Jackie Fields


Jackie Fields was an American professional boxer who won the World Welterweight Championship twice. Statistical boxing website BoxRec lists Fields as the #19 ranked welterweight of all-time. Fields was elected to the United Savings-Helms Hall of Boxing Fame in 1972, the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1979, the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1987, and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2004.

Early life and career

Jackie Fields, who was Jewish, was born Jacob Finkelstein on Maxwell Street, in Chicago, Illinois, on February 9, 1908. His father was a Jewish Russian immigrant who worked as a butcher. Some of his initial boxing instruction came from the legendary black boxing trainer and former lightweight boxer Jack Blackburn, who would later train Joe Lewis. When his family moved to Los Angeles in 1921, Fields continued boxing at Jack Dempsey's Gym. He boxed as an exceptional amateur for the Los Angeles Sporting Club, under the instruction of George Blake, a master trainer who recognized Jackie's potential as early as the age of thirteen. An exceptional boxer in Blake's stable, Fidel LaBarba, future world flyweight champion, sparred with the young Fields after he arrived in Los Angeles, and would spar with him on other occasions to improve his technique and speed.

Amateur career

Over the course of Field's amateur career, he participated in 54 fights, winning 51 of them. Fields won a gold medal in featherweight boxing at the age of only 16 in the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, becoming the youngest boxer to ever receive such an honor.

Olympic results (1924)

Early career loss to Jimmy McLarnin, 1925

Intrigued by a $5000 purse, but acting against the better judgement of skilled matchmakers, Fields took on the far more experienced Jimmy McLarnin, on November 12, 1925. With only six fights and nine months of professional boxing to his credit, Fields lost badly in a second-round knockout at Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles. McLarnin floored him four times in the brief match, with Fields suffering a broken jaw in the humiliating defeat. Dubbing him the "future lightweight champion", the Los Angeles Times recognized the mastery of McLarnin, who carefully studied Fields's style, letting him take the lead in the first, before knocking him down three times in the second with successive overhand rights. Never having been down before, Fields unwisely rose immediately from his first knockdown, only to be knocked to the canvas again. In his fourth knockdown, he remained on the canvas for the full count. Learning from the experience, and listening more carefully to his handlers, Fields never lost a match by knockout again.
Fields suffered a rare early career loss to Jewish boxer, and former world featherweight champion Louis "Kid" Kaplan on June 15, 1927 in a ten round points decision at New York's Polo Grounds. Kaplan's two handed attack was unrelenting, and though the taller Fields scored with straight left jabs and a rapid right cross, they did not come frequently enough to gain a margin in points. Kaplan poured far more blows into Fields, taking the decision.
He defeated Jewish boxing great, reigning world junior lightweight champion, Mushy Callahan in a non-title bout on November 22, 1927. Callahan was nearly knocked out in the second, ninth, and tenth, having difficulty remaining on his feet. Fields continually poured rights and lefts to the body and face, and was credited with six of the ten rounds. Callahan, possibly lacking conditioning, was returning to the ring after an illness of several months.
In a rare early-career loss, Fields dropped a ten-round unanimous decision to reigning world lightweight champion Sammy Mandell on February 3, 1928. Fields led the first few rounds with a strong body attack, but Mandell found his range in the third with long lunging lefts to Fields's left eye. Fields's injury put him on the defensive, and in the late rounds he was forced to do more infighting and clinching. He tried to turn the tables in the ninth, but it was too late to even the points differential. In their first meeting on April 4, 1927, before a disappointing crowd of only 5,000, Fields had fared far better against Mandell in a twelve-round newspaper decision at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles, winning handily according to the Los Angeles Times. The paper awarded Fields eight of the ten rounds, with only two to Mandell. Fields staggered Mandell in the sixth with an overhand right to the jaw. The no-decision bout, however, was not for a title and Fields was over the lightweight limit, letting Mandell walk away with his championship intact. The San Francisco Examiner believed Mandell had won by the slightest of margins, but noted that the younger and less experienced Fields easily took the second and tenth rounds with harder punching, though he failed to follow up his advantage.

