On This Day

Tommy Burns

Boxer and World Heavyweight Champion Tommy Burns

Full Name: Noah Brusso
Profession: Boxer and World Heavyweight Champion

Nationality:
Canada
Canadian

Biography: The only Canadian-born World Heavyweight Champion boxer, and the first to travel the globe to defend his title.

In total, he made 11 title defenses despite often being the underdog due to his size.

Born: June 17, 1881
Birthplace: Hanover, Ontario, Canada
Star Sign: Gemini

Died: May 10, 1955 (aged 73)
Cause of Death: Heart attack

Historical Events

  • 1906-02-23 Tommy Burns beats Marvin Hart in 20 for heavyweight boxing title
  • 1906-10-02 Canadian world heavyweight boxing champion Tommy Burns KOs American challenger 'Fireman' Jim Flynn in 15 rounds to retain his title in Los Angeles, California
  • 1906-11-28 Canadian Tommy Burns retains his world heavyweight boxing title after being pushed to a 20-round draw by "Philadelphia" Jack O'Brien in Los Angeles, California
  • 1907-05-08 Canadian Tommy Burns retains his world heavyweight boxing title after beating "Philadelphia" Jack O'Brien on points in 20 rounds in Los Angeles, California
  • 1907-07-04 Canadian world heavyweight boxing champion Tommy Burns KOs Bill Squires of Australia in round 1 in Colma, California, his 6th title defence
  • 1907-12-02 Canadian world heavyweight boxing champion Tommy Burns retains his title; KOs Englishman Gunner Moir in 10th round at the National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London
  • 1908-02-10 Canadian world heavyweight boxing champion Tommy Burns KOs Englishman Jack Palmer in round 4 in London in his 8th title defence
  • 1908-03-17 Canadian champion Tommy Burns KOs Irish challenger Jem Roche in 1:28s of the 1st round at the Theatre Royal, Dublin; then quickest world heavyweight boxing title fight
  • 1908-04-18 Canadian champion Tommy Burns KOs Jewey Smith of England in 5th round at Neuilly Bowling Palace, Paris to retain his world heavyweight boxing title
  • 1908-06-13 Canadian champion Tommy Burns KOs Bill Squires of Australia in 8th round at Neuilly Bowling Palace, Paris to retain world heavyweight boxing title
  • 1908-08-24 Canadian champion Tommy Burns KOs Bill Squires in 13th round at the Sydney Stadium, Australia to retain world heavyweight boxing title; Burns' 3rd KO of Squires
  • 1908-09-03 Canadian world heavyweight boxing champion Tommy Burns KOs Australian Bill Lang in 6 rounds in Melbourne in a warmup fight for his famous title bout with Jack Johnson
  • 1908-12-26 African-American boxer Jack Johnson stops Canadian defending champion Tommy Burns in the 14th round in Sydney, Australia, to become the first black man to win world heavyweight title; Burns is favourite in 12th title defence but Johnson dominates before police stop the bout

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