8. Packey McFarland (64-1-5, 47 KO, 34 ND)

Born: Nov. 1, 1888

Died: Sept. 23, 1936

 

One of several excellent World War I-era fighters who never won titles, Packey McFarland held his own with the very best.  Not a brawler by nature, McFarland gained experience fighting in the Chicago stockyards.  When he knocked out a fellow employee in a lunch-hour match, McFarland decided to adopt boxing as his vocation.  Turning pro at the age of sixteen, McFarland initially fought on handball courts in the Irish neighborhoods of Chicago.

 

Records list a single newspaper loss for Packey McFarland to an unknown in 1904, the year of his professional debut.  Occasionally described as a fifth round knockout, research has revealed the contest may have been awarded to the otherwise unremarkable Dusty Miller on a foul; McFarland reportedly took his revenge in an unlisted three-round knockout of the single man to beat him.  Whatever the detail, he was never beaten again.  Fighters of this era fought with great frequency and McFarland was no different except in that one thing—he did not lose.

 

Because the crowds demanded it McFarland employed a fine knock-out punch in his early encounters.  Later, as his career developed, McFarland became better known for his boxing skill. In fact, he expressed a distinct lack of interest in knocking out opponents, preferring to win by decision.

 

Incredibly, this near-perfect record over more than one-hundred fights never brought him a world title, but in meetings with champions of the past or future he was consistently and inarguable the better.  In his key year of 1908, he outpointed the future lightweight king Freddie Welsh over ten fast and brilliant rounds before meeting former title claimant Jimmy Britt who he destroyed in six.  Britt, who was 'outclassed in every department,' had met both Terry McGovern and Joe Gans but labeled Packey the fastest fighter he had ever met.  Referee Jack Welch, who had refereed Jack Johnson, Abe Attell and Joe Gans, amongst others, named him “one of the best boxers I ever saw.”  Three months later he boxed Welsh to a controversial draw, named a McFarland win in many quarters but a legitimate tie by others, a result the two repeated in London two years later.

 

As stated athough McFarland was highly regarded, he was never given a shot at the lightweight title held by Battling Nelson.  In 1908, the two nearly came to blows outside the Hotel Astoria in New York.  In fairness to Nelson, McFarland usually fought above the lightweight limit, which was then 133 lbs.

 

McFarland fought Jack Britton three times.  The first bout, held in Memphis, was called a draw, although Chicago newspapers declared Britton the winner.  In two no-decision rematches, Britton and McFarland fought very evenly.  McFarland closed his career by fighting in a much ballyhooed contest with the clever Hall of Famer Mike Gibbons, but the ten-round fight was a flop with neither fighter landing any significant punches.

 

In retirement, McFarland managed his sizable investments, was director of two banks, and also served on the Illinois State Athletic Commission.