The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-01
1ll7 ~
SPoRToGRAPHY.
BY "Gravy.r
Joe Lannan, One Of Many Good
Canadian "Heavles,"


While Tommy Burns is the only ma,
tive Of Canada in the list OF the
worlds heavyweight champions, the
Dominion has turned out many class,
"heavies." Frinstance, there Is Mr.,
Samuel Langford. who started life in
Nova Scotia, and who is about as
handy a man with his fists as any to
be found on the crust OF this oblate
spheriod. old-time fans will recall
many other Canadian heayywelgnts
who made their mark-on the faces OF
their opponents-among whom were
two native sons of little Prince Ed,
ward Island; Joe Lanaman and George
Godfrey. Lannan, who was born in
Charlottetown Just half century ago
today. March 1, 1865. was contens.
porary Of John l.. Sullivan, Charlie
Mitchell. Peter Jackson ana other
heavywcights who gave sest to the
life Of the fight fans some twenty.
five or thirty years ago. Godfrey,
best remembered as "old Chocolate
because OF his decidedly brunette
skin, was too light to aspire to tho
heavyweight championship, but the
game aud clever negro gave the big
fellows OF that day a lot OF trouble.
Like nearly all tho Canadian boxers,
Joe Lannan began his ring career in
Boston. 1t was about thirty years
ago that Joe began mingling with
boxers now all but forgotten but fair
ly prominent in that period-such te!.
lows as Denny Kelllher, Matt Gun.
ningham and Jim Duffy. In 1885 Lam
nan went to st. Paul and whipped Joe
Brady aud Billy Wilson, but lost to
Pat Killeen. lie also bcsted E. Nc
Keen at Grand Forks, n. D. Back in
Boston he knocked out John P. Lough'
lin and Frank Herald, and fought q
draw with his countryman, George
Godfrey.
Lannan got into the limelight in
1887, when he was matched with
Jake kilrain for the championship al
America: Jake then claimed the title
because Of Sullivan's refusal to meet
him. and little later he was pre-.
scented wish a belt symbolic Of the
title. The Canadian put up good
fight. but he was defeated In eleven
rounds. In 1889 he fought another
draw with George Godfrey, and then
met Jack Ashton. who knocked him
out in the nineteenth round. Later
that year Lannan and Peter Jackson
tried to fight at Revere, Mass, but
the cops butted in and stopped the
proceedings. In 1899 Lannan fought
a three-round draw with Jim Cor.
belt. and then met George Godfrey
again. The fight was staged at Coney
Island. Nand this time Lannan was
knocked out by the negro. That end.
ed his career in America, although he
later fought few battles In England.
Benny Kaufman, the little Russian
Jew boxer. will be twenty-five years
old today. Benny's real name is
Jacob Flinkman. and he was born q
subject Of the Gar of Russia. He has
been fighting nearly seven years and
In that time has defeated many good
featherweights and has twice fought
Johnny Kilbane. The little Hebrew
had his first experience Of how It
feels to be knocked out a couple Of
months ago when George CLANCY, the
Baltimore featherweight, landed on
the .Philadelphian's bread. basket and
sent him down for the count.
This Is also the birthday Of Tommy
Maloney. the New York Irishman who
is one Of the numerous claimants Of
the featherweight title. Tommy was
born March l. 1898. and entered the
ring when he was sixteen.