Klondike (boxer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Klondike Haynes |
|
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Nickname(s) | The Black Hercules |
| Rated at | Heavyweight |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Nationality | American |
| Born | January 1, 1878 |
| Died | February 3, 1949 |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 38 |
| Wins | 24 |
| Wins by KO | 14 |
| Losses | 11 |
| Draws | 3 |
Klondike Haynes (born January 1, 1878 – died February 3, 1949) was an African American boxer. He was known as "The Black Hercules" because people thought he was a great discovery, like finding gold in the Klondike Gold Rush. Klondike Haynes was born John Haines or John W. Haynes. He was 6 feet tall and fought as a heavyweight boxer, weighing around 190 to 200 pounds. He boxed professionally from 1898 to 1911, mostly out of Chicago.
Contents
Klondike Haynes: The Boxer's Journey
Starting His Boxing Career
Klondike Haynes began his professional boxing journey on January 8, 1898. His very first fight was against Frank Childs, who would later become a two-time champion. Klondike was knocked out by Childs in that first match.
Later that same month, Frank Childs won the "world colored heavyweight title." This was a special championship for black boxers during a time when racial barriers kept them from fighting for the main world titles. Childs defended his new title against Klondike on February 26, 1898. Klondike lost this fight when the referee stopped the match in the fourth round.
Fighting Frank Childs Again
Because of the "color bar," which meant black boxers often had to fight each other, Klondike and Frank Childs met in the ring four more times. Childs won every one of these matches.
Taking on Top Black Heavyweights
Klondike Haynes fought many of the best black heavyweight boxers of his time. This included Jack Johnson, who later became the first black man to win the world heavyweight championship. Klondike even declared himself the "black heavyweight champion" after beating Johnson in Johnson's third professional fight. This happened on May 8, 1899, in Chicago.
The Chicago Tribune newspaper reported that Johnson knocked Klondike down in the first round of their fight. Klondike was saved only by the bell ringing. Klondike and Johnson fought two more times. One fight ended in a draw, and Johnson won the third fight.
The Black Heavyweight Championship
Challenging for the Title
On August 11, 1899, Frank Childs challenged Klondike for his "Black Heavyweight Championship." In a six-round fight in Chicago, Childs won by getting more points than Klondike. They had a rematch on October 28 of that year. Childs kept his black heavyweight title by knocking out Klondike in the third round.
On March 16, 1900, Childs put his black heavyweight title on the line against George Byers, who held the "colored heavyweight crown." Their six-round fight ended in a draw. Childs later won the "Colored World Heavyweight Championship" officially from Byers on March 16, 1901.
Klondike and Sam Langford
Many years later, another famous boxer named Sam Langford also claimed the "colored heavyweight championship." He did this because he was not allowed to fight Jack Johnson for the main world heavyweight title. Langford claimed his title by beating Klondike on July 13, 1909. This fight was a six-round match in Pittsburgh.
Langford then defended his claimed title against Klondike again on November 2, 1909. Langford knocked out Klondike in the second round of their 12-round fight. Sam Langford eventually became the true champion when he beat Joe Jeanette in 1910.
Klondike Haynes: Boxing Record
Klondike Haynes had an official boxing record of 24 wins, with 14 of those wins coming by knockout (KO). He had 11 losses, being knocked out 6 times. He also had 3 draws. He won 5 "newspaper decisions," which were unofficial wins decided by reporters. He lost 3 and drew 2 of these unofficial fights.
Official Professional Boxing Record Summary
| 51 fights | 24 wins | 11 losses |
| By knockout | 14 | 8 |
| By decision | 9 | 1 |
| By disqualification | 1 | 2 |
| Draws | 3 | |
| No contests | 3 | |
| Newspaper decisions/draws | 10 | |
- KO-wins: 14 (won by knockout)
- Dec-wins: 9 (won by decision, meaning points)
- KO-losses: 8 (lost by knockout)
- Dec-losses: 1 (lost by decision)
- DQ-wins: 1 (won because opponent was disqualified)
- DQ-losses: 2 (lost by being disqualified)
- Draws: 3 (fights ended in a tie)
- NWS: 10 (newspaper decisions, unofficial wins or losses)
- NC: 3 (no contests, fights that didn't count)
