William Elroy Parker (born January 20, 1877), better known as Kid Parker, was an American professional boxer, physical culturist and promoter of vegetarianism. He was the first vegetarian boxer.
Biography
Parker was born on January 20, 1877, in Boston.Original Vegetarian Was Champ Kid Parker. Charleston Mail (January 26, 1915).Andrews, Thomas Stora. (1924). Ring Battles of Centuries. Tom Andrews Record Book Company. p. 114 Parker was considered the best boxer in Denver.Lang, Arne K. (2012). The Nelson-Wolgast Fight and the San Francisco Boxing Scene, 1900-1914. McFarland. p. 96. He had an 18-match undefeated streak.Puskar-Pasewicz, Margaret. (2010). Cultural Encyclopedia of Vegetarianism. ABC-CLIO. p. 183. In 1900, he fought a ten-round draw with Matty Matthews. Parker became a vegetarian in 1901.Parker Turns Vegetarian. The Topeka State Journal (February 05, 1902). He stated that a strict vegetarian diet increased his physical endurance and increased his mental power.Shprintzen, Adam D. (2013). The Vegetarian Crusade: The Rise of an American Reform Movement, 1817-1921. University of North Carolina Press. p. 199. He was the first vegetarian boxer.
In April 1902, The Vegetarian Magazine published a letter describing Parker's conversion to vegetarianism. He became known as the "vegetarian champion" and "vegetarian pugilist". Parker's vegetarian diet consisted of cereals, fruit, milk, nuts, vegetables and a liberal amount of eggs.Rice Earned the Decision Over Callahan. The St. Louis Republic (February 16, 1902).Exercises for Women. The San Francisco Call (April 5, 1903). In April, 1903 Parker authored an article on physical culture in the San Francisco Call, advocating a vegetarian diet for health reasons. He declared he would still be boxing at 35 and live to be 100 years old because he is vegetarian. In 1905, Parker was described as "one of the most gentlemanly fighters in the prize ring today"."Kid" Parker Hits Town. The Evening Statesman (September 13, 1905). Parker's wife was also a boxer.Mrs. Parker Will Box. The Salt Lake Herald (August 27, 1901).Rouse, Wendy L. (2017). Her Own Hero: The Origins of the Women’s Self-Defense Movement. New York University Press. p. 36.
Parker's last ring appearance was in 1906. After his boxing career ended Parker was institutionalized in an asylum at Norfolk, Nebraska as he suffered from hallucinations.Kid Parker in Asylum. Honolulu Star-Bulletin (October 19, 1912).Baker, Mark Allen. (2017). Battling Nelson, the Durable Dane: World Lightweight Champion, 1882-1954. McFarland. p. 209. Parker would repeatedly punch the wall in his padded cell so was given boxing gloves to protect his hands.Kid Parker, Once Great Fighter, Is Now Insane. Barton County Democrat (June 21, 1912).
Selected publications
The Conversion of a Noted Pugilist (1902) Exercises for Women (1903)
References
External links