John Arthur Root, born as Jan Rut and known professionally as Jack Root (May 26, 1875 [b.] – June 10, 1963) was an American boxer. He was the first world light heavyweight champion as well as a challenger for the world heavyweight title. He fought out of Chicago. He was elected into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2011.

Championship Claim Root (with the support of some historians) claimed that he was the first world light heavyweight champion. His bout with George Gardiner on July 4, 1903, is claimed by some to be the first title bout in the new division. Root contended that his manager, Lou Housman, created the division and billed the Root vs. Gardner fight, which Gardner won by knockout in the twelfth round. The fight was caught on film. Jack Root, George Gardner, and Bob Fitzsimmons all held the light heavyweight world championship title in 1903.

During the 1980s, however, some boxing historians found records indicating that Joe Choynski won a twenty-round decision over Jimmy Ryan on August 18, 1899, in a fight billed as being for the light heavyweight championship. Choynski never seems to have made any claim to be the first light heavyweight champion, however.

Heavyweight title fight On July 3, 1905, Root fought Marvin Hart for the vacant world heavyweight championship in Reno Nevada. The former champion, Jim Jeffries, had retired and declared that Hart and Root were the two top heavyweights. Jeffries refereed the fight to name the new champion, which Hart won by a twelfth-round knockout.

After boxing Root served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army during World War I. After his time in the service Root became the president and boxing manager of the renowned Los Angeles Olympic Auditorium. Root was also one of many boxers to attend the funeral of Feab S. Williams (better known as "George Godfrey").

Death Root died on June 10, 1963, at Temple Hospital in Los Angeles from a heart attack, aged 87.

Professional boxing record

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes55Win Fred RussellPTS10Feb 26, 1906 54Loss46–3–3 Marvin HartKO12 (?)Jul 3, 1905 53Win46–2–3 John WillieDQ5 (10)Dec 5, 1904 5245–2–3 Tommy RyanNC4 (6)Nov 23, 1904 51Win45–2–3 George GardinerPTS6May 2, 1904 50Draw44–2–3 George GardinerPTS6Feb 26, 1904 49Draw44–2–2 John WilliePTS6Feb 5, 1904 48Win44–2–1 Fireman Jim FlynnKO8 (20)Nov 26, 1903 47Loss43–2–1 George GardinerTKO17 (20)Jul 4, 1903 46Win43–1–1 Charles Kid McCoyPTS10Apr 22, 1903 45Win42–1–1 Marvin HartPTS6Nov 10, 1902 44Win41–1–1 Kid CarterPTS6Oct 27, 1902 43Loss40–1–1 George GardinerTKO17 (20)Aug 18, 1902 42Win40–0–1 Billy StiftKO2 (6)Apr 26, 1902 41Win39–0–1 George GardinerDQ7 (20)Jan 31, 1902 40Win38–0–1 Australian Jim RyanKO2 (20)Oct 30, 1901 39Win37–0–1 Kid CarterDQ15 (20)Jun 28, 1901 38Win36–0–1 George ByersKO9 (20)Jan 18, 1901 37Win35–0–1 Dick O'BrienKO3 (6)Oct 16, 1900 36Win34–0–1 Dan CreedonKO1 (20)Oct 4, 1900 35Draw33–0–1 Tommy RyanPTS6Jul 24, 1900 34Win33–0 Dick O'BrienPTS6Jul 10, 1900 33Win32–0 Ed DenfassKO4 (6)Feb 20, 1900 32Win31–0 Jack HammondKO2 (6)Feb 5, 1900 31Win30–0 Tommy WestPTS6Jan 9, 1900 30Win29–0 Alec GreggainsKO6 (20)Nov 15, 1899 29Win28–0 Frank SteinerKO3 (6)Oct 18, 1899 28Win27–0 Frank CraigPTS6Oct 15, 1899 27Win26–0 Frank CraigPTS6Oct 3, 1899 26Win25–0 Billy StiftPTS6Sep 23, 1899 25Win24–0 John BanksKO1 (?)Aug 12, 1899 24Win23–0 Fred GrantKO3 (?)Jul 7, 1899 23Win22–0 Johnny GormanKO2 (?)Jun 21, 1899 22Win21–0 Tom BurkeKO7 (?)Jun 7, 1899 21Win20–0 Tom CaseyKO1 (?)May 31, 1899 20Win19–0 Australian Jim RyanPTS20May 15, 1899 19Win18–0 Dick MooreKO2 (?)Apr 29, 1899 18Win17–0 Billy StiftDQ7 (20)Feb 16, 1899 17Win16–0 Harry PeppersPTS6Jan 21, 1899 16Win15–0 Australian Jim RyanPTS6Dec 30, 1898 15Win14–0 Tom LansingKO5 (6)Nov 15, 1898 14Win13–0 Jack MurphyKO2 (?)Aug 19, 1898 13Win12–0 Jimmy WattsKO2 (?)Aug 5, 1898 12Win11–0 Tom LansingTKO6 (12)Jul 22, 1898 11Win10–0 Jack MoffatPTS6May 14, 1898 10Win9–0 Mike CarrollKO1 (6)Apr 14, 1898 98–0 George RyanNC1 (?)Mar 27, 1898 8Win8–0 Jack MoffatPTS6Mar 26, 1898 7Win7–0 Jack HammondKO2 (?)Mar 12, 1898 6Win6–0 Charles WhiteyKO2 (?)Feb 12, 1898 5Win5–0 Billy PhillethKO1 (?)Feb 7, 1898 4Win4–0 George HippKO1 (?)Jan 15, 1898 3Win3–0 Young Charlie WhiteKO2 (?)Jan 8, 1898 2Win2–0 Pat BrastandKO3 (?)Dec 24, 1897 1Win1–0 Charles UptonKO4 (?)Nov 12, 1897

See also List of light heavyweight boxing champions

References

External links