Ike Weir
Born
Isaac O'Neil Weir

(1867-02-05)February 5, 1867
Lurgan, Ireland, U.K.
(nowadays Lurgan, Northern Ireland, U.K.)
DiedSeptember 12, 1908(1908-09-12) (aged 41)
NationalityBritish[Note 1]
American
Other namesThe Belfast Spider
Statistics
Weight(s)Featherweight
Height5 ft 5.5 in (1.66 m)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights40
Wins28
Wins by KO19
Losses3
Draws9

Ike Weir (February 5, 1867 – September 12, 1908) was an Irish boxer, credited with being the first man to take the Featherweight Championship of the World in a match against Frank Murphy on March 31, 1889, in Kouts, Indiana. The fight was billed as a World Featherweight Title, and went an astounding eighty rounds, though it was officially declared a draw. Some sources may credit Weir with taking the World Title as early as 1887 in his knockout title wins over Jack Farrell in Ridgefield, New Jersey on January 24, or Jack Williams in Westerly, Rhode Island, on March 10. Weir first claimed the title in his win over Farrell.

He was recognized by most sources to have lost the title on January 13, 1890, to Torpedo Billy Murphy in a fourteenth-round knockout in San Francisco, California.[1][2]

Early life and career

Weir was born on February 5, 1867, in Lurgan, Ireland (now Northern Ireland, UK) when all Ireland was part of the United Kingdom. He grew up near Belfast, where his father worked as a breeder, buyer, and trainer of thoroughbred horses for the gentry. Weir was somewhat dark complected with curly hair, blue eyes, and a lean build. He was well educated and had a fondness for books, and music. His shooting skills with both gun and pistol were noteworthy, and he was a fine pianist, having taken music education at an early age. Lighthearted and a serious entertainer, he was known to dance an Irish Jig on occasion for the entertainment of his fans or even to perform a handstand or backflip in the ring. Beginning work as a cross country jockey in Preston, England before taking up boxing, he had a fondness for horses from an early age. His ring name "spider" may have had an origin in his thin arms and legs, or a result of the spider like riding crouch he assumed as a jockey.[3]

Early career boxing in England

On October 5, 1885, he entered an amateur boxing contest in Manchester, England, where he defeated Stewart of Bradford, and Bill Palon, before being beaten by Joe Fielden who was thirty pounds heavier than Weir. His official boxing debut was on October 9, 1885, against W. Harlow in Salford, Lancashire, England. His first serious boxing instruction was obtained in Liverpool. He defeated Billy Sykes in Liverpool in four rounds on points using English boxing rules.[4][5] In the next two years, before his first bout with Tommy Warren, he won ten of fourteen fights, with only four being considered draws.[6][7]

1886 arrival in Boston

Having difficulty finding bouts in England, at the age of nineteen, he arrived in Boston on March 10, 1886, and won a three-round contest with Willie Snee. He would remain in the U.S. the rest of his life.[7] In his next American battle in Boston on October 29, 1917, he put James Furman on the canvas in a surprising fifth-round technical knockout which allowed him to be matched with better known boxer Martin Burns on November fifth of the following week. He knocked out Burns in six difficult rounds in Boston.[2][8]

Mid professional boxing career

Ike Weir 1887 cigarette card

Weir was known for his clever ducking and rapid countering, rather than a strong punch. He defeated a number of middleweights in his career, some outweighing him by as much as fifty pounds.[1]

Early Featherweight Title Matches

On March 10, 1887, Weir fought a thirty-six-round match against Jack Williams in Westerly, Rhode, Island, that ended in a knockout for Weir. The fight was billed as a World Featherweight Title match. In the close and exciting contest, Weir was down in the twelfth, twenty-fourth, and twenty-ninth rounds, while Williams was down in the thirty-sixth round.[2]

