Mike Donovan (September 27, 1847 – March 24, 1918) also known as Professor Mike Donovan and Mike O'Donovan was a middleweight boxer of the bare-knuckle era and later became one of the foremost teachers of the sport.

Biography

Professional boxing career

During his career, Donovan fought

John L. Sullivan John Lawrence Sullivan (October 15, 1858 – February 2, 1918), known simply as John L. among his admirers, and dubbed the "Boston Strong Boy" by the press, was an American boxer. He is recognized as the first heavyweight champion of gloved ...

. He fought John Shanssey in a bout refereed by a young 21-year-old

Wyatt Earp Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp (March 19, 1848 – January 13, 1929) was an American lawman in the American West, including Dodge City, Kansas, Dodge City, Wichita, Kansas, Wichita, and Tombstone, Arizona, Tombstone. Earp was involved in the gunfight ...

on July 4, 1868 or 1869 in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Life as instructor after retirement from boxing

After his active boxing career ended, Donovan became a boxing instructor at the

New York Athletic Club The New York Athletic Club is a Gentlemen's club, private social club and athletic club in New York (state), New York state. Founded in 1868, the club has approximately 8,600 members and two facilities: the City House, located at 180 Central Pa ...

. He taught United States President

Teddy Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt Jr. (October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919), also known as Teddy or T.R., was the 26th president of the United States, serving from 1901 to 1909. Roosevelt previously was involved in New York politics, including serving as ...

and his sons how to box.

Personal life, death and legacy

He was married to Cecilia and had 8 children: John J. Donovan, Margaret Donovan, Henry H. Donovan, Arthur Donovan, Mary V. Donovan, Helen Donovan, Lucy A. Donovan and Katherine Donovan. Donovan died from complications from a bout with pneumonia he developed while teaching a boxing class at one of the armories located near where he had resided in the Bronx, New York area on March 24, 1918, at St. Francis Hospital there, where he had been hospitalized for a week after coming down with pneumonia, at the age of 70. He was survived by his wife and children, who all had been at his bedside when he died. After his death, Donovan's will indicated that his last name was actually O'Donovan. His silver championship belt was bequeathed to his son, Arthur Donovan (who himself would later become a legend in the boxing sport as a referee), who was serving in the

U.S. Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of the United Stat ...

, in the 105th Field Artillery at

Spartanburg, South Carolina Spartanburg is a city in and the county seat of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. The city had a population of 38,732 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of municipalities in South Carolina, 11th ...

at the time, during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

.''"Mike Donovan's Will Filed", Discoles an estate of $4,700 and that his name was O'Donovan'', ''New York Times'' (.com) original article, April 3, 1918, accessed from NYTimes.com Archives on December 2, 2012.
/ref> His grandson,

Art Donovan Arthur James "Fatso" Donovan Jr. (June 5, 1924 – August 4, 2013), was an American professional American football, football player who was a defensive tackle for three National Football League (NFL) teams, primarily the Baltimore Colts. He pla ...

Jr., is a member of the

Pro Football Hall of Fame The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame for professional football (gridiron), professional American football, located in Canton, Ohio. Opened on September 7, 1963, the Hall of Fame enshrines exceptional figures in the sport of profes ...

Honors

Donovan has been elected to the

IBHOF The International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF), located in Canastota, New York, right next to exit 34 of the New York State Thruway, honors boxers, trainers and other contributors to the sport worldwide. Inductees are selected on ballots crea ...

Notes/References

*''The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall of Fame Official Record Book'' (4th Edition), By James B. Roberts, Alexander G. Skutt, page 23, McBooks Press, Ithaca, NY, , 2006.

External links

* *IBHOF Bi
Professor Mike Donovan at the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF)
* ttps://books.google.com/books?id=aA2LO_DGdu4C&dq=Ring+Magazine+Record+Book&pg=PA8 Biography and Stats in The Boxing Register: IBHOF Official Record Book at Google Books {{DEFAULTSORT:Donovan, Mike 1847 births 1918 deaths Boxers from Chicago Middleweight boxers International Boxing Hall of Fame inductees Deaths from pneumonia in New York City American male boxers American bare-knuckle boxers