Jimmy Slattery Written by Rob Snell Friday, 16 November 2007 Name: Jimmy Slattery Career Record: click Birth Name: James Edward Slattery Nationality: US American Birthplace: Buffalo, NY, USA Hometown: Buffalo, NY Born: 1904-08-25 Died: 1960-08-30 Age at Death: 56 Height: 5′ 11″ Died August 30, 1960 in Buffalo, New York, USA Inducted into Buffalo’s Ring No. 44 Boxing Hall of Fame: Inaugural Class of 1997 Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame: Class of 2006 Born James Patrick Slattery on August 25, 1904 in the First Ward of Buffalo, NY. Slattery's interest in boxing began as a child when his father took him to the First Ward Athletic Club to watch boxers, including heavyweight champion Jess Willard, train. He turned pro in 1921 at the age of 16 and won his first 35 fights before tasting defeat for the first time. A boxing master, the handsome Slattery was said to have it all – movie star looks and innate boxing ability. He boxed with his hands at his side, but speed and instinctive defensive moves made him particularly difficult to hit. In 1924 the 20-year old phenom was matched against the rugged Harry Greb and lost a decision. “Slats” rebounded to defeat Jack Delaney, Maxie Rosenbloom and Johnny Risko among others. Notable defeats came at the hands of Dave Shade, who unexpectedly stopped Slattery in 3 rounds, and an 11th round TKO loss to Paul Berlenbach. On August 30, 1927, the “Buffalo Harp” won the vacant NBA light heavyweight title with a 10-round decision over Rosenbloom. He lost the crown to Tommy Loughran in one of the best displays of boxing by both men on December 12, 1927. Slattery fought for the NYSAC title against Lou Scozza on Februay 10, 1930 and won a 15-round split decision. His nemesis Rosenbloom relieved him of the title on June 25, 1930 via 15-round split decision. Slattery lost his last title match against Rosenbloom in 1931. In 1934 he hung up his gloves with a record of 114- 13-2 NCs (48 KOs). With most of his ring earnings gone from years of fast living, Slattery worked for the city of Buffalo during the Depression. Afflicted with tuberculosis since the early 1940s, he died from the disease on August 30, 1960. King of the Ring by Ed Dunn He came out of Buffalo's old First Ward, starting as a long rangy kid in the Broadway auditorium, to become one of the smoothest, most efficient fighting machines in the world. The first pair of green trunks he ever wore in the ring were made by his mother; the bathrobe slung carelessly over his broad young shoulders was borrowed. He fought him, first professional fight for $40. Yet in a few swift ears, Jimmy Slattery's murderous left had clouted him a straight path to Madison Square Garden, where he eventually became the light heavyweight champion of the world and a heavy weight title contender. In his hey-dey, he was like the hero of some ancient Irish fable-a ring wise, black haired Irish imp who carried man made lightening in his gloves. He was only 20 years old when he fought his first fight in the big time. Hoarse-voiced thousands that night in 1924 watched this dancing will-o'-the-wisp out-box. out-guess and outfight the veteran Jack Delaney. Yet within that same year the same Madison Square Garden crowd watched, agonized, while Paul Berlenbach, a huge hunk of ex-wrestler, belted Buffalo's golden boy all around the ring. The referee stopped the fight in the eleventh round after Berlenbach had smashed Slats to the canvas three times. Despite this beating, though, he lived to win the title five years later when on February 10, 1930, he won a 15-round decision over another Buffalo fighter, Lou Scozza, in the Broadway Auditorium. But those were five fast years that only served to grease the skids for Slattery's ride bloom hailed a cab on Eighth Avenue and rode it nearly four hundred miles to a training camp up in the Adirondacks. The vanishing act was another of his pet tricks; he'd drop out of sight regardless of circumstances. His manager, Red Carr, once lined up a big fight for Slats only to find that Slats was nowhere around. For five days he was gone. Police at Elkhart, Ind wired to Buffalo that he had been arrested for vagrancy. Another time-in New York-Slats told Carr he was going out to buy a hat. He was gone for half a week before he came back without the hat. Once Slattery turned up missing in Venice. His companions were getting ready to have the canals dragged when they found him at 4 a. m., floating aimlessly around in an appropriated