- Tommy Ryan
:"For other persons of a similar name, see
Thomas Ryan ."Infobox_Boxer|name=Tommy Ryan
realname=Joseph Youngs
nickname= none
weight=Welterweight
nationality=flagicon|USA American
birth_date=birth date|1870|3|31|mf=y
death_date=death date and age|1948|8|3|1870|3|31|mf=y
birth_place=Redwood, New York
style=
total=169
wins=86
KO=68
losses=3
draws=6
no contests=6|Tommy Ryan (
March 31 ,1870 –August 3 ,1948 ) was a famedwelterweight and middleweight champion who fought from 1887-1907. Ryan was considered an excellent boxer-puncher, and many consider him one of the all time greatestmiddleweight champions. His won lost record is 86 wins (68 KO's), 3 losses and 6 draws. He also fought a few No Contests, as was usual for the era.Ryan first won the welterweight title in a match with
Mysterious Billy Smith onJuly 26 , 1894. He was defeated byKid McCoy by KO in round 15 onMarch 2 ,1896 . This bout forms part of the lore of the McCoy legend. McCoy served as a sparring partner for Ryan, and absorbed many beatings at the hands of his employer. Ryan was notorious for being unmerciful on his sparring partners. As a result, McCoy hated Ryan, and sought revenge. It is alleged that McCoy, who was thin, pale and frail looking persuaded Ryan that he was seriously ill before their fight. McCoy, who was famed as a trickster, purportedly rubbed flour on his face so as to appear deathly ill. Ryan is said to have fallen for the ruse, failed to train properly and was not in top condition for the bout. Whether true or not, McCoy scored an upset win over Ryan in the non-title match.Ryan was also instrumental in the career of
heavyweight championJames J. Jeffries . In fact, Ryan is credited with changing Jeffries' stance and teaching him to fight out of a crouch. Ryan also secondedJames J. Corbett in his second attempt to wrest the heavyweight crown from Jeffries. Corbett however, blamed Ryan's strategy for his defeat. Ryan is listed in theRing Magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time .ee also
*
List of bare-knuckle boxers External links
* [http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/ryan-t.htm Ryan's Record at Cyber Boxing Zone]
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