# George Byers (boxer)

George Byers (June 25, 1872 – April 10, 1937) was a Canadian boxer who won the World Colored Middleweight Championship in 1897 and held the World Colored Heavyweight Championship from September 14, 1898, to March 16, 1901, a reign of 913 days. The 5′ 8½″ fought out of Boston from 1895 to 1904 at a weight of between 120 and 165 lbs., in many weight classes and frequently against men that were much larger than himself. On 9 December 1897 in Waterbury, Connecticut, he faced Harry Peppers in a title match for the World Colored Middleweight Championship. Byers knocked out the undefeated Peppers, the Pacific Coast Middleweight Champion of the Pacific Coast in the 19th round of a 20-round contest. He took up US citizenship in 1917 (subscription required)

## Rivalry With Frank Childs

Byers fought Frank Childs for the world colored heavyweight title on 14 September 1898 at the Lenox Athletic Club in New York City, winning on points in a 20-round bout. Childs continued to claim the title during Byers' reign, and fought former colored heavyweight champ Bob Armstrong on 4 March 1899 in Cincinnati, Ohio, in a fight announced as being for the title.
Byers next fought Childs, who was billing himself as the "black heavyweight title" holder, on 16 March at the Star Athletic Club in Chicago. Byers had put his colored heavyweight title on the line and emerged victorious, winning a decision in a six-round contest.
One year later, on 16 March 1901, Byers lost his title to Childs when the ex-champ KO-ed him in the 17th round of a 20-round title bout. They never fought again.

## Record

Byers racked up a record of 20 wins (17 by knock out) against seven losses (knocked out four times) and 20 draws.

## Legacy & Honors

In 2020 award-winning author Mark Allen Baker published the first comprehensive account of The World Colored Heavyweight Championship, 1876-1937, with McFarland & Company, a leading independent publisher of academic & nonfiction books. This history traces the advent and demise of the Championship, the stories of the talented professional athletes who won it, and the demarcation of the color line both in and out of the ring.
For decades the World Colored Heavyweight Championship was a useful tool to combat racial oppression-the existence of the title a leverage mechanism, or tool, used as a technique to counter a social element, “drawing the color line.”

## Death

Byers died in Boston City Hospital, either of pneumonia or a heart attack depending on conflicting reports, in 1937.

## Professional boxing record

All information in this section is derived from BoxRec, unless otherwise stated.

