Johnny Kilbane
Pictures and Memorabilia
Below are several pictures from Johnny Kilbane including training, fight related, family and some memorabilia related to his career. Scroll down to see over a hundred images. I will be adding pictures periodically. Please check back.
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1912 postcard |
fighting pose with Dunn headshot in corner |
kilbane and 7 other men |
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Nostalgia postcard 1934 |
sitting pose with Dunn |
sitting pose with unidentified man |
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Instructors at Camp Sherman during WWI |
young kilbane and other fighter |
After winning the championship from Attell in 1912, Kilbane stuck around California for several weeks as an actor. |
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If you know any of the other three men please let me know. |
Kilbane v Conley fight Sept 30 1911. Kilbane won in 20 rounds |
Jimmy Dunn discovered Kilbane and managed him throughout most of his title reign. They had a falling out later in Kilbane's career but eventually became friends again and were very close. Dunn was a featherweight himself and retired after seeing Kilbane fight in order to focus on making sure Kilbane reached his potential. |
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Hartsock photo |
Houck Kilbane and Robideau before fight |
Johnny Kilbane, Leo Houck, Robideau, McGuigan and Loftus |
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1911 family picture |
1920 with daughter Mary |
1940s florida with family |
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1947 with Jake Davis sr and jr boxing pose |
in car with friends and family |
Kilbane and Leo Houck |
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with Arthur Blake |
with daughter Helen |
with daughter Mary 1922 |
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with Judge Gilbert |
with actor Wallace Berry |
Johnny was elected to the Ohio state legislature as a Senator. |
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After winning the featherweight championship in February 1922, Johnny played Vaudeville for several weeks before heading home to Cleveland. |
Johnny and a group of well known sports writers who staged a baseball game in Liepersville (a little town on the Chester Pike between Philadelphia and Wilmington) as part of Johnny's training before the Leonard fight. |
I would really like to identify these players. If you can help out please send me an email. |
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1947 florida with grandsons Johnny and Tommy |
Johnny and Irene's first date |
kilbane family on their way to Ireland in the early 1920s |
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Johnny Kilbane married Irene McDonnell on June 15, 1910 at St Colman's church in Cleveland Ohio. They were married 47 years. |
Irene Kilbane 1920 |
Irene Kilbane with baby Mary 1912 |
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Kilbane and Dunn families on beach 1913 |
Portrait of Johnny's father from 1927 |
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Kilbane and Dundee fought in 1912 and 1913 with one no decision and one draw. |
Johnny Kilbane fought Joe Rivers twice in a tournament before Kilbane's title fight with Abe Attell in 1912. They had to fight twice because the winner of the tournament earned a shot at a title fight with Attell. Rivers was the promoter's fighter and after Johnny beat him once the promoter changed the rules saying Johnny had to fight Rivers again before he would get a title shot. Kilbane beat Rivers again in the second fight and went on to beat Attell and become the longest reigning champion of all time in any weight class. |
During the Kilbaen vs Attell championship fight Feb 22, 1912 |
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Boxing on a ship heading to Ireland |
In corner after winning title Feb 22, 1912 |
Kilbane and Patsy Kline at end of match July 15, 1911 |
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Kilbane in fighting attire ready for the start of the fight |
Johnny fought Johnny Dundee twice during his career. Once on Sept 4, 1912 in New York and once on April 29, 1913 in Vernon, Ca. The latter was a title fight where Kilbane retained his featherweight championship in 20 rounds. |
Johnny fought Benny Leonard twice. This was the second fight on July 25, 1917 and one of only two times Johnny was knocked out. |
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Kilbane fought Kid Williams on St Patrick Day 1915. Kilbane won on a knockout in the 6th round. |
