Bill Brown (boxing)
William J. Brown (January 20, 1874 – September 3, 1943) was an American boxing commissioner, referee, and promoter.
Early life
Brown was born on January 20, 1874, in County Cork, Ireland.[1][2] He and his widowed mother arrived in the United States on March 11, 1888, and took up residence in New York City. Brown spent his first years in the U.S. working as a delivery boy and truck driver. He also spent time at the Pastime Athletic Club, where George Bothner taught him to wrestle. In 1894 John Woods hired Brown to work as a wrestling instructor at his gym.[2]
Boxing
Promoter
Brown first became acquainted with boxing at Wood's gym and eventually trained boxers in addition to wrestlers. The gym closed in 1904 in order to make way for the
Referee
Brown also served as a boxing referee. His notable fights included Jim Coffey vs. Frank Moran, Fred Fulton vs. Al Reich, and Benny Leonard vs. Eddie Fitzsimmons.[3][4][5] In 1920, the boxing commission implemented a plan to rotate referees and Brown, who preferred to choose his own assignments, resigned.[6] In 1921 he turned down the opportunity to serve as the referee for the Jack Dempsey vs. Georges Carpentier fight due to a previous disagreement with promoter Tex Rickard.[7]
New York State Athletic Commission
In 1933, Brown was appointed to the
References
- ^ a b "Brown to Resign as Boxing Official". New York Times. November 8, 1942.
- ^ a b c d e "W. J. (Bill) Brown, Boxing Authority". New York Times. September 4, 1943.
- ^ "Commission Picks Referee". New York Times. October 15, 1915.
- ^ "Fulton Smothers Reich With Blows". The New York Times. April 29, 1916.
- ^ "Brown to Referee the Leonard Bout". New York Times. August 25, 1920.
- ^ "Bill Brown Quits as Boxing Referee". New York Times. August 25, 1920.
- ^ a b "Brown Appointed to Boxing Board". New York Times. June 27, 1933.
- ^ "Other Commissioners Overrule Brown as Doctors Find Max Fit: Baer to Fight Thursday Night". New York Times. June 27, 1933.
- ^ "Primo Carnera vs. Max Baer– Boxrec Boxing Encyclopaedia". Boxrec.com. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
- ^ Dawson, James P. (January 26, 1935). "Recount by State Boxing Board Gives Dundee Verdict Over Risko". The New York Times.
- ^ Dawson, James P. (February 14, 1935). "Board Approves Bout for Carnera". The New York Times.
- ^ "Phelan Defends Bath Bout Action". The New York Times. January 11, 1936.
- ^ Dawson, James P. (June 18, 1938). "Ban on Joe Jacobs is Likely to Stand". New York Times.
- ^ "Boxing Heads Drop Suit". New York Times. December 19, 1939.
- ^ "$2,500 'Penalty' Imposed by Board". New York Times. November 20, 1940.
- ^ "Davis to Box Zivic Here". New York Times. May 3, 1941.