On January 24, 1887, Weir won a seventh-round knockout against Jack Farrell in Ridgefield, New Jersey, near Hoboken, that was billed as a World 124 pound Title match, though it was not subsequently recognized as such. Weir received around $500 for the bout which was likely the largest purse he had yet received for a fight, and as the actual fight time was only eighteen minutes, it was a welcomed windfall for Weir. According to one source, the match was held in a somewhat private venue to keep its existence from the attention of the authorities who may have had issue with its legality.[8] Weir took a few good shots in the bout himself and subsequently had a bad cut over his right eye. He later described Farrell as the "gamest man he ever met".[9]

On April 11, 1887, he married Miss Henrietta Flora McAvoy, with whom he remained throughout his life. They were married on Easter Monday at St. Mary's in Boston's North end.[7][10]

On April 30, 1887, Weir defeated Willie Clarke in a twenty-round bout lasting one hour twenty-three minutes in Long Island Sound in Queens, New York. Weir knocked Clarke down twice in the first and once in the seventh. The bout was brutal, with far more of the injuries attributed to Clarke. Injuries to Weir's hands made it unlikely he could win by knockout, extending the length of the bout. Clarke attempted a futile rally in the nineteenth round, but was too weak and injured. His seconds threw in the sponge at the end of the twentieth when he could no longer see.[11] According to one source, several of his earliest bouts had as few as twenty in attendance due to the legal issues associated with boxing at the time, and a single ticket could get a price as high as $100.[12]

All night bout with Jack Havlin

Jack Havlin, 1888

On July 20, 1887, Weir fought an unusually long sixty-one-round match outdoors against Jack Havlin of Providence, in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The fight, described as "one of the hardest battles Weir ever took part in", began around 9:30 PM, and lasted much of the night before ending around 3:00 AM in an official draw. Weir's manager at the time was Ed Holske, who had followed him from his fighting days in England. The battle caused injuries to Weir's hands, which were a source of concern for much of his boxing career. Further increasing the chances of hand injuries, the bout was fought with skin-tight gloves which offered little padding. According to one source, Havlin was more badly injured from the bout, suffering from serious swelling and injuries to his eyes, and most sources agree Havlin had the worst of the contest. With Havlin unable to see effectively for the later part of the match, and Weir having serious problems with his hands, not much contact took place. The bout ended when the referee called the match.[2][13][14]

On September 30, 1887, he met Johnny Murphy in Boston in a seventeen-round draw, which may have originally only been scheduled for fifteen. The referee considered the fighting so close that two additional rounds were added, but failed to help determine a victor.[15]

Title bout with Tommy Warren

On December 12, 1887, Weir fought a twenty-round Featherweight title match against Tommy Warren at boxer John Barnes's club in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with Barnes himself as the referee. A few sources credited his ascension to the American and World Featherweight crown with his victory in this match. Describing the fight, one source wrote, "The "Belfast Spider" outfought the "Boy Gambler" of Louisville (Warren) at every stage of the game and Warren was in a bad way when Barnes (referee) stopped the affair in the twentieth round and called it a draw." According to the El Paso Herald, Weir's bout with Warren was "the first ever pulled off under the Marquis of Queensbury Rules with the World's Featherweight Championship at stake", though more sources credit Weir's ascension to the Featherweight crown against Murphy on March 31, 1889.[16] According to one source, Warren was given two ounce gloves for the bout, while Weir was required to wear larger ones. By the 1910s gloves were closer to four ounces in weight. With far greater speed and mobility Weir was said to have "danced all around Warren".[17]

On January 23, 1888, in the height of winter he fought Tommy Miller in Minneapolis at the Washington Roller Rink. He defeated Miller in a seventh-round knockout. Legend has it that Weir did a somersault followed by a handstand so his seconds could remove his warm-up pants. He did a second hand stand when asked to shake the hand of Miller, brushing his foot on Miller's chin. The crowd, who favored Miller, was not amused.[18]

Shortly after this bout, Weir fought "Ironman" George Siddons on February 3, 1888, in Duluth Minnesota, winning by technical knockout in the eleventh of fifteen rounds, though Siddons claimed he had been fouled.[17] According to one source, Siddon's jaw had been broken in the bout, which could be a brutal affair with the thin gloves that were used.[19]

