 |
This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please improve this article if you can. (April 2009) |
 |
|
| Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Real name | James Mace |
| Nickname(s) | The Gypsy |
| Rated at | Middleweight |
| Height | 176 cm (5 ft 9.3 in) |
| Nationality | British |
| Birth date | 8 April 1831 |
| Birth place | Beeston, Norfolk, England |
| Death date | 30 November 1910 (aged 79) |
| Death place | Jarrow, Tyne and Wear, England |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 37* (3 No Decisions) |
| Wins | 25* |
| Wins by KO | N/A |
| Losses | 4 |
| Draws | 5 |
Jem Mace (8 April 1831 – 30 November 1910) was an English boxing champion. He was born at Beeston, Norfolk. Although nicknamed "The Gypsy", he denied Romani ethnicity in his autobiography. A middleweight, he succeeded in outboxing heavier opponents thanks to his dancing style, clever defensive tactics and powerful, accurate punching.
Contents |
Boxing career
After an apprenticeship in the boxing booth of Nat Langham, he made his debut in 1857 and, in 1861, he won the title of Champion of England by defeating Sam Hurst at Medway Island, Kent. He successfully defended it in 1862 against Tom King, but was defeated by King later that year. King then retired. In 1866 Mace was once again recognised as a champion following his defeat of Joe Goss at Purfleet, Essex.
Bare-knuckle boxing was an outlaw sport and, as such, its exponents were always liable for arrest and prosecution. In 1867 Mace was arrested on the night before his scheduled title defence against Ned O'Baldwin. He was bound over in court not to fight again. In 1869 he relocated to the USA where prizefighting was still flourishing. He toured with the celebrated American boxer John C Heenan giving exhibitions of glove boxing. In 1870 he defeated Tom Allen at Kenner, Louisiana, near New Orleans]. He defended his title twice against another American, Joe Coburn, in 1871. On both occasions Mace secured a draw. However, on 6 April 1871, Mace suffered a loss in New Orleans to Gentleman Jose Alonso.
Following an attempt on his life in Mississippi, he returned to England. In 1876, he was back in America, this time as a glove boxer and, in a historic early clash under Queensberry Rules, he defeated Bill Davis at Virginia City, Nevada. From 1877 to 1882 Mace lived in Australia where his long series of exhibitions paved the way for the worldwide acceptance of glove boxing. With the help of his protege, Larry Foley, he schooled a generation of Australian boxers, notably the Caribbean-born Peter Jackson.
In 1882 he toured New Zealand where he discovered future World Heavyweight Champion Bob Fitzsimmons. In 1883 he was back in the USA as manager of the New Zealander Herbert Slade, who, however, failed to benefit from his tuition.
In 1890, at the age of fifty-eight, he fought in an exhibition with the Birmingham fighter Charlie Mitchell.
In 1896, returning to New York to fight against Mike Donovan he was acclaimed by World Heavyweight Champion James J. Corbett as "the man to whom we owe the changes that have elevated the sport". Mace continued as a purely exhibition boxer and his last recorded entry into the ring was in 1909 when he was 78 years of age.
Mace was inducted into the Ring Boxing Hall of Fame in 1954 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990.
Personal life
Mace was a skilful violinist who originally aspired to a career in music. Indeed it was the trashing of his violin by three thugs in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, and his subsequent beating of them in fistic duels in the street, which led him to enter the prize ring. He was also a notable performer of Grecian Statues routines.
In 1866 Mace became the proprietor of the Strawberry Gardens pleasure grounds at West Derby, near Liverpool. At various times, he was also a professional runner, publican, circus proprietor and racehorse owner. He kept a saloon in New York City for several years and later a hotel in Melbourne.
Mace was married three times, twice bigamously, and fathered at least fourteen children by five women. He is believed to have had an affair with the famous American actress Adah Isaacs Menken.
During his life he made a considerable fortune but, due to his compulsive gambling, it was squandered. He ended his life as a penniless busker in Jarrow Durham and was buried in an unmarked grave at Anfield Cemetery, Liverpool.
In 2002, thanks to the Merseyside Former Boxers Association, a fine memorial headstone was finally placed by his grave.
See also
External links
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