gondola. Anyone could put the "bite" on him. That was another of his weaknesses That staunch heart of his was brimming with too much kindness. A buck? Sure. A fin? Sure. Fifty? Hell yes! He made more than that a second. So the gang hung on. Used his cars, his liquor, his money and used him for all he was worth. Once a delegation of 28 home-town pals dropped into his New York - hotel after a fight. They had spent all their money. How were they going to get home? Slats snapped his fingers. "Nothing to it," he said, and picked up the phone and ordered 28 Pullman berths for Buffalo. What caused Slattery's rapid downfall as a fighter, as meteoric as his rise to fame? Maybe the trouble was too much too soon. Maybe it was a case of "too many parties and too many pals." One guess is as good as another. Slattery himself perhaps had the answer to the ride down. He once said that he'd give up fighting in a minute if he could play the piano. However, be never learned to play anything but the harmonica. Before Slat's first 15-round fight with Paul Berlenbach, the late Tex Rickard went to his dressing room with the idea of soothing, the nervous youngster. He found Slattery stretched out on the rubbing table trying, to play his harmonica with gloved hands. But for a fighter who preferred music to mayhem, he made-and lost -a tidy fortune. In a career of 126 fights he earned and flung away $438,000. He could have been heavyweight champion of the world, according to most sports experts who saw him in action in his prime. Gentleman Jim Corbett made it a point to see every Slattery fight because, according to sports writers, he saw his own greatness mirrored in the lean Irishman. Gene Tunny has called him the greatest natural boxer of those times. Slattery boxed frequently with Tunney when the latter was getting into shape for his second Dempsey fight during one furious session, Slats sent Tunney sprawling through the ropes. Newspaper stories said Tunney "slipped," but Slattery's followers have always maintained that it was a clean punch that nearly knocked the heavyweight champ out. Slattery fought his last professional fight on August 22, 1932 in Offermann Stadium. He was knocked out in the second round by Charley Belanger, Canadian light-heavy weight champion. Nevada State Journal 12 September 1925 Berlenbach Keeps Fistic Crown Champ Scores Technical KO in 11th Round Slattery Unable to Weather Storm Of Blows Put Over By Astorian Paul Berlenbach of Astoria, N. Y., world's light heavyweight champion, successfully defended his title tonight when he scored a technical knockout over Jimmy Slattery of Buffalo. N. Y.. in the eleventh round of a 15-round encounter in the American league baseball .park. Berlenbach's powerful punches and the long route was too much for the youthful challenger, and the end came after 1 minute and 28 seconds of the eleventh round after Slattery had been on the canvas for most of the round. Referee Patsy Haley stopped the fight after it appeared certain that Slattery could not weather Berlenbach's storm of blows. Tex Rickard, promoter of the match estimated the attendance at 35,000 when the fighters entered the ring. At the official weighing in today Berlenbach scaled 172 pounds, 10 ½ pounds more than his rival. This is Slattery's first fight in New York state over the 14,-round route, his other appearances having been confined to six rounds in accordance with the provisions of the Walker law limiting the activities of boxers to 21 years of age. Slattery reached his majority August 21. The fight by rounds follows: ROUND ONE. Slattery started to dance around the champion with lightning speed. They exchanged light blows. Slattery landed on the champion's jaw and they clinched. Both landed to the head. The champion staggered Slattery with a right to body. Another uppercut rocked Berlenbach; A straight right and left to jaw backed the champion to the ropes. Slattery was boxing prettily. They were dancing at the bell. ROUND TWO. Slattery led with right to head, but took Berlenbach's heavy right in return Berlenbach chased his challenger half way around the ring. Berflenbach scored to the body at close quarters. The champion rushed Slattery to the corner and had him groggy with a furious charge. A heavy blow sent Slattery back on his heels. They were in a clinch at the bell. ROUND THREE. Slattery crashed to Berlenbach's body. Slattery's left jab was bothering the champion. Berlenbacb slowed Slattery with a right to the body.