKO3Leeds and County Athletic Club, Leeds, Yorkshire, England
1901-11-07WJack ScalesKO1Liverpool Gymnastic Club, Liverpool, Merseyside, England
1901-11-18WFrank CraigDQ7National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England
1901-12-12WYank KennyTKO4Adelphi Theatre, Liverpool, Merseyside, England
1902-01-20WPat McDonaldTKO2Gymnasium, Charing Cross, Glasgow, Scotland
1902-01-20WJ KearnyKO1Gymnasium, Charing Cross, Glasgow, Scotland
1902-01-27WCharlie McKeeverDQ3Leeds and County Athletic Club, Leeds, Yorkshire, England
1902-02-01WYank KennyDQ4The Circus, West Hartlepool, County Durham, England
1902-03-03WAndy WalshTKO3Penn Art Club, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1902-03-10WCharlie McKeeverNWS6Washington A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1902-03-19WEd DenfassTKO5Penn Art Club, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1902-03-20WRufus GrahamNWS6Broadway A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1902-03-26WJack McCannKO2Bijou Theater, Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1902-03-26WMahoneyTKO3Bijou Theater, Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1902-04-01WCharlie McKeeverNWS6Industrial Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1902-04-11WBarbados Joe WalcottNWS6Industrial Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1902-04-28WYoung Peter JacksonNWS6Washington S.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1902-05-03WGeorge ColeTKO4National A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1902-05-10WTom LenihanTKO2Central A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1902-05-10WJack WilliamsNWS3Central A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1902-05-23WJack BonnerNWS6Golden Gate A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1902-06-02WCharlie McKeeverKO1Industrial Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1902-06-06WAl NeillKO3Wabash A.C., Chicago, Illinois U.S.
1902-06-12WGeorge ColeNWS6Broadway A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1902-06-20WYank KennyKO3Globe Theater, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1902-06-30WJim DriscollPTS6America A.C., Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1902-06-30WJack BeauscholtePTS6America A.C., Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1902-07-29WJack LewisKO1Mount Clemens, Michigan, U.S.
1902-09-12WBilly StiftPTS6Apollo Hall, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1902-09-29WJoe ChoynskiPTS6America A.C., Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1902-10-03WPeter MaherNWS6Ariel A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1902-10-23WJim JeffordsNWS6Broadway A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1902-10-30WPeter MaherNWS6Penn Art Club, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1902-11-19WMarvin HartNWS6Penn Art Club, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1902-12-15WCharlie McKeeverNWS6Washington S.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1902-12-18WJimmy WattsKO4Broadway A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1903-01-01WAl WeinigKO12International A.C., Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada
1903-01-08WJoe GrimNWS6Broadway A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1903-02-26WAl WeinigTKO4Broadway A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1903-03-05WJack ButlerNWS6Lancaster, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1903-03-09WJim JeffordsPTS10Masonic Hall, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1903-03-19WBilly PayneTKO2Broadway A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1903-03-30WJoe ChoynskiNWS6Washington S.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1903-04-20DBarbados Joe WalcottPTS10Health & Physical Culture A.C., Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
1903-05-05LMarvin HartNWS6Penn Art Club, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1903-05-14WGeorge FeeleyKO3Broadway A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1903-05-23WGeorge ByersNWS6National A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1903-05-26WJack WilliamsNWS6Southern A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1903-06-24WJack BonnerNWS10Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1903-07-01WKid CarterNWS6Industrial Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1903-07-11WJim JeffordsNWS6Southern A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1903-07-21WPaddy SheehanNWS6Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1903-09-21WCharlie HagheyKO3Ginnetts Circus, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England
1903-10-12WJack MullenRTD8Ginnetts Circus, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England
1903-10-26WBill HeveronKO4Ginnetts Circus, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England
1903-11-18WJack Twin SullivanNWS6National A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1903-12-05WJack WilliamsKO3National A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1903-12-12WMike SchreckPTS6Chicago A.A., Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1903-12-18WDiamond Dick TorpeyPTS6Chicago A.A., Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1903-12-22WJack Twin SullivanPTS15Criterion A.C., Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
1903-12-24WJim JeffordsNWS6Broadway A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1903-12-29DHugo KellyPTS10Vineyard's Hall, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
1904-01-27DTommy RyanNWS6National A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1904-02-22WCharles MackTKO3Watita Hall, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1904-03-10WMike SchreckPTS15West End A.C., Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S.
