Jack Root
Root, circa 1949
Personal information
NationalityAmerican
BornJohn Arthur Root
(1875-05-26)May 26, 1875
FrahelΕΎ, Austria-Hungary
DiedJune 10, 1963(1963-06-10) (aged 87)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
WeightLight Heavyweight Heavyweight
Boxing career
Boxing record
Total fights55
Wins47
Win by KO28
Losses3
Draws3
No contests2

John Arthur Root, born as Jan Rut and known professionally as Jack Root (May 26, 1875 [b.] – June 10, 1963) was an American boxer. He was the first world light heavyweight champion as well as a challenger for the world heavyweight title. He fought out of Chicago. He was elected into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2011.

Championship Claim

Root (with the support of some historians) claimed that he was the first world light heavyweight champion.[1] His bout with George Gardiner on July 4, 1903, is claimed by some to be the first title bout in the new division. Root contended that his manager, Lou Housman, created the division and billed the Root vs. Gardner fight, which Gardner won by knockout in the twelfth round. The fight was caught on film. Jack Root, George Gardner, and Bob Fitzsimmons all held the light heavyweight world championship title in 1903.

During the 1980s, however, some boxing historians found records indicating that Joe Choynski won a twenty-round decision over Jimmy Ryan on August 18, 1899, in a fight billed as being for the light heavyweight championship. Choynski never seems to have made any claim to be the first light heavyweight champion, however.[2]

Heavyweight title fight

On July 3, 1905, Root fought Marvin Hart for the vacant world heavyweight championship in Reno Nevada. The former champion, Jim Jeffries, had retired and declared that Hart and Root were the two top heavyweights. Jeffries refereed the fight to name the new champion, which Hart won by a twelfth-round knockout.

After boxing

Root served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army during World War I. After his time in the service Root became the president and boxing manager of the renowned Los Angeles Olympic Auditorium. Root was also one of many boxers to attend the funeral of Feab S. Williams (better known as "George Godfrey").[3]

Death

Root died on June 10, 1963, at Temple Hospital in Los Angeles from a heart attack, aged 87.[4]

