Welcome World
The Making of Boxing Champions in Black and White
A Series of Centennial Presentations by TFM
1st Installment
It Took A Tiger to Fracture Boxing’s 1920s Color Line
In 1926, Tiger Flowers, a Black American nicknamed “The Georgia Deacon,” became the first Black boxer to win the World Middleweight Championship.
TFM presents
BOXING CHAMPIONS in Black and White
It Took a TIGER to Fracture Boxing’s 1920s Color Line
PART
3
When Boxing’s Two Middleweight Champions Battled in Ohio, Harry Greb Retained the World Title and Tiger Flowers Distinguished Himself
Side-by-Side Comparisons of Harry Greb and Tiger Flowers
This series is made possible through the generous support of the TFM Centennial-PLUS Club and friends. Thank you.
TIGER FLOWERS IN 1924
Tiger by the Numbers
Tiger Flowers by the Numbers (1924)
TIGER FLOWERS, an African American, was the First Black World Middleweight Champion
Feb. 1926 – Dec. 1926
Career Fights and Opponents
Number of Bouts
34
Number of Opponents
21
Fight Locations
Number of Countries
1
Number of American States
8
Fight Outcomes
Wins
32
Loses
1
Draws
1
No Count
0
Primary Sources: Wikipedia and boxrec.com
The Frequency of Fights Among Competitors
Tiger Flowers in 1924
Fight No.
Date
Opponent
Venue
City and State
Nation
Score for Flowers
Single Encounters
Tiger Flowers single encounters with 14 opponents who represented 67-percent of the 21 opponents he fought during the year and those fights accounted for 41-percent of the 34 fights Tiger fought in 1924.
Among the competitors Tiger Flowers fought once in 1924, were Harry Greb, the then reigning World Middleweight Champion, and Johnny Wilson, the former world champion of the middleweight division, whom Greb defeated on January 18, 1924 and was awarded the title by unanimous decision. Three months after losing to Greb, Flower defeated Johnny Wilson with a technical knockout.
The fight record that boxrec.com presents clearly shows that 1924 was the year Tiger Flowers became a mainstream contender. Only one of Tiger’s 14 “one-timers” was Black, and that was Cleve Hawkins. .
Contending With Champions
Harry Greb
Johnny Wilson
TF-24-28
1924-Nov-10
Hughie Clements
Arena
Philadelphia, PA
USA
W-TKO
TF-24-09
1924-Apr-19
Jimmy Darcy
Commonwealth Sporting Club
NYC-Manhattan, NY
USA
W-PTS
TF-24-02
1924-Jan-31
Sonny Goodrich
Bellinger Theater
San Antonio, TX
USA
W-PTS
TF-24-20
1924-Aug-21
Harry Greb
XX Stadium
Fremont, OH
USA
L-NWS
TF-24-25
1924-Oct-21
Cleve Hawkins
Municipal Auditorium
Atlanta, GA
USA
W-KO
TF-24-29
1924-Nov-10
Jerry Hayes
Arena
Philadelphia, PA
USA
W-KO
TF-24-11
1924-May-03
Ted Jamieson
Commonwealth Sporting Club
NYC-Manhattan, NY
USA
W-PTS
TF-24-30
1924-Nov-27
Clem Johnson
Canton Auditorium
Canton, OH
USA
W-NWS
TF-24-01
1924-Jan-23
Herbert Moore
venue unknown
Nashville, TN
USA
W-KO
TF-24-19
1924-Aug-12
Oscar Mortimer
Soledad Roof
San Antonio, TX
USA
W-TKO
TF-24-34
1924-Dec-26
Frankie Schoell
Auditorium
Buffalo, NY
USA
DRAW
TF-24-08
1924-Apr-09
Dave Thornton
Bijou Ring
Nashville, TN
USA
W-KO
TF-24-12
1924-May-14
Willie Walker
Commonwealth Sporting Club
NYC-Manhattan, NY
USA
W-TKO
TF-24-32
1924-Dec-09
Johnny Wilson
Madison Square Garden
NYC-Manhattan, NY
USA
W-TKO
Multiple Encounters
Opponents listed alphabetically.