### Official record

| 52 fights | 20 wins | 7 losses |
| By knockout | 14 | 4 |
| By decision | 6 | 2 |
| By disqualification | 0 | 1 |
| Draws | 20 | 20 |
| No contests | 3 | 3 |
| Newspaper decisions/draws | 2 | 2 |
All newspaper decisions are officially regarded as “no decision” bouts and are not counted in the win/loss/draw column.
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes |
| 52 | Draw | 20–7–20 (5) | Charlie Haghey | PTS | 10 | May 3, 1904 | Portland, Maine, US | |
| 51 | Win | 20–7–19 (5) | Cyclone Robinson | KO | 1 (10) | Mar 21, 1904 | Pastime A.C., Portland, Maine, US | |
| 50 | Win | 19–7–19 (5) | Black Fitzsimmons | TKO | 8 (10) | Mar 14, 1904 | Pastime A.C., Portland, Maine, US | |
| 49 | Win | 18–7–19 (5) | Dick Moore | KO | 3 (12) | Jul 31, 1903 | Lenox A.C., Boston, Massachusetts, US | |
| 48 | Loss | 17–7–19 (5) | Philadelphia Jack O'Brien | NWS | 6 | May 23, 1903 | National A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US | |
| 47 | Loss | 17–7–19 (4) | Sandy Ferguson | PTS | 12 | Apr 8, 1903 | Tempiar A.C., Brighton, Massachusetts, US | |
| 46 | Draw | 17–6–19 (4) | Charlie Haghey | PTS | 12 | Feb 23, 1903 | Lawrence, Massachusetts, US | |
| 45 | Draw | 17–6–18 (4) | Sandy Ferguson | PTS | 8 | Jan 22, 1903 | Brighton Social & A.C., Brighton, Massachusetts, US | Pre arranged draw if lasting the distance |
| 44 | Win | 17–6–17 (4) | Mike Schalow | PTS | 6 | Dec 25, 1902 | Lenox A.C., Boston, Massachusetts, US | |
| 43 | Draw | 16–6–17 (4) | Jack 'Twin' Sullivan | PTS | 6 | Dec 1, 1902 | Bangor, Maine, US | |
| 42 | Draw | 16–6–16 (4) | Dick O'Brien | PTS | 10 | Oct 30, 1902 | Norumbega Hall, Bangor, Maine, US | |
| 41 | Win | 16–6–15 (4) | Charlie Haghey | PTS | 10 | May 9, 1902 | East Boston A.A., Boston, Massachusetts, US | |
| 40 | Win | 15–6–15 (4) | J. Wightman | KO | 1 (10) | Apr 19, 1902 | Bowdoin Square Athletic Club, Boston, Massachusetts, US | |
| 39 | Loss | 14–6–15 (4) | Tom Carey | TKO | 13 (15) | Nov 28, 1901 | Casino, New Britain, Connecticut, US | |
| 38 | Loss | 14–5–15 (4) | Billy Stift | PTS | 6 | Nov 9, 1901 | Chicago A.C., Chicago, Illinois, US | |
| 37 | Draw | 14–4–15 (4) | Mysterious Billy Smith | PTS | 15 | Aug 19, 1901 | Victoria Rink, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada | |
| 36 | Loss | 14–4–14 (4) | Frank Childs | KO | 17 (20) | Mar 16, 1901 | Hot Springs, Arkansas, US | Lost world colored heavyweight title |
| 35 | Loss | 14–3–14 (4) | Jack Root | KO | 9 (20) | Jan 18, 1901 | Woodward's Pavilion, San Francisco, California, US | |
| 34 | Win | 14–2–14 (4) | Tim Draffin Murphy | PTS | 6 | Oct 30, 1900 | Star A.C., Chicago, Illinois, US | |
| 33 | Draw | 13–2–14 (4) | 'Wild' Bill Hanrahan | PTS | 15 | Aug 29, 1900 | Pawtucket, Rhode Island, US | |
| 32 | Draw | 13–2–13 (4) | Dick O'Brien | PTS | 15 | May 30, 1900 | Lynn, Massachusetts, US | |
| 31 | NC | 13–2–12 (4) | George Gardner | NC | 15 (15) | May 14, 1900 | Roanoke A.C., Boston, Massachusetts, US | Fight stopped for "bluffing" |
| 30 | Draw | 13–2–12 (3) | Frank Childs | PTS | 6 | Mar 16, 1900 | Star Athletic Club, Chicago, Illinois, US | Retained world colored heavyweight title; For black heavyweight title |
| 29 | Loss | 13–2–11 (3) | George Gardner | DQ | 14 (15) | Feb 22, 1900 | Coliseum, Hartford, Connecticut, US | Byers DQ'd for hitting Gardner after a knockdown |