NBA World welterweight champion, March 1929

Fields won the world welterweight title in 1929 and 1932.
He defeated Young Jack Thompson before 9,000 fans on March 25, 1929 in a ten round unanimous decision in Chicago. Most sanctioning bodies considered the match a title bout. The Akron Beacon Journal wrote that Fields was "unstoppable in his offensive, unswerving in his determination, and completely the master of his foe". In the first two rounds, Fields nearly knocked out Thompson. Thompson courageously remained on his feet throughout the bout, repeatedly trying to throw his signature right cross, though he usually missed. Fields blocked a number of Thompson's blows with his gloves and forearms, and stopped a few in mid-air. His best and most frequent blows came from left handed jabs and hooks. In the third, Thompson made a brief showing when he scored with a few vicious right crosses, but he failed to carry his momentum into the next round. The eighth was interrupted by a riot that spilled into the ring, and the fighting was more even in the last two rounds with both fighters exhausted. The tenth found Thompson trying to score a knockout but most of his blows were blocked by Fields, who kept the round even. Fields won decisively and was awarded seven of the ten rounds with only one to Thompson and two even.
Prior to the bout, the world welterweight title had become vacant as the National Boxing Association stripped Joe Dundee of the title. California, and the National Boxing Association, but not the powerful New York State Athletic Commission, officially recognized Fields as the champion on April 19, 1929. The NYSAC would not recognize Fields as champion until July when he faced Dundee.
On July 25, 1929 Fields faced Joe Dundee before a large crowd of 25,000 in a unifying match for the welterweight championship in Detroit. Fields was awarded the fight in the second round after Dundee, having been knocked down four times, delivered a foul blow while still down which left Fields incapable of continuing the fight. Dundee claimed that the foul was unintentional. Fields stated he believed Dundee, but noted that it was the only bout he had ever won on a foul. The win gave Fields unified recognition as world welterweight champion.
Fields defeated black boxer William "Guerilla" Jones, future world "Colored" welterweight champion, on October 21, 1929 in San Francisco before a crowd of 10,000. In an action filled ten rounds, Jones took the early lead and rocked Fields several times with straight rights to the jaw, but Fields's stamina and aggressiveness wore Jones down in the closing rounds. Fields's clearly took the ninth and tenth, and had a clear edge in five rounds, but could not defend against repeated rights from Jones throughout the bout. In a match two months later on December 13, referee Joe O'Connor stopped the bout, complaining that Jones was not giving his "usual exhibition" and ordered the promoter to pay the purses for both fighters. The Boston Globe felt the fight was legitimate, however, and that Jones's long arms against Fields's desire to fight at close range made the boxers look as though they were trying to avoid coming to blows.
In their fourth meeting, Fields scored a decisive victory in a non-title bout on January 24, 1930 over Vince Dundee, brother of Joe, in a ten round unanimous decision at Chicago Stadium. Dundee was down four times in the third round, but weathered the full ten, making a comeback in the late rounds. In the third, Dundee was down once for a count of eight, once for a count of nine, and was saved by the bell as he went down at the end of the round. Fields was awarded five rounds with only three for Dundee, and two even. Fields had defeated Vince Dundee in three previous ten round points decisions in Chicago on October 2, 1929, and in two meetings in Los Angeles on April 17, and February 14, 1928.
Fields lost his first bout in two years on February 22, 1930, against Young Corbett III in a ten round decision in San Francisco. Thrown off by his opponent's left hand stance, Fields fell behind in the early rounds and though he came back strongly late in the bout, the referee believed Corbett still held a margin on points. Since Corbett was two pounds over the welterweight limit, Fields's title was not at stake. Fields recovered his form two months later with a fourth round TKO against future welterweight champion Tommy Freeman before 8000 fans in Cleveland. Though Freeman had the edge in the first two rounds, and dazed Fields with a right to the nose in the third, Fields shot a right in the early fourth that cut Freeman's lip so badly he could not continue.

