Thomas Joseph Gibbons (March 22, 1891 – November 19, 1960) was an American professional heavyweight boxer.

Life and career

He was born on March 22, 1891, in Saint Paul, Minnesota, to Thomas John Gibbons and Mary ( Burke) Gibbons. He had a brother, Mike.

Tommy started boxing professionally in 1911 as a middleweight. Like his brother he was a master scientific boxer who chose to outbox his opponents. In time, he advanced to the heavyweight boxing class and developed a respectable punch.

On May 27, 1916, he married Helen Constance Moga in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

His biggest fight came near the end of his career in Jack Dempsey vs. Tommy Gibbons when he met heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey on July 4, 1923, in Shelby, Montana. The local backers and the town of Shelby went broke putting on the fight. The great Dempsey battled through the full fifteen rounds before winning by decision. Dempsey was awarded $200,000, whereas Gibbons received expense money.

Tommy Gibbons record was 56-4-1 with 44 no decisions, and 1 no contest. He scored 48 knockouts, and was stopped only once by Gene Tunney on June 5, 1925. The names dotting his record read like boxing's hall of fame. Tommy recorded wins over George Chip, Willie Meehan, Billy Miske, Chuck Wiggins, Jack Bloomfield, and Kid Norfolk. Tommy had no decision matches with George "K.O." Brown, Billy Miske, Harry Greb, Battling Levinsky, Bob Roper, Chuck Wiggins, Georges Carpentier, and others. Only Harry Greb, Billy Miske, Jack Dempsey, and Gene Tunney were able to score wins over Gibbons.

Following his retirement from boxing, Tommy Gibbons was elected four times as the Sheriff of Ramsey County. He won for six consecutive four year terms before retiring at the age of 68. He died on November 19, 1960, in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Legacy Gibbons became a member of the Ring Boxing Hall of Fame in 1963, and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1993, and the Minnesota Boxing Hall of Fame in 2010.Minnesota boxing hall of fame inductees