World Featherweight Title

Frank Murphy

Weir, by most accounts, first took the World Featherweight Championship in a match with Frank Murphy on March 31, 1889, in Kouts, Indiana. The fight was billed as a World Featherweight Title, and went an astonishing eighty rounds. It decided the World Featherweight Championship, according to several sources, though it was ruled a draw by the referee.[20] With both combatants exhausted, little fighting took place in the last eighteen rounds. Upon examination, Murphy was found to have had a broken rib, and Weir had possibly received a minor jaw fracture. By most accounts, Weir was the more aggressive boxer in the bout.[21]

Losing World Featherweight Title to Billy Murphy

Torpedo Billy Murphy

Weir lost the World Featherweight Title on January 13, 1890, to Torpedo Billy Murphy in a fourteenth-round knockout at the California Athletic Club in San Francisco, California. The purse for the fight was $2,250. Weir dominated throughout the fight, but was said to have failed to follow up on his advantages, when, apparently for no reason, Weir collapsed to the ground in the thirteenth round. Weir had not been hit hard, and some thought it may have been part of his clowning. However, while Weir rose in time, he soon went back down again. Weir went down 6 times, and while he made it to the end of the round. Weir's legs were shaking at the start of the fourteenth round, but he was reported to have avoided Murphy's hits, until going down from another light hit, this time until he was counted out [22] In a rematch, on November 2, 1893, he beat Murphy in a six-round knockout, which was one of the high points of his late career. In the fourth round, he knocked Murphy entirely out of the ring. Weir successfully used his clever ducking and bobbing as a defense in the fight, avoiding Murphy's powerful right which had plagued him in their earlier title bout.[3]

On July 7, 1890, he knocked out James Connor in Buffalo, New York in three rounds for a purse of $2,000, taking 1,750 for himself.

On January 17, 1891, he returned to Australia and defeated Abe Willis in a four-round newspaper decision in Sydney. By February 21, he had returned to San Francisco via Hawaii, claiming he was homesick for America and having trouble getting immediate fights.[23]

After his victory over boxer "Kentucky Rosebud" in early 1891, Weir returned for a time to cross country horse racing, participating in several events in New England, and becoming known as a jockey in Boston. He took around seven months off from boxing during the period. Famed Irish heavyweight boxing champion John L. Sullivan was a close friend.[3] On May 30, 1892, at Sunnyside Park in Nantucket, Massachusetts, he rode Dictum to three first-place finishes in three heats, one of his greatest feats as a jockey.[7]

Returning to boxing with a strong win on February 18, 1892, he fought Frank Steele at the New Bedford Athletic Club in New Bedford, Massachusetts, knocking him out in the twelfth round. Weir danced the Highland Fling and Irish jig during the match, which annoyed his opponent but greatly pleased the crowd. According to one source, "The fight was fiercely fought for twelve rounds, when Ike had punished his opponent so badly that he went to sleep for thirty-two seconds, and the "Spider" won. It was a clean knockout."[24] The total purse was set at $600 to be divided between the contestants.[25]

On April 19, 1893, he fought a hard ten round draw against Tommy White at the Hennepin Athletic Club in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The winner would have received $500, the loser $100. At the end of ten rounds, unlike in many of Weir's longer fights, both fighters were fresh and uninjured, and the referee declared a draw.[26]

Late career, retirement

On March 17, 1894, Weir was outclassed in a bout with Arthur Griffiths, known as "Young Griffo," at the Second Regiment Armory in Chicago. The Australian lightweight outweighed Weir considerably and dominated the bout, which was stopped by the police in the third round when Weir was down. Weir announced retirement after the bout but returned to the ring for a few more professional bouts and exhibitions.[3] Although the bout was officially called a draw by the referee, Griffo knocked Weir down twice in the third round, with Weir taking a while to get to his feet. Many in the crowd were displeased with the official Draw decision.[27] According to the Inter Ocean, as many as five thousand were in attendance to watch "three of the fastest, fiercest and most brutal rounds ever fought in an American prize ring". One reporter noted that Young Griffo made a "veritable chopping block of Ike O'Neil Weir, the "Belfast Spider"".[28] It is important to note that according to one source, Griffo may have outweighed Wier by as much as thirty pounds during the bout, though discrepancies in the weights of opponents was more common in this era of boxing.[7]