1_Tiger Flowers fought Lee Anderson three times in 1924, across three states, New York, Georgia, and Ohio, winning all three encounters.
TF-24-07
1924-Mar-29
Lee Anderson
Commonwealth Sporting Club
NYC-Manhattan, NY
USA
W-PTS
TF-24-16
1924-Jul-03
Lee Anderson
Municipal Auditorium
Atlanta, GA
USA
W-DQ
TF-24-22
1924-Sep-22
Lee Anderson
venue unknown
Columbus, OH
USA
W-UD
2_Tiger Flowers fought Battling Gahee four times in 1924, across four cities in Ohio, including the state capital, Columbus, winning all four encounters.
TF-24-04
1924-Feb-25
Battling Gahee
Barberton Stadium
Barberton, OH
USA
W-PTS
TF-24-14
1924-Jun-20
Battling Gahee
Fremont Theatre
Fremont, OH
USA
W-NWS
TF-24-23
1924-Sep-30
Battling Gahee
Weller Theater
Zanesville, OH
USA
W-TKO
TF-24-31
1924-Dec-01
Battling Gahee
venue unknown
Columbus, OH
USA
W-TKO
3_Tiger Flowers fought Jamaica Kid five times in 1924, more than any other opponent. The fights were conducted in across four states: Michigan, Kentucky, New York, and in Ohio, where Tiger and Jamaica Kid fought twice. Tiger won three of the fights based on newspaper decisions, and one by unanimous decision.
TF-24-05
1924-Mar-03
Jamaica Kid
Fremont Theatre
Fremont, OH
USA
W-NWS
TF-24-15
1924-Jun-27
Jamaica Kid
venue unknown
Grand Rapids, MI
USA
W-NWS
TF-24-17
1924-Jul-22
Jamaica Kid
Riverside Arena
Covington, KY
USA
W-NWS
TF-24-21
1924-Sep-15
Jamaica Kid
venue unknown
Columbus, OH
USA
W-UD
TF-24-24
1924-Oct-11
Jamaica Kid
Commonwealth Sport
NYC-Manhattan, NY
USA
W-TKO
4_
TF-24-03
1924-Feb-18
Bob Lawson
Coliseum
Toledo, OH
USA
W-TKO
TF-24-06
1924-Mar-19
Bob Lawson
venue unknown
Nashville, TN
USA
W-KO
5_
TF-24-13
1924-Jun-14
Joe Lohman
Commonwealth Sporting Club
NYC-Manhattan, NY
USA
W-PTS
TF-24-26
1924-Oct-23
Joe Lohman
Moose Arena
Hamilton, OH
USA
W-DQ
6_
TF-24-10
1924-Apr-29
George Robinson
Municipal Auditorium
Atlanta, GA
USA
W-PTS
TF-24-27
1924-Nov-01
George Robinson
Commonwealth Sporting Club
NY-Manhattan, NY
USA
W-PTS
7_
TF-24-18
1924-Aug-02
Jack Townsend
Commonwealth Sporting Club
NYC-Manhattan, NY
USA
W-TKO
TF-24-33
1924-Dec-15
Jack Townsend
Arena
Philadelphia, PA
USA
W-TKO
The Fights of TIGER FLOWERS in 1924 by LOCATION
1924
Tiger Flowers conducted 34 matches across 8 states representing three sections of the country: South (Kentucky, Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas), Midwest (Michigan and Ohio), and the East Coast (New York and Pennsylvania). The chart below lists the states according to the number of fights Tiger fought there. Ohio and New York are where Tiger fought nearly two-thirds of his 34 fights of 1924.