1904-03-18WHugo KellyPTS6Battery D Armory, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1904-04-14WJack Twin SullivanKO3West End A.C., Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S.
1904-04-26WKid CarterTKO3West End A.C., Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S.
1904-05-14DCharles Kid McCoyNWS62nd Regiment Armory, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1904-05-25WGeorge ColeNWS6National A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1904-07-23LBob FitzsimmonsNWS6Baker Bowl, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1904-09-13WHugo KellyNWS6National A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1904-09-23WBilly StiftKO2Germania Maennerchor Hall, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
1904-09-29WJoe ButlerKO1Broadway A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1904-10-07WTommy BurnsNWS6Panorama Building, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
1904-10-21WJim JeffordsKO3Eureka A.C., Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
1904-11-09WJohn WillieNWS6National A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1904-11-12WDixie KidNWS6National A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1904-11-18WBlack BillNWS6Manhattan A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1904-12-10WLarry TempleNWS6National A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1904-12-19WMorris HarrisNWS6Washington S.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1905-02-01WJohn WillieNWS6National A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1905-03-24WYoung Peter JacksonDQ24th Regiment Armory, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
1905-04-07WYoung Peter JacksonPTS104th Regiment Armory, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
1905-04-25LHugo KellyPTS10Auditorium, Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
1905-07-04DJack Twin SullivanPTS20Dawson City, Yukon Territory, Canada
1905-08-31WBill BatesPTS10Dawson City, Yukon Territory, Canada
1905-09-09WBill BatesDQ6Fairbanks, Alaska
1905-10-27WAl KaufmanKO17Woodward's Pavilion, San Francisco, California, U.S.
1905-12-20WBob FitzsimmonsRTD13Woodward's Pavilion, San Francisco, California, U.S.
1906-07-16DSam BergerNWS6Woodward's Pavilion, San Francisco, California, U.S.
1906-08-20WTed BeechamKO2New Castle, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1906-10-16WFred CooleyKO3Naud Junction Pavilion, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
1906-10-16WJim TrembleKO9Naud Junction Pavilion, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
1906-11-28DTommy BurnsPTS20Naud Junction Pavilion, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
1907-02-22WAbdul 'The Turk' MalganDQ5Naud Junction Pavilion, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
1907-05-08LTommy BurnsPTS20Naud Junction Pavilion, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
1907-12-13WBill HeveronKO1Industrial Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1908-02-11DBob WardPTS10Charleston, West Virginia, U.S.
1908-03-02WJack BonnerNWS6West End A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1908-06-10WJack BlackburnNWS6National A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1908-08-29WJack RushKO7Clarksburg, West Virginia, U.S.
1908-09-07WLarry TempleNWS6West End A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1908-09-25WTom LenihanTKO4Ontario A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1908-11-09WGeorge ColeNWS6West End A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1909-01-04WFred CooleyPTS2West End A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1909-03-26LStanley KetchelNWS10National A.C., New York City, New York, U.S.
1909-05-19DJack JohnsonNWS6National A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1909-06-09LStanley KetchelTKO3National A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1909-07-30WFireman Jim FlynnNWS6City Auditorium, Denver, Colorado, U.S.
1909-11-29WCharley StevensonNWS6West End A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1910-01-19LAl KaufmanNWS6National A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1910-04-21LAl KaufmanNWS6Duquesne Garden, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1910-05-02WMike SchreckNWS10Duquesne Garden, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1910-06-17LBen KochNWS6American A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1910-11-27LHarry RamseyNWS6American A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1911-08-15LSam LangfordTKO5Twentieth Century A.C., New York City, New York, U.S.

Showing 187 of 187 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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