His tenth-round knockout at the hands of Mike Sears at the Hoffman Club in Lynne, Massachusetts on March 17, 1898 was his last official bout and ended his boxing career. Sears himself asked the referee to stop the bout as Weir was helpless. Weir was at the end of a harsh career at thirty-one, while Sears was then years younger and had the energy of a youth.[3][29]

Career as a horse trainer

After quitting the ring, Weir made a living as a horse trainer for the Vanderbilt family, and he, often accompanied by his wife, frequented the horse shows at Madison Square Garden where he could stay close to his stable. He was still training horses for wealthy clients in April 1904.[30] He lived out his remaining days in Charlestown, Massachusetts, and died on September 12, 1908, at age 41. He had been suffering for two years from an accident he had while riding a horse, and had not improved after several operations. According to at least one source, he died bankrupt, and his medical expenses were covered by a collection taken by fans at a match a few weeks before his death. He was survived by his wife Henrietta.[3][6][31][32]

Professional boxing record

All information in this section is derived from BoxRec,[33] unless otherwise noted.

Official record

40 fights 26 wins 2 losses
By knockout 19 2
By decision 7 0
Draws 9
Newspaper decisions/draws 3

All newspaper decisions are officially regarded as “no decision” bouts and are not counted in the win/loss/draw column.

No. Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
40 Loss 26–2–9 (3) Mike Sears TKO 10 (10) Mar 17, 1898 Southwark A.C., Philadelphia
39 Win 26–1–9 (3) Jimmy Johnson PTS 4 (?) Nov 19, 1894 Southwark A.C., Philadelphia
38 Draw 25–1–9 (3) Young Griffo TD 3 (8) Mar 17, 1894 2nd Regiment Armory, Chicago
37 Win 25–1–8 (3) Eddie Loeber PTS 4 Dec 12, 1893 American A.C., Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
36 Win 24–1–8 (3) Torpedo Billy Murphy KO 6 (?) Nov 2, 1893 Cribb's Club, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
35 Win 23–1–8 (3) Professor Swarts TKO 3 (4) Feb 10, 1893 Cronheim's Theatre, Hoboken
34 Win 22–1–8 (3) Al O'Brien NWS 4 Feb 9, 1893 Cronheim's Theatre, Hoboken, New Jersey, U.S.
33 Win 22–1–8 (2) Al O'Brien TKO 3 (8) Feb 4, 1893 Philadelphia
32 Win 21–1–8 (2) Tom Tulley PTS 3 (6) Nov 20, 1892 Nonpareil A.C., Philadelphia
31 Win 20–1–8 (2) Joe Flaherty TKO 2 (10) May 17, 1892 Hennepin AC, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
30 Draw 19–1–8 (2) Tommy White PTS 10 Apr 19, 1892 Hennepin AC, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
29 Win 19–1–7 (2) Frank Steele KO 12 (?) Feb 18, 1892 New Bedford A.C., New Bedford
28 Win 18–1–7 (2) Kentucky Rosebud KO 3 (?) May 9, 1891 Southwark A.C., Philadelphia
27 Draw 17–1–7 (2) Johnny Griffin TD 4 (?) Apr 25, 1891 Nantasket