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

Official record

All newspaper decisions are officially regarded as “no decision” bouts and are not counted in the win/loss/draw column. ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateAgeLocationNotes106Loss56–4–1 Gene TunneyKO12 (15)Jun 5, 1925 105Win56–3–1 Tiny Jim HermanKO3 (10)Jan 30, 1925 104Win55–3–1 Jack BurkeTKO6 (10)Jan 7, 1925 103Win54–3–1 Kid NorfolkTKO6 (15)Dec 9, 1924 102Win53–3–1 Ted JamiesonKO1 (15)Oct 24, 1924 101Win52–3–1 Bill ReedTKO3 (20)Oct 10, 1924 100Win51–3–1 Jack BloomfieldKO3 (20)Aug 9, 1924 99Win50–3–1 Georges CarpentierNWS10May 31, 1924 98Win50–3–1 Jack McFarlandKO2 (8)Apr 3, 1924 97Win49–3–1 Soldier LeeTKO3 (8)Mar 31, 1924 96Win48–3–1 Joe DowneyKO1 (12)Mar 24, 1924 95Win47–3–1 Jack MooreKO2 (10)Mar 14, 1924 94Loss46–3–1 Jack DempseyPTS15Jul 4, 1923 93Win46–2–1 Chuck WigginsTKO10 (15)Apr 30, 1923 92Win45–2–1 Andy SchmaderKO1 (10)Mar 26, 1923 91Win44–2–1 Jim TraceyKO2 (10)Mar 5, 1923 90Win43–2–1 Billy MiskeUD10Dec 15, 1922 89Win42–2–1 Joe BurkeKO1 (10)Dec 11, 1922 88Win41–2–1 George AsheKO1 (10)Nov 13, 1922 87Loss40–2–1 Billy MiskeDQ10 (15)Oct 13, 1922 86Win40–1–1 Sailor MartinKO2 (12)May 29, 1922 85Win39–1–1 Harry FoleyTKO6 (15)May 1, 1922 84Loss38–1–1 Harry GrebUD15Mar 13, 1922 83Win38–0–1 Pat McCarthyTKO4 (10)Feb 2, 1922 82Win37–0–1 Bartley MaddenNWS10Dec 19, 1921 81Win37–0–1 Hope MullenKO1 (15)Dec 2, 1921 80Win36–0–1 Dan O'DowdKO6 (15)Nov 25, 1921 79Win35–0–1 Soldier JonesKO1 (10)Nov 16, 1921 78Win34–0–1 Fred AllenTKO1 (12)Oct 14, 1921 77Win33–0–1 Clay TurnerKO1 (10)Oct 7, 1921 76Win32–0–1 Joe BurkeKO2 (10)Sep 20, 1921 75Win31–0–1 Bill ReedTKO2 (10)Sep 12, 1921 74Win30–0–1 Dan O'DowdTKO3 (10)Sep 5, 1921 73Win29–0–1 Willie MeehanTKO1 (12)Jun 22, 1921 72Win28–0–1 Willie KeelerKO2 (10)Jun 7, 1921 71Win27–0–1 Jack CliffordKO3 (12)May 30, 1921 70Win26–0–1 Sergeant Ray SmithKO2 (12)May 27, 1921 69Win25–0–1 Jack HeinenKO1 (12)May 23, 1921 68Win24–0–1 Hugh WalkerTKO2 (10)Apr 29, 1921 67Win23–0–1 Porky Dan FlynnTKO11 (12)Apr 19, 1921 66Win22–0–1 Larry WilliamsTKO4 (12)Apr 12, 1921 65Win21–0–1 Sergeant NorcrossKO1 (12)Mar 31, 1921 64Win20–0–1 Paul Samson KoernerTKO2 (15)Mar 22, 1921 63Win19–0–1 Al ReichKO1 (10)Mar 18, 1921 62Win18–0–1 Hugh WalkerNWS10Feb 14, 1921 61Win18–0–1 Tony MelchiorKO1 (12)Feb 10, 1921 60Win17–0–1 Chuck WigginsNWS10Jan 11, 1921 59Win17–0–1 Chuck WigginsNWS12Dec 6, 1920 58Win17–0–1 Hugh WalkerNWS10Nov 11, 1920 57Loss17–0–1 Harry GrebNWS10Jul 31, 1920 56Win17–0–1 Clay TurnerNWS10Jul 22, 1920 55Win17–0–1 Harry GrebNWS10May 15, 1920 54Win17–0–1 Bob RoperNWS10Apr 9, 1920 53Win17–0–1 Jack ReevesKO2 (15)Feb 19, 1920 52Draw16–0–1 Noel "Boy" McCormickPTS10Feb 11, 1920 51Win16–0 George K.O. BrownNWS10Feb 2, 1920 50Win16–0 Jimmy DarcyPTS10Dec 16, 1919 49Win15–0 Frank FarmerPTS6Dec 3, 1919 48Win14–0 Mick KingPTS15Nov 27, 1919 47Win13–0 George K.O. BrownNWS12Jul 3, 1919 46Draw13–0 Billy MiskeNWS10Jun 19, 1919 45Win13–0 Tom RoperNWS10Apr 28, 1919 44Win13–0 George ChipPTS10Apr 10, 1919 43Win12–0 Larry WilliamsNWS10Feb 10, 1919 42Win12–0 Len RowlandsNWS10Jan 30, 1919 4112–0 Bartley MaddenNC4 (6)Jan 25, 1919 40Win12–0 George ChipNWS12May 3, 1918 39Win12–0 Gus ChristiePTS10Apr 26, 1918 38Win11–0 Silent MartinNWS15Apr 20, 1918 37Win11–0 Clay TurnerNWS10Apr 18, 1918 36Win11–0 Gus ChristieNWS12Mar 22, 1918 35Win11–0 Silent MartinKO10 (15)Mar 13, 1918 34Win10–0 George ChipNWS10Mar 7, 1918 33Win10–0 Clay TurnerNWS10Feb 11, 1918 32Win10–0 Gus ChristieNWS10Feb 4, 1918 31Win10–0 Gus ChristiePTS15Sep 3, 1917 30Win9–0 George ChipNWS10Aug 22, 1917 29Win9–0 Battling LevinskyNWS10Mar 23, 1917 28Win9–0 Jackie ClarkNWS10Mar 15, 1917 27Win9–0 Bert KennyNWS10Mar 3, 1917 26Win9–0 Bob MohaNWS10Feb 6, 1917 25Win9–0 Joe HerrickNWS12Nov 16, 1916 24Win9–0 Joe HerrickNWS12Oct 27, 1916 23Win9–0 Vic HansenPTS10Mar 8, 1916 22Win8–0 Gus ChristieNWS12Feb 15, 1916 21Win8–0 Harry GrebNWS10Nov 16, 1915 20Win8–0 Billy MiskeNWS10Jul 12, 1915 19Win8–0 Billy MurrayNWS10Feb 2, 1915 18Win8–0 Billy GloverTKO6 (10)Nov 26, 1914 17Win7–0 Bert FaganKO2 (10)Sep 2, 1914 16Draw6–0 Young MahoneyNWS10Jun 5, 1914 15Win6–0 Buck CrouseTKO4 (10)May 22, 1914 14Win5–0 George K.O. BrownNWS10Apr 21, 1914 13Win5–0 Billy MiskeNWS10Mar 24, 1914 12Win5–0 George K.O. BrownNWS10Feb 9, 1914 11Win5–0 Al WorginKO4 (?)Jan 15, 1914 10Win4–0 Willie K.O. BrennanNWS10Sep 29, 1913 9Win4–0 Jack DenningNWS10Jun 13, 1913 8Draw4–0 Frank LoganNWS6Jun 9, 1913 7Win4–0 Johnny ShawTKO3 (10)May 27, 1913 6Win3–0 Young Mike DonovanNWS10May 16, 1913 5Win3–0 Joe BorrellNWS10Apr 29, 1913 4Win3–0 Tommy BerginNWS10Apr 22, 1913 3Win3–0 Tommy NelsonTKO1 (?)Dec 7, 1912 2Win2–0 Colored BrownKO5 (?)Oct 2, 1911 1Win1–0 Oscar KellyKO5 (?)Sep 5, 1911