States Where Tiger Flowers Fought in 1924
1. Ohio (11)
2. New York (10)
3. Georgia (3)
4. Pennsylvania (3)
5. Tennessee (3)
6. Texas (2)
7. Kentucky (1)
8. Michigan (1)
Giving Fremont, Ohio Its Due
Tiger Flowers fought more bouts in Ohio than any other state in 1924; and fought more bouts in Fremont than any other city or town in Ohio. Freemont was not only a boxing hub for Black boxers, but it is where Tiger Flowers first challenged Harry Greb for the title of World Middleweight Champion, a title he would not win for another two years.
Below are the fights Tiger Flowers fought in each of the eight states in 1924. What is stunning is the number of state capitals where Tiger fought that year—five in total: Atlanta, Georgia; Buffalo, New York; Columbus, Ohio; Nashville, Tennessee; and San Antonio, Texas. State capitals had significant influence and control over fights, and lawmakers decided who could fight, when and where fights could be held, how many rounds could be fought, who could attend fights, and under what conditions. These are just a few examples of how state and local governance controlled the fight game during the early 20th century.
Fight No.
Date
Opponent
Venue
City and State
Nation
Score for Flowers
GEORGIA
Atlanta, GA
TF-24-10
1924-Apr-29
George Robinson
Municipal Auditorium
Atlanta, GA
USA
W-PTS
TF-24-16
1924-Jul-03
Lee Anderson
Municipal Auditorium
Atlanta, GA
USA
W-DQ
TF-24-25
1924-Oct-21
Cleve Hawkins
Municipal Auditorium
Atlanta, GA
USA
W-KO
KENTUCKY
Covington, KY
TF-24-17
1924-Jul-22
Jamaica Kid
Riverside Arena
Covington, KY
USA
W-NWS
MICHIGAN
Grand Rapids, MI
TF-24-15
1924-Jun-27
Jamaica Kid
venue unknown
Grand Rapids, MI
USA
W-NWS
NEW YORK
Buffalo, NY
TF-24-34
1924-Dec-26
Frankie Schoell
Auditorium
Buffalo, NY
USA
DRAW
SEE MORE: Boxing in Buffalo and The Auditorium.
NYC – Manhattan, NY
TF-24-07
1924-Mar-29
Lee Anderson
Commonwealth Sporting Club
NYC-Manhattan, NY
USA
W-PTS
TF-24-09
1924-Apr-19
Jimmy Darcy
Commonwealth Sporting Club
NYC-Manhattan, NY
USA
W-PTS
TF-24-11
1924-May-03
Ted Jamieson
Commonwealth Sporting Club
NYC-Manhattan, NY
USA
W-PTS
TF-24-12
1924-May-14
Willie Walker
Commonwealth Sporting Club
NYC-Manhattan, NY
USA
W-TKO
TF-24-13
1924-Jun-14
Joe Lohman
Commonwealth Sporting Club
NYC-Manhattan, NY
USA
W-PTS
TF-24-18
1924-Aug-02
Jack Townsend
Commonwealth Sporting Club
NYC-Manhattan, NY
USA
W-TKO
TF-24-24
1924-Oct-11
Jamaica Kid
Commonwealth Sport
NYC-Manhattan, NY
USA
W-TKO
TF-24-27
1924-Nov-01
George Robinson
Commonwealth Sporting Club
NY-Manhattan, NY
USA
W-PTS
TF-24-32
1924-Dec-09
Johnny Wilson
Madison Square Garden
NYC-Manhattan, NY
USA
W-TKO
OHIO
Tiger Flowers met 7 opponents in 11 matches that were fought in 7 towns across Ohio in 1924. Two of the opponents were white, including Harry Greb, the World Middleweight Champion. Greb was awarded the match and thus handed Tiger his only loss of the year. Tiger’s other white opponent was Joe Lohman, who hailed from Toledo, Ohio. Lohman lost his October 23rd, Hamilton, Ohio match with Tiger on a disqualification. Tiger and Lohman first met four months earlier on June 14, 1924 at the Commonwealth Club in New York. Tiger won that match on points and all four career matches fought between them, including his October 17, 1927 match which was the first of Tiger’s last three career fights.
