Former world heavyweight boxing champion Jack Dempsey finds himself flanked by prominent Tacomans in this July 25, 1930, photograph taken on the veranda of the Tacoma Hotel. L-R Mike Lavelle, former Pantages manager and current Tacoma Hotel manager Jack Calvert, TNT sports writer Elliott Metcalf, Mr. Dempsey, Mayor Melvin G. Tennent, unidentified, and J. Frank Hickey, president of the elegant Tacoma Hotel. Mr. Dempsey was in town to referee the Tod Morgan - Joey Coffman match at the Greenwich Colliseum that evening. The bout was sponsored by the Kay Street Athletic Club. Mr. Dempsey was clearly the favorite attraction that night with cheers shaking the Colliseum's rafters. A record-breaking crowd was so loud in cheering him that he could not be heard in the ring. (TNT 7-25-30, p. 17-article; TNT 7-26-30, p. 4-article) G67.1-178

Dempsey, Jack, 1895-1983; Boxers (Sports); Hickey, J. Frank; Metcalf, Elliott; Tennent, Melvin Green; Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Lavelle, Mike; Calvert, Jack; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma);

Former heavyweight boxing champion Jack Dempsey (at left) posed with Allen Motor Co. president Harold A. Allen (center) and Mr. Dempsey's manager, Leonard Sacks, on September 10, 1931, at the Union Station, 1717 Pacific Avenue. A new Studebaker President eight brougham, courtesy of Allen Motors, is ready for Mr. Dempsey, per his request. The boxer customarily drove a Studebaker at home and asked to be transported in one while in Tacoma. He was in town for the Junior League Milk Fund Benefit which would earmark proceeds towards the purchase of milk for undernourished children at Tacoma Public Schools. Mr. Dempsey was the star attraction for the September 10th event which was held outdoors at Stadium Bowl. Photograph ordered by Allen Motor Co. TPL-678 (TNT 8-28-31, p. 1-article; T. Times 9-12-31, p. 9)

Dempsey, Jack, 1895-1983; Boxers (Sports); Allen, Harold A.; Studebaker automobile; Sacks, Leonard;

Composite photograph for advertisement for appearance by Jack Dempsey in Tacoma for the Junior League Milk Fund Benefit. The benefit was held at the Tacoma Stadium (Stadium Bowl) on Thursday, September 10, 1931. Although Mr. Dempsey and other boxers on the card were paid for their appearances, ticket proceeds funded the purchase of milk for needy Tacoma Public Schools students. Net proceeds totaled $1042 with Mr. Dempsey contributing $154.50 of his appearance fee. (TNT 8-28-31, p. 1-article; TNT 9-25-31, p. 1-article)

Dempsey, Jack, 1895-1983; Boxers (Sports); Advertisements--Tacoma;

ca. 1931. Copy negative of publicity photograph of Jack Dempsey. Photograph was used for advertising the Junior League milk fund benefit held on September 10, 1931 in Tacoma. Mr. Dempsey arrived via train on September 10, 1931, as the star attraction for the benefit. He fought four opponents in exhibition matches that evening at the Stadium Bowl before a crowd of about 6000. (TNT 8-28-31, p. 1-article; T.Times 9-11-31, p. 13-article)

Dempsey, Jack, 1895-1983; Boxers (Sports)

Boxing has been called the "sweet science". In this photograph from January, 1936, a group of unidentified young men from Tacoma watch intently as Morgan Jones conducts a class at the Tacoma Y.M.C.A. on the correct technique for working a punching bag. Mr. Jones has his initials embroidered on his silk boxing trunks. (T. Times).

Boxing; Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma--1930-1940; Young Mens Christian Association (Tacoma); Jones, Morgan;

Two young boys were photographed in June of 1938, attired in boxing trunks and gloves. They are the sons of Ray M. Smith.

