Johnny Kilbane - by Mark Allen Baker (Paperback)

About the Book

"Holding the world featherweight boxing championship for more than 11 years, Johnny Kilbane's name became synonymous with the title. His accepted record of 51-4-7, with 78 no decisions and 2 no contests (25 victories by way of knockout), put him in elite company with other members of the International Boxing Hall of Fame. In October 1917-while still World Featherweight Champion-Johnny Kilbane, a true patriot, became a lieutenant in the U.S. Army to serve in World War I. Following his career as fighter, he turned to adjudication. Johnny Kilbane transformed himself into a talented and prolific boxing referee and he did so while juggling his other responsibilities such as operating a gym, serving in the Ohio Senate, or acting as Clerk of the Cleveland Municipal Court. As dedicated to public service as he was to pugilism, he gained the respect of his peers and his constituents and was admired for his commitment to family. This is his biography."--

Book Synopsis

Holding the world featherweight boxing championship for more than 11 years, Johnny Kilbane's name became synonymous with the title. His accepted record of 51-4-7, with 78 no decisions and two no contests (25 victories by way of knockout), put him in elite company with other members of the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

In October 1917--while still World Featherweight Champion--Johnny Kilbane became a lieutenant in the U.S. Army to serve in World War I. Following his career as fighter, he turned to adjudication and transformed himself into a talented and prolific boxing referee. He did so while juggling other responsibilities such as operating a gym, serving in the Ohio Senate, or acting as Clerk of the Cleveland Municipal Court. As dedicated to public service as he was to pugilism, he gained the respect of his peers and his constituents and was admired for his commitment to family. This is his biography.

Review Quotes

"M r . B a k e r, in h is f a m o u s e x p l o r a t iv e n a r r a t iv e, t a k e s t h e r e a d e r s f r o m Kilbane's imp o v e r is h e d b a c k g r o u n d t o h is r is e a s o n e o f t h e highest p a id a t h l e t e s o n t h e p l a n e t . There does not appear to be a sportswriter in the field today who thoroughly researches a subject better than Mark Allen Baker. The author treats his subject as sunken treasure from a long-disappeared pirate ship. Mr. Baker is the diver who repeatedly goes deep into dark waters to excavate whatever nuggets and boxing lore that are available. Once again, with the story of Johnny Kilbane, the readers are presented with a chest full of boxing riches. ... A s is h is c o n s u m m a t e, investigative s t y l e, B a k e r g o e s in t o details o f a l l o f t h e b o u t s, s t a t in g w h o t h e p r e s s g a v e t h e various 'wins' t o . Through all the new changes the sport was going through, Mr. Baker writes in a heartfelt way describing how Kilbane persevered in his career, even after experiencing the early death of a beloved young daughter. ... T h e b o o k c o n t a in s o n e f a b u l o u s s e g m e n t a f t e r a n o t h e r t h r o u g h o u t Kilbane's f a s c in a t in g fistic c a r e e r . ... Mark Allen Baker writes wonderfully about a man who was a champion in and out of the ring. ... Just like other books written by Mr. Baker, once again, a reader will come off an expert of a long-since forgotten battler and time as boxing ghosts from yesteryear jump off the pages to resurrect the exploits of one of the greatest and wily featherweights who ever laced on a pair of gloves. This enjoyable book is highly recommended!"-The USA Boxing News

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.