Andy Bowen

Andy Bowen
Andy Bowen
Statistics
Real name	Andy Bowen
Weight(s)	Lightweight
Nationality	American
Born	May 3, 1867; New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Died	December 15, 1894 (aged 27); New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	27
Wins	16
Wins by KO	7
Losses	3
Draws	7
No contests	1

Andy Bowen (May 3, 1867 – December 15, 1894) was an American lightweight boxer best known for fighting the world's longest boxing match, which took place in 1893 against Jack Burke.

Biography

Early life

Born on May 3, 1867, in New Orleans, Louisiana, Bowen's first fight was in 1887. He was undefeated in his first 14 fights, with 12 wins and two draws. In September 1890, he successfully defended his title against Jimmy Carroll at the Olympic Club in New Orleans (the same club where James J. Corbett would defeat John L. Sullivan for the World Heavyweight Championship two years later).

The Longest Fight

On April 6, 1893, Bowen and Jack Burke fought the longest fight in history. Bowen had originally scheduled the fight with another opponent, however after dropping out of the fight, Jack Burke, who was the latter's trainer, fought the bout instead. The fight took place at the same Olympics Club Bowen had defended his title from Carroll. The fight lasted 110 rounds over seven hours and 19 minutes (each round lasting three minutes). It was reported that the fight went on for so long, that the spectators who stayed to watch the fight had fallen asleep in their seats. It was also recorded that at round 108, with no clear end in sight, referee John Duffy made the decision that if no winner had emerged in the next 2 rounds, the bout would be ruled a "no contest". With both men having become too dazed and tired to come out of their corners, Duffy declared the match a no contest. Burke broke all the bones in both of his hands and was bedridden for six weeks.^[1] He had considered retiring after the fight but chose to continue competing. Bowen fought four more times after the fight. The club where the fight took place would burn to the ground four years later.

Last fight and death

Bowen's fight against Kid Lavigne was his 27th and last fight. The injury that killed him was inflicted in the 18th round, when Lavigne knocked him down and he hit his head on the wooden canvas. Bowen never regained consciousness and died at 7:00 am the next morning, aged 27. At first Lavigne was arrested for Bowen's death, but was found to be innocent of any wrongdoing following a coroner's inquest. Bowen's death was listed as from hitting his head on the ring floor.^[2]

References

^ "The Boxing Match That Lasted 7 Hours". Mental Floss. 2015-05-01. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
^ ""PUT TO SLEEP" FOR ALL TIME; ANDY BOWEN KILLED IN THE RING BY "KID" LAVIGNE. The Knock-Out Blow Probably Not Responsible for the Death -- Other Fights Declared off". The New York Times. 16 December 1894.

External links

http://www.boxrec.com/media/index.php?title=Human:64402
http://cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/bowen-andy.htm
""PUT TO SLEEP" FOR ALL TIME; ANDY BOWEN KILLED IN THE RING BY "KID" LAVIGNE. The Knock-Out Blow Probably Not Responsible for the Death -- Other Fights Declared Off". The New York Times. December 16, 1894. p. 16. Retrieved October 18, 2008.

[1] "The Boxing Match That Lasted 7 Hours". Mental Floss. 2015-05-01. Retrieved 2022-07-01.

[2] ""PUT TO SLEEP" FOR ALL TIME; ANDY BOWEN KILLED IN THE RING BY "KID" LAVIGNE. The Knock-Out Blow Probably Not Responsible for the Death -- Other Fights Declared off". The New York Times. 16 December 1894.

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