Jack Britton


Jack Britton was three-time world welterweight boxing champion. Born William J. Breslin in Clinton, New York, his professional career lasted for 25 years beginning in 1905. He holds the world record for the number of title bouts fought in a career with 37, many against his arch-rival Ted "Kid" Lewis, against whom he fought 20 times. Statistical boxing website BoxRec lists Britton as the #6 ranked welterweight of all time while The Ring Magazine founder Nat Fleischer placed him at #3. He was inducted into the Ring Magazine Hall of Fame in 1960 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame as a first-class member in 1990.
Ernest Hemingway's short story "Fifty Grand" is based on the Jack Britton/Mickey Walker fight in Madison Square Garden on November 1, 1922. Other sources link this story to the Britton/Benny Leonard fight the previous June in the Bronx Hippodrome where Leonard lost in what appeared to be an intentional foul. Leonard was specifically mentioned in the first draft of Hemingway's short story.

Professional boxing record (incomplete)

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
66Win47–9–10 Charley WhitePTS12Nov 14, 1916 Arena, BostonRetained lineal welterweight title
65Draw46–9–10 Ted Kid LewisPTS12Nov 14, 1916 Arena, BostonRetained lineal welterweight title
64Draw45–9–9 Johnny GriffithsPTS12Jul 25, 1916 Louisiana Auditorium, New Orleans
62Win45–9–8 Ted Kid LewisPTS20Apr 24, 1916 Louisiana Auditorium, New OrleansWon lineal welterweight title
61Win44–9–8 Kid GravesPTS15Mar 22, 1916 Gymnastic Club, Dayton
60Loss43–9–8 Ted Kid LewisPTS12Aug 31, 1915 Arena, BostonFor lineal welterweight title
60Loss43–8–8 Ted Kid LewisPTS12Aug 31, 1915 Arena, BostonLost lineal welterweight title
59Win43–7–8 Mike GloverPTS12Jun 22, 1915 Arena, BostonWon lineal welterweight title
58Win42–7–8 Joe HylandPTS12Dec 25, 1914 Hanna Armory, New Britain
57Win41–7–8 Eddie MoranPTS12Nov 02, 1914 Hanna Armory, New Britain
56Win40–7–8 Joe EaganKO4 Jun 20, 1914 Arena, Boston
55Win39–7–8 Gene MoriartyTKO7 Feb 17, 1914 Broadway S.C., Brooklyn
54Win38–7–8 Battling GatesKO3 Nov 21, 1913 Coliseum A.C., Wilkes-Barre
53Win37–7–8 Charley WhiteTKO18 Jul 04, 1913 McDonoghville Park, New Orleans
52Loss36–7–8 Lockport Jimmy DuffyDQ6 May 29, 1913 Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo
51NC36–6–8 Philadelphia Pal MooreNC4 Apr 21, 1913 Olympia A.C., Philadelphia
50Win36–6–8 Kid CurleyTKO3 Mar 31, 1913 Olympia A.C., Philadelphia
49Win35–6–8 Eddie HanlonTKO6 Jan 31, 1913 Southern A.C., Savannah
48Win34–6–8 Jimmy EvansTKO7 Jan 27, 1913 Olympia A.C., New Orleans
47Win33–6–8 Frankie GageKO9 Jan 18, 1913 Olympia A.C., New Orleans
46Win32–6–8 Joe ThomasPTS10Jan 10, 1913 Olympia A.C., New Orleans
45Win31–6–8 Tommy O'KeefeKO2 Dec 25, 1912 Olympia A.C., Philadelphia
44Win30–6–8 Billy BennettTKO10 Dec 05, 1912 Clermont Avenue Rink, Brooklyn
