Packey McFarland
Encyclopedia
Patrick "Packey" McFarland (November 1, 1888 – September 22, 1936) was a popular American boxer
in the lightweight
and welterweight
divisions, despite a extraordinary winning record he was unable to secure a match for either world title. The Ring Record Book and Boxing Encyclopedia
suggests McFarland was the best fighter to never become a world champion.
McFarland became a professional boxer in 1904. In 1905 he beat Jimmy Britt
, who had a disputed claim to be the lightweight
world champion, although this fight was not for a title. In 1908 he defeated future lightweight champion Freddie Welsh
in one bout and drew with him in another. He also defeated old foe Britt in another bout that year. In 1910 he met Welsh again for the British version of the lightweight title. The bout ended in another draw, with Welsh retaining his title. McFarland never fought for another world title bout. On April 26, 1912 he beat Matt Wells
at Madison Square Garden
, in New York City
.
He later defeated future welterweight champion Jack Britton
during the later part of his career.
He retired in 1915 after fighting to a draw with Mike Gibbons
. On January 27, 1933, he was appointed to the Illinois Athletic Commission by Governor Henry Horner
. McFarland also managed his sizable investments and was director of two banks.
, of a strepococcus infection which had attacked his heart.
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
in the lightweight
Lightweight
Light-weight is a class of athletes in a particular sport, based on their weight.-Professional boxing:The lightweight division is over 130 pounds and up to 135 pounds weight class in the sport of boxing....
and welterweight
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...
divisions, despite a extraordinary winning record he was unable to secure a match for either world title. The Ring Record Book and Boxing Encyclopedia
Ring Record Book and Boxing Encyclopedia
The Ring Record Book and Boxing Encyclopedia is a book published yearly by Ring Magazine.Ring editor Nat Fleischer, noting that other sports had record books and that boxing did not have any books specialized in keeping fans up to date as far as the participants' records, began writing the first...
suggests McFarland was the best fighter to never become a world champion.
Professional career
He was born on November 1, 1888, in Chicago, Illinois.McFarland became a professional boxer in 1904. In 1905 he beat Jimmy Britt
Jimmy Britt
Jimmy Britt was a boxer from 1902 to 1909. He fought Joe Gans twice for the World lightweight title but lost both bouts.-Later life:...
, who had a disputed claim to be the lightweight
Lightweight
Light-weight is a class of athletes in a particular sport, based on their weight.-Professional boxing:The lightweight division is over 130 pounds and up to 135 pounds weight class in the sport of boxing....
world champion, although this fight was not for a title. In 1908 he defeated future lightweight champion Freddie Welsh
Freddie Welsh
Freddie Welsh was a Welsh lightweight boxing champion. Born in Pontypridd, Wales, and christened Frederick Hall Thomas, he was nicknamed the "Welsh Wizard". Brought up in a tough mining community, Welsh left a middle-class background to make a name for himself in America...
in one bout and drew with him in another. He also defeated old foe Britt in another bout that year. In 1910 he met Welsh again for the British version of the lightweight title. The bout ended in another draw, with Welsh retaining his title. McFarland never fought for another world title bout. On April 26, 1912 he beat Matt Wells
Matt Wells (boxer)
Matthew "Matt" Wells was a professional boxer in the welterweight division.- Amateur career :During his amateur career, he won four consecutive ABA Lightweight titles .- Olympics :...
at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
, in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
He later defeated future welterweight champion Jack Britton
Jack Britton
Jack Britton was three-time world welterweight boxing champion, born William J. Breslin in Clinton, New York....
during the later part of his career.
He retired in 1915 after fighting to a draw with Mike Gibbons
Mike Gibbons
Mike Gibbons was an American boxer from 1908 to 1922. The brother of heavyweight Tommy Gibbons, Mike claimed Middleweight Champion of the World status in 1909 following Stanley Ketchel's murder. Although he never won the title, Gibbons is regarded as one of the all-time best welter and...
. On January 27, 1933, he was appointed to the Illinois Athletic Commission by Governor Henry Horner
Henry Horner
Henry Horner was the 28th Governor of Illinois, serving from 1933 to 1940, when he died in office. Horner was the first Jewish governor of Illinois.- Political biography :...
. McFarland also managed his sizable investments and was director of two banks.
Death
McFarland died at Joliet, IllinoisJoliet, Illinois
Joliet is a city in Will and Kendall Counties in the U.S. state of Illinois, located southwest of Chicago. It is the county seat of Will County. As of the 2010 census, the city was the fourth-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 147,433. It continues to be Illinois' fastest growing...
, of a strepococcus infection which had attacked his heart.