Patrick Killen


Pat Killen was an American boxer. He died at 29, in Chicago while hiding from Minnesota authorities.

Early life

Killen was born in Haddington, Pennsylvania. He later moved to Minnesota, where he made his home for the majority of his life and career.

Boxing career

Standing and weighing around, he was large for a heavyweight of his era. This benefited him tremendously, as he was nearly taller than most of his opponents. He was a patient fighter who usually waited for his opponent to make the first move, while setting up his punch. He was known as the best counter-punching heavyweight of his era, but known even more for his devastating one-punch power, winning most often by knockout. Some at the time felt he may have had greater one-punch power than even boxers John L. Sullivan or Peter Maher, but he was less tough or durable, and not as aggressive or tenacious as Sullivan, the reigning champion at that time.
Killen's first fight was against John Howard, whom he managed to knock out in the second round. Twenty-one more wins followed before he lost on a foul against Mervine Thompson. Killen had knocked down the highly regarded Thompson four times, but the referee allegedly kept giving Thompson all the time he needed to recover each time, prompting the crowd to grow angry and storm the ring, as well as Killen taking off his gloves in disgust. All of this caused him to lose by disqualification.

Death

Contrary to historical reports, Killen was not murdered; he died of erysipelas in Chicago, while on the run from the authorities from his home state of Minnesota, where he had been arrested for assault and battery of two different people, both within two days, and both during drunken stupors. He made bail and fled the state to Winnipeg and then later Chicago. He was 29 when he died.

