Packey McFarland: "Invented Knockouts" (Maybe)

[Willie Pep 229]

Packey McFarland 106-0-6 with NWS / 70-0-5 (50 KOs)

Harry Gilmore was Packey McFarland's manager from 1904-1909. McFarland would continue to fight until 1915 without Gilmore.

In 1914 Harry Gilmore seems to have been used as some kind of 'expert' witness for the State v. Willard trial, 1914. Charge: "Prizefighting."

The Willard-Young (August 1913) fight had ended in Bull Young's death.

Trial circumstances/debate resulted in Gilmore making an extraordinary claim about McFarland's recorded knockouts.

Backstory: McFarland broke-off their relationship;Gilmore claims he felt blind-sided finding out about it through a newspaper report. (That sounds familiar; no judgement on either guy, it just sounds familiar. LOL)

Fact: McFarland's career divided in half results in 35 knockouts over the firsts 50 fights, but only 20 knockouts over the next 56 fights. With only two stoppage in his last 15 fights.

Question #1: Looking at the KO number split, is there some truth to this accusation (or unintentional discrediting) or did the competition just get tougher in the second half?

Question #2: Was Gilmore taking a cheap shot at Packey, or was he backed into a corner by a prosecutor who knew more boxing than expected?

Question #3: Was Gilmore lying?

Read Article Here: , NYT January 9th 1914 (Clipped from the Los Angles Times.)

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[QueensburyRules]

Packey McFarland 106-0-6 with NWS / 70-0-5 (50 KOs)

Harry Gilmore was Packey McFarland's manager from 1904-1909. McFarland would continue to fight until 1915 without Gilmore.

In 1914 Harry Gilmore seems to have been used as some kind of 'expert' witness for the State v. Willard trial, 1914. Charge: "Prizefighting."

The Willard-Young (August 1913) fight had ended in Bull Young's death.

Trial circumstances/debate resulted in Gilmore making an extraordinary claim about McFarland's recorded knockouts.

Backstory: McFarland broke-off their relationship;Gilmore claims he felt blind-sided finding out about it through a newspaper report. (That sounds familiar; no judgement on either guy, it just sounds familiar. LOL)

Fact: McFarland's career divided in half results in 35 knockouts over the firsts 50 fights, but only 20 knockouts over the next 56 fights. With only two stoppage in his last 15 fights.

Question #1: Looking at the KO number split, is there some truth to this accusation (or unintentional discrediting) or did the competition just get tougher in the second half?

Question #2: Was Gilmore taking a cheap shot at Packey, or was he backed into a corner by a prosecutor who knew more boxing than expected?

Question #3: Was Gilmore lying?

Read Article Here: , NYT January 9th 1914 (Clipped from the Los Angles Times.)

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- -Bit like soft lads here claiming to be boxing experts.

As bad as experts screw up thru recorded history...well, see the current devasting 2020 Corona Virus Panic!

Chicken Little on steroids 2.0!

[Rusty Tromboni]

It's possible, but his quality of competition does appear to improve, and he's fighting larger men.


Folks get wrapped up in KO percentages, but they don't really speak to how competent a fighter is. Ali wasn't half the knockout artist Jerry Quarry was, he definitely didn't hit as hard as Lyle, Shavers, Foreman, Liston or any of the other killers he beat.

McFarland's greatness was never attached to his finishing ability. I doubt he was feather-fisted, like Ali, but the point illustrated is that whatever his actual finishing ability, he was easily the greatest fighter of his day, and one of the greatest of all-time.