Loss of the world welter title

Before a crowd of 14,000, Fields lost his NBA world welterweight title to Young Jack Thompson on May 9, 1930 in a fifteen round points decision at Detroit's Olympia Stadium. Fields piled up a points lead in the early rounds, but Thompson came back with jabs and uppercuts in close fighting that badly wore down the reigning champion. In the seventh, Thompson's rights to the jaw sapped Field's strength, and a straight left opened a cut under his right eye. In the eleventh, an exhausted Fields clinched frequently. By the thirteenth, Fields was nearly defenseless, staggering and then falling into the arms of Thompson as the closing bell sounded. In the fourteenth, Fields made a struggling rally, but Thompson's margin in points was too great. Thompson was awarded ten of the fifteen rounds by the referee, with only three to Fields. His victory was considered an upset, as Fields had beaten him in two previous bouts.
He was first married on August 12, 1931. The couple separated in December 1940 and his wife, Martha Lynn, was granted a divorce in May 1944.
In the early 1930s, Fields took on the well known manager Jack Kearns.

Regaining world welter title, Jan 1932

Fields regained the NBA world welterweight championship before an enthusiastic crowd of 11,200, defeating Lou Brouillard in a ten round unanimous decision on January 28, 1932 at Chicago Stadium. Fields began to take a lead in points in the sixth with vicious lefts and strong sweeping rights that traveled from his hips. Continuing his attack in the seventh and eighth, he connected with a wide variety of blows, increasing his margin over the reigning champion. The tenth may have gone to Brouillard by a shade, but Fields had taken a wide points margin and was stronger as the final bell sounded to end the match.
Jackie was involved in a car accident in 1932 outside Louisville, Kentucky, that resulted in a detached retina, a serious injury to his left eye. Fields had lost most of his real estate fortune in the depression, and was reluctant to leave boxing despite the injury. Few realized it, but he had only partial vision in the eye, and would fight his next welterweight title bout with his vision impaired. Subsequent operations failed to restore the eye, and in 1938, he lost it entirely.

Loss of world welter title, Feb 1933

Fields lost his NBA welterweight title on February 22, 1933 against Southpaw Young Corbett III before 15,000 fans in a ten round points decision at Seals Stadium in San Francisco. He could not stop the leads of Corbett in close in fighting, unable to counter punch soon enough as his opponent waded in. He failed to box effectively in defense and remained flat footed most of the bout, possibly from fatigue. The first five rounds belonged to Corbett, though Fields rallied in the sixth with shots to the face and body. In the seventh, Corbett rocked fields with lefts to the jaw four times at close range, slowing his opponent to a walk. In the ninth, Fields made his last effort, pounding Corbett around the ring with a two fisted attack. Unable to overcome a slow start, the referee gave only three rounds to Fields, with six to Corbett.
Three months after losing the welterweight title, Fields won a points decision against Young Peter Jackson in May of 1933, and retired from boxing.