Legacy

He was rated as the seventh all-time greatest Minnesota heavyweight by boxing historian George Blair. His current record is 55 wins, two losses, three draws and one no-contest.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes
60Win54–2–3 Bob FergusonKO6 Oct 11, 1891Picnic Grove, Richardson, Illinois, USRetained Northwestern heavyweight title
59Win53–2–3 Joe SheehyDQ2 Dec 19, 1890Jackson Street Rink, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USRetained Northwestern heavyweight title;
Sheehy was DQ'd for throwing Killen to ground four times, stomping on him,
and biting him in the chest, the leg, and the stomach.
58Loss52–2–3 Joe McAuliffeKO7 Sep 11, 1889Golden State A.C., San Francisco, California, USKillen reportedly entered the fight drunk and missed so wildly on his punches,
that he fell and dislocated his right shoulder in the second round
57Win52–1–3 Jack WelchKO3 Aug 14, 1889Astoria, Oregon, US
56Win51–1–3 Jack FraserKO3 Jul 22, 1889Spokane Falls, Washington, US
55Win50–1–3 Jack SmithKO2 Jul 16, 1889Tacoma, Washington, USExact date unknown
54Win49–1–3 Corporal ToomeyKO1 Jul 11, 1889Miles City, Montana, US
53Win48–1–3 Patsy CardiffKO4 Jun 26, 1888Washington Roller Rink, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USWon Northwestern heavyweight title
52Win47–1–3 Jack CooperKO1 Jan 1, 1888Theatre Comique, MinneapolisExact date unknown
51Win46–1–3 Lem McGregorPTS6Dec 16, 1887Cominique Theater, Minneapolis
50Win45–1–3 Frank CookKO2 Nov 25, 1887Duluth, Minnesota, US
49Win44–1–3 O.H. SmithKO2 Nov 17, 1887Rochester, New York, US
48Win43–1–3 Frank LewisKO1 Oct 12, 1887Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
47Win42–1–3 Henry DowsKO1 Sep 7, 1887Covington, Kentucky, US
46Win41–1–3 James SmithKO1 Sep 5, 1887Covington
45Draw40–1–3 Patsy CardiffPTS10Aug 5, 1887Duluth Theatre, DuluthFor Northwest heavyweight title
44Win40–1–2 O.H. SmithKO1 May 2, 1887Duluth Theatre, Duluth
43Win39–1–2 Jack CookKO1 Apr 1, 1887Duluth
42Win38–1–2 Duncan McDonaldKO1, 2:46Mar 4, 1887Washington Roller Rink, Minneapolis
41Win37–1–2 Paddy McDonaldKO7 Jan 17, 1887Duluth
40Win36–1–2 O.H. SmithKO2 Jan 4, 1887Jackson Theater, Duluth
39Win35–1–2 Ed McKeownKO5 Dec 28, 1886Location unknown
38Draw34–1–2 Bill BradburnPTS5Dec 23, 1886Exposition Rink, Saint Paul, MinnesotaBradburn refused to fight, because the money was insufficient,
and had only agreed to spar five rounds with large gloves.
37Win34–1–1 John CusickPTS6Nov 12, 1886Theatre Comique, Minneapolis
36Win33–1–1 Tug WilsonKO4 Oct 24, 1886DuluthExact date unknown
35Win32–1–1 Luke DempseyKO1 Oct 16, 1886Exposition Rink, Saint Paul
34Win31–1–1 Mike HaleyKO4 Sep 15, 1886Omaha, Nebraska, US
33Win30–1–1 Dan StalkerKO2 Aug 15, 1886Eau Claire, Wisconsin, US
32Draw29–1–1 Paddy McDonaldPTS4Aug 7, 1886DuluthPrearranged draw in case of a decision
31Win29–1 Jim BradyKO1 Aug 2, 1886Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US
30Win28–1 Tom DonnellyKO2 Jul 2, 1886Saint Paul
29Win27–1 Captain Jim DalyKO3 Jul 2, 1886Theatre Comique, Minneapolis
28Win26–1 Dan StalkerKO2 Jun 19, 1886Olympic Theater, Saint Paul
27Win25–1 John MorrisKO2 Jun 7, 1886Minneapolis
26Win24–1 Captain James DaltonKO3 Jun 1, 1886Minneapolis
25Win23–1 Patsy MellenKO2 May 2, 1886Theatre Comique, Minneapolis
24Loss22–1 Mervine ThompsonDQ4 Apr 20, 1886Cleveland Crib Club, Cleveland, Ohio, USAfter scoring four knockdowns, Killen was
inexplicably DQ'd when the fans rushed into the ring.
23Win22–0 Bill JordanKO3 Apr 8, 1886Vine Street Opera House, Cincinnati, Ohio, US
22Win21–0 Mike SmithKO1 Apr 7, 1886Vine Street Opera House, Cincinnati
21Win20–0 John HughesKO3 Apr 6, 1886Cincinnati
20Win19–0 Mike HaleyKO2 Apr 5, 1886People's Theater, Omaha
19Win18–0 Dan StalkerKO1, 0:21Apr 2, 1886Criterion Rink, Eau Claire
18Win17–0 Jim BradyKO1, 2:40Mar 28, 1886South Side Palace Rink, Milwaukee
17Win16–0 John HughesTKO1 Mar 18, 1886Vine Street Opera House, Cincinnati
1615–0 Pat McHughNC6 Mar 6, 1886Park Theatre, Chicago, Illinois, USFight stopped for dirty tactics by both fighters
15Win15–0George GrayKO2 Feb 26, 1886Louisville, Kentucky, US
14Win14–0Martin McComiskeyKO4 Feb 15, 1886Covington
13Win13–0Dick BurkeKO1 Feb 5, 1886Park Theatre, Chicago
12Win12–0Pat McHughKO4 Jan 6, 1886Chicago
11Win11–0George GrayKO3 Dec 21, 1885Liederkrauz Hall, Louisville
10Win10–0Joe LannonKO9Nov 8, 1885Silk's Grove, Saint PaulA finish fight
9Win9–0Jack MorrisKO2 Sep 3, 1885Park Theatre, Chicago
8Win8–0John LynchKO3 Aug 2, 1885Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
7Win7–0Dan RingKO1 Aug 1, 1885Binghamton, New York, USExact date uncertain
6Win6–0Denny KelliherKO4 May 3, 1885Philadelphia
5Win5–0Mike DevineKO1 Nov 2, 1884Comique Theatre, Philadelphia
4Win4–0Tom BoylanKO5 Apr 2, 1884Location unknown
3Win3–0Lew CreamerKO2 Nov 1, 1883Location unknownExact date uncertain
2Win2–0Hial StoddardKO1 Sep 8, 1883Club Theater, Philadelphia
1Win1–0John HowardKO2 Jul 6, 1883Philadelphia