Ray Bronson (August 1887 – January 1948) briefly claimed the World Welterweight Boxing Title between February and December 1912.
Early life Like many boxers of his era, Bronson began earning a living at an early age. After working as a messenger boy, he became an apprentice horseshoer in an Indianapolis blacksmith shop. As his strength developed, he was often assigned the task of shoeing the strongest and most difficult horses. His early work as a blacksmith strengthened his arms and shoulders and helped build endurance, all of which proved essential to his success as a boxer. He became a member of the Horseshoers’ Union in October 1905 and served as a delegate to the Central Labor Union through 1907."Ray Bronson," International Horseshoers Monthly Magazine, Hubert Marshall, Editor and Manager, Volume XIII, Number One, pg. 4, Cincinnati, Ohio, January 1912
Early boxing career At least according to BoxRec, Bronson had begun his professional boxing career by the age of seventeen in early 1905, and although the location of many of his early fights remains unclear, he fought often in his hometown of Indianapolis and occasionally in adjacent Illinois. In his first four years of boxing, he fought at least 44 fights, losing only twice in those bouts listed by BoxRec, once to Grover Hayes, and once to Mickey Ford, both in Indiana, and both by knockout.
In a memorable bout on March 5, 1909, he lost in a thirteenth-round TKO to the great Freddie Welsh in a lightweight bout in Gretna, Louisiana. On September 19, 1909, he drew with Packey McFarland on points in a full twenty-round bout in McDonoughville, Louisiana. The local New Orleans Daily Picayune gave the bout to McFarland, however. The Washington Evening Star called the bout "a hard, fast battle all the way", and noted that both boxers were near the lightweight limit, weighing in at around 134 pounds.Andrews, T.S., "Cyclone Johnny Thompson and Eddie McGoorty Have Best Claim to the Title", Washington Evening Star, p. 14, Washington, D.C., 21 May 1912.
On June 30, 1910, Bronson managed to defeat future welterweight world champion Jack Britton at the Royal Athletic Club in New Orleans in a ten-round points decision.
Claiming the World Welterweight Title Bronson first claimed the World Welterweight Title, according to most sources, in his bout with Young Erne on February 22, 1912, in Indianapolis, Indiana. He won the bout, according to the Indianapolis Star in a ten-round points decision.
One of Bronson's most famous opponents was Packey McFarland. Bronson fought a ten-round, no-decision bout three months after taking the Welterweight Title against McFarland at Independence Hall in Indianapolis on May 29, 1912. Though a no-decision bout, most newspapers gave the edge to McFarland, an American boxing legend who somehow never claimed a world title despite being nearly undefeated in his career. A large crowd had assembled perhaps as a result of the Indianapolis 500 soon to follow. The Milwaukee Journal wrote, "Packey McFarland gave Ray Bronson an artistic lacing in a spiteful ten-round fight before a big crowd of fans.""Packey Gets Revenge", Milwaukee Journal, p. 11, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 30 May 1912. The New London Day wrote, "McFarland had the better of eight rounds, and Bronson managed to break even in the other two.""Boxing Brevities", New London Day, p. 10, New London, Connecticut, 30 May 1912
According to one source, Bronson was one of only two boxers to ever knock down the legendary Packey McFarland in a fight, a feat he managed in their previous 1909 twenty-round bout in New Orleans."Packey McFarland, Noted Lightweight Boxer, Never Beaten, Dies in Illinois," Southeast Missourian, p. 1, Cape Girardeau, Missouri, 23 September 1936 As the fight was a no-decision, Bronson retained his title.
Bronson defended his title against boxers Clarence English, Harry Brewer, Wildcat Ferns and Hillard Lang. He lost the American version of the World title on January 13, 1913, to Spike Kelly in an eight-round points decision in Memphis, Tennessee. He more formally lost the World Title against Waldemar Holberg in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on January 1, 1914, in a twenty-round points decision that wfi zizizizi zizi izi zizielterweight Milburn Saylor, and that, "Bronson has a number of crack battlers under his wing," which included Al Morey, an Australian welterweight."Ray Bronson is Now a Manager", Tacoma Times, pg. 2, Tacoma, Washington, 18 July 1914
Retirement from boxing Bronson retired from active professional boxing around 1921 and died in 1948.