An interesting picture emerges when we examine the five Black opponents Tiger fought in Ohio. Battling Gahee exchanged leather four times with Tiger Flowers in 1924, in four Ohio towns: Barberton, Columbus, Fremont, and Zanesville. Tiger fought Battling Gahee a total of five times in 1924, more than any other opponent that year. The frequency of their fights might reflect the popularity of both boxers in 1924, particularly among Black Ohioans, who might have taken considerable interest in seeing which man was the better fighter. Tiger Flowers also had multiple encounters with Jamaica Kid. The pair fought twice in Ohio: in Fremont in March, and Columbus, six months later in September.
Clem Johnson, Lee Anderson, and Bob Lawson are the remaining three Black boxers who were on Tiger’s Ohio roster in 1924, and all three lost their matches with “The Georgian Deacon.” When viewed as a whole, the record suggests that Black-on-Black matches were quite popular among Ohioans, from Barberton to Zanesville.
Barberton, OH
TF-24-04
1924-Feb-25
Battling Gahee
Barberton Stadium
Barberton, OH
USA
W-PTS
Canton, OH
TF-24-30
1924-Nov-27
Clem Johnson
Canton Auditorium
Canton, OH
USA
W-NWS
Columbus, OH
TF-24-21
1924-Sep-15
Jamaica Kid
venue unknown
Columbus, OH
USA
W-UD
TF-24-22
1924-Sep-22
Lee Anderson
venue unknown
Columbus, OH
USA
W-UD
TF-24-31
1924-Dec-01
Battling Gahee
venue unknown
Columbus, OH
USA
W-TKO
SEE MORE: Boxing in Columbus, Ohio.
Fremont, OH
TF-24-05
1924-Mar-03
Jamaica Kid
Fremont Theatre
Fremont, OH
USA
W-NWS
TF-24-14
1924-Jun-20
Battling Gahee
Fremont Theatre
Fremont, OH
USA
W-NWS
Tiger’s First Match with the World Middleweight Champion
TF-24-20
1924-Aug-21
Harry Greb
XX Stadium
Fremont, OH
USA
L-NWS
SEE MORE: Boxing in Fremont, Ohio.
Hamilton, OH
TF-24-26
1924-Oct-23
Joe Lohman
Moose Arena
Hamilton, OH
USA
W-DQ
Toledo, OH
TF-24-03
1924-Feb-18
Bob Lawson
Coliseum
Toledo, OH
USA
W-TKO
SEE MORE: Boxing in Toledo, Ohio.
Zanesville, OH
TF-24-23
1924-Sep-30
Battling Gahee
Weller Theater
Zanesville, OH
USA
W-TKO
PENNSYLVANIA
Philadelphia, PA
TF-24-28
1924-Nov-10
Hughie Clements
Arena
Philadelphia, PA
USA
W-TKO
TF-24-29
1924-Nov-10
Jerry Hayes
Arena
Philadelphia, PA
USA
W-KO
TF-24-33
1924-Dec-15
Jack Townsend
Arena
Philadelphia, PA
USA
W-TKO
TENNESSEE
Nashville, TN
TF-24-01
1924-Jan-23
Herbert Moore
venue unknown
Nashville, TN
USA
W-KO
TF-24-06
1924-Mar-19
Bob Lawson
venue unknown
Nashville, TN
USA
W-KO
TF-24-08
1924-Apr-09
Dave Thornton
Bijou Ring
Nashville, TN
USA
W-KO
TEXAS
San Antonio, TX
TF-24-02
1924-Jan-31
Sonny Goodrich
Bellinger Theater
San Antonio, TX
USA
W-PTS
TF-24-19
1924-Aug-12
Oscar Mortimer
Soledad Roof
San Antonio, TX
USA
W-TKO
Matches in San Antonio
About the Bellinger Theater
Charles Bellinger, a prominent Black businessman and political leader in San Antonio, owned the Bellinger Theater in 1924.
