Jack Delaney (March 19, 1900 – November 27, 1948) was a world light heavyweight boxing champion and contender for the heavyweight crown. One of the most popular fighters of the 1920s, the French Canadian was born Ovila Chapdelaine in Saint-François-du-Lac, Quebec, Canada. His parents moved their family to the United States on August 15, 1904, where they initially lived in Holyoke, Massachusetts before settling in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Delaney became a United States Citizen on October 23, 1936.
Reputation Delaney was known for his beautiful, seemingly flawless movements in the ring. He was an accomplished boxer with a smooth and quick left hand. In addition he had one-punch knockout power in his right hand. Early in his career he broke both his hands and seemed through. His contract was purchased by Pete Reilly for 900 dollars, who promptly promoted Delaney into an attraction worth a half million dollars.
Early career In 1924, Delaney decisioned future light heavyweight champion Tommy Loughran, and less than a month later, in Madison Square Garden, Delaney first faced the hard punching Paul Berlenbach. In a great fight that saw both men knocked to the canvas, Delaney scored two knockdowns in the fourth round, causing the referee to stop the fight.
Delaney was also involved in a bizarre match with future middleweight champion Tiger Flowers. After a round had passed, Delaney floored Flowers with a straight right hand. The referee counted Flowers out, but his corner protested that he had received a "fast count". The Flowers faction became unruly and a riot seemed imminent. Flowers demanded that the match resume, and Delaney amazingly agreed. The two fought until the fourth round, when Delaney again fired an irresistible right hand that knocked Flowers senseless. This time there was no controversy, as Flowers did not come close to arising in time. When Flowers did come to, he went to Delaney's dressing room and said "Ah want to thank you, Mr. Delaney, and tell you that Ah is convinced."
Championships Delaney was rewarded with a title shot against light heavyweight champion Berlenbach, in a 15-round fight, co-promoted by Roderick James "Jess" McMahon and Tex Rickard. In an outstanding display of courage, perseverance and fortitude, Berlenbach upset Delaney by winning a 15-round decision. Delaney then embarked on an eleven-fight winning streak that led to a rematch. The fight was held in Brooklyn's Ebbets Field and spurred on by his loudly cheering female fans, known as "Delaney's screaming mamies," Delaney dropped Berlenbach, controlled the fight and won the light heavyweight title.
Early in 1927, Delaney relinquished his championship in order to pursue the heavyweight crown. He was matched against Jimmy Maloney, a journeyman heavyweight contender Delaney was expected to defeat handily. Had Delaney defeated Maloney, he would have faced the heavyweight champion Gene Tunney.
Preparation Delaney always prepared for fights in secluded training camps, in idyllic settings where no liquor was allowed on the premises. Unknown to the fans and sportswriters of the day was the reason for the no liquor rules; Delaney drank. He didn't just drink socially, but would disappear on benders lasting days. Before the Maloney fight, Delaney disappeared on a three-day toot. Unknown to his manager, sometime during the three days, Delaney threw a punch at a railroad porter. The porter ducked, and Delaney hit the steel side of the rail car, breaking his hand. He told no one of his injury and fought Maloney, anyway. Unable to throw his right, Delaney dropped the 10-round decision.
Obstacles By this time, Delaney's drinking had become a major obstacle in his career. In his last big fight he was matched with future heavyweight champion Jack Sharkey. Once again, the possibility of a crack at the heavyweight crown, and a big gate with Tunney, was in the balance. This time Delaney entered the ring flabby, bloated and listless. When the bell rang for the opening round he was unable to move. Apparently intoxicated to the point of virtual paralysis, Delaney stood staring at his corner as Sharkey came across the ring. Sharkey paused momentarily in disbelief, and then knocked Delaney to the canvas. The fight ended with Delaney on his hands and knees, crawling around the ring like a man looking for a lost button, while the referee counted him out. The emotional Sharkey, his mouth piece hanging halfway out of his mouth, clung to the top ring rope crying in joy, as the furious spectators cried fix.