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. ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes105Loss49–10–23 Jack BrittonNWS10Sep 6, 1920104Loss49–10–23 Matt WellsTKO7 (20)Feb 28, 1914103Draw49–9–23 Frank PicatoPTS20Feb 14, 1914102Loss49–9–22 Waldemar HolbergPTS20Jan 1, 1914101Loss49–8–22 Young DennyNWS10May 12, 1913100Win49–8–22 Hilliard LangNWS10Apr 23, 191399Draw49–8–22 Billy GriffithNWS10Apr 14, 191398Loss49–8–22 Tommy HowellNWS6Mar 8, 191397Win49–8–22 Leo KellyKO2 (8)Mar 5, 191396Win48–8–22 Jimmy PerryNWS10Jan 29, 191395Loss48–8–22 Tommy HowellPTS10Jan 22, 191394Loss48–7–22 Spike KellyPTS8Jan 13, 191393Win48–6–22 Clarence EnglishNWS8Oct 29, 191292Loss48–6–22 Hilliard LangNWS12Sep 9, 191291Win48–6–22 Wildcat FernsNWS10Sep 2, 191290Win48–6–22 Harry BrewerNWS10Jun 29, 191289Loss48–6–22 Packey McFarlandNWS10May 29, 191288Loss48–6–22 Harry BrewerNWS8May 23, 191287Win48–6–22 Clarence EnglishPTS15Apr 1, 191286Win47–6–22 Young ErneNWS10Feb 22, 191285Draw47–6–22 Tommy DevlinPTS10Jan 1, 191284Win47–6–21 Tommy HowellNWS10Nov 29, 191183Loss47–6–21 Milburn SaylorNWS10Oct 18, 191182Win47–6–21 Tommy HowellNWS10Sep 27, 191181Loss47–6–21 Tommy HowellPTS12Aug 29, 191180Win47–5–21 Dave DeshlerNWS10Aug 23, 191179Win47–5–21 Eddie WebberKO3 (10)Jul 26, 191178Win46–5–21 Johnny GloverPTS8Jul 10, 191177Win45–5–21 Morris BloomNWS10Jun 5, 191176Loss45–5–21 Sid BurnsDQ19 (20)Mar 22, 191175Win45–4–21 Jim ArmstrongKO5 (20)Jan 23, 191174Win44–4–21 Arthur DouglasTKO11 (20)Jan 7, 191173Loss43–4–21 Hughie MeheganPTS20Jan 2, 191172Win43–3–21 Frank ThornTKO4 (20)Dec 7, 191071Win42–3–21 Sid Papworth SullivanPTS20Nov 16, 191070Win41–3–21 Tommy JonesPTS20Oct 22, 191069Win40–3–21 Grover HayesPTS8Aug 29, 191068Win39–3–21 Johnny KrausePTS8Aug 1, 191067Win38–3–21 Guy DaltonPTS8Jul 26, 191066Win37–3–21 Jack BrittonPTS10Jun 30, 191065Win36–3–21 Harry TrendallPTS8Jun 13, 191064Win35–3–21 Guy DaltonKO5 (?)Jun 8, 191063Loss34–3–21 Jack RedmondNWS10May 17, 191062Win34–3–21 Mike MemsicNWS8May 5, 191061Draw34–3–21 Paul KohlerNWS10May 2, 191060Win34–3–21 Tommy O'KeefeTKO3 (12)Mar 22, 191059Win33–3–21 Joe HirstNWS6Mar 12, 191058Draw33–3–21 Jack DillonPTS8 (10)Mar 8, 191057Draw33–3–20 Matty BaldwinPTS12Feb 22, 191056Draw33–3–19 Matty BaldwinPTS20Dec 26, 190955Draw33–3–18 Dave DeshlerPTS12Dec 