"Bold" Mike McTigue (November 26, 1892 – August 12, 1966) was an Irish-American professional boxer who reigned as the undisputed light-heavyweight boxing champion of the world from 1923 to 1925. He was the first light-heavyweight champion to be recognized by The Ring, a title he held from 1924 to 1925. After his first reign ended following a loss to Paul Berlenbach, he was awarded the NYSAC world light-heavyweight title in 1927, but he lost it that same year to Tommy Loughran in his first defense.

Early years

Michael Francis McTigue (Mike McTigue) was born in Lickaun, Kilnamona, in County Clare, Ireland, on 26 November 1892. He was recorded in the 1901 Census of County Clare. McTigue emigrated to America in 1912 when he was 20. He traveled as a steerage passenger of the British steamer Baltic, which arrived at the Port of New York on 21 September 1912. He was the brother of fellow boxer Jim McTigue.

Boxing career

World light heavyweight champion

Despite the Irish Civil War still ongoing, McTigue got a shot at the World Light Heavyweight Championship in 1923. The fight was held in La Scala Opera House in Prince's Street, Dublin on St. Patrick's Day against the French-Senegalese champion Battling Siki.

Nat Fleischer founder of The Ring, "It is doubtful whether a boxing contest was ever staged under such conditions... Spectators walked to the theater between rows of guards. Armored cars loomed around corners. Machine guns poked their noses from points of vantage. "After viewing newsreel footage of the fight in 1979, Robert Cantwell of Sports Illustrated concluded that Siki won more rounds and should have been declared the winner. George Kimball commented: "Under today’s scoring system, Siki might indeed have won more rounds than McTigue, but remember, [referee] Smith wasn’t handing in round-by-round totals, and his overall view was apt to be more shaped by the concluding rounds than those that had taken place more than an hour earlier."

McTigue won after 20 rounds to become the World Light Heavyweight Champion.

He would defend his title against future Hall of Famers Tommy Loughran, Young Stribling and Mickey Walker before losing the title by unanimous decision to the Olympic wrestler-turned-boxer Paul Berlenbach in 1925.

After his scheduled bout for August 11, 1927 versus reigning undisputed NBA, NYSAC and The Ring light heavyweight champion, Jack Delaney was cancelled due to Delaney vacating his titles and moving up to the heavyweight division, on July 26, 1927, the New York Athletic State Commission awarded McTigue their light heavyweight championship. McTigue lost his title in his first defense of the NYSAC light heavyweight title to Tommy Loughran on October 7, 1927.

Noteworthy opposition McTigue fought multiple bouts in his career against the likes of Paul Berlenbach, Jeff Smith, Harry Greb, Mickey Walker and Tommy Loughran. He also earned a close decision over Tiger Flowers. In 1927, he produced his greatest performance on American soil when he knocked out the great Berlenbach in the fourth round.

Retirement years and death

He was 38 years old when his boxing licence was revoked and had been fighting for 21 years. After his enforced retirement, McTigue ran a successful bar on Long Island until the late 1940s. He succumbed to poverty and ill health and was confined to various hospitals around New York for the last ten years of his life. He finally died at New York's Queen's General Hospital on August 12, 1966. He was survived by his widow and two daughters."Obituary", Daily News, New York, New York, pg. 382, 13 August 1966

McTigue was honoured in his native parish when the porch of the church was named after him. Kilnamona's Community Centre was opened in 2001 and named in his honour.Ó Murchadha, Ciarán. (2008) The Diocese of Killaloe: An Illustrated History. Ireland:Booklink

