Philadelphia Jack O'Brien

Philadelphia Jack O'Brien
O'Brien in 1911
Born
James Francis Hagan

(1878-01-17)January 17, 1878
Died
November 12, 1942(1942-11-12) (aged 64)
NationalityAmerican
Statistics
Weight(s)Heavyweight
Light Heavyweight
Middleweight
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights192
Wins147
Wins by KO55
Losses16
Draws24
No contests5

Joseph Francis Hagan (better known as Philadelphia Jack O'Brien) (January 17, 1878 – November 12, 1942) was an American world light heavyweight boxing champion in 1905 when he defeated Bob Fitzsimmons for the universal world title. Rather than defending his title, O'Brien instead abandoned it in order to fight at heavyweight. Nat Fleischer, founder and editor of The Ring Magazine, ranked O'Brien as the No. 2 All-Time Light Heavyweight, and famed boxing promoter Charley Rose ranked him as the No. 3 All-Time Light Heavyweight.

O'Brien was inducted into the Ring Magazine hall of fame in 1968, the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1987, and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1994.