26 Loss 17–1–6 (2) James Connors NWS 4 Jan 17, 1891 Australian AC, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia
25 Win 17–1–6 (1) James Connors KO 3 (?) Jul 7, 1890 Erie County AC, Buffalo
24 Loss 16–1–6 (1) Torpedo Billy Murphy KO 14 (30) Jan 13, 1890 California A.C., San Francisco Lost world featherweight title
23 Draw 16–0–6 (1) Frank Murphy PTS 80 (?) Mar 31, 1889 O'Brien's Opera House, Kouts Retained world featherweight title
22 Win 16–0–5 (1) John Beck KO 3 (6) Jan 24, 1889 Elm Rink, New Bedford
21 Win 15–0–5 (1) Tommy Danforth KO 8 (?) Dec 4, 1888 Athenian Club, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. Retained world featherweight title
20 Win 14–0–5 (1) Jack Havlin NWS 6 Mar 28, 1888 Music Hall, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
19 Win 14–0–5 Dominick Barnes PTS 6 Feb 17, 1888 Theatre Comique, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. Retained world featherweight title
18 Win 13–0–5 Tommy Burke KO 5 (8) Feb 10, 1888 Theatre Comique, Minneapolis
17 Win 12–0–5 George Siddons TKO 11 (15) Feb 3, 1888 Duluth
16 Win 11–0–5 Tommy Miller KO 7 (?) Jan 23, 1888 Washington Roller Rink, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. Retained world featherweight title
15 Draw 10–0–5 Tommy Warren PTS 20 Dec 12, 1887 Washington Roller Rink, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. Retained world featherweight title
14 Draw 10–0–4 Johnny Murphy PTS 17 (?) Sep 30, 1887 West End A.C., Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. Retained world featherweight title
13 Draw 10–0–3 Jack Havlin PTS 61 (?) Jul 20, 1887 Rocky Point, Pawtucket, Rhode Island, U.S. Retained world featherweight title
12 Win 10–0–2 Willie Clark RTD 20 (?) Apr 30, 1887 Long Island City, Queens, New York City, New York, U.S. Retained world featherweight title
11 Win 9–0–2 Jack Williams KO 36 (?) Mar 10, 1886 Westerly, Rhode Island, U.S. Retained world featherweight title
10 Win 8–0–2 Arnold A Rand KO 2 (?) Feb 25, 1887 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
9 Win 7–0–2 Jack Farrell KO 7 (?) Jan 24, 1887 Ridgefield, New Jersey, U.S. Won inaugural world featherweight title
8 Draw 6–0–2 Johnny Aaron PTS 5 (?) Jan 7, 1887 Fair Play Club, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
7 Win 6–0–1 Young George Badger TKO 2 (?) Dec 15, 1886 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
6 Win 5–0–1 Martin Burns KO 6 (?) Oct 29, 1886 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
5 Win 4–0–1 James Furman TKO 5 (6) Oct 29, 1886 Fair Play Club, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
4 Win 3–0–1 William Snee PTS 4 May 28, 1886 Athenian Club, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
3 Win 2–0–1 Billy Sykes PTS 4 Feb 6, 1886 Liverpool, Merseyside, England
2 Draw 1–0–1 Ulrich Conley PTS 6 Jan 6, 1886 Preston, Lancashire, England
1 Win 1–0 W Harlow PTS 10 Oct 9, 1885 Salford, Lancashire, England