| 28 | Win | 13–1–11 (3) | Martin Mulverhill | TKO | 2 (15) | Feb 12, 1900 | Kirkland Athletic Club, Lynn, Massachusetts, US | |
| 27 | Draw | 12–1–11 (3) | George Gardner | NWS | 15 | Feb 2, 1900 | Lasters Hall, Lynn, Massachusetts, US | Pre-arranged draw if it lasted the distance |
| 26 | Draw | 12–1–11 (2) | Jim McCormick | PTS | 12 | Jan 11, 1900 | Brockton Athletic Club, Brockton, Massachusetts, US | |
| 25 | Draw | 12–1–10 (2) | Dick O'Brien | PTS | 10 | Dec 28, 1899 | Lewiston, Maine, US | |
| 24 | Win | 12–1–9 (2) | Jack Burke | PTS | 10 | Nov 3, 1899 | Kirtland Athletic Club, Lynn, Massachusetts, US | |
| 23 | Loss | 11–1–9 (2) | Tommy West | KO | 7 (25) | Sep 4, 1899 | Coney Island Athletic Club, New York City, New York, US | |
| 22 | Draw | 11–0–9 (2) | Australian Jim Ryan | PTS | 25 | Aug 12, 1899 | Greenwood Athletic Club, New York City, New York, US | |
| 21 | Win | 11–0–8 (2) | Charley Strong | TKO | 9 (20) | Jul 24, 1899 | Coney Island Athletic Club, New York City, New York, US | |
| 20 | Draw | 10–0–8 (2) | Billy Stift | PTS | 6 | Jun 16, 1899 | Star Theatre, Chicago, Illinois, US | |
| 19 | NC | 10–0–7 (2) | Dick O'Brien | NC | 3 | May 30, 1899 | Pawtucket, Rhode Island, US | |
| 18 | Win | 10–0–7 (1) | Jack Cattanach | TKO | 2 (10) | May 3, 1899 | Pawtucket, Rhode Island, US | |
| 17 | Win | 9–0–7 (1) | Charles Goff | TKO | 2 (20) | Apr 3, 1899 | Broadway Athletic Club, New York City, New York, US | |
| 16 | Draw | 8–0–7 (1) | Jack Bonner | PTS | 20 | Dec 13, 1898 | Lenox Athletic Club, New York City, New York, US | |
| 15 | Win | 8–0–6 (1) | Frank Childs | PTS | 20 | Sep 14, 1898 | Lenox Athletic Club, New York City, New York, US | Won world colored heavyweight title |
| 14 | ND | 7–0–6 (1) | Bob Armstrong | ND | ? | May 2, 1898 | Roanoke Athletic Club, Boston, Massachusetts, US | Winner not specified |
| 13 | Draw | 7–0–6 | Johnny Gorman | PTS | 8 | Apr 28, 1898 | Lynn, Massachusetts, US | Pre-arranged draw if it lasted the distance |
| 12 | Win | 7–0–5 | Harry Peppers | KO | 19 (20) | Dec 9, 1897 | Auditorium, Waterbury, Connecticut, US | |
| 11 | Draw | 6–0–5 | Dan Murphy | PTS | 20 | Nov 11, 1897 | Jacque's Auditorium, Waterbury, Connecticut, US | |
| 10 | Draw | 6–0–4 | Charles Goff | PTS | 12 | Sep 23, 1897 | Gladiator Athletic Club, Hartford, Connecticut, US | |
| 9 | Draw | 6–0–3 | Dan Murphy | PTS | 15 | May 25, 1897 | Nutmeg Athletic Club, Hartford, Connecticut, US | |
| 8 | Draw | 6–0–2 | Dan Murphy | PTS | 10 | Apr 5, 1897 | Auditorium, Hartford, Connecticut, US | |
| 7 | Win | 6–0–1 | Lon Beckwith | TKO | 5 (12) | Mar 24, 1897 | Broadway Athletic Club, New York City, New York, US | |
| 6 | Win | 5–0–1 | James McNamara | KO | 3 (10) | Feb 25, 1897 | New York City, New York, US | |
| 5 | Win | 4–0–1 | Jack Boylan | KO | 2 (10) | Feb 17, 1897 | New Polo Athletic Club, New York City, New York, US | |
| 4 | Win | 3–0–1 | Dan Carroll | TKO | 7 (10) | Dec 16, 1896 | Boston, Massachusetts, US | |
| 3 | Win | 2–0–1 | Charley Smith | PTS | 8 | Dec 1, 1895 | Boston, Massachusetts, US | Exact date is unavailable |
| 2 | Win | 1–0–1 | Charley Gerrard | KO | 2 (8) | Nov 11, 1895 | Boston, Massachusetts, US | Exact date is unavailable |
| 1 | Draw | 0–0–1 | Jack Colbert | PTS | 3 | Aug 23, 1895 | Boston, Massachusetts, US | |

