George Byers (boxer) facts for kids

George Byers (born June 25, 1872 – died April 10, 1937) was a famous Canadian boxer. People often called him "Budge." He became a champion in two different weight classes. In 1897, he won the World Colored Middleweight Championship. Then, from September 14, 1898, to March 16, 1901, he held the World Colored Heavyweight Championship. That's a long time – 913 days! Even though he was 5 feet 8.5 inches tall, he often fought against much bigger opponents. He boxed out of Boston, USA, from 1895 to 1904. In 1917, he became a US citizen.

George Byers: A Boxing Champion

George Byers was a strong and determined boxer. He weighed between 120 and 165 pounds, which meant he could fight in many different weight classes. On December 9, 1897, in Waterbury, Connecticut, he had a big fight against Harry Peppers. Peppers was undefeated and held the Pacific Coast Middleweight Champion title. Byers showed his power by knocking out Peppers in the 19th round of their 20-round match. This win made him the World Colored Middleweight Champion.

Byers' Big Wins and Losses

Byers had a total of 52 professional boxing matches. He won 20 of these fights, with 13 wins coming from a knockout (KO). He lost 8 fights, and 4 of those were by knockout. He also had 21 draws, which means the fight ended with no clear winner. Three of his fights were "no contests," meaning they didn't count as a win or loss.

Byers' Rivalry With Frank Childs

One of the most exciting parts of George Byers' career was his rivalry with another boxer named Frank Childs. They fought several times for the world colored heavyweight title.

Winning the Heavyweight Title

Byers first fought Frank Childs for the world colored heavyweight title on September 14, 1898. This big match happened at the Lenox Athletic Club in New York City. Byers won the fight after 20 rounds, based on points. This made him the new champion.

Defending the Title Against Childs

Even after Byers won, Frank Childs still claimed to be the champion. They met again on March 16, 1900, at the Star Athletic Club in Chicago. Byers put his title on the line. He won this fight too, after six rounds. This showed he was truly the champion.

Losing the Title to Childs

However, a year later, on March 16, 1901, Byers lost his title back to Frank Childs. Childs knocked him out in the 17th round of their 20-round title fight. After this, they never fought each other again.

George Byers' Legacy in Boxing

George Byers was an important figure in boxing history. For many years, the World Colored Heavyweight Championship was a very important title. It gave Black boxers a chance to compete for a major championship when they were often not allowed to fight for other world titles because of racial barriers.

In 2020, an author named Mark Allen Baker wrote a book about this championship. The book, called "The World Colored Heavyweight Championship, 1876-1937," tells the stories of the talented boxers who held the title. It also explains how this championship helped challenge the unfair "color line" that existed in sports and society at the time. The title was a way for these athletes to show their skill and strength, even when facing challenges outside the ring.

Professional Boxing Record Summary

Here's a quick look at George Byers' official boxing record:

• Wins by Knockout (KO): 14
• Wins by Decision: 6
• Losses by Knockout (KO): 4
• Losses by Decision: 2
• Losses by Disqualification (DQ): 1
• Draws: 20
• No Contests (NC): 3