Unofficial record

40 fights 28 wins 3 losses
By knockout 19 2
By decision 9 1
Draws 9

Record with the inclusion of newspaper decisions in the win/loss/draw column.

No. Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
40 Loss 28–3–9 Mike Sears TKO 10 (10) Mar 17, 1898 Southwark A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
39 Win 28–2–9 Jimmy Johnson PTS 4 (?) Nov 19, 1894 Southwark A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
38 Draw 27–2–9 Young Griffo TD 3 (8) Mar 17, 1894 2nd Regiment Armory, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
37 Win 27–2–8 Eddie Loeber PTS 4 Dec 12, 1893 American A.C., Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
36 Win 26–2–8 Torpedo Billy Murphy KO 6 (?) Nov 2, 1893 Cribb's Club, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
35 Win 25–2–8 Professor Swarts TKO 3 (4) Feb 10, 1893 Cronheim's Theatre, Hoboken, New Jersey, U.S.
34 Win 24–2–8 Al O'Brien NWS 4 Feb 9, 1893 Cronheim's Theatre, Hoboken, New Jersey, U.S., New Jersey, U.S.
33 Win 23–2–8 Al O'Brien TKO 3 (8) Feb 4, 1893 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
32 Win 22–2–8 Tom Tulley PTS 3 (6) Nov 20, 1892 Nonpareil A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
31 Win 21–2–8 Joe Flaherty TKO 2 (10) May 17, 1892 Hennepin AC, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
30 Draw 20–2–8 Tommy White PTS 10 Apr 19, 1892 Hennepin AC, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
29 Win 20–2–7 Frank Steele KO 12 (?) Feb 18, 1892 New Bedford A.C., New Bedford, Massachusetts, U.S.
28 Win 19–2–7 Kentucky Rosebud KO 3 (?) May 9, 1891 Southwark A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
27 Draw 18–2–7 Johnny Griffin TD 4 (?) Apr 25, 1891 Nantasket, Massachusetts, U.S.
26 Loss 18–2–6 James Connors NWS 4 Jan 17, 1891 Australian AC, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia
25 Win 18–1–6 James Connors KO 3 (?) Jul 7, 1890 Erie County AC, Buffalo, New York, U.S.
24 Loss 17–1–6 Torpedo Billy Murphy KO 14 (30) Jan 13, 1890 California A.C., San Francisco, California, U.S. Lost world featherweight title
23 Draw 17–0–6 Frank Murphy PTS 80 (?) Mar 31, 1889 O'Brien's Opera House, Kouts, Indiana, U.S. Retained world featherweight title
22 Win 17–0–5 John Beck KO 3 (6) Jan 24, 1889 Elm Rink, New Bedford, Massachusetts, U.S.
21 Win 16–0–5 Tommy Danforth KO 8 (?) Dec 4, 1888 Athenian Club, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. Retained world featherweight title
20 Win 15–0–5 Jack Havlin NWS 6 Mar 28, 1888 Music Hall, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
19 Win 14–0–5 Dominick Barnes PTS 6 Feb 17, 1888 Theatre Comique, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. Retained world featherweight title
18 Win 13–0–5 Tommy Burke KO 5 (8) Feb 10, 1888 Theatre Comique, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
17 Win 12–0–5 George Siddons TKO 11 (15) Feb 3, 1888 Duluth, Minnesota, U.S.
16 Win 11–0–5 Tommy Miller KO 7 (?) Jan 23, 1888 Washington Roller Rink, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. Retained world featherweight title
15 Draw 10–0–5 Tommy Warren PTS 20 Dec 12, 1887 Washington Roller Rink, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. Retained world featherweight title
14 Draw 10–0–4 Johnny Murphy PTS 17 (?) Sep 30, 1887 West End A.C., Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. Retained world featherweight title
13 Draw 10–0–3 Jack Havlin PTS 61 (?) Jul 20, 1887 Rocky Point, Pawtucket, Rhode Island, U.S. Retained world featherweight title
12 Win 10–0–2 Willie Clark RTD 20 (?) Apr 30, 1887 Long Island City, Queens, New York City, New York, U.S. Retained world featherweight title
11 Win 9–0–2 Jack Williams KO 36 (?) Mar 10, 1886 Westerly, Rhode Island, U.S. Retained world featherweight title
10 Win 8–0–2 Arnold A Rand KO 2 (?) Feb 25, 1887 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
9 Win 7–0–2 Jack Farrell KO 7 (?) Jan 24, 1887 Ridgefield, New Jersey, U.S. Won inaugural world featherweight title
8 Draw 6–0–2 Johnny Aaron PTS 5 (?) Jan 7, 1887 Fair Play Club, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
7 Win 6–0–1 Young George Badger TKO 2 (?) Dec 15, 1886 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
6 Win 5–0–1 Martin Burns KO 6 (?) Oct 29, 1886 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
5 Win 4–0–1 James Furman TKO 5 (6) Oct 29, 1886 Fair Play Club, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
4 Win 3–0–1 William Snee PTS 4 May 28, 1886 Athenian Club, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
3 Win 2–0–1 Billy Sykes PTS 4 Feb 6, 1886 Liverpool, Merseyside, England
2 Draw 1–0–1 Ulrich Conley PTS 6 Jan 6, 1886 Preston, Lancashire, England, U.K.
1 Win 1–0 W Harlow PTS 10 Oct 9, 1885 Salford, Lancashire, England, U.K.