Life after boxing

After he lost much of his real estate investments in the depression, Fields lived for a while in the German town section of Philadelphia and worked from 1935 through the 1940s as a salesman for the Wurlitzer Juke Box company and a beer manufacturer, Hannah and Hogg Distilleries.
While in Los Angeles, he appeared in the movies Battling Bunyan, The Prizefighter and the Lady, Big City and Heavyweight Championship of the World: Muhammad Ali vs. Floyd Patterson. He coached the boxing scenes in 1934's Personality Kid, appeared in the TV Movie Mohammed Ali vs. Ron Lyle, as well as the TV programs, Wide World of Sports, and Fight of the Week. His movie entertainment jobs included work as a film editor for MGM and 20th Century Fox.
In 1957, Fields moved to Las Vegas, Nevada and became part owner of the Tropicana Las Vegas. He eventually sold his interest in the hotel, but stayed on as public relations director. In the 1960s, he worked as Chairman of the Nevada State Athletic Commission. In 1965, Fields coached the U.S. boxing team at the 1965 Maccabiah Games.
While in Las Vegas, he married his second wife, a former New York model and Las Vegas on-stage performer, Marjorie Fields, with whom he raised several step children.
Fields died in 1987 at the age of 79 at a nursing home in Las Vegas, Nevada.
In 1996 he was inducted into the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
84Win72–9–2 Young Peter JacksonPTS10May 02, 1933 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles
83Loss71–9–2 Young Corbett IIIPTS10Feb 22, 1933 Seals Stadium, San Francisco Lost NBA and lineal welterweight titles
82Loss71–8–2 Eddie MurdockPTS10Dec 30, 1932 Coliseum, San Diego
81Win71–7–2 Red GrigryTKO5 Dec 07, 1932 Stockton
80Win70–7–2 Tommy HermanKO2 Dec 01, 1932 Civic Auditorium, San Francisco
79Win69–7–2 Henry FirpoNWS10May 05, 1932 Jefferson County Armory, Louisville
78Win68–7–2 Pee Wee JarrellKO4 Mar 05, 1932 Memorial Hall, Dayton
77Win67–7–2 Leslie BakerTKO5 Mar 11, 1932 Boston Garden, Boston
76Win66–7–2 Izzy KlineKO1 Mar 11, 1932 McCullough's Arena, Salt Lake City
75Win65–7–2 Patsy PollockKO2 Mar 08, 1932 City Auditorium, Denver
74Loss64–7–2 Jimmy BelmontUD10Mar 04, 1932 Boston Garden, Boston
73Win64–6–2 Jimmy BelmontTKO8 Feb 29, 1932 Motor Square Garden, Pittsburgh
72Win63–6–2 Lou BrouillardUD10Jan 28, 1932 Chicago Stadium, Chicago Won NBA and lineal welterweight titles
71Draw62–6–2 Jimmy BelmontPTS10Nov 16, 1931 Motor Square Garden, Pittsburgh
70Win62–6–1 King TutPTS10Oct 08, 1931 Olympia Stadium, Detroit
69Loss61–6–1 Young TerryPTS10Sep 17, 1931 Madison Square Garden, New York
68Win61–5–1 Jackie BradyUD10Feb 26, 1931 Arena, Syracuse
67Win60–5–1 Bucky LawlessKO5 Dec 19, 1930 Olympia Stadium, Detroit
66Win59–5–1 Paul PirroneMD10Dec 10, 1930 Public Hall, Cleveland
65Win58–5–1 Sam BruceMD10Nov 24, 1930 Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo
64Win57–5–1 Pete SuskyUD10Nov 14, 1930 Watres Armory, Scranton
63Win56–5–1 Tommy JordanKO3 Oct 07, 1930 Armory, Indianapolis
62Win55–5–1 Jack HornerPTS10Sep 30, 1930 Convention Hall, Rochester
61Loss54–5–1 Jack ThompsonPTS15May 09, 1930 Olympia Stadium, Detroit Lost NBA and lineal welterweight titles
60Win54–4–1 Meyer GraceKO3 Apr 21, 1930 Kansas City
59Win53–4–1 Tommy FreemanTKO4 Apr 08, 1930 Public Hall, Cleveland
58Loss52–4–1 Young Corbett IIIPTS10Feb 22, 1930 Recreation Park, San Francisco
57Win52–3–1 Vince DundeeUD10Jan 24, 1930 Chicago Stadium, Chicago
56Win51–3–1 Jimmy OwensTKO2 Jan 10, 1930 Chicago Stadium, Chicago
55Win50–3–1 Alf RosPTS10Jan 06, 1930 Arena, Philadelphia
54NC49–3–1 Gorilla JonesNC7 Dec 13, 1929 Boston Garden, Boston
53Win49–3–1 Fred MahanKO2 Nov 04, 1929 Kansas City
52Win48–3–1 Gorilla JonesPTS10Oct 21, 1929 State Armory, San Francisco
51Win47–3–1 Vince DundeePTS10Oct 02, 1929 Coliseum, Chicago
