Charles Hadley


Charles Hadley, nicknamed "The Professor", was an African American boxer who was the third World Colored Heavyweight Champion, reigning from January 14, 1881, to February 23, 1883. The 5′9½″ boxer fought out of Bridgeport, Connecticut as a heavyweight.

Fights with Morris Grant

Hadley won the colored heavyweight championship from Morris Grant, whom he fought twelve times between 1881 and 1883. Their first recorded match was January 14, 1881, when Hadley won points in a three-rounder and claimed the Grant's title.
Hadley fought Grant a 10 more times while he was the colored champ, beating him eight times. In their seventh fight, held on May 4, 1882, in New York City, their four-rounder was declared a no-contest. Their next fight, on June 20 of the same year, saw Morris finally beat the undefeated Hadley, besting the champ on points in a four rounder. Hadley apparently did not put his belt at stake for the fight, for he continued as champion until 1883, when he was finally bested by George "Old Chocolate" Godfrey.
Morris lost three more fights to Hadley during his championship reign and one after Hadley lost his title to Godfrey. The last time they battled while Hadley was the colored champ was on December 7, 1882, when they fought in New York City for the Police Gazette Medal Championship of America. Hadley KO-ed Morris in the third round. Their last fight was on December 8, 1883-12-08, exactly one year and one day after they had last met in the ring. Morris apparently was outpointed by the ex-champ and retired from pro boxing.

Record

In a career that lasted from 1869 to 1891, Hadley racked up a record of 25 wins against 13 losses with six draws.

Legacy & Honors

In 2020 award-winning author Mark Allen Baker published the first comprehensive account of The World Colored Heavyweight Championship, 1876–1937, with McFarland & Company, a leading independent publisher of academic & nonfiction books. This history traces the advent and demise of the Championship, the stories of the talented professional athletes who won it, and the demarcation of the color line both in and out of the ring.
For decades the World Colored Heavyweight Championship was a useful tool to combat racial oppression-the existence of the title a leverage mechanism, or tool, used as a technique to counter a social element, “drawing the color line.”

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateAgeLocationNotes
45ND20–16–6 Tommy ClearyND?Aug 1, 1891N/AAmsterdam, New York, USPolice intervened;
Date uncertain
44Draw20–16–6 Tommy ClearyPTS?Apr 1, 1891N/AAlbany, New York, USDate uncertain
43Loss20–16–5 Jack SenrabPTS4Jan 4, 1891Barnes Road House, Spokane, Washington, US
42Loss20–15–5 Dave CampbellPTS4May 29, 1890American Resort, Spokane Falls, Washington, US
41Loss20–14–5 Harris MartinKO1 Aug 31, 1888Theatre Comique, Minneapolis, Minnesota, US
40Draw20–13–5 Harris MartinPTS8Aug 10, 1888Theatre Comique, Minneapolis, Minnesota, US
39Win20–13–4 Strong BoyKO3 Feb 1, 1888N/ADonaldson, Louisiana, USDate uncertain
38Loss19–13–4 Harris MartinPTS10Apr 15, 1887Olympic Theater, Saint Paul, Minnesota, US
37Loss19–12–4 Harry WoodsonPTS10Apr 11, 1887Olympic Theater, Saint Paul, Minnesota, US
36Loss19–11–4 Harris MartinPTS8Mar 25, 1887Comique Theater, Minneapolis, Minnesota, US
35Win19–10–4 Frank TaylorPTS11Feb 25, 1887Theatre Comique, Minneapolis, Minnesota, US
34Loss18–10–4 Frank TaylorKO10 Jan 14, 1887Olympic Theater, Saint Paul, Minnesota, US
33Draw18–9–4 Frank TaylorPTS15Dec 31, 1886Theatre Comique, Minneapolis, Minnesota, US
32Loss18–9–3 Frank TaylorPTS5Dec 2, 1886Exposition Rink, Saint Paul, Minnesota, US
31Win18–8–3 Ed MoehlerKO5 Jun 6, 1886Silver Lake, Minnesota, US
30Loss17–8–3 Patsy MellenPTS5May 16, 1886Market Hall, Saint Paul, Minnesota, US
29Win17–7–3 Peter FollettTKO3 Mar 6, 1886Saint Paul, Minnesota, US
28Win16–7–3 Billy WilsonDQ6 Jul 19, 1885Saint Paul, Minnesota, US
27Loss15–7–3 Billy WilsonPTS4May 30, 1885White Bear Lake, Minnesota, US
26Loss15–6–3 Billy WilsonKO3 Mar 21, 1885Market Hall, Saint Paul, Minnesota, US
25Loss15–5–3 Harry WoodsonKO4 Dec 23, 1884Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
24Win15–4–3 Jack KeefePTS5Mar 14, 1884Cleveland, Ohio, US
23Loss14–4–3 Charles C. SmithDQ2 Feb 2, 1884East Saginaw, Michigan, US
22ND14–3–3 Charles C. SmithND4Dec 15, 1883N/AEast Saginaw, Michigan, USDate uncertain
21Win14–3–3 Harry WoodsonPTS?Dec 8, 1883New York City, New York, US
20Win13–3–3 Harry WoodsonPTS?Jul 1, 1883N/ANew York City, New York, USWon vacant black heavyweight title;
Date uncertain
19Loss12–3–3 George GodfreyKO6 Feb 23, 1883Cribb Club, Boston, Massachusetts, USLost world colored heavyweight title
18Loss12–2–3 Harry WoodsonPTS3Feb 7, 1883New York, New York City, New York, US
17Draw12–1–3 George GodfreyPTS6Jan 18, 1883New York, New York City, New York, US
16Win12–1–2 Harry WoodsonKO2 Jan 10, 1883New York, New York City, New York, US
15Win11–1–2 Morris GrantKO3 Dec 7, 1882Harry Hill's, New York, New York City, New York, USRetained Police Gazette Medal Championship of America
14Win10–1–2 Morris GrantKO1 Dec 1, 1882N/ANew York City, New York, USDate uncertain
13Win9–1–2 Morris GrantPTS?Nov 7, 1882New York City, New York, USWon inaugural Police Gazette Medal Championship of America
12Win8–1–2 Frank JohnsonPTS4Jul 26, 1882New York City, New York, US
11Loss7–1–2 Morris GrantPTS4Jun 20, 1882New York City, New York, US
107–0–2 Morris GrantND4May 4, 1882New York City, New York, US
9Win7–0–2Morris GrantKO2 Apr 26, 1882New York City, New York, US
8Win6–0–2Morris GrantKO2 Apr 6, 1882New York City, New York, US
7Draw5–0–2George GodfreyPTS4Jan 26, 1882Harry Hill's, New York City, New York, US
6Draw5–0–1Morris GrantPTS3Jan 12, 1882Harry Hill's, New York City, New York, US
5Win5–0Morris GrantPTS1Jan 1, 1882N/ANew York City, New York, USDate uncertain
4Win4–0Morris GrantPTS3Dec 1, 1881N/ANew York City, New York, USDate uncertain
3Win3–0J.H. BrownKO3 Jun 3, 1881Bridgeport, Connecticut, US
2Win2–0Professor AndersonKO18 May 17, 1881Bridgeport, Connecticut, US
1Win1–0Morris GrantPTS3Jan 14, 1881New York City, New York, USWon vacant world colored heavyweight title