Professional boxing record

55 fights 47 wins 3 losses
By knockout 28 3
By decision 15 0
By disqualification 4 0
Draws 3
No contests 2
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
55 Win 47–3–3 (2) Fred Russell PTS 10 Feb 26, 1906 Kalamazoo AC, Kalamazoo, Michigan, U.S.
54 Loss 46–3–3 (2) Marvin Hart KO 12 (?) Jul 3, 1905 Amphitheater, Reno, Nevada, U.S. For vacant world heavyweight title
53 Win 46–2–3 (2) John Willie DQ 5 (10) Dec 5, 1904 Blue Island AC, Blue Island, Illinois, U.S.
52 NC 45–2–3 (2) Tommy Ryan NC 4 (6) Nov 23, 1904 National A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
51 Win 45–2–3 (1) George Gardiner PTS 6 May 2, 1904 Waverly A.C., Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
50 Draw 44–2–3 (1) George Gardiner PTS 6 Feb 26, 1904 Battery D Armory, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
49 Draw 44–2–2 (1) John Willie PTS 6 Feb 5, 1904 Battery D Armory, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
48 Win 44–2–1 (1) Fireman Jim Flynn KO 8 (20) Nov 26, 1903 Rover's Club, Pueblo, Colorado, U.S.
47 Loss 43–2–1 (1) George Gardiner TKO 17 (20) Jul 4, 1903 International A.C., Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada Lost world light heavyweight title
46 Win 43–1–1 (1) Charles Kid McCoy PTS 10 Apr 22, 1903 Light Guard Armory, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. Won inaugural world light heavyweight title
45 Win 42–1–1 (1) Marvin Hart PTS 6 Nov 10, 1902 Lyceum A.C., Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
44 Win 41–1–1 (1) Kid Carter PTS 6 Oct 27, 1902 American A.C., Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
43 Loss 40–1–1 (1) George Gardiner TKO 17 (20) Aug 18, 1902 Saucer Track, Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
42 Win 40–0–1 (1) Billy Stift KO 2 (6) Apr 26, 1902 Chicago A.C., Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
41 Win 39–0–1 (1) George Gardiner DQ 7 (20) Jan 31, 1902 Music Hall, Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
40 Win 38–0–1 (1) Australian Jim Ryan KO 2 (20) Oct 30, 1901 Music Hall, Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. Won vacant Middleweight Championship of the West
39 Win 37–0–1 (1) Kid Carter DQ 15 (20) Jun 28, 1901 Woodward's Pavilion, San Francisco, California, U.S. Low Blow
38 Win 36–0–1 (1) George Byers KO 9 (20) Jan 18, 1901 Woodward's Pavilion, San Francisco, California, U.S.
37 Win 35–0–1 (1) Dick O'Brien KO 3 (6) Oct 16, 1900 Tattersall's, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
36 Win 34–0–1 (1) Dan Creedon KO 1 (20) Oct 4, 1900 Convention Hall, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
35 Draw 33–0–1 (1) Tommy Ryan PTS 6 Jul 24, 1900 Tattersall's, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
34 Win 33–0 (1) Dick O'Brien PTS 6 Jul 10, 1900 Tattersall's, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
33 Win 32–0 (1) Ed Denfass KO 4 (6) Feb 20, 1900 Tattersall's, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
32 Win 31–0 (1) Jack Hammond KO 2 (6) Feb 5, 1900 Badger A.C., Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
31 Win 30–0 (1) Tommy West PTS 6 Jan 9, 1900 Tattersall's, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
30 Win 29–0 (1) Alec Greggains KO 6 (20) Nov 15, 1899 Woodward's Pavilion, San Francisco, California, U.S.
29 Win 28–0 (1) Frank Steiner KO 3 (6) Oct 18, 1899 Belle City Opera House, Racine, Wisconsin, U.S.
28 Win 27–0 (1) Frank Craig PTS 6 Oct 15, 1899 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
27 Win 26–0 (1) Frank Craig PTS 6 Oct 3, 1899 Tattersall's, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
26 Win 25–0 (1) Billy Stift PTS 6 Sep 23, 1899 Tattersall's, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
25 Win 24–0 (1) John Banks KO 1 (?) Aug 12, 1899 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
24 Win 23–0 (1) Fred Grant KO 3 (?) Jul 7, 1899 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
23 Win 22–0 (1) Johnny Gorman KO 2 (?) Jun 21, 1899 Adelphi Theater, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
22 Win 21–0 (1) Tom Burke KO 7 (?) Jun 7, 1899 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
21 Win 20–0 (1) Tom Casey KO 1 (?) May 31, 1899 Adelphi Theater, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
20 Win 19–0 (1) Australian Jim Ryan PTS 20 May 15, 1899 Music Hall, Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
19 Win 18–0 (1) Dick Moore KO 2 (?) Apr 29, 1899 Lyceum Theater, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
18 Win 17–0 (1) Billy Stift DQ 7 (20) Feb 16, 1899 Claus Groth Hall, Davenport, Iowa, U.S. Won vacant Northwest middleweight title
17 Win 16–0 (1) Harry Peppers PTS 6 Jan 21, 1899 Tattersall's, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
16 Win 15–0 (1) Australian Jim Ryan PTS 6 Dec 30, 1898 7th Regiment Armory, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
15 Win 14–0 (1) Tom Lansing KO 5 (6) Nov 15, 1898 Madison Hall, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
14 Win 13–0 (1) Jack Murphy KO 2 (?) Aug 19, 1898 United States of America
13 Win 12–0 (1) Jimmy Watts KO 2 (?) Aug 5, 1898 Lenox A.C., New York City, New York, U.S.
12 Win 11–0 (1) Tom Lansing TKO 6 (12) Jul 22, 1898 Lenox A.C., New York City, New York, U.S.
11 Win 10–0 (1) Jack Moffat PTS 6 May 14, 1898 American A.C., Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
10 Win 9–0 (1) Mike Carroll KO 1 (6) Apr 14, 1898 Calumet A.C., Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
9 NC 8–0 (1) George Ryan NC 1 (?) Mar 27, 1898 Chicago A.A., Chicago, Illinois, U.S. The police stopped this bout after 1 round
8 Win 8–0 Jack Moffat PTS 6 Mar 26, 1898 Chicago A.A., Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
7 Win 7–0 Jack Hammond KO 2 (?) Mar 12, 1898 Chicago A.A., Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
6 Win 6–0 Charles Whitey KO 2 (?) Feb 12, 1898 Chicago A.A., Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
5 Win 5–0 Billy Philleth KO 1 (?) Feb 7, 1898 America A.A., Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
4 Win 4–0 George Hipp KO 1 (?) Jan 15, 1898 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
3 Win 3–0 Young Charlie White KO 2 (?) Jan 8, 1898 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
2 Win 2–0 Pat Brastand KO 3 (?) Dec 24, 1897 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1 Win 1–0 Charles Upton KO 4 (?) Nov 12, 1897 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

See also

References

  1. ^ "The Lineal Light Heavyweight Champions". The Cyber Boxing Zone Encyclopedia.
  2. ^ Goldman, Herbert (August 1999), "Jack Root: The First World Light Heavyweight Champion?", Boxing Digest, 41 (7): 56, 57
  3. ^ "Black L.A. 1947: Heavyweight Fighter George Godfrey, 'The Black Shadow of Leiperville,' Dies at 50". 21 August 2018.
  4. ^ "The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search".