Jack Thompson (boxer)
Encyclopedia
Cecil Lewis "Jack" Thompson (August 17, 1904 — April 11, 1946) was an American boxer who twice held the welterweight
championship of the world. Born Cecil Thompson, his name was changed when he decided to become a professional fighter. His father, who was training him, did not think "Cecil" was a fighter's name, so he chose "Jack." To avoid confusion with another fighter named "Jack Thompson," his father decided to use the ring name Young Jack Thompson.
Thompson became a professional fighter in 1922. He reeled off a series of wins, but also had a draw and a loss to future welterweight champion Young Corbett III
. In 1928 he fought the welterweight champion, Joe Dundee
, in a bout over the welterweight limit so that Dundee's title was not at stake. He knocked Dundee out in the second round.
In 1929 he received a shot at the vacant National Boxing Association
title stripped from Dundee. However, Jackie Fields
beat him via ten-round decision for the belt. In 1930 Thompson lost to Jimmy McLarnin
but, in his next fight, won the welterweight title by beating old foe Fields. After four non-title bouts (including a loss to Young Corbett III), Thompson put his title on the line against Tommy Freeman in September 1930 and lost it by a fifteen-round decision.
Freeman gave Thompson a rematch in April 1931 and Thompson regained the title by a twelfth round technical knockout. Thompson again fought a series of non-title bouts. In one of them he lost to Lou Brouillard
. That loss prompted a match at the welterweight limit with Thompson's title at stake. Brouillard once again beat Thompson, ending his second reign as champion.
He continued fighting until he announced his retirement on June 2, 1932. He died on April 11, 1946, of a heart attack in Los Angeles.
Welterweight
Welterweight is a weight class division in combat sports. Originally the term "welterweight" was used only in boxing, but other combat sports like kickboxing, taekwondo and mixed martial arts also began to use it for their own weight division system...
championship of the world. Born Cecil Thompson, his name was changed when he decided to become a professional fighter. His father, who was training him, did not think "Cecil" was a fighter's name, so he chose "Jack." To avoid confusion with another fighter named "Jack Thompson," his father decided to use the ring name Young Jack Thompson.
Thompson became a professional fighter in 1922. He reeled off a series of wins, but also had a draw and a loss to future welterweight champion Young Corbett III
Young Corbett III
Young Corbett III was the world Welterweight boxing champion. He was born Raffaele Capabianca Giordano and began boxing in 1919 as Young Corbett III while still a 14-year-old "newsboy."...
. In 1928 he fought the welterweight champion, Joe Dundee
Joe Dundee
Salvatore Lazzara, better known by his boxing alias Joe Dundee, was an American boxer. His career began with two straight losses in four-round bouts. Nevertheless, Dundee continued boxing....
, in a bout over the welterweight limit so that Dundee's title was not at stake. He knocked Dundee out in the second round.
In 1929 he received a shot at the vacant National Boxing Association
World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
title stripped from Dundee. However, Jackie Fields
Jackie Fields
Jackie Fields was an American professional boxer who won two world championship titles.-Personal life:...
beat him via ten-round decision for the belt. In 1930 Thompson lost to Jimmy McLarnin
Jimmy McLarnin
James McLarnin, known as Jimmy McLarnin , was an Irish Canadian professional boxer who became two-time welterweight world champion and an International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee.-Background:McLarnin was born in Hillsborough, County Down, Ireland, into a large Methodist family who emigrated...
but, in his next fight, won the welterweight title by beating old foe Fields. After four non-title bouts (including a loss to Young Corbett III), Thompson put his title on the line against Tommy Freeman in September 1930 and lost it by a fifteen-round decision.
Freeman gave Thompson a rematch in April 1931 and Thompson regained the title by a twelfth round technical knockout. Thompson again fought a series of non-title bouts. In one of them he lost to Lou Brouillard
Lou Brouillard
Lucien Pierre Brouillard, better known as Lou Brouillard, , was a professional boxer in the welterweight division....
. That loss prompted a match at the welterweight limit with Thompson's title at stake. Brouillard once again beat Thompson, ending his second reign as champion.
He continued fighting until he announced his retirement on June 2, 1932. He died on April 11, 1946, of a heart attack in Los Angeles.