Mike McTigue


"Bold" Mike McTigue was the light heavyweight boxing champion of the world from 1923 to 1925.

Early years

Michael Francis McTigue was born in Lickaun, Kilnamona, in County Clare, Ireland, on 26 November 1892. He was recorded in the 1901 Census of County Clare.
McTigue emigrated to America in 1912 when he was 21.
He traveled as a steerage passenger of the British steamer Baltic, which arrived at the Port of New York on 21 September 1912. He was the brother of fellow boxer Jim McTigue.

Boxing career

World light heavyweight champion

McTigue began boxing and fought in America for 13 years. McTigue got a shot at the World Light Heavyweight Championship in 1923. Despite the Irish Civil War still ongoing, the fight was held in La Scala Opera House in Prince's Street, Dublin against the Senagalese Fighter Battling Siki. McTigue won on points after 20 rounds to become the World Light Heavyweight Champion.
He would defend his title against future Hall of Famers Tommy Loughran, Young Stribling and Mickey Walker before losing the title by unanimous decision to the gold medalist wrestler-turned-boxer Paul Berlenbach in 1925.

Noteworthy opposition

McTigue fought multiple bouts in his career against the likes of Paul Berlenbach, Jeff Smith, Harry Greb, Mickey Walker and Tommy Loughran. He lost most of those bouts, but he actually got the best of the great Loughran during one of their no-decision contests. He also earned a close decision over Tiger Flowers. In 1927, he produced his greatest performance on American soil when he knocked out the great Berlenbach in the fourth round.

Retirement years and death

He was 38 years old when his boxing licence was revoked and had been fighting for 21 years. After his enforced retirement, McTigue ran a successful bar on Long Island until the late 1940s. He succumbed to poverty and ill health and was confined to various hospitals around New York for the last ten years of his life. He finally died at New York's Queen's General Hospital on August 12, 1966. He was survived by his widow and two daughters.
In later years McTigue regaled listeners with tales of the highlight of his career, particularly the Dublin bout. McTigue's favourite story involved an armed sentry stationed in his corner to keep the peace. As the rounds progressed, he stuck his bayonet between the ropes and jabbed McTigue in the leg. "I got three pounds' bet on you," the guard said. "God help you if you lose!" McTigue died in 1966. McTigue was honoured in his native parish when the porch of the church was named after him. Kilnamona's Community Centre was opened in 2001 and named in his honour.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
42Win32–9–1 Billy BrownNWS10Oct 02, 1916 Bolton Hall, Troy, U.S.
41Win31–9–1 Battling GansNWS10Sep 14, 1916 Clermont Avenue Rink, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
40Win30–9–1 Battling MunroeKO8 Sep 01, 1916 New Polo A.C., New York, U.S.
39Win29–9–1 Willie LangfordNWS10Aug 21, 1916 Clermont Avenue Rink, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
38Win28–9–1 Willie LangfordDQ4 Aug 03, 1916 Clermont Avenue Rink, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
37Win27–9–1 Willie ApplebyKO7 Jul 24, 1916 Tottenville S.C., Staten Island, New York, U.S.
36Win26–9–1 Jack KelseyNWS10Jun 24, 1916 Clermont Avenue Rink, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
35Loss25–9–1 Happy HowardNWS10May 27, 1916 Queensboro A.C., Long Island City, Queens, New York, U.S.
34Win25–8–1 Hippolyte TynckeNWS10May 13, 1916 St. Nicholas Arena, New York, U.S.
33Win24–8–1 Young CarpentierNWS10Mar 29, 1916 Pioneer Sporting Club, New York, U.S.
32Loss23–8–1 Augie RatnerNWS10Mar 18, 1916 Fairmont A.C., Bronx, New York, U.S.
31Win23–7–1 Eddie McGlynnNWS10Mar 06, 1916 Olympic A.C., New York, U.S.
30Win22–7–1 Al ThielNWS10Feb 28, 1916 Pioneer Sporting Club, New York, U.S.
29Win21–7–1 Michael HickeyNWS10Feb 21, 1916 Harlem S.C., New York, U.S.
28Win20–7–1 Billy CarterKO1 Jan 29, 1916 Sharkey A.C., New York, U.S.
27Loss19–7–1 John KraynackDQ5 Jan 12, 1916 Rhode Island A.C., Thornton, U.S.
26Win19–6–1 John KraynackPTS12Dec 22, 1915 Rhode Island A.C., Thornton, U.S.
25Win18–6–1 Reuben JaffeKO7 Dec 10, 1915 New Polo A.C., New York, U.S.
24Win17–6–1 Charley McGreeveyKO1 Nov 27, 1915 Sharkey A.C., New York, U.S.
23Loss16–6–1 Eddie MaherDQ2 Nov 08, 1915 Olympic A.C., New York, U.S.
22Win16–5–1 Al ThielKO7 Oct 11, 1915 Olympia Boxing Club, New York, U.S.
21Win15–5–1 Reuben JaffeKO6 Sep 13, 1915 Olympic A.C., New York, U.S.
20Win14–5–1 Walter McGirrNWS10Aug 23, 1915 Olympic A.C., New York, U.S.
19Win13–5–1 Johnny BakerNWS10Aug 09, 1915 Olympic A.C., New York, U.S.
18Win12–5–1 Dan TuckerKO3 Jul 16, 1915 New Polo A.C., New York, U.S.
17Draw11–5–1 Freddie KieblerNWS10Jun 12, 1915 Broadway Arena, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
16Win11–5 Happy HowardNWS10May 21, 1915 St. Nicholas Arena, New York, U.S.
15Win10–5 Paddy SullivanTKO3 May 17, 1915 Olympic A.C., New York, U.S.
14Win9–5 George NovickTKO3 Apr 12, 1915 Olympic A.C., New York, U.S.
13Loss8–5 Tex KellyNWS10Apr 10, 1915 Fairmont A.C., Bronx, New York, U.S.
12Loss8–4 Tommy TeagueDQ6 Mar 20, 1915 Brown's Gym, New York, U.S.
11Loss8–3 Joe SteinNWS10Jan 30, 1915 Fairmont A.C., Bronx, New York, U.S.
10Win8–2 George LeahyKO3 Jan 16, 1915 Fairmont A.C., Bronx, New York, U.S.
9Loss7–2 Mike FarrellNWS10Jan 05, 1915 Brown's Gym, New York, U.S.
8Win7–1 Jack EmmanonKO2 Dec 12, 1914 Fairmont A.C., Bronx, New York, U.S.
7Win6–1 Rube HowardKO5 Nov 01, 1914 New York, U.S.
6Loss5–1 Walter McGirrDQ5 Oct 17, 1914 Fairmont A.C., Bronx, New York, U.S.
5Win5–0 Paddy ConwayNWS10Aug 24, 1914 Olympic A.C., New York, U.S.
4Win4–0 Rube HowardNWS10Jul 13, 1914 Olympic A.C., New York, U.S.
3Win3–0 Mike GreelKO3 May 16, 1914 New York, U.S.
2Win2–0 Joe MarinoKO1 Mar 28, 1914 New York, U.S.
1Win1–0 Happy DavisKO3 Mar 07, 1914 Fairmont A.C., Bronx, U.S.