Tommy Burns
The only Canadian-born world heavyweight champion
- Born
- June 17, 1881, Hanover, Ontario, Canada
- Died
- May 10, 1955 (aged 73)
- Nationality
Canada- Height
- 170 cm (5′7″)
- Stance
- Orthodox
- Style
- Aggressive inside counterpuncher
- Weight
- Welterweight, Middleweight, Heavyweight
- Active
- 1902–1920
The record
Professional; Wikipedia infobox figure (61 bouts). IBHOF lists 46-5-8, 1 ND (37 KO) in 60 bouts record
The story
oah Brusso was born near Hanover, Ontario, the twelfth of 13 children in a poor German-Canadian family, and began prizefighting in Detroit as a welterweight. Boxing as Tommy Burns, he outpointed Marvin Hart over 20 rounds in Los Angeles in 1906 to become world heavyweight champion at 5 ft 7 in, the shortest man ever to hold the title. He took the belt around the world, knocking out Gunner Moir in London and Jem Roche in Dublin in 88 seconds, and set a heavyweight record of eight straight defences inside the distance. In 1908 he gave Jack Johnson his title shot in Sydney, the first heavyweight championship bout against a Black challenger; police stopped Johnson's beating of him in the 14th round. He later became an evangelist and died in Vancouver in 1955.
Tap a technique with an arrow to learn how it works.
- World heavyweight champion (1906–1908)
- British Empire (Commonwealth) heavyweight champion (1910)
- Only Canadian-born world heavyweight champion
- International Boxing Hall of Fame (1996)
- Canada's Sports Hall of Fame (1955)
- Ontario Sports Hall of Fame (2012)
Defining fights
- 1906WINvs Marvin Hart (PTS 20, won world heavyweight title)
- 1907WINvs Philadelphia Jack O'Brien (PTS 20, retained title)
- 1907WINvs Gunner Moir (KO 10, London)
- 1908WINvs Jem Roche (KO 1 in 88 seconds, Dublin)
- 1908LOSSvs Jack Johnson (stopped by police in round 14, lost world heavyweight title)
Burns beat bigger men by closing the distance: feint, dart in, land short left hooks on the inside and get back out before they can clinch or counter. Drill that in-and-out rhythm against taller partners so you never stand at the end of their punches.