The theater, located at 505 E. Commerce St., was part of a larger complex that included the Avalon Grill, the Smart Set Auditorium, and a pool hall. Bellinger operated the theater as a venue for entertainment and, later, as the nerve center of his lucrative lottery operation. Although the theater itself was a commercial enterprise, it was central to the economic and political influence Bellinger wielded in the historically African American East Side community. His ownership reflected his broader role as a key figure in Black civic and business life in San Antonio during the early 20th century.
Charles Bellinger, a prominent Black entrepreneur and political leader, died in 1937, and his son Valmo Bellinger later sold the family estate—including the land where the theater stood—to Greater Corinth Baptist Church in the late 1940s. While the Bellinger family mansion was restored and remains in use by the church, the commercial buildings associated with Bellinger’s enterprises, including the theater, are no longer operational.
Source: BRAVE AI
SEE MORE: Boxing in San Antonio, Texas.
A Chronological Listing of the Fights of
Tiger Flowers in 1924
Fight No.
Date
Opponent
Venue
City and State
Nation
Score for Flowers
Tiger Began His 1924 Campaign in Nashville
TF-24-01
1924-Jan-23
Herbert Moore
venue unknown
Nashville, TN
USA
W-KO
TF-24-02
1924-Jan-31
Sonny Goodrich
Bellinger Theater
San Antonio, TX
USA
W-PTS
TF-24-03
1924-Feb-18
Bob Lawson
Coliseum
Toledo, OH
USA
W-TKO
TF-24-04
1924-Feb-25
Battling Gahee
Barberton Stadium
Barberton, OH
USA
W-PTS
TF-24-05
1924-Mar-03
Jamaica Kid
Fremont Theatre
Fremont, OH
USA
W-NWS
TF-24-06
1924-Mar-19
Bob Lawson
venue unknown
Nashville, TN
USA
W-KO
TF-24-07
1924-Mar-29
Lee Anderson
Commonwealth Sporting Club
NYC-Manhattan, NY
USA
W-PTS
TF-24-08
1924-Apr-09
Dave Thornton
Bijou Ring
Nashville, TN
USA
W-KO
TF-24-09
1924-Apr-19
Jimmy Darcy
Commonwealth Sporting Club
NYC-Manhattan, NY
USA
W-PTS
TF-24-10
1924-Apr-29
George Robinson
Municipal Auditorium
Atlanta, GA
USA
W-PTS
With Ted Jamieson, Tiger Battled A Boxer Shaped by Military Service
TF-24-11
1924-May-03
Ted Jamieson
Commonwealth Sporting Club
NYC-Manhattan, NY
USA
W-PTS
Boxing During the War and Beyond
Boxing was an essential part of military life during THE TRIPLE FIGHT Era and helped launch the careers of numerous former service men, including Ted Jamieson.
When the U. S. declared war on Germany on 6 April 1917, two infantry regiments in the upper Midwest were already in Federal service. They would eventually become part of the 32nd ‘Red Arrow’ Division: the 33rd Michigan Infantry and 3rd Wisconsin Infantry. After examining available information about the movements of the 32nd Division in 1917 and Ted Jamieson’s fight record, TFM has concluded that Jamieson was likely assigned to the 3rd Wisconsin Infantry and soon thereafter became member of the 32nd Division.
The first match recorded for Ted Jamieson by boxrec.com places Jamieson at Camp Douglas, an Army Training facility in Wisconsin, Jamieson’s adopted home state. Jamieson was deployed to France and remained in there during the months that followed after the Armistice that ended World War I on November 11, 1918.
