George "Elbows" McFadden
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
Nickname | George "Elbows" McFadden |
| Nationality | American |
| Born | Michael James Crotty September 16, 1874 Limerick, County Limerick, Ireland |
| Died | August 30, 1948 (aged 73) Geneva, Ashtabula County, Ohio, US |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (168cm) |
| Weight | Lightweight |
| Boxing career | |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 99 |
| Wins | 46 |
| Win by KO | 26 |
| Losses | 13 |
| Draws | 21 |
| No contests | 19 |
George "Elbows" McFadden (born Michael James Crotty; September 16, 1874 – August 30, 1948) was a former professional lightweight boxer, active between 1894 and 1908.
Professional boxing career
McFadden launched his professional boxing career in New York in 1894.[1] His nickname "Elbows" came from his ability to defend against various strikes using his elbows.[2]
On April 14, 1899, he secured a knockout victory over Joe Gans in the 23rd round of 25 rounder at the Broadway Athletic Club in New York. It was the first time that Gans had been knocked out. The following month in May, he fought Frank Erne at the Lenox Athletic Club, losing a 25-round decision.[1] In an August 1899 rematch with Gans, he fought to a draw after 25 rounds.[3] He later became the first to knock out former lightweight world champion Kid Lavigne after stopping him in the nineteenth round of a bout on October 6, 1899.[1] Despite meeting three of the division's greatest fighters and future world champions, he never became a champion himself.
Of his 97 recorded bouts, McFadden won 45, lost 12, and drew 21, with 25 of his victories coming by way of knockout. McFadden also engaged in at least fifty other contests that were not recorded.
McFadden claimed he was never seriously injured throughout 392 fights over a 15-year span.[1]
After he retired in 1908, McFadden opened a gymnasium on Manhattan's Madison Avenue.
Death
McFadden died on August 30, 1948, at the age of 73.
While traveling from Buffalo to Michigan, he was struck by a trailer and suffered two broken legs and multiple fractures. He passed away at Geneva Community Hospital and was buried in Community Cemetery at Geneva, Ohio.[2]
Legacy
His book, Blocking And Hitting, was published by Richard Kyle Fox in 1905.[4]
He was inducted into the Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame in 2013.[5]
References
- ^ a b c d Billy Roche (March 15, 1944). "'Elbows' McFadden Was Most Destructive Fight of All". The Hastings Daily Tribune. p. 4. Retrieved 2025-11-20.
- ^ a b "Elbows M'Fadden, Famed Old Fighter, Killed by Trailer". Buffalo Courier Express. September 3, 1948. p. 21. Retrieved 2025-11-20.
- ^ "George 'Elbows' McFadden". boxrec.com. Retrieved 2025-11-20.
- ^ George McFadden (1905). "Blocking and Hitting". books.google.ca. Richard K. Fox Pub. Retrieved 2025-11-20.
- ^ "Bare Knuckle Hall of Fame Class of 2013 announced". rrstar.com. Retrieved 2025-11-20.
Brannigan, J 1962, 'Tell Me About Elbows McFadden', Boxing Illustrated, February 1962 (Vol. 4 No. 2), p. 44-45
Gilbey, JF 1993, Western boxing and world wrestling, North Atlantic Books, Berkeley, California
External links
- Boxing record for George "Elbows" McFadden from BoxRec (registration required)