Today in Boxing History: Joe Gans/Joe Walcott Draw In S.F.

On this day in 1904, all-time greats Joe Gans and Joe Walcott battled to a draw in San Francisco in a non-title fight.

Born in Baltimore in 1874, Gans was the first native born black American fighter to win a world title, winning the lightweight belt in 1902. The Barbadian Walcott had won the welterweight title in 1901.

When the two met in 1904, Walcott had lost his belt in April of that year to the Dixie Kid on a disqualification. However, the Kid abandoned his claim for the welterweight belt after it was revealed that the referee had bet on the Kid. Gans had successfully defended his lightweight seven times.

The bout took place at Woodward’s Pavilion with no titles at stake and the fighters’ weights not being recorded. However, after the fight was declared a draw, Walcott reclaimed his status as welterweight championship.

He did not follow through on that announcement. Shortly after the bout, Walcott severely injured his right hand when a gun he was showing off to a friend misfired. He would not return to boxing until 1906. Although Gans and Walcott respectively fought until 1909 and 1911, the two never faced each other again.