Tommy Kelly
Born	Tommy Kelly (1867-09-06)September 6, 1867 New York, Manhattan, US
Died	January 4, 1927(1927-01-04) (aged 59) New York, Manhattan, US
Nationality	American
Other names	Harlem Spider
Statistics
Weight(s)	Bantamweight
Height	5 ft 4 in (163 cm)
Boxing record
Total fights	51
Wins	37
Wins by KO	17
Losses	7
Draws	6
No contests	1

Tommy "Spider" Kelly (September 6, 1867 – January 4, 1927) was a Harlem, New York boxer (nicknamed "The Harlem Spider"), and the world champion bantamweight fighter between 1890 and 1892. He was the first New York-born champion since the Marquess of Queensberry rules were adopted.^[1]

The professional career of Spider Kelly as a boxer began in 1887 when he knocked out Larry Boylan,^[2] with Boylan being removed from the ring unconscious.

Continuing to win his fights, at the end of 1887, Kelly claimed the title of American bantam-weight champion, having defeated Tommy Russell.^[3] In early 1888, Kelly fought a draw against George Dixon^[4] and then obtained his first victory over Michael Chappie Moran, who would later become his greatest career rival.

In a second match with Moran, in an 1889 fight that was billed as a world title bantam-weight fight, Kelly was victorious, allowing him to claim the world bantam-weight title. However, only a few months later, in his third duel against Moran, Kelly was defeated and the world title went to Moran.

Nevertheless, in early 1890, Kelly and Moran fought a fourth time. Kelly managed to serve a definitive knockout to his rival during this match, as Kelly laid Moran out on the canvas within a time of 38 minutes.^[5] Kelly held on to his world bantam-weight title until 1892, when he was dethroned by Englishman Billy Plimmer in 10 rounds at Coney Island.^[6]

After losing his title to Plimmer, Kelly fought - through a hard series of defeats - Tim Murphy (3 times), Maxie Haugh, Kid Gleason, Frank Brierley, Harry Fisher, Casper Leon, and Fred Mayo.

Finally, after a discouraging nine years of on and off fighting with just three wins to eight losses, Kelly decided to retire in 1901 after four consecutive draws against the light-weight fighter, Kid Goodman.

After boxing, Kelly obtained a civil service position with the New York City Streets Department.^[7]

The Sun Also Rises

In the novel The Sun Also Rises, Spider Kelly teaches Robert Cohn how to box and flattens his nose in a fight.

References