Jack Gibbons

Michael John "Jack" Gibbons

1912-1998

Saint Paul Light Heavyweight

Active in the 1930's, the son of the legendary "St. Paul Phantom" Mike Gibbons, included among his opponents; Lee Savold, Frank Battaglia and Fred Lenhart.

Jack Gibbons was once regarded as the finest athlete in Saint Paul. He excelled in everything he tried: football, basketball, hockey, golf, handball, softball, and speed skating. But he was best known for boxing, partly because of his ability and partly because of his family's long and storied association with the sport.

Jack Gibbons fought when there was a single championship in each of the eight classic weight divisions. He was the No. 4-ranked middleweight in the world in 1935-36 and was the No. 6-ranked light heavyweight in 1936-37. He never lost as an amateur boxer, and he compiled a stunning record as a professional, winning 101 of 107 bouts from 1932 to 1938, including a 10-round decision over the rugged Tony Zale, who later defeated Rocky Graziano for the world middleweight title.

Jack Gibbons knocked out 42 opponents and had a 72-fight winning streak, yet he insisted he never was as good as his father, Mike, known as the "uncrowned champion", or his uncle, Tommy, who lost a 15-round decision to Jack Dempsey on July 4, 1923, in the historic title bout that bankrupted Shelby, Montana.

Jack Gibbons won the 1932 Northwest Golden Gloves title but turned down a trip to the national tournament to turn professional. Although he never got a world title fight, he fought some of the top boxers of his day.

Jack Gibbons was appointed to the Minnesota Boxing Commission by Governor Orville Freeman in 1956 and was named the commission's executive secretary in 1968, holding the job until his retirement in 1975. He also served as the World Boxing Associations Minnesota Representative for six years and was a vice president of the WBA for two years.

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		Michael John "Jack" Gibbons 1912-1998 Saint Paul Light Heavyweight Active in the 1930's, the son of the legendary "St. Paul Phantom" Mike Gibbons, included among his opponents; Lee Savold, Frank Battaglia and Fred Lenhart. Jack Gibbons was once regarded as the finest athlete in Saint Paul. He excelled in everything he tried: football, basketball, hockey, golf, handball, softball, and speed skating. But he was best known for boxing, partly because of his ability and partly because of his family's long and storied association with the sport. Jack Gibbons fought when there was a single championship in each of the eight classic weight divisions. He was the No. 4-ranked middleweight in the world in 1935-36 and was the No. 6-ranked light heavyweight in 1936-37. He never lost as an amateur boxer, and he compiled a stunning record as a professional, winning 101 of 107 bouts from 1932 to 1938, including a 10-round decision over the rugged Tony Zale, who later defeated Rocky Graziano for the world middleweight title. Jack Gibbons knocked out 42 opponents and had a 72-fight winning streak, yet he insisted he never was as good as his father, Mike, known as the "uncrowned champion", or his uncle, Tommy, who lost a 15-round decision to Jack Dempsey on July 4, 1923, in the historic title bout that bankrupted Shelby, Montana. Jack Gibbons won the 1932 Northwest Golden Gloves title but turned down a trip to the national tournament to turn professional. Although he never got a world title fight, he fought some of the top boxers of his day. Jack Gibbons was appointed to the Minnesota Boxing Commission by Governor Orville Freeman in 1956 and was named the commission's executive secretary in 1968, holding the job until his retirement in 1975. He also served as the World Boxing Associations Minnesota Representative for six years and was a vice president of the WBA for two years.


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