Bill Tate (boxer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bill Tate |
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Passport photo of Bill Tate from 1916
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| Statistics | |
| Real name | William G. Tate |
| Nickname(s) | Big Bill |
| Rated at | Heavyweight |
| Height | 6 ft 6.5 in (1.99 m) |
| Born | September 19, 1896 Montgomery, Alabama |
| Died | August 10, 1953 (aged 56) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 50 |
| Wins | 27 |
| Wins by KO | 22 |
| Losses | 19 |
| Draws | 2 |
Big Bill Tate (born September 19, 1896 – died August 10, 1953) was a famous American boxer. He fought professionally from 1912 to 1927. Bill Tate was born in Montgomery, Alabama. He spent most of his boxing career based in Chicago.
He was a regular sparring partner for the heavyweight champion, Jack Dempsey. A sparring partner helps a boxer practice. Even though Tate was good, Dempsey never gave him a chance to fight for the world title.
Bill Tate went to the Normal School for Colored Students in Alabama. This was a college for African Americans. He became the World Colored Heavyweight Champion in 1917. He won this title by beating Sam Langford.
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Bill Tate's Boxing Career
Bill Tate's first professional fight was on August 20, 1912. He fought against Joe Jeanette in Newark, New Jersey. Jeanette had been a World Colored Heavyweight Champion. Tate lost this first fight in the second round. He fought Jeanette three more times and lost each one.
In 1916, Tate fought Kid Norfolk in Panama City. This was for the Panamanian heavyweight title. Norfolk won the fight by points.
Becoming a Champion
After some more fights, Tate first met Sam Langford on November 20, 1916. Langford was the current World Colored Heavyweight Champion. They fought for the title in Syracuse, New York. After 10 rounds, newspapers disagreed on who won. Langford kept his title.
On January 25, 1917, Tate fought Langford again. This time, Tate won the title! He became the World Colored Heavyweight Champion. His time as champion was short. Langford won the title back on May 1, 1917. He knocked Tate out in the fifth round.
Tate fought Sam Langford nine times in total. He won four of these fights.
Fighting Harry Wills
Bill Tate also fought another great boxer, Harry Wills, seven times. Wills was a three-time Colored Heavyweight Champion. Their first fight was in 1916, and Tate lost.
On January 17, 1921, Tate challenged Wills for his title. This fight was in Buffalo, New York. Wills knocked Tate out in the second round. Later that year, Tate fought Wills again for the title. He lost by a technical knockout.
In December 1921, Wills beat Tate again in a 12-round fight. They fought again just a month later. In that fight, the referee stopped the match. Wills was disqualified for hitting Tate after the referee called a break. They agreed to fight again four days later. That fight ended in a draw.
Tate later said he won that fight. He claimed he knocked Wills down with a "rabbit punch." But the referee did not count it. Wills remained the champion.
Bill Tate's Boxing Record
Bill Tate was a tall boxer, standing 6 feet 6.5 inches. He weighed between 220 and 243 pounds. He fought for 15 years.
Even though he was a top heavyweight, Tate never got to fight for the main world title. This was because of the "color bar." This was a rule that stopped Black boxers from fighting for the main championship. Both Tate and Harry Wills hoped to fight Jack Dempsey, but they never got the chance.
In his career, Bill Tate had 27 wins. 22 of these wins were by knockout. He had 19 losses and 2 draws. He also had 17 "newspaper decisions." A newspaper decision meant that local newspapers decided who won if there was no official winner.
Legacy and Recognition
In 2020, a book was published about the World Colored Heavyweight Championship. This book tells the stories of the boxers who held this title. It also explains how the title was important during a time of racial segregation.
The World Colored Heavyweight Championship helped Black boxers. It gave them a chance to be champions when they were not allowed to fight for other titles.
