Jack Burke (boxer)

"Texas" Jack Burke
Jack Burke on February 10, 1904.[1]
Born(1869-01-01)January 1, 1869
DiedOctober 25, 1913(1913-10-25) (aged 44)
Mublenberg Hospital
NationalityUnited States
Other namesTexas
Statistics
Weight(s)Lightweight
Height5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights12
Wins5
Wins by KO4
Losses3
Draws4
No contests1

Jack Burke (January 1, 1869 – October 25, 1913) was a boxer who fought in the longest gloved ring battle on record.

Burke went 110 rounds with Andy Bowen at the Olympic Club in New Orleans on April 6, 1893, in a bout which lasted 7 hours and 19 minutes. The marathon fight was called a "no contest" by referee John Duffy when neither man could continue. Burke broke all the bones in both of his hands and remained bed ridden for 6 weeks after the fight. Burke considered retiring after the fight, but chose to continue competing. Andy Bowen had originally scheduled the fight with another opponent, however after dropping out of the fight, Jack Burke, who was the latter's trainer, fought the bout instead.

It was reported that the fight went for so long, that the spectators who stayed to watch the fight had fallen asleep in their seats. It was also recorded that at round 108, with no clear end in sight, referee John Duffy made the decision that if no winner had emerged in the next 2 rounds, the bout would be ruled a no contest.

"Texas" Jack Burke died at Mublenberg Hospital in October 1913 at the age of 44.

References

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  1. ^ "Jack Burke Quits After Years in Ring". The Tacoma Times. Tacoma. 10 February 1904. p. 4.
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