OR

source: wikipedia.org
17 Jun, 1881
10 May, 1955
Heart attack
Canadian
Professional boxer
73
Tommy Burns was a Canadian professional boxer who is widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time. Born Noah Brusso in 1881 in Ontario, Canada, Burns displayed a tremendous passion for the sport of boxing from a young age.
Brusso later changed his name to Tommy Burns when he began his boxing career. His journey as a boxer started with a significant fight against Marvin Hart in Los Angeles in 1906.
Despite standing at just 5 feet 7 inches and weighing around 175 pounds, Burns overcame his smaller stature to claim the World Heavyweight Champion title in 1906.
Burns proved to be a fighting champion, defending his title multiple times across the globe. His reign was defined by a unique fighting style that combined speed, strength, and strategic skill. Notably, he was the first champion to travel internationally to defend his title, often seen as an underdog due to his size.
Burns paved the way for inclusivity in boxing by ensuring every worthy challenger had a chance at the title. He was the first champion to face a Jewish boxer, Joseph “Dewey” Smith, and the first to defend his belt against an African American boxer, Jack Johnson.
Burns lost the title to Jack Johnson in 1908, making Johnson the first African American Heavyweight Champion. This loss sparked public outrage among American fans and led to riots across the United States. Despite the loss, Burns continued his boxing career.
Following his title loss, Burns continued to compete until 1920. After retiring from boxing, he became an insurance salesman, having lost his wealth during the Great Depression. Over his 20-year career, Burns participated in 60 bouts, winning 46 of them.
In the later stages of his life, Burns underwent a spiritual transformation and became an ordained minister. He passed away in 1955 in Vancouver, Canada, at the age of 73.
Tommy Burns
Tommy Burns
Male
Heart attack
Hanover, Ontario, Canada
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Executive: Tommy Burns took his commitment as World Heavyweight Champion and proved to be a fighting champion.
He stood only 5'7" tall, making him the shortest heavyweight champion in history
He was the first white heavyweight champion to face an African-American challenger (Jack Johnson).
His real name was Noah Brusso
He held the world heavyweight title from 1906-1908.
He defended his title 13 times.
He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1996.
He was inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.
Tommy Burns was inducted into the Canadian Boxing Hall of Fame and Canadian Sports Hall of Fame in 1955.