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Joe Gans

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Boxer

The Resume

    (November 25, 1874-August 10, 1910)
    Born in Baltimore, Maryland
    Birth name was Joseph Gant
    Lightweight champion (1902-08)
    Record: 138 wins (96 by KO), 10 losses, 15 draws, 25 no contest
    Nicknamed the Old Master
    Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame (1990)

Why he might be annoying:

    His name was changed from Gant to Gans by a newspaper typo.
    He admitted to throwing two fights in his career.
    His dive against Terry McGovern (December 14, 1901) was so blatant that Chicago banned boxing within the city for over a decade.
    Boxing writers suggest that his attempts to make the 133-pound weight limit may have contributed to the tuberculosis that killed him.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He was the first black American title holder in any sport.
    Despite being the reigning champ, he earned only half as much as the white challenger for his title defense against Battling Nelson (1906).
    He was a master of tactics and strategy and one of the earliest practitioners of scientific boxing.
    Bob Fitzsimmons said, 'Gans is the cleverest fighter, big or little, that ever put on the gloves,' while John L. Sullivan said, 'Gans is the greatest lightweight the ring ever saw. He could lick them all on their best day.'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 11 Votes: 45.45% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 11 Votes: 81.82% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 7 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 18 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 13 Votes: 61.54% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 25 Votes: 52.00% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 7 Votes: 57.14% Annoying