### Unofficial record

| 52 fights | 20 wins | 8 losses |
| By knockout | 14 | 4 |
| By decision | 6 | 3 |
| By disqualification | 0 | 1 |
| Draws | 21 | 21 |
| No contests | 3 | 3 |
Record with the inclusion of newspaper decisions in the win/loss/draw column.
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 52 | Draw | 20–8–20 (3) | Charlie Haghey | PTS | 10 | May 3, 1904 | Portland, Maine, US | |
| 51 | Win | 20–8–19 (3) | Cyclone Robinson | KO | 1 (10) | Mar 21, 1904 | Pastime A.C., Portland, Maine, US | |
| 50 | Win | 19–8–19 (3) | Black Fitzsimmons | TKO | 8 (10) | Mar 14, 1904 | Pastime A.C., Portland, Maine, US | |
| 49 | Win | 18–8–19 (3) | Dick Moore | KO | 3 (12) | Jul 31, 1903 | Lenox A.C., Boston, Massachusetts, US | |
| 48 | Loss | 17–8–19 (3) | Philadelphia Jack O'Brien | NWS | 6 | May 23, 1903 | National A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US | |
| 47 | Loss | 17–7–19 (3) | Sandy Ferguson | PTS | 12 | Apr 8, 1903 | Tempiar A.C., Brighton, Massachusetts, US | |
| 46 | Draw | 17–6–19 (3) | Charlie Haghey | PTS | 12 | Feb 23, 1903 | Lawrence, Massachusetts, US | |
| 45 | Draw | 17–6–18 (3) | Sandy Ferguson | PTS | 8 | Jan 22, 1903 | Brighton Social & A.C., Brighton, Massachusetts, US | Pre arranged draw if lasting the distance |
| 44 | Win | 17–6–17 (3) | Mike Schalow | PTS | 6 | Dec 25, 1902 | Lenox A.C., Boston, Massachusetts, US | |
| 43 | Draw | 16–6–17 (3) | Jack 'Twin' Sullivan | PTS | 6 | Dec 1, 1902 | Bangor, Maine, US | |
| 42 | Draw | 16–6–16 (3) | Dick O'Brien | PTS | 10 | Oct 30, 1902 | Norumbega Hall, Bangor, Maine, US | |
| 41 | Win | 16–6–15 (3) | Charlie Haghey | PTS | 10 | May 9, 1902 | East Boston A.A., Boston, Massachusetts, US | |
| 40 | Win | 15–6–15 (3) | J. Wightman | KO | 1 (10) | Apr 19, 1902 | Bowdoin Square Athletic Club, Boston, Massachusetts, US | |
| 39 | Loss | 14–6–15 (3) | Tom Carey | TKO | 13 (15) | Nov 28, 1901 | Casino, New Britain, Connecticut, US | |
| 38 | Loss | 14–5–15 (3) | Billy Stift | PTS | 6 | Nov 9, 1901 | Chicago A.C., Chicago, Illinois, US | |
| 37 | Draw | 14–4–15 (3) | Mysterious Billy Smith | PTS | 15 | Aug 19, 1901 | Victoria Rink, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada | |
| 36 | Loss | 14–4–14 (3) | Frank Childs | KO | 17 (20) | Mar 16, 1901 | Hot Springs, Arkansas, US | Lost world colored heavyweight title |
| 35 | Loss | 14–3–14 (3) | Jack Root | KO | 9 (20) | Jan 18, 1901 | Woodward's Pavilion, San Francisco, California, US | |
| 34 | Win | 14–2–14 (3) | Tim Draffin Murphy | PTS | 6 | Oct 30, 1900 | Star A.C., Chicago, Illinois, US | |
| 33 | Draw | 13–2–14 (3) | 'Wild' Bill Hanrahan | PTS | 15 | Aug 29, 1900 | Pawtucket, Rhode Island, US | |
| 32 | Draw | 13–2–13 (3) | Dick O'Brien | PTS | 15 | May 30, 1900 | Lynn, Massachusetts, US | |
| 31 | NC | 13–2–12 (3) | George Gardner | NC | 15 (15) | May 14, 1900 | Roanoke A.C., Boston, Massachusetts, US | Fight stopped for "bluffing" |
| 30 | Draw | 13–2–12 (2) | Frank Childs | PTS | 6 | Mar 16, 1900 | Star Athletic Club, Chicago, Illinois, US | Retained world colored heavyweight title; For black heavyweight title |
| 29 | Loss | 13–2–12 (2) | George Gardner | DQ | 14 (15) | Feb 22, 1900 | Coliseum, Hartford, Connecticut, US | Byers DQ'd for hitting Gardner after a knockdown |