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. ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes174Loss77–26–9 Garfield JohnsonTKO4 (10)Sep 22, 1930 173Loss77–25–9 Patsy PerroniNWS10Sep 1, 1930 172Draw77–25–9 Tige ArmenPTS10Jul 1, 1930 171Win77–25–8 George NeronPTS10Jun 20, 1930 170Loss76–25–8 Bob GodwinPTS10Apr 7, 1930 169Draw76–24–8 Tige ArmenPTS10Apr 2, 1930 168Loss76–24–7 Isidoro GastanagaKO1 (10)Mar 8, 1930 167Win76–23–7 Ralph SchneiderKO? (10)Feb 14, 1930 166Loss75–23–7 Bob GodwinPTS10Feb 7, 1930 165Loss75–22–7 Jeff CarrollPTS10Nov 26, 1929 164Win75–21–7 Emmett CurticeKO5 (10)Nov 13, 1929 163Loss74–21–7 Jack GagnonTKO1 (10)Oct 18, 1929 162Win74–20–7 Bobby LyonsKO5 (10)Sep 25, 1929 161Win73–20–7 Jeff RichardsKO3 (10)Sep 17, 1929 160Win72–20–7 Battling BozoNWS10Sep 9, 1929 159Win72–20–7 Jimmy DeCapuaPTS10Sep 2, 1929 158Win71–20–7 Steve ThompsonKO3 (10)Aug 8, 1929 157Loss70–20–7 George HoffmanKO2 (10)May 27, 1929 156Win70–19–7 Paul HofmanPTS10May 13, 1929 155Loss69–19–7 Tuffy GriffithsTKO1 (10)Sep 27, 1928 154Loss69–18–7 Matt AdgieDQ4 (10)Jul 9, 1928 153Loss69–17–7 Armand EmanuelPTS10Jun 7, 1928 152Draw69–16–7 Cowboy Jack WillisPTS10May 8, 1928 151Draw69–16–6 Armand EmanuelPTS10Apr 23, 1928 150Loss69–16–5 Tony MarulloPTS10Mar 26, 1928 149Loss69–15–5 Leo LomskiPTS10Feb 3, 1928 148Draw69–14–5 Larry GainsPTS10Nov 11, 1927 147Loss69–14–4 Mickey WalkerTKO1 (10)Nov 1, 1927 146Loss69–13–4 Tommy LoughranUD15Oct 7, 1927 145Win69–12–4 Pat McCarthyPTS10May 9, 1927 144Loss68–12–4 Jack SharkeyTKO12 (15)Mar 3, 1927 143Win68–11–4 Paul BerlenbachTKO4 (10)Jan 28, 1927 142Win67–11–4 Soldier KingKO4 (10)Dec 10, 1926 141Win66–11–4 Billy VidabeckKO3 (10)Nov 15, 1926 140Win65–11–4 Roy MitchellPTS10Sep 29, 1926 139Win64–11–4 Emilio SolomonKO11 (15)Aug 31, 1926 138Win63–11–4 Johnny RiskoPTS10Jul 1, 1926 137Win62–11–4 Lou ScozzaPTS12Jun 11, 1926 136Loss61–11–4 Jack DelaneyTKO4 (10)Mar 15, 1926 135Win61–10–4 Tiger FlowersSD10Dec 23, 1925 134Win60–10–4 Tony MarulloUD12Aug 22, 1925 133Draw59–10–4 Art WeigandPTS6Aug 17, 1925 132Win59–10–3 Frank CarpenterTKO7 (12)Jul 17, 1925 131Loss58–10–3 Paul BerlenbachUD15May 30, 1925 130Loss58–9–3 Mickey WalkerNWS12Jan 7, 1925 129Win58–9–3 Jimmy KingTKO4 (10)Dec 26, 1924 128Win57–9–3 Frank CarpenterTKO7 (10)Oct 29, 1924 127Loss56–9–3 Young StriblingNWS12Mar 21, 1924 126Draw56–9–3 Young StriblingPTS10Oct 4, 1923 125Win56–9–2 Tommy LoughranNWS12Aug 2, 1923 124Loss56–9–2 Tommy LoughranNWS8Jun 25, 1923 123Win56–9–2 Battling SikiPTS20Mar 17, 1923 122Win55–9–2 Harry ReeveTKO3 (15)Jan 15, 1923 121Win54–9–2 Rocky KnightRTD4 (15)Dec 28, 1922 120Win53–9–2 Johnny BashamKO3 (15)Oct 26, 1922 119Win52–9–2 Tommy RobsonPTS12May 13, 1922 118Win51–9–2 Billy BeckettKO3 (12)Apr 7, 1922 117Loss50–9–2 Tommy LoughranNWS10Mar 16, 1922 116Draw50–9–2 Lou BogashPTS12Mar 11, 1922 115Win50–9–1 Young FisherPTS15Feb 22, 1922 114Loss49–9–1 Young FisherPTS15Jan 27, 1922 113Win49–8–1 Jeff SmithPTS15Dec 1, 1921 112Win48–8–1 Roddy MacDonaldKO10 (15)Nov 10, 1921 111Win47–8–1 Jack StoneTKO8 (10)Nov 8, 1921 110Win46–8–1 Buck CrouseKO4 (10)Nov 2, 1921 109Win45–8–1 KO JaffeTKO5 (12)Oct 29, 1921 108Win44–8–1 Buck CrouseTKO6 (10)Oct 21, 1921 107Win43–8–1 Gus PlattsPTS12Sep 26, 1921 106Loss42–8–1 Battling LevinskyNWS10Sep 14, 1921 105Win42–8–1 Panama Joe GansNWS12Sep 5, 1921 104Win42–8–1 George RobinsonKO4 (12)Aug 22, 1921 103Win41–8–1 Johnny KleschTKO9 (10)Jul 25, 1921 102Win40–8–1 Al ThielTKO2 (12)Jul 18, 1921 101Win39–8–1 Jack MckayKO1 (12)Jun 28, 1921 100Draw38–8–1 Leo LeonardNWS10Jun 23, 1921 99Win38–8–1 Tex KellyKO4 (12)Jun 13, 1921 98Loss37–8–1 Harry KrohnDQ11 (12)May 9, 1921 97Win37–7–1 Tommy MaddenKO1 (12)Apr 25, 1921 9636–7–1 Vic McLaughlinND8Mar 21, 1921 9536–7–1 Vic McLaughlinND10Dec 16, 1920 94Win36–7–1 Jimmy O'HaganNWS10Dec 2, 1920 93Draw36–7–1 Jack BloomfieldNWS10Nov 11, 1920 92Win36–7–1 Jack BloomfieldNWS10Oct 20, 1920 91Win36–7–1 Alex CosticaPTS15Oct 4, 1920 90Win35–7–1 Alex CosticaKO5 (15)Sep 20, 1920 89Loss34–7–1 Jeff SmithPTS15Aug 10, 1920 88Win34–6–1 Jackie ClarkPTS15Jul 17, 1920 87Win33–6–1 Leo GradyKO5 (15)Jun 19, 1920 86Win32–6–1 Joe EaganPTS15May 13, 1920 85Win31–6–1 Jack LondonKO3 (10)Apr 29, 1920 84Win30–6–1 Dan FergusonTKO8 (15)Apr 22, 1920 83Win29–6–1 Eugene BrosseauKO5 (15)Apr 8, 1920 82Win28–6–1 Sailor Ed PetroskeyPTS4Mar 24, 1920 81Win27–6–1 Jackie ClarkPTS10Mar 9, 1920 80Win26–6–1 Roddy MacDonaldDQ11 (15)Feb 17, 1920 79NC25–6–1 Eddie TremblayNC9 (10)Jan 26, 1920 78Loss25–6–1 Harry GrebNWS10Dec 12, 1919 7725–6–1 Silent MartinNC7 (10)Nov 5, 1919 76Win25–6–1 Dan FergusonKO3 (12)Oct 31, 1919 75Win24–6–1 Jackie ClarkNWS10Oct 23, 1919 74Win24–6–1 Bill HurleyKO3 (10)Oct 14, 1919 73Draw23–6–1 Jack McCarronNWS10Oct 2, 1919 72Win23–6–1 Whitey WenzelNWS6May 19, 1919 71Win23–6–1 Zulu KidNWS10Apr 18, 1919 70Win23–6–1 Battling OrtegaPTS12Jan 27, 1919 69Win22–6–1 Dan LynchTKO7 (8)Dec 9, 1918 68Loss21–6–1 Frank CarboneKO5 (8)Jul 9, 1918 67Win21–5–1 Frank CarboneNWS6Jun 20, 1918 66Win21–5–1 Frank CarboneNWS8Jun 14, 1918 65Win21–5–1 Tex KellyNWS6Apr 27, 1918 64Loss21–5–1 Harry GrebNWS10Mar 11, 1918 63Loss21–5–1 Jeff SmithNWS10Nov 1, 1917 62Loss21–5–1 Augie RatnerNWS10Sep 29, 1917 61Win21–5–1 