Billy Madden

Billy Madden (1852-1918) was a champion pugilist, trainer, and manager.

Billy Madden was born on December 10, 1852, London England of Irish immigrant parents, and died February 22, 1918 in White Plains, New York after a protracted illness. Although some sources report that he came to the US as a boxer, he would have been in his very early teens at that time.

As a welter weight pugilist he won numerous documented fights and was involved in numerous exhibition matches with notable figthers such as Sullivan, McAuliffe, and Kilrain.

Billy Madden was probably the best known of the late 19th Century boxing managers. He was reportedly the first to use modern advertising techniques and campaigns to create laudable careers for the pugilists he managed. He was credited with discovering and was indeed the manager of John L. Sullivan, as well as such other noteworthy fighters as Charlie Mitchell, "Nonpariel" Jack Dempsey, Jake Kilrain, McAuliffe, Peter Maher, among others.

Reportedly, he coined the term "Knock-Out". His international reputation was for being "on the level" and he was highly respected in sporting circles. His friendship with sports writer and lawman Bat Masterson was of long standing. Billy Madden's obituary in the "New York Times" of February 22, 1918 notes that Madden had a versatile career: as well as his sports experience, he was a candidate for the New York State Legislature from the fifth district of Brooklyn in 1906, and wanted to be known as a selfmade man.

ources

* http://groups.google.com/group/alt.obituaries/browse_thread/thread/d59f332f92165537/216049e61a7912e6?hl=en&lnk=gst&q=billy+madden#216049e61a7912e6
* http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9806E5DC113FE433A25751C2A9649C946996D6CF
* http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/madden-billy.htm
* Boston's Boxing Heritage: Prizefighting from 1882-1955 by Kevin Smith
* The Manly Art: Bare-Knuckle Prize Fighting in America by Elliott Gorn
* John L Sullivan and His America (Sport and Society) by Michael T. Isenberg