1. Battling Nelson emigrated to the United States the following year and was raised in Hegewisch, a neighborhood on the Southeast side of Chicago.
14 Facts About Battling Nelson
1. 2.
Battling Nelson died February 7,1954, in Chicago, Illinois, from lung cancer.
3.
Battling Nelson fought for the vacant lightweight title against Jimmy Britt on December 20,1904, but lost a twenty-round decision.
4.
Battling Nelson lost to Abe Attell in 1905, but his win over Jack O'Neill secured him another shot at the world championship.
5.
On September 9,1905, Battling Nelson finally beat Britt in a knockout in the 18th round of a 45-round bout.
6.
Battling Nelson defeated Terry McGovern in a no-decision Newspaper decision, but then faced a greater challenge when he faced off against the reigning world lightweight champion Joe Gans on September 3,1906, in Goldfield, Nevada.
7.
Finally, in the forty-second round, Battling Nelson hit Gans below the belt causing him to lose the fight by disqualification.
8.
Battling Nelson then challenged Gans again for the world lightweight title on July 4,1908.
9.
Two months later, Battling Nelson knocked out Gans in the twenty-first round.
10.
In 1909, Battling Nelson fought Ad Wolgast in a fight held over the lightweight limit.
11.
Wolgast beat him, and Battling Nelson gave Wolgast a chance at his title on February 22,1910.
12.
Battling Nelson continued to fight, and in 1917, he challenged Freddie Welsh for the lightweight title.
13.
Battling Nelson lost a twelve-round decision and retired from fighting in 1920.
14.
Battling Nelson was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992.