Montana Dan SullivanNWS10Sep 13, 1917 60Win21–5–1 Frank CarboneNWS10Sep 1, 1917 59Win21–5–1 Zulu KidNWS10Aug 18, 1917 58Draw21–5–1 Billy KramerNWS6Jun 18, 1917 57Win21–5–1 Jamaica KidNWS10May 25, 1917 56Win21–5–1 Zulu KidNWS10May 12, 1917 55Loss21–5–1 Silent MartinNWS10May 1, 1917 54Loss21–5–1 Bob McAllisterNWS10Apr 3, 1917 53Loss21–5–1 Hugh RossPTS10Jan 31, 1917 52Win21–4–1 Johnny 'Kid' AlbertsNWS12Jan 22, 1917 51Loss21–4–1 Ed KinleyNWS12Jan 22, 1917 50Draw21–4–1 Joe EaganPTS12Jan 8, 1917 49Win21–4 Frank CarbonePTS12Dec 19, 1916 48Win20–4 Al RogersPTS12Nov 29, 1916 47Win19–4 Tex KellyNWS10Nov 21, 1916 46Loss19–4 Tommy RobsonNWS10Nov 11, 1916 45Win19–4 Jack SmithNWS10Nov 3, 1916 44Win19–4 KO SweeneyNWS10Oct 25, 1916 43Win19–4 Al ThielKO7 (12)Oct 20, 1916 42Win18–4 Billy BrownNWS10Oct 2, 1916 41Win18–4 Battling GansNWS10Sep 14, 1916 40Win18–4 Battling MunroeKO8 (10)Sep 1, 1916 39Win17–4 Willie LangfordNWS10Aug 21, 1916 38Win17–4 Willie LangfordDQ4 (10)Aug 3, 1916 37Win16–4 Willie ApplebyKO7 (10)Jul 24, 1916 36Win15–4 Jack KelseyNWS10Jun 24, 1916 35Loss15–4 Happy HowardNWS10May 27, 1916 34Win15–4 Hippolyte TynckeNWS10May 13, 1916 33Win15–4 Young CarpentierNWS10Mar 29, 1916 32Loss15–4 Augie RatnerNWS10Mar 18, 1916 31Win15–4 Eddie McGlynnNWS10Mar 6, 1916 30Win15–4 Al ThielNWS10Feb 28, 1916 29Win15–4 Michael HickeyNWS10Feb 21, 1916 28Win15–4 Billy CarterKO1 (10)Jan 29, 1916 27Loss14–4 John KraynackDQ5 (12)Jan 12, 1916 26Win14–3 John KraynackPTS12Dec 22, 1915 25Win13–3 Reuben JaffeKO7 (10)Dec 10, 1915 24Win12–3 Charley McGreeveyKO1 (10)Nov 27, 1915 23Loss11–3 Eddie MaherDQ2 (10)Nov 8, 1915 22Win11–2 Al ThielKO7 (10)Oct 11, 1915 21Win10–2 Reuben JaffeKO6 (10)Sep 13, 1915 20Win9–2 Walter McGirrNWS10Aug 23, 1915 19Win9–2 Johnny BakerNWS10Aug 9, 1915 18Win9–2 Dan TuckerKO3 (10)Jul 16, 1915 17Draw8–2 Freddie KieblerNWS10Jun 12, 1915 16Win8–2 Happy HowardNWS10May 21, 1915 15Win8–2 Paddy SullivanTKO3 (10)May 17, 1915 14Win7–2 George NovickTKO3 (10)Apr 12, 1915 13Loss6–2 Tex KellyNWS10Apr 10, 1915 12Loss6–2 Tommy TeagueDQ6 (10)Mar 20, 1915 11Loss6–1 Joe SteinNWS10Jan 30, 1915 10Win6–1 George LeahyKO3 (10)Jan 16, 1915 9Loss5–1 Mike FarrellNWS10Jan 5, 1915 8Win5–1 Jack EmmanonKO2 (10)Dec 12, 1914 7Win4–1 Rube HowardKO5 (10)Nov 1, 1914 6Loss3–1 Walter McGirrDQ5 (10)Oct 17, 1914 5Win3–0 Paddy ConwayNWS10Aug 24, 1914 4Win3–0 Rube HowardNWS10Jul 13, 1914 3Win3–0 Mike GreelKO3 (6)May 16, 1914 2Win2–0 Joe MarinoKO1 (6)Mar 28, 1914 1Win1–0 Happy DavisKO3 (6)Mar 7, 1914

Unofficial record

Record with the inclusion of newspaper decisions in the win/loss/draw column.