Home Boxing News Professor Mike Donovan: Practitioner and Teacher

Professor Mike Donovan: Practitioner and Teacher

Professor Mike Donovan (25-4-7) was born on 1847 in Chicago and eventually became both one of the greatest teachers and practitioners of the sport. Donovan was a fighter who despite fighting mainly between welterweight and Jr. middleweight would often fight opponents that exceeded 200 pounds. The “Professor” moniker was christened due to Donovan’s great boxing IQ and ability to figure out opponents than exploit their weaknesses. Donovan joined the 71st during the American Civil War. Donovan got tutelage in the sport of boxing from Frank Kendrick and received local recognition for defeating local boys. This local success made it logical for Donovan to get proper training and become a professional boxer. In 1866, Donovan would lose his first contest via foul to Crowley Davis. Donovan would improve through experience and hard work that by the late 1860’s he was making a name for himself in the mid-west region of America. The 1868 win over John Shanssey officiated by Wyatt Earp stretched his notoriety to the far west. Like Mace, Donovan would fight both in bare-knuckle and the newly instituted glove era. Donovan would fight regularly in gloved bouts starting in 1871.

Despite defeating notable opponents in both the middleweight and heavyweight division the first title shot for Donovan had to wait until 1878 when he fought William McClellan. Donovan would lose via disputed foul in 14 rounds for the middleweight title. He would defeat McClellan in a match in New York later that year when McClellan refused to continue fighting after feeling he was victimized by a foul. However, Donovan would be recognized as the consensus middleweight champion since George Rooke would have a ring hiatus. Donovan would be scheduled twice to face Rooke to settle the middleweight dispute; however, authorities would prevent the bouts from taking place. When they finally met in 1882 Donovan would dispose of Rooke in two rounds. Donovan always testing the limits of his pugilistic skill would face the legendary heavyweight John L Sullivan both in 1880 and 1881. Although officially exhibitions it was well noted that Donovan would last the distance with the much larger opponent. Donovan would display

his pound for pound ability again when he defeated the 180-pound Walter Watson in 1882 for the privilege to be the boxing instructor of the New York Athletic Club. Donovan would fight mainly exhibitions in the next few years while doing instruction for the New York Athletic Club. Many of the exhibitions would be with John L Sullivan who became a close friend of Donovan. Unfortunately, Donovan would be involved in

a bar altercation that would result in the death of Pug McCarthy. Donovan would later be cleared of any criminal negligence. The last major official Donavan bout would be a draw with middleweight champion Jack Non Pareil Dempsey in 1888. Donovan would earn a six round draw despite being seventeen years older than the prime champion. In the twilight years Donavan would have a draw with Jem Mace and exhibitions with future heavyweight champion James Corbett.

Donovan would continue instructing in the New York Athletic Club in his final years. He would train notable people including US President Theodore Roosevelt. Donovan would die of Pneumonia in St Francis Hospital, Bronx, New York in 1918. In 1998, Professor Mike Donavan would be inducted into the pioneer section of the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

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