Notes

  1. Every Irish born before 1922 is a British citizen. Ireland was part of the United Kingdom until 1922.

References

  1. 1 2 "Little Giants of the Ring", The Salt Lake Tribune, Salt Lake City, Utah, p. 15, 13 July 1980
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Ike Weir". BoxRec. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 White, Charley, "Inside the Ring with the Great Fighters", New York Evening World, New York, New York, pg. 7, 29 July 1911
  4. Beat Billy Sykes in "Ring Happenings on February 6", The Fort Wayne Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, pg. 4, 6 February 1919
  5. "The Weir-Murphy Fight", Chicago Tribune, Chicago, Illinois, pg 2, 17 March 1889
  6. 1 2 "Ike Weir and Billy Murphy the Star Clowns of the Ring", Trenton Evening Times, Trenton, New Jersey, pg. 8, 13 January 1915
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "Belfast Spider was Favorite in Duluth", The Labor World, Duluth, Minnesota, p. 5, 30 March 1907
  8. 1 2 "Anniversary of Ike Weir's First Important Battle", The New Castle Herald, New Castle, Pennsylvania, pg. 11, 29 October 1917
  9. "Tired of Fighting with Stuffed Pillows." The Marion Star, Marion, Ohio, pg. 1, 28 January 1887
  10. "Ike Weir's Wedding Anniversary", Boston Post, Boston, Massachusetts, p. 2, 10 April 1904
  11. "The Spider Wins", The Tennessean, Nashville, Tennessee, pg. 2, 2 May 1887
  12. "Belfast Spider was Favorite in Duluth", The Labor World, Duluth, Minnesota, pg. 5, 30 March 1907
  13. White, Charley, "Inside the Ring With the Great Fighters", The Evening World, New York, New York, pg. 9, 1 August 1911
  14. "An All Night Fight", The Decatur Herald, Decatur, Illinois, pg. 1, 22 July 1887
  15. "What Sports are Saying," The Evening World, New York, New York, pg. 3, 8 April 1889
  16. "Raw Ring Decision Given Thirty-one Years Ago Today", El Paso Herald, El Paso, Texas, pg. 9, 12 December 1918
  17. 1 2 White, Charley, "Inside the Ring with the Great Fighters", The Evening World, New York, New York, pg. 9, 2 August 1911
  18. "Ike Weir, Clown of the Prize Ring", Evansville Press, Evansville, Indiana, pg. 3, 26 December 1906
  19. Hayes, Judge, "Sporting News", The Labor World, Duluth, Minnesota, pg. 5, 30 March 1907
  20. Weir first took the championship against Frank Murphy in "Famous Fighters in Feather Class", The Lincoln Daily Star, Lincoln, Nebraska, pg. 9, 13 January 1916
  21. "Couldn't End It", Pittsburgh Dispatch, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pg. 6, 1 April 1889
  22. "Ike Weir Gets Weary", San Francisco Examiner, pg. 3, 14 January 1890
  23. "Ike Weir Returns", Dollar Weekly News, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, pg.5, 21 February 1891
  24. "Knocked Out by Ike Wier", The Evening Journal, Wilmington, Delaware, pg. 1, 19 February 1892
  25. "That Decision", The Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati, Ohio, pg. 2, 16 January 1892
  26. "A Ten-Round Draw", The Independent Record, Helena, Montana, pg.2, 20 April 1892
  27. "The Ring", Detroit Free Press, Detroit, Michigan, pg. 6, 18 March 1894
  28. Griffo won the bout decisively in "Stopped by Police", The Inter Ocean, Chicago, Illinois, pg. 10, 18 March 1894
  29. "Belfast Spider Beaten", Kansas City Journal, Kansas City, Missouri, pg.5, 18 March 1898
  30. Still a horse trainer in "Ike Weir's Wedding Anniversary", Boston Post, Boston, Massachusetts, p. 2, 10 April 1904
  31. Death came from riding accident in "Spider Ike Weir is Dead", The Houston Post, Houston, Texas, pg. 20, 4 October 1908
  32. Weir died bankrupt, in "Belfast Spider Dead", Indianapolis News, Indianapolis, Indiana, pg. 18, 25 September 1908
  33. "BoxRec: Ike Weir".

Achievements

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