Unofficial record

All newspaper decisions are officially regarded as “no decision” bouts and are not counted in the win/loss/draw column. ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateAgeLocationNotes106Loss Gene TunneyKO12 (15)Jun 5, 1925 105Win96–4–4 Tiny Jim HermanKO3 (10)Jan 30, 1925 104Win95–4–4 Jack BurkeTKO6 (10)Jan 7, 1925 103Win94–4–4 Kid NorfolkTKO6 (15)Dec 9, 1924 102Win93–4–4 Ted JamiesonKO1 (15)Oct 24, 1924 101Win92–4–4 Bill ReedTKO3 (20)Oct 10, 1924 100Win91–4–4 Jack BloomfieldKO3 (20)Aug 9, 1924 99Win90–4–4 Georges CarpentierNWS10May 31, 1924 98Win89–4–4 Jack McFarlandKO2 (8)Apr 3, 1924 97Win88–4–4 Soldier LeeTKO3 (8)Mar 31, 1924 96Win87–4–4 Joe DowneyKO1 (12)Mar 24, 1924 95Win86–4–4 Jack MooreKO2 (10)Mar 14, 1924 94Loss85–4–4 Jack DempseyPTS15Jul 4, 1923 93Win85–3–4 Chuck WigginsTKO10 (15)Apr 30, 1923 92Win84–3–4 Andy SchmaderKO1 (10)Mar 26, 1923 91Win83–3–4 Jim TraceyKO2 (10)Mar 5, 1923 90Win82–3–4 Billy MiskeUD10Dec 15, 1922 89Win81–3–4 Joe BurkeKO1 (10)Dec 11, 1922 88Win80–3–4 George AsheKO1 (10)Nov 13, 1922 87Loss79–3–4 Billy MiskeDQ10 (15)Oct 13, 1922 86Win79–2–4 Sailor MartinKO2 (12)May 29, 1922 85Win78–2–4 Harry FoleyTKO6 (15)May 1, 1922 84Loss77–2–4 Harry GrebUD15Mar 13, 1922 83Win77–1–4 Pat McCarthyTKO4 (10)Feb 2, 1922 82Win76–1–4 Bartley MaddenNWS10Dec 19, 1921 81Win75–1–4 Hope MullenKO1 (15)Dec 2, 1921 80Win74–1–4 Dan O'DowdKO6 (15)Nov 25, 1921 79Win73–1–4 Soldier JonesKO1 (10)Nov 16, 1921 78Win72–1–4 Fred AllenTKO1 (12)Oct 14, 1921 77Win71–1–4 Clay TurnerKO1 (10)Oct 7, 1921 76Win70–1–4 Joe BurkeKO2 (10)Sep 20, 1921 75Win69–1–4 Bill ReedTKO2 (10)Sep 12, 1921 74Win68–1–4 Dan O'DowdTKO3 (10)Sep 5, 1921 73Win67–1–4 Willie MeehanTKO1 (12)Jun 22, 1921 72Win66–1–4 Willie KeelerKO2 (10)Jun 7, 1921 71Win65–1–4 Jack CliffordKO3 (12)May 30, 1921 70Win64–1–4 Sergeant Ray SmithKO2 (12)May 27, 1921 69Win63–1–4 Jack HeinenKO1 (12)May 23, 1921 68Win62–1–4 Hugh WalkerTKO2 (10)Apr 29, 1921 67Win61–1–4 Porky Dan FlynnTKO11 (12)Apr 19, 1921 66Win60–1–4 Larry WilliamsTKO4 (12)Apr 12, 1921 65Win59–1–4 Sergeant NorcrossKO1 (12)Mar 31, 1921 64Win58–1–4 Paul Samson KoernerTKO2 (15)Mar 22, 1921 63Win57–1–4 Al ReichKO1 (10)Mar 18, 1921 62Win56–1–4 Hugh WalkerNWS10Feb 14, 1921 61Win55–1–4 Tony MelchiorKO1 (12)Feb 10, 1921 60Win54–1–4 Chuck WigginsNWS10Jan 11, 1921 59Win53–1–4 Chuck WigginsNWS12Dec 6, 1920 58Win52–1–4 Hugh WalkerNWS10Nov 11, 1920 57Loss51–1–4 Harry GrebNWS10Jul 31, 