In 1919, during a three month period spanning April to June, Ted Jamieson fought six matches in Paris hosted by the Paris YMCA. The matches concluded a few weeks before U.S. Troops marched under the Arch de Triumph in Paris, on July 14, 1919, as part of France’s first post-war Bastille Day Commemorations. The first opponent Jameison met during the Paris YMCA matches was a U.S. Marine named Gene Tunney. Jamieson lost the April 26, 1919 match with Tunney for the light-heavyweight championship of the American Expeditionary Forces. Jamieson ended his Paris bouts with a mixed record of three wins and three losses. Jamieson became professional boxers after receiving honorable discharges from the military. Tunney, on the other hand, had been competing on a professional level since 1815, but unlike Jamieson, Tunney did not have a racially inclusive boxing record. Still, Tunney is best known for defeating Jack Dempsey in 1926 to become the new World Heavyweight Champion, a title he held until he retired in 1928.
Above, is a photo of Gene Tunney, as he appeared in 1923, four years after he left the U.S. Marine Corps.
Harry Greb
Fight Years:
1913-1926
World Middleweight Champion
1924-1926
The one opponent Ted Jamieson, Gene Tunney and Tiger Flowers had in common was Harry Greb. Jamieson twice lost to Greb. Flowers won his two matches against Greb. Tunney fought Greb five times, scoring three wins, one loss, and one draw.
Tiger Flowers was not Jamieson’s only Black ring-rival. His fight roster from 1921 through 1924 included other notable Black boxers. The chart below shows the three Black boxers Jamieson fought before his match with Tiger Flowers. Fight outcomes for Jamieson are included. Nine months after losing to Flowers, Jamieson suffered back-to-back losses to Mike Gibbons and Young Stribling. He ended his boxing career after losing to Stribling.
George Robinson
1921-Apr-23
[W-PTS]
Boston, MA
Sam Langford
1922-May-22
[D-PTS]
Chicago, IL
Lee Anderson
1922-Jun-19
[W-DQ]
Juarez, MEX
Tiger Flowers
1924-May-03
[L-PTS]
NYC, NY
Ted Jamieson lost his final match on 1925-Feb-20 to Young Stribling in Savannah, Ga
TF-24-12
1924-May-14
Willie Walker
Commonwealth Sporting Club
NYC-Manhattan, NY
USA
W-TKO
TF-24-13
1924-Jun-14
Joe Lohman
Commonwealth Sporting Club
NYC-Manhattan, NY
USA
W-PTS
TF-24-14
1924-Jun-20
Battling Gahee
Fremont Theatre
Fremont, OH
USA
W-NWS
TF-24-15
1924-Jun-27
Jamaica Kid
venue unknown
Grand Rapids, MI
USA
W-NWS
TF-24-16
1924-Jul-03
Lee Anderson
Municipal Auditorium
Atlanta, GA
USA
W-DQ
TF-24-17
1924-Jul-22
Jamaica Kid
Riverside Arena
Covington, KY
USA
W-NWS
TF-24-18
1924-Aug-02
Jack Townsend
Commonwealth Sporting Club
NYC-Manhattan, NY
USA
W-TKO
TF-24-19
1924-Aug-12
Oscar Mortimer
Soledad Roof
San Antonio, TX
USA
W-TKO
Tiger Challenged the Middleweight Champion and Lost
TF-24-20
1924-Aug-21
Harry Greb
XX Stadium
Fremont, OH
USA
L-NWS
TF-24-21
1924-Sep-15
Jamaica Kid
venue unknown
Columbus, OH
USA
W-UD
TF-24-22
1924-Sep-22
Lee Anderson
venue unknown
Columbus, OH
USA
W-UD
TF-24-23
1924-Sep-30
Battling Gahee
Weller Theater
Zanesville, OH
USA
W-TKO
TF-24-24
1924-Oct-11
Jamaica Kid
Commonwealth Sport
NYC-Manhattan, NY
USA
W-TKO
TF-24-25
1924-Oct-21
Cleve Hawkins
Municipal Auditorium
Atlanta, GA
USA
W-KO
TF-24-26
1924-Oct-23
Joe Lohman
Moose Arena
Hamilton, OH
USA
W-DQ
TF-24-27
1924-Nov-01
George Robinson
Commonwealth Sporting Club
NY-Manhattan, NY
USA
W-PTS
Tiger KO’d Two Opponents at One Event in Philadelphia
TF-24-28
1924-Nov-10
Hughie Clements
Arena
Philadelphia, PA
USA
W-TKO
TF-24-29
1924-Nov-10
Jerry Hayes
Arena