Boxing; Boxers (Sports); Boys--1930-1940; Smith, Ray M.--Family;

Two young boys "duke it out" at the gym in June of 1938 under the watchful eye of an unidentified referee. The boys, outfitted in boxing trunks and gloves, are the sons of Ray M. Smith. TPL-10061

Boxing; Boxers (Sports); Boys--1930-1940; Smith, Ray M.--Family; Referees;

Boys receiving instruction in self defense; offered by the Athletic Program at the WPA gym at So. 13th and Pacific Ave. The program was supervised by Frankie Britt who was assisted by Homer Amundsen (standing far right) and George Dixon. The boxing instruction program was offered every day at the gym to any boy who cared to participate. (T. Times 11/17/1938, pg. 20)

Boxing--Tacoma--1930-1940; Boxers (Sports); Amundsen, Homer;

Packing house building; shingled structure with overhang, boxes stacked under overhang. Rural location not provided. Photograph was taken on July 9, 1941.

Boxes; Buildings;

ca. 1910. Copy of old boxing picture for the Times. Barechested man with ornate belt. This is identical to series C3-4 which depicts Stanley Ketchel, American middleweight boxing champion, 1908-1910. The elaborately designed belt is his championship belt. Ketchel was the first two-time middleweight champ and died at age 24, victim of an allegedly jealous ranch hand. Stanley Ketchel was part of the inaugural class of inductees into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. (T.Times 11-15-1938, p. 12; boxrec.com)

Boxers (Sports)--1900-1910; Ketchel, Stanley;

Army boxers prepare at the YMCA for the upcoming benefit boxing show at the Armory, scheduled for October 24, 1941. The Young Mens' Business Club (YMBC) is sponsoring the show to raise money for the 103rd Anti Tank Unit's Athletic Fund. Pictured in the ring are Charles Rosengren, Art Gowan and Coach Ernie Jensen. Along the ropes are Art Erickson, Doc Angelo, Roy Regensberg, Spence Pitts, Grant Buck, Bill Springer, Mervin McAtee and Walter Cotter. (T. Times 10/21/1941 p.13)

Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boxing--Tacoma; Young Mens Business Club (Tacoma);

Amundsen, Homer picture of boxer. Photo of unidentified boxer at Amundsen's Gymnasium.

Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma; Amundsen's Gymnasium (Tacoma);

Amundsen, picture in studio of Dick Ross. Amundsen's gymnasium is well known for their boxing. Dick Ross on left with Homer Amundsen.

Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma; Ross, Dick; Amundsen, Homer; Amundsen's Gymnasium (Tacoma);

Armory picture of fighters for War Athletic Commission. Tacoma Athletic Commission hosted many tournaments at the Armory Ring. Eight unidentified boxers posing for picture at Armory Ring.

Boxing--Tacoma; Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma; Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma);

Boys Club team pictures. The Tacoma Boys Club was founded in 1942 by Superior Court Judge Fred G. Remann. E. S. Ostberg is the Executive Director of club and Remann now serves as the president of the club. Eight unidentified boys from the boxing team and their coach.

Boxing--Tacoma; Boys--Societies & clubs--Tacoma; Tacoma Boys' Club (Tacoma);

Amateur boxer Dick Ross worked out under the instruction of Homer Amundsen in January 1945. Amundsen is wearing a body bag that allowed him to take punches to the stomach without being injured. Boxing was a popular sport in Tacoma during the 1940's. Boxing bouts were taking place at the State Armory ring, and many boxers were training at Amundsen's Gymnasium at 719 1/2 Commerce St. Homer Amundsen tried to supply the most modern training equipment for athletes. (T. Times, 1/15/45, p. 9).

Boxing--Tacoma; Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma; Coaching (Athletics)--Tacoma; Exercise equipment & supplies; Amundsen's Gymnasium (Tacoma);

Homer Amundsen and boxer in gym. Amundsen's Gymnasium was a modern gym with its own training ring and modern equipment. Homer Amundsen stands outside of boxing ring, while giving his student boxing tips.

Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma; Gymnasiums--Tacoma; Amundsen's Gymnasium (Tacoma); Amundsen, Homer;

Amundson's Gym, contact Will Maylon. Believed to be Johnny Lovett, a Fort Lewis lightweight. He is wearing boxing shorts and boxing gloves, posing in a fighting stance in boxing ring. Photographs of boxers and posters announcing matches line the walls behind him. Johnny Lovett trained at Amundson's Gym and Will Maylon was a local matchmaker who arranged boxing matches at the Midway arena. (T.Times, 10/24/1945, p.9)

Boxers (Sports); Lovett, Johnny; Amundsen's Gymnasium (Tacoma); Gymnasiums;

Jimmy Fitzpatrick is clean cut, serious and determined to beat Eddie "Torpedo" Reed, from California, when they meet and fight for the welter weight title in their division. They have a ten round event scheduled at the Tacoma Ice Palace. Jimmy has been practicing and getting ready at Amundsen's Gym. Jimmy is wearing "Everlast" boxing shorts (T. Times, 10/29/47, p. 6).

Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma; Boxing--Tacoma; Sporting goods; Amundsen's Gymnasium (Tacoma); Fitzpatrick, Jimmy;

In October of 1947, Tacoma welterweight Charley Johnston, alias the Blond Tiger, prepared in Amundsen's Gym to take on his opponent "Irish Bob" Kelly of Seattle for the third time. The regional welterweight title bout was scheduled for October 16th at the Tacoma Ice Palace. The first time the happy-go-lucky, debonair Kelly and the stoic, serious Johnston had fought was a six round near draw, awarded to Johnston on points. The second bout was stopped in round 2 by the State Examining Physician when Johnston opened up a gash over Kelly's left eye. The third bout was the decider; when before a crowd of 2,100 fans, Johnston knocked out Kelly in the 4th round. Charley Johnston went on to have a respectable 25 match career with 17 wins (11 by knock out,) 6 losses and 2 draws. Johnston was managed by Jack Connor. (T. Times, 10/15/47, p. 6; www.boxrec.com). TPL-10444

Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma; Boxing--Tacoma; Sporting goods; Amundsen's Gymnasium (Tacoma); Johnston, Charley;

In October of 1947, Bob Kelly, Seattle welterweight boxer, was determined to stop Tacoma's Charley Johnston when they met for the third time at the Tacoma Ice Palace. Their first bout was one of Tacoma's all time ring classics, a six round near draw awarded to Johnston. In the second bout, Kelly suffered a severe left eye gash requiring the State Examining Physician stop the fight. Kelly was ready to continue where things were left off, but unfortunately he went down to Johnston in a fourth round knockout in the October 16th fight. Kelly was managed by Eddie Marino. (T. Times, 10/14/47, p. 6).

Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma; Boxing--Tacoma; Sporting goods; Amundsen's Gymnasium (Tacoma); Kelly, Bob;

In October of 1947, "Irish Bob" Kelly of Seattle admired his fighting stance as he prepared at Amundsen's Gym for his upcoming welterweight battle with Tacoma's Charley Johnston. The fight on October 16th at the Tacoma Ice Palace was the third meeting for the happy-go-lucky, debonair Kelly and the stoic, nordic looking Johnston. The first bout was a 6 round near draw awarded to Johnston and the second ended in the second round when Johnston landed a technical knock-out, opening a severe gash over Kelly's left eye. In front of 2100 fans, Johnston knocked out Kelly in the 4th round of the Oct. 16th fight. Johnston went on to have a career total of 17 wins, 6 losses and 2 draws. (T. Times, 10/14/47, p. 6; also 10/16, 10/17 sports section; www.boxrec.com).

Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma; Boxing--Tacoma; Sporting goods; Amundsen's Gymnasium (Tacoma); Kelly, Bob;

In December of 1947, three Alpha Chi Nu sorority sisters chatted with Joe Manley, 155 pounds, at Amundsen's Gym, 719 1/2 Commerce, as he trained for his fight with Dick Elmore. The College of Puget Sound was hosting a "Logger Glove Show" for the first time in many years. College boxers from western Washington met at the CPS gym. There were eight, three round bouts, sponsored by the CPS Lettermen's Club. Joe Manley was trained by Frankie "Chi-Chi" Britt, ex-featherweight of the pro-ring. (T.Times 12/11/47 p.10) View of Alpha Chi Nu sorority girls with Joe Manley at Amundsen's Gym. TPL-8091

Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma; Boxing--Tacoma--1940-1950; Manley, Joe; Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Alpha Chi Nu (Tacoma); College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Amundsen's Gymnasium (Tacoma);

Tommy James, Chicago-Tacoma Welterweight, will be taking on Tommy Egan of San Francisco, California in January of 1948. The two will be the main attraction in a ten round bout at Tacoma's State Armory in an event sponsored by promoter Raleigh Sligar.This event will be Raleigh Sligar's initial 1948 boxing card. View of Tommy James at Amundsen's Gym, photo ordered by Tacoma Boxing Club (T.N.T., 1/15/48, p. 23).

Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boxing--Tacoma; Sporting goods; African American boxers--Tacoma; Tacoma Boxing Club (Tacoma); Amundsen's Gymnasium (Tacoma); James, Tommy;

Tommy James had boxed against many prominent Welterweights including Tommy Bell, Lou Woods and Vern Patterson. Tommy James has a number of excellent fights in his record while his losses can be attributed to competing in the "Big Leagues." The Welterweight division is the main event in the upcoming boxing match held in January of 1948. View of Tommy James at Amundsen's Gym, photo ordered by Tacoma Boxing Club (T.N.T., 1/15/48, p. 23).

Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boxing--Tacoma; Sporting goods; African American boxers--Tacoma; Tacoma Boxing Club (Tacoma); Amundsen's Gymnasium (Tacoma); James, Tommy;

Group of boys learning to box, Times, Chick Garrett, Carter Lee. The walls of the room are painted with mountain scenes.

Boxing--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boys--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Joey Maxim is in Tacoma ready to go against Roy Hawkins in a 10 round bout at the Tacoma Ice Palace. This fight is one of the most important events in the heavy weight titles. Left to right, Al Del Monte, long time friend of Maxim and trainer, Elliot Metcalf, Manager of Tacoma Athletic Commission, and Joey Maxim, Cleveland heavy weight, club sign in background (T. Times, 5/24/48, p. 11).

Athletic clubs--Tacoma; Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma; Boxing--Tacoma; Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Maxim, Joey;

Raleigh Sligar was promoting and sponsoring a boxing event, the fight would be at the State Armory. View of boxer doing his promotional photos at Kelly's Gym, the boxer is ready for his upcoming fight.

African American boxers--Tacoma; Boxing--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gymnasiums--Tacoma; Kelly's Gymnasium (Tacoma); Tacoma Boxing Club (Tacoma);

32-year-old "Newsboy" Millich, a seasoned heavyweight from Sacramento, California was ready to take on Tacoman Roy Hawkins in 1948. Their July 1st fight would be the main event in a Raleigh Sligar Card sponsored event at the Tacoma Armory. View of "Newsboy" Millich's promo photograph for the upcoming fight; the 200-pounder is working out at Kelly's Gymnasium, formerly Amundsen's Gymnasium. Hawkins would end up knocking out Millich in the third round. (T. Times, 6/23/48, p. 12; TNT 6-30-1948, p. 20; TNT 7-2-1948, p. 16-results of match).

Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma; Boxing--Tacoma; Gymnasiums--Tacoma; Kelly's Gymnasium (Tacoma);

Lee Croft, left, and Harold Bird, right, strap on the boxing gloves as Honorary Referees for the Tacoma Athletic Commission's Golden Gloves Tournament, Feb. 8-9, at the College of Puget Sound Fieldhouse. The two long time buddies remained friends despite Bird's defeat of Croft in the 1950 Sheriff election. They had much in common, having both been professional boxers in their younger days. Croft, a promising young heavyweight in the early 1900's, was persuaded by his aristocratic family to trade in boxing for a grand tour of Europe, including English ancestral lands. His last professional bout was in 1910, although he maintained an interest in boxing and served as an official Board Member for the Tacoma Boys Club. He and Bird became friends in 1917, during WW I, when Bird was stationed here and boxed professionally as a light and welterweight. Bird eventually married a Tacoma girl and settled here. Croft became the proprietor of a local hotel and Bird became owner of Lumber Retail, a lumber and building supplies business, at 2301 South Tacoma Way before they branched off into civic duties. (TNT 1-28-1951, pg. B-10)

Boxing--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Croft, Lee; Bird, Harold;