George Byers (boxer)

George Byers
Statistics
Rated at	Light heavyweight Heavyweight
Height	5 ft 8.5 in (174.0 cm)
Nationality	Canadian
Born	(1872-06-25)25 June 1872 Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Died	10 April 1937(1937-04-10) (aged 64)
Boxing record
Total fights	47
Wins	20
Wins by KO	17
Losses	7 (4 KO)
Draws	20

George Byers (June 25, 1872 – April 10, 1937) was a Cando-American boxer who won the World Colored Middleweight Championship in 1897 and held the World Colored Heavyweight Championship from September 14, 1898 to March 16, 1901, a reign of 913 days. The 5′ 8½″ fought out of Boston from 1895 to 1904 at a weight of between 120 and 165 lbs., in many weight classes and frequently against men that were much larger than himself. On 9 December 1897 in Waterbury, Connecticut, he faced Harry Peppers in a title match for the World Colored Middleweight Championship.^[1] Byers knocked out the undefeated Peppers, the Pacific Coast Middleweight Champion of the Pacific Coast in the 19th round of a 20-round contest.^[2]

Rivalry With Frank Childs

Byers fought Frank Childs for the world colored heavyweight title on 14 September 1898 at the Lenox Athletic Club in New York City, winning on points in a 20-round bout. Childs continued to claim the title during Byers' reign, and fought former colored heavyweight champ Bob Armstrong on 4 March 1899 in Cincinnati, Ohio in a fight announced as being for the title.

Byers next fought Childs, who was billing himself as the "black heavyweight title" holder, on 16 March at the Star Athletic Club in Chicago. Byers had put his colored heavyweight title on the line and emerged victorious, winning a decision in a six-round contest.

One year later, on 16 March 1901, Byers lost his title to Childs when the ex-champ KO-ed him in the 17th round of a 20-round title bout. They never fought again.

Record

Byers racked up a record of 20 wins (17 by knock out) against seven losses (knocked out four times) and 20 draws.^[3]

References

↑ "George Byers". Cyber Boxing Zone. Missing or empty |url= (help); |access-date= requires |url= (help)
↑ "George Byers". BoxRec. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
↑ "George Byers". BoxRec. Retrieved 21 May 2012.

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Unknown	World Colored Middleweight Championship December 9, 1897 - Unknown	Succeeded by Unknown

Preceded by Frank Childs	World Colored Heavyweight Championship September 14, 1898 - March 16, 1901	Succeeded by Frank Childs

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