50Win46–3–1 Joe DundeeDQ2 Jul 25, 1929 State Fairgrounds Arena, Detroit Retained NBA welterweight title
Won lineal welterweight title
49Win45–3–1 Farmer Joe CooperKO1 Jun 28, 1929 Mills Stadium, Chicago
48Win44–3–1 Jackie HornerKO4 Jun 19, 1929 Battery D Arena, Saint Louis
47Win43–3–1 Clyde ChastainPTS10May 24, 1929 Chicago Stadium, Chicago
46Win42–3–1 Jack ThompsonUD10Mar 25, 1929 Coliseum, Chicago Won vacant NBA welterweight title
45Win41–3–1 Al Van RyanTKO5 Mar 08, 1929 Olympia Stadium, Detroit
44Win40–3–1 Baby Joe GansPTS10Feb 15, 1929 Madison Square Garden, New York
43Win39–3–1 Jack McCarthyPTS10Jan 28, 1929 Dexter Park Pavilion, Chicago
42Win38–3–1 Tommy ElksTKO7 Dec 28, 1928 Legion Stadium, Hollywood
41Win37–3–1 Mike PayanKO2 Nov 30, 1928 Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco
40Win36–3–1 Sammy BakerKO2 Oct 30, 1928 Wrigley Field, Los Angeles
39Win35–3–1 Jack ThompsonPTS10Oct 01, 1928 State Armory, San Francisco
38Win34–3–1 Pete MeyersTKO4 Aug 10, 1928 Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco
37Win33–3–1 Joe VargasTKO9 Jul 20, 1928 Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco
36Win32–3–1 Farmer Joe CooperPTS10Jul 13, 1928 Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco
35Win31–3–1 Jack ZivicTKO7 Jun 26, 1928 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles
34Win30–3–1 Don FraserKO3 Jun 08, 1928 Legion Stadium, Hollywood
33Win29–3–1 Don FraserKO1 May 04, 1928 Legion Stadium, Hollywood
32Win28–3–1 Vince DundeePTS10Apr 17, 1928 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles
31Loss27–3–1 Sammy MandellUD10Feb 23, 1928 Coliseum, Chicago
30Win27–2–1 Vince DundeePTS10Feb 14, 1928 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles
29Win26–2–1 Charlie FeraciPTS10Jan 13, 1928 Coliseum, San Diego
28Win25–2–1 Buddy SaundersPTS10Dec 20, 1927 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles
27Win24–2–1 Dick RamiesKO2 Dec 02, 1927 Legion Stadium, Hollywood
26Win23–2–1 Mushy CallahanPTS10Nov 22, 1927 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles
25Win22–2–1 Joey SilverPTS10Aug 30, 1927 Wrigley Field, Los Angeles
24Win21–2–1 Baby Joe GansPTS10Aug 30, 1927 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles
23Win20–2–1 Frankie FinkPTS10Jul 04, 1927 Dexter Park Arena, Woodhaven, Queens
22Loss19–2–1 Louis 'Kid' KaplanPTS10Jun 15, 1927 Polo Grounds, New York
21Win19–1–1 Russell WhalenPTS10Mar 11, 1927 Legion Stadium, Hollywood
20Win18–1–1 Harry BrownPTS10Jan 25, 1927 Arena, Vernon
19Win17–1–1 Matty MarioPTS10Jan 14, 1927 Legion Stadium, Hollywood
18Win16–1–1 Jack SilverTKO4 Dec 21, 1926 Dreamland Rink, San Francisco
17Win15–1–1 King TutPTS10Dec 07, 1926 Arena, Vernon
16Win14–1–1 Sailor Paddy MullenKO1 Nov 06, 1926 Arena, Vernon
15Win13–1–1 Dick HoppePTS10Sep 24, 1926 Legion Stadium, Hollywood
14Win12–1–1 Sailor AshmorePTS8Sep 02, 1926 Pasadena
13Win11–1–1 Roscoe HallPTS10Jul 16, 1926 Legion Stadium, Hollywood
12Win10–1–1 Johnny LamarPTS10Jun 18, 1926 Legion Stadium, Hollywood
11Win9–1–1 Johnny LamarPTS10Apr 28, 1926 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles
10Win8–1–1 Phil SalvadorePTS10Apr 09, 1926 Legion Stadium, Hollywood
9Win7–1–1 Young BrownTKO5 Mar 12, 1926 Sacramento
8Win6–1–1 Willie BuckKO3 Feb 24, 1926 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles
7Loss5–1–1 Jimmy McLarninKO2 Nov 12, 1925 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles
6Win5–0–1 Frankie FinkPTS6Aug 12, 1925 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles
5Draw4–0–1 Johnny LamarPTS6Aug 12, 1925 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles
4Win4–0 Billy YoungKO1 Jun 09, 1925 Arena, Vernon
3Win3–0 Joe SalasPTS10May 08, 1925 Legion Stadium, Hollywood
2Win2–0 Billy YoungKO2 Apr 08, 1925 Wilmington Bowl, Wilmington
1Win1–0 Benny PascalPTS6Feb 05, 1925 Armory, Pasadena