Tommy Burns
world heavyweight champion
1906-1908

the contents

• A rotary postcard photo of a young Tommy Burns spiffed in his finest wardrobe
• A vintage Dana photograph of Burns squaring off with Billy Squires before the start of their contest (former heavyweight champ and referee Jim Jeffries is between the fighters, future lightweight champion Battling Nelson is at ringside to the right of Burns)
• A two page TLS to Nat Fleisher of "The Ring" magazine... Letter recalls a side-bet Burns made with Squires and also refers to his plan to write a book on the methods of boxing... Boldly signed in a black fountain pen ink

This perfectly tied in piece is professionally dark brown framed with a gray cloth matting... Very attractive in person

condition: letter has usual folds from being mailed and a few pinholes
 in upper left corners, piece as a whole is excellent
overall measures: 17.25 x 31.5"
photos have perfect in-person clarity

$2,500
$50 shipping & ins.

purchase this item

a digital camera view through glass

FROM THE BOOKS
   A French-Canadian, Tommy Burns is on record as being the shortest man ever to hold the world heavyweight title. He stood just five feet seven inches tall and was never more than a light heavyweight: yet, with his swift movements and long reach, he beat men far taller and heavier than himself with apparent ease.
   ... Burns was a shrewd businessman as well as a wily and cunning boxer. He had a hand in promoting many of his own championship fights and he always insisted on seeing his purse money before he got into the ring with an opponent. He invested his considerable fortune wisely and became a wealthy man before being ordained a preacher in 1948.
Peter Brooke-Ball: The Boxing Album