Retirement Delaney retired with a record of 77 wins (44 KOs), 12 losses, and 2 draws, 2 No Decisions and 2 No Contests. After his boxing career he operated a number of businesses, ran a tavern in New York and refereed. He died of cancer 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. ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes90Win73–11–2 Leo WilliamsKO1 (10)Apr 21, 193289Win72–11–2 Cowboy Jack WillisTKO3 (10)Mar 29, 193288Win71–11–2 Phil JohnsonKO2 (10)Mar 3, 193287Win70–11–2 Nando TassiTKO11 (15)Sep 20, 192886Loss69–11–2 Jack SharkeyKO1 (15)Apr 30, 192885Loss69–10–2 Tom HeeneyUD15Mar 1, 192884Win69–9–2 Leo GatesKO2 (10)Feb 13, 192883Win68–9–2 Jack HumbeeckTKO6 (10)Jan 20, 192882Win67–9–2 Sully MontgomeryKO1 (10)Jan 16, 192881Win66–9–2 Paul BerlenbachTKO6 (10)Dec 9, 192780Win65–9–2 Jack RenaultPTS10Oct 14, 192779Loss64–9–2 Johnny RiskoPTS10Sep 14, 192778Win64–8–2 Paulino UzcudunDQ7 (10)Aug 11, 192777Loss63–8–2 Jim MaloneyUD10Feb 18, 192776Win63–7–2 Bud GormanKO2 (10)Dec 20, 192675Win62–7–2 Jamaica KidTKO3 (15)Dec 10, 192674Win61–7–2 Paul BerlenbachUD15Jul 16, 192673Win60–7–2 Bob SageNWS10Jun 16, 192672Win60–7–2 Tom BurnsTKO2 (10)Jun 3, 192671Win59–7–2 Martin O'GradyKO7 (10)May 12, 192670Win58–7–2 Emilio SolomonPTS12Apr 26, 192669Win57–7–2 Maxie RosenbloomPTS10Mar 22, 192668Win56–7–2 Mike McTigueTKO4 (10)Mar 15, 192667Win55–7–2 Joe LohmanTKO10 (12)Mar 8, 192666Win54–7–2 Quintin Romero RojasKO4 (10)Feb 22, 192665Win53–7–2 Johnny RiskoPTS10Feb 5, 192664Win52–7–2 Tom RoperTKO12 (12)Jan 25, 192663Win51–7–2 Young Bob FitzsimmonsPTS12Jan 15, 192662Loss50–7–2 Paul BerlenbachPTS15Dec 11, 192561Win50–6–2 Jack BurkeTKO9 (12)Jul 24, 192560Draw49–6–2 Tommy LoughranPTS10Jul 16, 192559Win49–6–1 Tony MarulloUD12May 20, 192558Win48–6–1 Soldier KingTKO4 (12)Mar 20, 192557Win47–6–1 Jamaica KidKO2 (10)Mar 9, 192556Win46–6–1 Tiger FlowersKO4 (12)Feb 26, 192555Loss45–6–1 Jimmy SlatteryPTS6Feb 13, 192554Win45–5–1 Allentown Joe GansSD10Jan 19, 192553Win44–5–1 Tiger FlowersKO2 (12)Jan 16, 192552Win43–5–1 Pal ReedPTS12Dec 26, 192451Win42–5–1 George MulhollandTKO8 (12)Oct 30, 192450Win41–5–1 Pat McCarthyDQ8 (10)Oct 20, 192449Loss40–5–1 Jimmy SlatteryPTS6Oct 3, 192448Win40–4–1 Frank MoodyTKO6 (12)Aug 27, 192447Loss39–4–1 Bryan DowneyPTS12May 5, 192446Win39–3–1 George RobinsonPTS10Apr 10, 192445Win38–3–1 Leo LeonardTKO3 (12)Mar 31, 192444NC37–3–1 Jackie ClarkNC8 (12)Mar 17, 192443Win37–3–1 Paul BerlenbachKO4 (12)Mar 14, 192442Win36–3–1 Tommy LoughranPTS10Feb 19, 192441Win35–3–1 Sailor MartinKO1 (?)Feb 11, 192440Win34–3–1 Jackie ClarkTKO2 (12)Jan 4, 192439Win33–3–1 Jimmy DarcyPTS10Aug 31, 192338Win32–3–1 Andy Kid PalmerPTS12Aug 20, 192337Win31–3–1 Tommy MaddenKO1 (10)Jul 4, 19233630–3–1 Jimmy O'GattyNC5 (10)Mar 19, 192335Win30–3–1 Augie RatnerPTS12Mar 3, 192334Win29–3–1 Italian Joe GansPTS12Feb 20, 192333Loss28–3–1 Young FisherTKO3 (12)Oct 11, 192232Win28–2–1 Frank CavanaughTKO3 (10)Oct 6, 192231Win27–2–1 George ShadeKO1 (12)Aug 14, 192230Win26–2–1 Hugh RossPTS15Apr 10, 192229Win25–2–1 Jack StonePTS10Mar 29, 192228Loss24–2–1 Augie RatnerTKO1 (12)Mar 6, 192227Win24–1–1 Lou BogashPTS15Feb 13, 192226Win23–1–1 Jack McCarronPTS10Jan 27, 192225Win22–1–1 Jackie ClarkPTS10Jan 2, 192224Win21–1–1 Frank CarbonePTS12Nov 30, 192123Win20–1–1 Steve ChoynskiPTS12Oct 19, 192122Win19–1–1 George RobinsonPTS12Sep 28, 192121Win18–1–1 Frankie FlemingTKO8 (10)Sep 13, 192120Win17–1–1 Joe RiversPTS10Aug 22, 192119Win16–1–1 Happy HowardPTS10Aug 12, 192118Win15–1–1 Bert ColimaTKO7 (8)Jul 25, 192117Win14–1–1 Jackie MasonTKO2 (10)Jul 22, 192116Win13–1–1 Young Jack JohnsonKO3 (?)May 18, 192115Loss12–1–1 Tommy RobsonPTS12Apr 13, 192114Win12–0–1 Jack McClellandPTS12Mar 14, 192113Draw11–0–1 Jack McCarronPTS12Feb 22, 192112Win11–0 Jack SavageKO2 (?)Feb 8, 192111Win10–0 Ted MarshallTKO6 (10)Jan 28, 192110Win9–0 Battling SilveiraTKO9 (10)Jan 1, 19219Win8–0 Frank D'AnnunzioKO2 (?)Dec 8, 19208Win7–0 Art LagoKO3 (?)Sep 30, 19207Win6–0 Bill GormanKO3 (?)Jun 1, 19206Win5–0 Art GriffinKO7 (?)May 1, 19205Win4–0 Tom SpencerKO4 (?)Mar 1, 19204Win3–0 Tommy NelsonKO2 (10)Feb 13, 19203Win2–0 Jim HugoPTS6Jan 1, 19202Win1–0 Steve AugustPTS6Dec 1, 19191Win0–0 Steve AugustNWS4Oct 9, 1919
Unofficial record
Record with the inclusion of newspaper decisions in the win/loss/draw column.