1920 56Win51–0–4 Clay TurnerNWS10Jul 22, 1920 55Win50–0–4 Harry GrebNWS10May 15, 1920 54Win49–0–4 Bob RoperNWS10Apr 9, 1920 53Win48–0–4 Jack ReevesKO2 (15)Feb 19, 1920 52Draw47–0–4 Noel "Boy" McCormickPTS10Feb 11, 1920 51Win47–0–3 George K.O. BrownNWS10Feb 2, 1920 50Win46–0–3 Jimmy DarcyPTS10Dec 16, 1919 49Win45–0–3 Frank FarmerPTS6Dec 3, 1919 48Win44–0–3 Mick KingPTS15Nov 27, 1919 47Win43–0–3 George K.O. BrownNWS12Jul 3, 1919 46Draw42–0–3 Billy MiskeNWS10Jun 19, 1919 45Win42–0–2 Tom RoperNWS10Apr 28, 1919 44Win41–0–2 George ChipPTS10Apr 10, 1919 43Win40–0–2 Larry WilliamsNWS10Feb 10, 1919 42Win39–0–2 Len RowlandsNWS10Jan 30, 1919 4138–0–2 Bartley MaddenNC4 (6)Jan 25, 1919 40Win38–0–2 George ChipNWS12May 3, 1918 39Win37–0–2 Gus ChristiePTS10Apr 26, 1918 38Win36–0–2 Silent MartinNWS15Apr 20, 1918 37Win35–0–2 Clay TurnerNWS10Apr 18, 1918 36Win34–0–2 Gus ChristieNWS12Mar 22, 1918 35Win33–0–2 Silent MartinKO10 (15)Mar 13, 1918 34Win32–0–2 George ChipNWS10Mar 7, 1918 33Win31–0–2 Clay TurnerNWS10Feb 11, 1918 32Win30–0–2 Gus ChristieNWS10Feb 4, 1918 31Win29–0–2 Gus ChristiePTS15Sep 3, 1917 30Win28–0–2 George ChipNWS10Aug 22, 1917 29Win27–0–2 Battling LevinskyNWS10Mar 23, 1917 28Win26–0–2 Jackie ClarkNWS10Mar 15, 1917 27Win25–0–2 Bert KennyNWS10Mar 3, 1917 26Win24–0–2 Bob MohaNWS10Feb 6, 1917 25Win23–0–2 Joe HerrickNWS12Nov 16, 1916 24Win22–0–2 Joe HerrickNWS12Oct 27, 1916 23Win21–0–2 Vic HansenPTS10Mar 8, 1916 22Win20–0–2 Gus ChristieNWS12Feb 15, 1916 21Win19–0–2 Harry GrebNWS10Nov 16, 1915 20Win18–0–2 Billy MiskeNWS10Jul 12, 1915 19Win17–0–2 Billy MurrayNWS10Feb 2, 1915 18Win16–0–2 Billy GloverTKO6 (10)Nov 26, 1914 17Win15–0–2 Bert FaganKO2 (10)Sep 2, 1914 16Draw14–0–2Young MahoneyNWS10Jun 5, 1914 15Win14–0–1 Buck CrouseTKO4 (10)May 22, 1914 14Win13–0–1George K.O. BrownNWS10Apr 21, 1914 13Win12–0–1 Billy MiskeNWS10Mar 24, 1914 12Win11–0–1George K.O. BrownNWS10Feb 9, 1914 11Win10–0–1 Al WorginKO4 (?)Jan 15, 1914 10Win9–0–1 Willie K.O. BrennanNWS10Sep 29, 1913 9Win8–0–1 Jack DenningNWS10Jun 13, 1913 8Draw7–0–1 Frank LoganNWS6Jun 9, 1913 7Win7–0 Johnny ShawTKO3 (10)May 27, 1913 6Win6–0 Young Mike DonovanNWS10May 16, 1913 5Win5–0 Joe BorrellNWS10Apr 29, 1913 4Win4–0 Tommy BerginNWS10Apr 22, 1913 3Win3–0 Tommy NelsonTKO1 (?)Dec 7, 1912 2Win2–0 Colored BrownKO5 (?)Oct 2, 1911 1Win1–0 Oscar KellyKO5 (?)Sep 5, 1911

See also Boxing in the 1920s International Boxing Hall of Fame

References

External links