Joe Goddard

Joe Goddard (25 November 1857 – 21 January 1903) was an Australian boxer known for his great strength, durability, and punching power. He stood 6' 0" (185 cm) and weighed 12 stone 12 lbs to 14 stone 4 lbs (180–200 pounds, 82–91 kg).

He was one of the first reported Heavyweight Champions of Australia. Among the men he defeated were Joe Choynski, Peter Maher, and "Denver" Ed Smith. His (incomplete) record comes out to: 28 wins (22 by knockout), 12 losses, 8 draws, and 6 no decisions.

Goddard was shot in the head by a police constable whom he had attacked with a baseball bat during a fight at the Republican primaries in Pennsauken Township, Philadelphia, New Jersey in July 1902. After spending two months in hospital he recovered sufficiently to be released with the bullet still in his head, only to be arrested for having assaulted the constable and imprisoned when unable to put up $1,000 bail. He was said to have lost his sanity a few days later and transferred to Blackwood Insane Asylum, residing there until December, when he was taken to Cooper Hospital, where he died on 21 January 1903. His body was donated to the Philadelphia Medical College for scientific research.

Goddard was the 2006 Inductee for the Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame Pioneers category.

Professional boxing record

33 Wins (27 Knockouts), 18 Defeats (7 Knockouts), 12 Draws, 2 No Contests Res. Record Opponent Type Rd., Time Date Location Notes Win debut Australia Ned Ryan Win 0-1-0 Australia Burridge Win debut Australia Harry Mullins Win 1-0-1 Australia Owen Sullivan Win 7-5-7 Australia Jim Fogarty Win 1-2-0 Australia Billy Buck Win 2-1-1 Australia Charlie Dunn Draw 1-1-1 Australia Owen Sullivan Win 4-2-3 Australia Jack Morris Win 1-2-0 Australia Jim Church Win debut Australia Arthur Hayes Win 2-3-2 Australia Luke Keegan Win 15-5-3 Australia Mick Dooley vacant Australian heavyweight title Loss debut Australia W.H. Watson Draw 40-3-2 Australia Peter Jackson Australian heavyweight titleCommonwealth (British Empire) heavyweight title Win 15-6-3 Australia Mick Dooley Australian heavyweight title Draw 15-7-3 Australia Mick Dooley Win debut Australia Bill Curran Win 5-1-0 USA Joe Choynski Australian heavyweight title Draw 15-7-3 Australia Mick Dooley Win 10-4-8 Australia Bill McCarthy Win 14-7-2 Australia Tom Lees Win 7-2-0 USA Joe Choynski Australian heavyweight title Draw 14-8-2 Australia Tom Lees Win 18-2-8 Australia Jack Ashton Win 3-1-0 Australia Ned Ryan Win 13-3-0 USA Joe McAuliffe Draw 16-11-9 USA Billy Smith Win debut USA Tom Moore Win debut USA Dick Wiley NC 9-0-0 USA Joe Butler NC 1-3-1 USA Mike Brennan Win 50-3-0 USA Peter Maher Loss 30-5-3 Denver Ed Smith Win debut USA Willis Kennedy Loss 31-1-5 New Zealand Harry Laing Australian heavyweight title Win 5-4-1 Australia Jim Quigley Loss 6-0-0 Australia Peter Felix Draw 15-3-10 Australia Tut Ryan Win 4-3-4 Australia Dan Keely Win 0-1-0 Australia Bill Curran Win 22-14"-7 Australia Edward Starlight Rollins Win 5-4-2 Australia Owen Sullivan Draw 15-3-11 Australia Tut Ryan South African heavyweight title Win 35-5-4 USA Denver Ed Smith South African heavyweight title Win 18-11-3 Australia Mick Dooley South African heavyweight title Draw 15-3-12 Australia Tut Ryan South African heavyweight title Loss 25-1-5 USA Tom Sharkey Loss 4-1-2 USA Theodore Van Buskirk Loss 5-0-2 USA James J. Jeffries Win 112-5-3 USA Peter Meher Loss 112-6-3 USA Peter Meyer Draw 10-6-4 USA Bob Armstrong Loss 35-6-4 USA Joe Choynski Loss 15-4-1 USA Gus Ruhlin Draw 5-7-1 USA Jack McCormick Loss 46-2-7 USA Kid McCoy Loss 16-4-1 USA Gus Ruhlin Loss 9-2-0 USA Klondike Haynes Loss 14-5-0 USA Charley Stevenson Loss 8-11-2 USA Jack McCormick Loss 30-3-6 USA Tom Sharkey Draw 16-5-1 USA Klondike Haynes Loss 10-5-0 USA Jim Jeffords Loss 25-8-6 USA George Cole