Jack Dillon: A Biography of Boxing's Giant Killer

by Mark Allen Baker

Overview

In the weight sensitive sport of boxing, Jack Dillon, "The Giant Killer," was considered an anomaly. Size was irrelevant; besides, it was only a factor if he accepted as such. He refused. Sturdy, compact and indestructible, yet capable of turning on a dime, Dillon not only defeated his opponents, he humiliated them. This dynamic defined his prolific and unparalleled career (1908-1925). His accepted record of 94-7-14, with 129 no decisions and one no contest (64 victories by way of knockout), put him in elite company with other members of the International Boxing Hall of Fame. While he claimed the middleweight championship for over two years, the unrivaled Hoosier pugilist was often recognized as the world light heavyweight champion. Moving up a division, he disposed of heavyweight contenders like tissues during flu season. On June 29, 1916, Dillon defeated Frank Moran and was clearly the top contender for giant Jess Willard's heavyweight crown. Yet, Willard, who outweighed Dillon by 60 pounds, and was about a foot taller, refused.

This first biography of the celebrated pugilist is based on contemporaneous newspaper accounts of the time and includes several appendices with career statistics and a selected boxing record.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781476695907
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Publication date:	02/20/2025
Pages:	248
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Mark Allen Baker, business executive and author of hundreds of articles and more than 30 books, is the only person to serve the International Boxing Hall of Fame as an author, historian, chairperson, sponsor, volunteer and biographer. He was accorded a Lifetime Award of Merit by the State University of New York in 2022, and inducted into the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame in 2023.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Preface
Introduction: A Champion in Perpetuity
One. The Birth of a Giant Killer
Two. A New Decade, 1910
Three. One Prolific Pugilist, 1911
Four. A Championship Claim, 1912
Five. Never Better, 1913
Six. Indestructible, 1914
Seven. Head East, 1915
Eight. Fisticuffs in Flatbush, 1916
Nine. World War I, 1917
Ten. A Bearcat Redux, 1918
Eleven. Bearcat Blues, 1919
Twelve. Comeback, 1920
Thirteen. The Roaring Twenties Begin, 1921–1922
Fourteen. From Boxing to Breadlines, 1923–1942
Appendix A: Ernest Coulter Price, a.k.a. Jack Dillon—Boxing Record
Appendix B: Official Records of Associated Members of the International Boxing Hall of Fame
Chapter Notes
Bibliography
Index