Philadelphia, PA
USA
W-KO
TF-24-30
1924-Nov-27
Clem Johnson
Canton Auditorium
Canton, OH
USA
W-NWS
TF-24-31
1924-Dec-01
Battling Gahee
venue unknown
Columbus, OH
USA
W-TKO
Tiger Handley Defeated the Former Middleweight Champion in NYC
TF-24-32
1924-Dec-09
Johnny Wilson
Madison Square Garden
NYC-Manhattan, NY
USA
W-TKO
TF-24-33
1924-Dec-15
Jack Townsend
Arena
Philadelphia, PA
USA
W-TKO
Tiger Concluded His 1924 Campaign in Buffalo, NY
TF-24-34
1924-Dec-26
Frankie Schoell
Auditorium
Buffalo, NY
USA
DRAW
z
The Tiger-Schoell Fight
Tiger Flowers and Frankie Schoell fought at the Auditorium in Buffalo on December 26, 1924. It was the last bout of the year for both men and it ended in a draw.
The headline of an article appearing in the December 26, 1926 edition of The Buffalo Morning Star offers three interesting insights. The first is the promotion of the scheduled holiday fight held later that day between Tiger Flowers and Frankie Schoell, the “Bison (as in Buffalo, NY) Welter Champ” referred to in the headline. The second offering is the reference to Tiger Flowers being famous for his “try with Greb.” Most historical boxing sites do not regard the Flowers-Greb battle in Ohio as a title bout, however the wording “try with Greb” suggests a “try” to unseat Harry Greb as the World Middleweight Champion. The third standout is the emphasis on race. While being complimentary on one hand, the repeated reference to Tiger Flowers’ race signals society’s hypersensitivity to Blackness. The newspaper acknowledges Flowers’ accomplishment, but not in a particularly validating way. The newspaper’s greatest value to TFM is the information it provides about Buffalo’s Welterweight Champion, Frankie Schoell, who was the subject of a promotional boxing card held in the Museum’s collection.
MEET FRANKIE SCHOELL
Below is a TFM-Graphic developed to highlight an Exhibit Supply Company postcard featuring Frankie Schoell. On the reverse of the postcard is information about Schoell’s boxing career from 1921 through 1923. This and other boxer postcards published by the Exhibit Supply Company of Chicago are sought after by collectors for their imagery and information about boxers and boxing during the first half of the 20th century.
The exhibit card mentions three boxers who were important figures in the American welterweight division during the era of THE TRIPLE FIGHT and to Schoell’s development as a boxer: Pinky Mitchell, Dave Shade, and Jack Britton. Below is an Exhibit Supply Co. postcard for Jack Britton.
Jack Britton
Jack Britton had a long career and remarkable career as a professional boxer that spanned from 1905 to 1930 and included an extended reign as World Welterweight Champion. Britton and British rival Ted Kid Lewis, exchanged the World Welter Title multiple times during the late 1910s, with Britton holding the title when their series ended. Included among Britton’s many notable opponents were Pinky Mitchell and Dave Shade. Shade challenged Britton twice for the title but both bouts ended in a draw. Frankie Schoell, like Mitchell, was unsuccessful in scoring a win over Britton. Unlike Shade and Schoell, Britton’s career did not include Black competitors featured in the TFM Collection.
Having battled Mitchell, Shade, and Britton, Frankie Schoell was a serious and experienced contender when he met Flowers. The post-Christmas battle was ruled draw, giving both men a measure of satisfaction as they closed out their 1926 campaigns.
With your support, TFM will continue to elevate stories that can inform, engage, and inspire.
TFM — In the FIGHT FOR GOOD