Pat Killen (December 24, 1861 – October 21, 1891) was an American boxer. He died at 29, in Chicago while hiding from Minnesota authorities.
Early life
Killen was born in Haddington, Pennsylvania. He later moved to Minnesota, where he made his home for the majority of his life and career (notwithstanding the final five months of his life).
Boxing career
Standing 6'1" (1.85 m) and weighing around 195 pounds (88 kg), he was large for a heavyweight of his era. This benefited him tremendously as he was nearly three inches (8 cm) taller than most of his opponents. He was a patient fighter who usually waited for his opponent to make the first move, while setting up his punch. He was known as the best counter-punching heavyweight of his era, but known even more for his devastating one-punch power, winning most often by knockout. Some at the time felt he may have had greater one-punch power than even boxers John L. Sullivan or Peter Maher. However, he was less tough, durable, and was not as aggressive or tenacious as Sullivan, the reigning champion at that time.
Killen's first fight was against John Howard, whom he managed to knock out in the second round. Twenty-one more wins followed (all by knockout) before he lost on a foul against Mervine Thompson. Killen had knocked down the highly regarded Thompson four times, but the referee allegedly kept giving Thompson all the time he needed to recover each time, prompting the crowd to grow angry and storm the ring, as well as Killen taking off his gloves in disgust. All of this caused him to lose via disqualification.
Death
Contrary to historical reports, Killen was not murdered. He died of Erysipelas in Chicago, while on the run from the authorities from his home state of Minnesota, where he had been arrested for assault and battery of two different people, both within two days; both during drunken stupors. He made bail and fled the state to Winnipeg and then later Chicago. He was 29 when he died.
Legacy
He was rated as the seventh all-time greatest Minnesota heavyweight by boxing historian George Blair. His current (incomplete) record is 55 wins (52 by knockout), two losses, three draws and one no-contest.
Professional boxing record
60 fights
54 wins
2 losses
By knockout
51
1
By decision
2
0
By disqualification
1
1
Draws
3
No contests
1
No.
Result
Record
Opponent
Type
Round
Date
Location
Notes
60
Win
54–2–3 (1)
Bob Ferguson
KO
6 (?)
Oct 11, 1891
Picnic Grove, Richardson, Illinois, US
Retained Northwestern heavyweight title
59
Win
53–2–3 (1)
Joe Sheehy
DQ
2 (15)
Dec 19, 1890
Jackson Street Rink, Saint Paul, Minnesota, US
Retained Northwestern heavyweight title; Sheehy DQ'd for throwing Killen to ground four times, stomping on him, and biting him in both the chest, the leg, and the stomach
58
Loss
52–2–3 (1)
Joe McAuliffe
KO
7 (?)
Sep 11, 1889
Golden State A.C., San Francisco, California, US
Killen reportedly entered the fight drunk and missed so wildly on his punches, that he fell and dislocated his right shoulder in the 2nd round
57
Win
52–1–3 (1)
Jack Welch
KO
3 (?)
Aug 14, 1889
Astoria, Oregon, US
56
Win
51–1–3 (1)
Jack Fraser
KO
3 (?)
Jul 22, 1889
Spokane Falls, Washington, US
55
Win
50–1–3 (1)
Jack Smith
KO
2 (?)
Jul 16, 1889
Tacoma, Washington, US
Exact date unknown
54
Win
49–1–3 (1)
Corporal Toomey
KO
1 (?)
Jul 11, 1889
Miles City, Montana, US
53
Win
48–1–3 (1)
Patsy Cardiff
KO
4 (15)
Jun 26, 1888
Washington Roller Rink, Minneapolis, Minnesota, US
Won Northwestern heavyweight title
52
Win
47–1–3 (1)
Jack Cooper
KO
1 (?)
Jan 1, 1888
Theatre Comique, Minneapolis, Minnesota, US
Exact date unknown
51
Win
46–1–3 (1)
Lem McGregor
PTS
6
Dec 16, 1887
Cominique Theater, Minneapolis, Minnesota, US
50
Win
45–1–3 (1)
Frank Cook
KO
2 (?)
