Information courtesy of the Cyberboxingzone.
BORN: Jul 29 1835; Middletown, County Armagh, Ireland
DIED : Dec. 6 1890; New York, NY
HEIGHT : 5-9 1/4 WEIGHT : 154-190 lbs
RACE : White; Irish-American
Coburn was an intelligent, crafty battler who was quick and agile; His footwork was good and he hit with two fast hands.
1856
May 1 Ned Price Spy Pond (near Boston), Ma (3:20:00) D 160
-Middleweight Championship of America; Bare Knuckles were used for this bout
1857
Jim Hughes SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Oct Patsy Flynn New York, NY W
Nov 11 Harry Gribben
-This bout scheduled but postponed; Coburn injured a leg during training
Nov 19 Harry Gribben Bertie County, Can (30:00) W 21
1858-1860
"Professor" William Clark (1:00:00) W
-Blackened gloves were used for this bout;
The most clean hits won; Coburn won by one clean hit
1862
-Coburn challenged John Heenan to a fight for the Heavyweight Championship of America; Heenan refused -Coburn claimed the Heavyweight Championship of America
1863
May 5 Mike McCoole Charlesworth, Md (1:10:00) W 67
-Heavyweight Championship of America
For one thousand dollars each and a side bet of seven hundred dollars. Three thousand attended.
At the time I think that the weekly average wage for labourer was about $15 a week.
Dec -Coburn challenged Tom King, the English Champion;
King said he was retiring from pugilism and declined
Dec -Coburn challenged Jem Mace, the former English Champion;
Mace declined by saying he would not fight in America; Coburn went to Ireland to set up a match
1864
Oct 4 Jem Mace Pierstown, Ire
-This bout was scheduled but cancelled; Coburn and Mace could not agree on a referee
Oct 10 -Mike McCoole challenged Coburn to a fight
Oct 14 Jem Mace in Ireland -This bout was temporarily arranged but fell through
1865
-Coburn was challenged by Jimmy Elliott to a fight for the Heavyweight Championship of America; Coburn refused and retired (only to return later); Elliott claimed the title
1867
Oct 26 Matthew "Rocky" Moore New York, NY EX
1868
May 27Mike McCoole Cold Spring Station, In
-This bout was scheduled but not held; Police intervened and prevented the fight;
Coburn and his trainer, Jim Cusick, were arrested; Some sources report 9/19/68
Coburn and McCoole spent forty days behind bars.
1871
May 11 Jem Mace Port Ryeson, Can (1:17:00) D 1
-Heavyweight Championship of the World;
Heavyweight Championship of America;
Neither man struck a blow; Police intervened.
Four thousand dollar stake.
Jun 2 Jem Mace Kansas City, Mo
-Coburn did not show up for this match
Nov 30 Jem Mace Bay St. Louis, La (3:48:00) D 12
-Heavyweight Championship of the World;
Heavyweight Championship of America;
Mace injured a hand in the fifth round;
Weights: 163 1/2 - 165 1/2
1877
Mar 6 -Coburn was sentenced to ten years in prison for felonious assault with intent to kill policeman William Tobias in New York, NY
1882
Dec 7 -Coburn released from prison
Dec 28 John L. Sullivan New York, NY EX 3
Sullivan was the most famous sporting figure of the 19th century.
1883
Jan 29 John L. Sullivan Troy, NY EX 3
Mar 19 John L. Sullivan Boston, Ma EX 3
He fought Sullivan three times in quick succession after his release from prison which would indicate that he was probably broke.
Herbert Slade Troy, NY EX
Herbert Slade New York, NY EX
-The previous 2 bouts were held between Jan-Apr 1883
Jun Charlie Mitchell Syracuse, NY EX 3
1884
Dec "Professor" William Clark New York, NY EX
1889
Sep 9 Dominick McCaffrey New York, NY
-This bout was scheduled but not held; Coburn did not show