43Win29–6–8 Milburn SaylorTKO8 Nov 28, 1912 Lakeside A.C., Dayton
42Draw28–6–8 Young McDonoughPTS12Oct 07, 1912 Rhode Island A.C., Thornton
41Win28–6–7 Joe EaganTKO4 Oct 02, 1912 St. Nicholas Arena, New York
40Win27–6–7 Milburn SaylorDQ6 Sep 17, 1912 Arena, Boston
39Win26–6–7 Eddie MurphyTKO11 Aug 27, 1912 Arena, Boston
38Win25–6–7 Philadelphia Pal MoorePTS20Apr 30, 1912 Dreamland Rink, San Francisco
37Win24–6–7 Oakland Frankie BurnsPTS10Jan 24, 1912 Piedmont Pavilion, Oakland
36Win23–6–7 Al RogersPTS10Jan 05, 1912 Dreamland Rink, San Francisco
35Draw22–6–7 Ray TemplePTS4Dec 08, 1911 Dreamland Rink, San Francisco
34Win22–6–6 Johnny McCarthyPTS10Oct 14, 1911 Diepenbrock Theater, Sacramento
33Loss21–6–6 Willie RitchiePTS4Oct 06, 1911 Dreamland Rink, San Francisco
32Win21–5–6 Danny O'BrienKO1 Sep 22, 1911 Dreamland Rink, San Francisco
31Loss20–5–6 Jerry MurphyPTS4Sep 08, 1911 Dreamland Rink, San Francisco
30Win20–4–6 Jake BaradaPTS15Apr 21, 1911 Business Men's A.C., Saint Joseph
29Draw19–4–6 Packey McFarlandPTS8Jan 30, 1911 Armory AC, Memphis
28Win19–4–5 Ray TemplePTS8Dec 12, 1910 National A.C., Memphis
27Win18–4–5 Farmer DorbettPTS8Nov 21, 1910 National A.C., Memphis
26Draw17–4–5 Milburn SaylorPTS8Nov 14, 1910 National A.C., Memphis
25Win17–4–4 Bert KeyesPTS15Nov 12, 1910 Southern A.C., Savannah
24Win16–4–4 Jack McGuireKO7 Aug 19, 1910 Savannah Theater, Savannah
23Loss15–4–4 Ray BronsonPTS10Jun 30, 1910 Royal A.C., New Orleans
22Draw15–3–4 Tommy DevlinPTS10Jun 17, 1910 Savannah Theater, Savannah
21Draw15–3–3 Dummy DeckerPTS15May 07, 1910 Southern A.C., Savannah
20Draw15–3–2 Frankie WhitePTS10May 05, 1910 Monroe A.C., Atlanta
19Win15–3–1 Dummy DeckerPTS15Apr 18, 1910 Southern A.C., Savannah
18Win14–3–1 Jimmy DasherPTS15Mar 26, 1910 Southern A.C., Savannah
17Win13–3–1 Mike MemsicPTS10Mar 22, 1910 Academy A.C., Atlanta
16Win12–3–1 Jack CurleyPTS15Mar 18, 1910 Southern A.C., Savannah
15Win11–3–1 Patsy HoganTKO14 Dec 17, 1909 Southern A.C., Savannah
14Win10–3–1 Farmer DorbettTKO7 Dec 09, 1909 Southern A.C., Savannah
13Loss9–3–1 Farmer DorbettDQ3 Dec 03, 1909 Southern A.C., Savannah
12Win9–2–1 Jimmy DasherTKO6 Jun 18, 1909 Southern A.C., Savannah
11Win8–2–1 Jim HollandKO4 Jun 11, 1909 Southern A.C., Savannah
10Win7–2–1 Johnny ReganKO2 Jun 30, 1908 Navarre A.C., Ulmer Park, Brooklyn
9Win6–2–1 Young BechtelKO2 Nov 05, 1907 Bijou Theater, Reading
8Draw5–2–1 Farmer DorbettPTS6Jun 19, 1907 Gayety Theater, Baltimore
7Win5–2 Kid GilbertPTS6May 24, 1907 National S.C., Wilmington
6Win4–2 Kid GilbertPTS6May 24, 1907 National S.C., Wilmington
5Win3–2 Jimmy EarlePTS6Mar 28, 1906 National S.C., Wilmington
4Win2–2 Young LoughreyPTS6Jan 01, 1906 National S.C., Wilmington
3Loss1–2 Steve KinneyKO1 Oct 20, 1905 Panorama Building, Milwaukee
2Loss1–1 Tommy SheaPTS6Oct 07, 1905 Chicago A.A., Chicago
1Win1–0 Jack NolanPTS6Nov 11, 1904 Badger A.C., Milwaukee