| 28 | Win | 13–1–12 (2) | Martin Mulverhill | TKO | 2 (15) | Feb 12, 1900 | Kirkland Athletic Club, Lynn, Massachusetts, US | |
| 27 | Draw | 12–1–12 (2) | George Gardner | NWS | 15 | Feb 2, 1900 | Lasters Hall, Lynn, Massachusetts, US | Pre-arranged draw if it lasted the distance |
| 26 | Draw | 12–1–11 (2) | Jim McCormick | PTS | 12 | Jan 11, 1900 | Brockton Athletic Club, Brockton, Massachusetts, US | |
| 25 | Draw | 12–1–10 (2) | Dick O'Brien | PTS | 10 | Dec 28, 1899 | Lewiston, Maine, US | |
| 24 | Win | 12–1–9 (2) | Jack Burke | PTS | 10 | Nov 3, 1899 | Kirtland Athletic Club, Lynn, Massachusetts, US | |
| 23 | Loss | 11–1–9 (2) | Tommy West | KO | 7 (25) | Sep 4, 1899 | Coney Island Athletic Club, New York City, New York, US | |
| 22 | Draw | 11–0–9 (2) | Australian Jim Ryan | PTS | 25 | Aug 12, 1899 | Greenwood Athletic Club, New York City, New York, US | |
| 21 | Win | 11–0–8 (2) | Charley Strong | TKO | 9 (20) | Jul 24, 1899 | Coney Island Athletic Club, New York City, New York, US | |
| 20 | Draw | 10–0–8 (2) | Billy Stift | PTS | 6 | Jun 16, 1899 | Star Theatre, Chicago, Illinois, US | |
| 19 | NC | 10–0–7 (2) | Dick O'Brien | NC | 3 | May 30, 1899 | Pawtucket, Rhode Island, US | |
| 18 | Win | 10–0–7 (1) | Jack Cattanach | TKO | 2 (10) | May 3, 1899 | Pawtucket, Rhode Island, US | |
| 17 | Win | 9–0–7 (1) | Charles Goff | TKO | 2 (20) | Apr 3, 1899 | Broadway Athletic Club, New York City, New York, US | |
| 16 | Draw | 8–0–7 (1) | Jack Bonner | PTS | 20 | Dec 13, 1898 | Lenox Athletic Club, New York City, New York, US | |
| 15 | Win | 8–0–6 (1) | Frank Childs | PTS | 20 | Sep 14, 1898 | Lenox Athletic Club, New York City, New York, US | Won world colored heavyweight title |
| 14 | ND | 7–0–6 (1) | Bob Armstrong | ND | ? | May 2, 1898 | Roanoke Athletic Club, Boston, Massachusetts, US | Winner not specified |
| 13 | Draw | 7–0–6 | Johnny Gorman | PTS | 8 | Apr 28, 1898 | Lynn, Massachusetts, US | Pre-arranged draw if it lasted the distance |
| 12 | Win | 7–0–5 | Harry Peppers | KO | 19 (20) | Dec 9, 1897 | Auditorium, Waterbury, Connecticut, US | |
| 11 | Draw | 6–0–5 | Dan Murphy | PTS | 20 | Nov 11, 1897 | Jacque's Auditorium, Waterbury, Connecticut, US | |
| 10 | Draw | 6–0–4 | Charles Goff | PTS | 12 | Sep 23, 1897 | Gladiator Athletic Club, Hartford, Connecticut, US | |
| 9 | Draw | 6–0–3 | Dan Murphy | PTS | 15 | May 25, 1897 | Nutmeg Athletic Club, Hartford, Connecticut, US | |
| 8 | Draw | 6–0–2 | Dan Murphy | PTS | 10 | Apr 5, 1897 | Auditorium, Hartford, Connecticut, US | |
| 7 | Win | 6–0–1 | Lon Beckwith | TKO | 5 (12) | Mar 24, 1897 | Broadway Athletic Club, New York City, New York, US | |
| 6 | Win | 5–0–1 | James McNamara | KO | 3 (10) | Feb 25, 1897 | New York City, New York, US | |
| 5 | Win | 4–0–1 | Jack Boylan | KO | 2 (10) | Feb 17, 1897 | New Polo Athletic Club, New York City, New York, US | |
| 4 | Win | 3–0–1 | Dan Carroll | TKO | 7 (10) | Dec 16, 1896 | Boston, Massachusetts, US | |
| 3 | Win | 2–0–1 | Charley Smith | PTS | 8 | Dec 1, 1895 | Boston, Massachusetts, US | Exact date is unavailable |
| 2 | Win | 1–0–1 | Charley Gerrard | KO | 2 (8) | Nov 11, 1895 | Boston, Massachusetts, US | Exact date is unavailable |
| 1 | Draw | 0–0–1 | Jack Colbert | PTS | 3 | Aug 23, 1895 | Boston, Massachusetts, US | |