Harry Forbes

Harry Forbes (May 13, 1879 – December 19, 1946) was an American boxer who took the World Bantamweight Title on November 11, 1901, when he defeated Danny Dougherty in a second-round knockout in St. Louis, Missouri. He lost the title three years later, on August 13, 1903, to Frankie Neil in a second-round knockout at the Mechanics Pavilion in San Francisco, California.

He was a prolific boxer who boxed 146 verified matches and faced such bantamweight champions Johnny Coulon and Johnny Reagan, as well as meeting the featherweight champion Abe Attell six times in matches that gained national interest. He also faced boxers Benny Yanger, Tommy O'Toole, Terry McGovern, Kid Goodman, and Joe Cherry.

First attempt at the World Bantam Title

His important youthful bout with Terry McGovern, on December 22, 1899, was billed as a World bantamweight title match. McGovern was considered by many boxing historians as one of the greatest featherweights and one of the hardest hitters of all time. Forbes was only 22, though he already had over fifty fights to his name. He lost the Bantamweight Title shot, receiving a second-round TKO at Broadway Athletic Club in New York, with a total fighting time of only 1 minute 33 seconds into the second round. Of his October 1, 1898 non-title bout with "Terrible Terry" McGovern, one newspaper wrote, "He gave the 'Brooklyn Terror' a hard tussle for fifteen rounds before McGovern landed his soporific punch," knocking out Forbes at the Pelican A. C. in New York.

On March 17, 1900, he lost to the exceptional boxer Benny Yanger, in a fifth-round TKO in Chicago, Illinois. Yanger was one of the few boxers to ever defeat Abe Attell.

World bantam champion When he clinched the Bantamweight title with his win over Danny Dougherty on November 11, 1901, in St. Louis, surprisingly little coverage was featured in most national newspapers, possibly because Dougherty was not as well-known a boxer. The Scranton Republican wrote simply that Forbes had administered a "second round knockout defeat to Danny Dougherty of Philadelphia in what was to be a fifteen round battle." Greater interest would have been generated by defeating a reigning champion who had held the title for a significant period. In his rematch with Dougherty on June 22, 1903, Forbes won in a six-round newspaper decision in Philadelphia in a non-title fight.

Defending World bantam title His February 27, 1902 bout with Tommy Felz, which he won, was billed as a World bantamweight championship, but his fifteen-round May 1, 1902 World Bantamweight Title match with Johnny Reagan gained greater interest, considering Reagan's stature in the boxing community. The bout was declared a draw, and though one newspaper wrote that in the event of a draw an additional five bouts would be fought, this did not occur.

In May and June 1902, he fought Johnny Reagan, and Young Devaney in World bantamweight title matches, successfully retaining his title.

He had three more important defenses of the title with Andrew Tokell, Johnny Kelly, and Frankie Neil between December 1902, and March 1903, winning two impressively by knockout or technical knockout.

On September 18, 1903, Forbes bested Tommy Love in his hometown Philadelphia, in a six-round bout. He did not outpoint his opponent until the last of six rounds, but had the advantage so decisively in that round by his furious punching that knocked Love to the mat, that he won the bout in the decision of most newspapers. Forbes showed his determination and stamina as a young boxer in the bout, though his inability to move decisively against his opponent in the early rounds may have indicated a lack of focus after his loss of the bantamweight title.

Feather title attempt On February 1, 1904, Forbes met Abe Attell in a World featherweight title Match, in St Louis at the West End Athletic Club. In his typically dominant style, Attell knocked out Forbes in the fifth of a twenty-round match. They had met previously on January 4, 1904 in another title fight which resulted in a ten-round draw in Indianapolis, Indiana. In reference to Forbes' impressive November 4, 1901, fifteen round points decision over Attell in St. Louis, Louisville's Courier-Journal wrote, "Forbes is the only fighter who Attell acknowledges to have ever gained a legitimate decision over him." It was the only victory Forbes would have over Attell, and increased interest in their five additional bouts. The Journal noted that "even money" was bet on their February 1904 meeting, a remarkable achievement for Forbes considering Attell's dominance and reputation, and that the fight would be "one of the best betting propositions offered in this part of the country in some time."

For one of their last meetings, the Detroit Free Press noted that "both boys are past masters in the art of hit and get away," emphasizing that both had skills in evading blows after delivering one, though most historians would consider Attell the far superior tactician. Their first three bouts were a loss in November 1901 and two draws in November 1902, and January 1904. In February 1904, Attell won with a fifth-round TKO, while in their meeting in February 1910, Attell TKO'd Forbes in the seventh round in Troy, New York. Only their January and February meetings in 1904 were Featherweight Title matches, and Attell probably consented to them knowing he had the edge as Forbes had already forfeited his World Bantamweight Title.

Forbes attempted to retire in 1907, and did not fight again until 1910. One source rates his 1911 bout with the well known Johnny Coulon as the beginning of the final stage of his career.

On August 22, 1911, President Taft commuted the two-year sentence against Forbes for swindling and reduced his fine. More surprisingly he appointed him a Deputy Sheriff. The reason given for commuting his sentence was the good behavior he exhibited during his prison term and his aid in convicting thirteen other defendants who were convicted with him. unless otherwise stated.

Official record

All newspaper decisions are officially regarded as “no decision” bouts and are not counted in the win/loss/draw column.

Unofficial record

Record with the inclusion of newspaper decisions in the win/loss/draw column.