Austin Rice was a New London boxer who became a Featherweight Title contender on January 14,1903, when he faced featherweight champion Young Corbett II in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
18 Facts About Austin Rice
1.
2.
Austin Rice was born in Waterford, Connecticut, a suburb of New London, on December 25,1872.
3.
Austin Rice may have shared Tony Nelson as a boxing coach in his youth with fellow New London boxers Mosey King, an early New England Lightweight Champion and Abe Hollandersky, a welterweight, and 1913 Panamanian Heavyweight champion.
4.
Austin Rice got his start in boxing while drilling as a Waterford militiaman.
5.
Austin Rice did some amateur bouts in New London while stationed there.
6.
Austin Rice fought Boston featherweight Dave Sullivan a total of four times, with the first bout coming on September 15,1896, in a ten round draw in Queens, New York.
7.
On December 19,1901, Austin Rice fought and defeated former World Bantamweight and Featherweight Champion George Dixon in a classic twenty round match at the Grand Opera House in his hometown of New London, Connecticut.
Related searches
Mosey King 8.
Two months later, on February 27,1902, Austin Rice fought Jewish ex-Bantamweight World Champion Harry Harris to a six round draw at Chicago's Pyramid Athletic Club.
9.
That spring, Austin Rice fought Benny Yanger, one of his most gifted opponents.
10.
Only one month after Yanger's remarkable win over featherweight champion Attell, Austin Rice was selected to face Yanger in a six round match in Chicago on May 26,1902, though he lost.
11.
Twice, Austin Rice fought Billy Barrett, a competent New York featherweight in Stafford Springs and Middletown, Connecticut, on October 2 and May 1,1901.
12.
Austin Rice was well respected in New London for supporting a variety of civic causes.
13.
On June 2,1904, Austin Rice fought a sparring match for the benefit of the Pastime club of New London.
14.
Austin Rice was first scheduled for a 20 round exhibition with Young Corbett II, featherweight champion, in Waterford, Connecticut, on November 6,1902.
15.
Austin Rice operated a small farm in Waterford, Connecticut, with the proceeds of his boxing wins.
16.
Austin Rice was depicted by the press as a frugal person, and adept as a carpenter.
17.
Austin Rice died as a result of injuries from being run over by a wagon he was driving on January 17,1921.
18.
Austin Rice had been married and left one son, George.