14, 190954Draw33–3–17 Dave DeshlerPTS12Nov 30, 190953Win33–3–16 Perry MoyerKO1 (20)Oct 16, 190952Draw32–3–16 Packey McFarlandPTS20Sep 19, 190951Win32–3–15 Jack O'SullivanPTS6Aug 7, 190950Win31–3–15 Jack RedmondPTS10Jul 3, 190949Draw30–3–15 Jack RedmondPTS10Jun 26, 190948Loss30–3–14 Cyclone Johnny ThompsonNWS6May 25, 190947Draw30–3–14Russell Van HornPTS10May 15, 190946Draw30–3–13Jack DillonPTS6Mar 12, 190945Loss30–3–12Freddie WelshTKO13 (20)Mar 5, 190944Win30–2–12Julius SteinKO3 (20)Jan 26, 190943Draw29–2–12Jimmy DunnPTS10Jan 22, 190942Win29–2–11Kid GoodmanPTS20Nov 20, 190841Draw28–2–11Jimmy DunnPTS15Sep 7, 190840Draw28–2–10Andy BezenahPTS15Apr 23, 190839Win28–2–9Andy BezenahPTS10Mar 30, 190838Win27–2–9Kid HoganKO5 (?)Feb 18, 190837Draw26–2–9Julius SteinPTS10Oct 30, 190736Draw26–2–8Grover HayesPTS10May 8, 190735Win26–2–7Jack WardKO3 (?)Apr 25, 190734Draw25–2–7Julius SteinPTS10Apr 3, 190733Win25–2–6Mike BartleyPTS10Mar 22, 190732Win24–2–6Johnny NickelsKO3 (?)Mar 20, 190731Win23–2–6Mickey FordPTS10Dec 12, 190630Win22–2–6Kid KahnKO5 (?)Nov 27, 190629Win21–2–6Louisville Tommy WestKO4 (6)Oct 23, 190628Win20–2–6Kid BlackPTS6Oct 22, 190627Draw19–2–6Freddie ColePTS6Oct 1, 190626Loss19–2–5Mickey FordKO7 (?)Sep 29, 190625Win19–1–5Mickey FordPTS6Aug 10, 190624Draw18–1–5Young SharkeyPTS10Aug 8, 190623Loss18–1–4Grover HayesKO3 (3)May 23, 190622Draw18–0–4Julius SteinPTS8May 17, 190621Win18–0–3George QuinnKO2 (?)May 14, 190620Win17–0–3Grant ClarkKO4 (?)Apr 23, 190619Win16–0–3Tommy SheaKO2 (?)Apr 9, 190618Win15–0–3Young LavinKO4 (?)Mar 8, 190617Win14–0–3Mike RyanPTS6Mar 5, 190616Win13–0–3Ben DoerkKO2 (?)Feb 27, 190615Win12–0–3Jack RobertsPTS6Feb 12, 190614Win11–0–3Tommy GrantKO1 (?)Jan 26, 190613Win10–0–3Willie ReillyPTS4Jan 25, 190612Draw9–0–3Canadian KidPTS6Dec 27, 190511Win9–0–2Canadian KidDQ3 (4)Dec 11, 190510Win8–0–2Jack MetimasPTS10Aug 18, 19059Win7–0–2Kid GordonPTS5Aug 1, 19058Win6–0–2Joe PercentePTS10Jun 1, 19057Win5–0–2Henry GardnerPTS6May 1, 19056Win4–0–2Skinny DeBrulerKO1 (4)Apr 25, 19055Draw3–0–2Skinny DeBrulerPTS6Apr 10, 19054Win3–0–1Jimmy CaseyKO2 (5)Mar 20, 19053Draw2–0–1Jimmy CaseyPTS4Mar 8, 19052Win2–0Mike MorrisPTS5Mar 1, 19051Win1–0Billie HinklePTS4Feb 20, 1905
Unofficial record
Record with the inclusion of newspaper decisions in the win/loss/draw column.