Nov 25, 1887
Duluth, Minnesota, US
49
Win
44–1–3 (1)
O.H. Smith
KO
2 (?)
Nov 17, 1887
Rochester, New York, US
48
Win
43–1–3 (1)
Frank Lewis
KO
1 (?)
Oct 12, 1887
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
47
Win
42–1–3 (1)
Henry Dows
KO
1 (?)
Sep 7, 1887
Covington, Kentucky, US
46
Win
41–1–3 (1)
James Smith
KO
1 (?)
Sep 5, 1887
Covington, Kentucky, US
45
Draw
40–1–3 (1)
Patsy Cardiff
PTS
10
Aug 5, 1887
Duluth Theatre, Duluth, Minnesota, US
For Northwest heavyweight title
44
Win
40–1–2 (1)
O.H. Smith
KO
1 (?)
May 2, 1887
Duluth Theatre, Duluth, Minnesota, US
43
Win
39–1–2 (1)
Jack Cook
KO
1 (?)
Apr 1, 1887
Duluth, Minnesota, US
42
Win
38–1–2 (1)
Duncan McDonald
KO
1 (10), 2:46
Mar 4, 1887
Washington Roller Rink, Minneapolis, Minnesota, US
41
Win
37–1–2 (1)
Paddy McDonald
KO
7 (10)
Jan 17, 1887
Duluth, Minnesota, US
40
Win
36–1–2 (1)
O.H. Smith
KO
2 (5)
Jan 4, 1887
Jackson Theater, Duluth, Minnesota, US
39
Win
35–1–2 (1)
Ed McKeown
KO
5 (?)
Dec 28, 1886
Location unknown
38
Draw
34–1–2 (1)
Bill Bradburn
PTS
5
Dec 23, 1886
Exposition Rink, Saint Paul, Minnesota, US
Bradburn refused to fight, because there was not enough money, and only agreed to spar five rounds with large gloves
37
Win
34–1–1 (1)
John Cusick
PTS
6
Nov 12, 1886
Theatre Comique, Minneapolis, Minnesota, US
36
Win
33–1–1 (1)
Tug Wilson
KO
4 (?)
Oct 24, 1886
Duluth, Minnesota, US
Exact date unknown
35
Win
32–1–1 (1)
Luke Dempsey
KO
1 (4)
Oct 16, 1886
Exposition Rink, Saint Paul, Minnesota, US
34
Win
31–1–1 (1)
Mike Haley
KO
4 (?)
Sep 15, 1886
Omaha, Nebraska, US
33
Win
30–1–1 (1)
Dan Stalker
KO
2 (?)
Aug 15, 1886
Eau Claire, Wisconsin, US
32
Draw
29–1–1 (1)
Paddy McDonald
PTS
4
Aug 7, 1886
Duluth, Minnesota, US
Pr-arranged draw in case of a decision
31
Win
29–1 (1)
Jim Brady
KO
1 (?)
Aug 2, 1886
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US
30
Win
28–1 (1)
Tom Donnelly
KO
2 (?)
Jul 2, 1886
Saint Paul, Minnesota, US
29
Win
27–1 (1)
Captain Jim Daly
KO
3 (6)
Jul 2, 1886
Theatre Comique, Minneapolis, Minnesota, US
28
Win
26–1 (1)
Dan Stalker
KO
2 (5)
Jun 19, 1886
Olympic Theater, Saint Paul, Minnesota, US
27
Win
25–1 (1)
John Morris
KO
2 (?)
Jun 7, 1886
Minneapolis, Minnesota, US
26
Win
24–1 (1)
Captain James Dalton
KO
3 (?)
Jun 1, 1886
Minneapolis, Minnesota, US
25
Win
23–1 (1)
Patsy Mellen
KO
2 (?)
May 2, 1886
Theatre Comique, Minneapolis, Minnesota, US
24
Loss
22–1 (1)
Mervine Thompson
DQ
4 (?)
Apr 20, 1886
Cleveland Crib Club, Cleveland, Ohio, US
After scoring 4 knockdowns, Killen was inexplicably DQ'd when the fans rushed into the ring