Gathering of champions in the ring before the Johnny Coulon v Frankie Conley Bantamweight fight. Included are: Freddie Welsh, Conley, One Round Hogan, Ad Wolgast, Coulon, Abe Attell, Harlem Tommy Murphy, Johnny Kilbane, Tommy Kilbane and Joe Rivers. Thanks to Bill Schutte for identifying the fighters. |
Just prior to the featherweight championship Feb 22, 1912 |
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The Decision Over Attell Feb 22, 1912 |
Standing Over a Fallen Challenger |
Kilbane and Criqui prefight June 23, 1923 |
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1921 W521 strip card |
strip card (2) |
W529 Strip Card #10 |
W529 strip card variation #1 |
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Strip Card circa 1920 |
1925 Willard Chocolate Card out of Canada |
French Kemmel Chocolate 1940 card |
Romeo y Julieta Card |
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Kilbane and Criqui Sportscaster card |
Rare Canadian issue. From a set of playing cards in 1923. |
1950's Joe Palooka Card |
Sporting Champs card #33 Godfrey Phillips |
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Police Gazette Card 1912 |
exhibit postcard |
Johnny fought Young Driscoll on Februrary 4, 1913 in Brooklyn, NY. The outcome was a 10 round no-decision. |
Johnny would send out this promo card to fans who wrote to him or asked for a photo. |
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If you have information on what series this came from or can help me with when it may have been produced, please email me. |
pinback our champion v2 - let me know if you have any info on this pin |
If you can help me with any information on the details of this pin, such as when it was produced, how it was distributed etc, please email me. |
Johnny would send out this promo card of him shadow boxing to fans that requested a photo. |
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January 1961 Cover of Ring Magazine |
Boys Magazine 1921 stamp |
Cleveland HOF Induction Plaque |
Boxing HOF induction program from the 1995 ceremony. |
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Johnny and Benny Leonard fought 3 rounds on July 25 with Leonard getting the knockout. It was one of only three times Kilbane was knocked out in a fight. This was the second of two fights between the two with the first fight going ten rounds in 1915. Officially it was a no-decision but most observers and the newspapers gave the nod to Kilbane. |
Johnny and Danny Frush fought a title fight in September 1921. It was a controversial fight that Johnny eventually won in 7 rounds on a knockout. |
Johnny lost his title and retired after this fight with Eugene Criqui in June 1923 at the Polo Grounds. |
Ticket stub from kilbane v chaney fight Sept. 4, 1916 Cedar Point, Ohio. Referee Matt Hinkel declared Chaney out by knockout at 2m 27s |
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Oil painting done for the Kilbane family in the early 19th century. |
This bell was used by Johnny in his practice facility, the old angle gym. |
Application for Johnny's recreation camp for boys. Johnny ran a camp ouside Cleveland in Lorain county where he made men out of boys. The camp was in east vermilion near what is today Helen Drive and Edgewater Drive to Lake Erie, north of East Lake Road. |
Recreation camp brochure for Johnny's recreation camp for boys. Johnny ran a camp ouside Cleveland in Lorain county where he made men out of boys. The camp was in east vermilion near what is today Helen Drive and Edgewater Drive to Lake Erie, north of East Lake Road. |
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Johnny's championship belt |
Ohio House of Rep Business Card |
Senate election confirmation |
Ohio Senate card |
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JK for Sheriff political ad card |
1917 War dept proclamation |
1952 Christmas Card |
Ring worn glove back |
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Ring worn glove palm |
Kilbane Criqui bronze by L Allioux |
State Athletic Commission ID card |
Whiskey Promo Card |
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The Ring Magazine January 1961 |
Lithograph |
Silk 7.75 x 9.5 |
Silk 9.5 x 12.75 |
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ten years a champ by Ripley |
Helms HOF award details letter |
Helms HOF notification letter |
Helms HOF press release 1954 |
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Wooden horseshoe plaque given to Johnny after he won the title |
Johnny's Shillelagh |
After winning the title in 1912 Johnny had several entertainment offers. One was to perform at the BF Keith Hippodrome in Cleveland. This is an advertising piece from Johnny's appearance there. |
Fighting pose |
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