Rube Ferns was formidable and scrappy with a good punch.
20 Facts About Rube Ferns
1.
2.
Rube Ferns lost his title to Barbados Joe Walcott in December 1901.
3.
Rube Ferns was known as a powerful hitter with an impressive knockout record.
4.
Rube Ferns was born into a coal-mining family in Pennsylvania.
5.
Rube Ferns always dressed like a stage farmer in go-to-meeting clothes.
6.
Rube Ferns was tall and angular and did not look like a fighter.
7.
In 1897, Rube Ferns fought in some larger cities and New England venues, meeting Kid Gardner in a draw in Chicago in February, and Izzy Straus and Lou Demonge in Brooklyn Clubs in June.
8.
On January 15,1900, Rube Ferns fought his first bout billed as a World Welterweight Title, defeating "Mysterious" Billy Smith at the Hawthorne Athletic Club in Buffalo, New York.
9.
McBride had actually disqualified Smith in the 21st round, and it was an important bout, marking the assumption of the World Welterweight Title by Rube Ferns according to many sources.
10.
Rube Ferns fought three more bouts in 1900 that increased his recognition as the primary World Welterweight Title contender, and helped him to gain full recognition as the champion.
11.
Rube Ferns knocked out Jack Hanley on March 20,1900, in a non-title bout in six rounds in Fort Erie, Ontario.
12.
In two rematches with Matthews for the World Title, Rube Ferns lost on October 16,1900, in a full fifteen round points decision losing the title though suffering from open sores.
13.
Rube Ferns re-took the title on May 24,1901, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in a tenth-round knockout which may have been a close bout prior to the final blow.
14.
Rube Ferns had two more important defenses of the Welterweight title, first on September 23,1901, against the lightweight champion Frank Erne in front of an enthusiastic crowd of 4,500 at the International Athletic Club in Ft.
15.
On December 18,1901, Rube Ferns lost the Welterweight Championship of the World to the great Barbados Joe Walcott, one of the greatest lightweights in boxing history.
16.
When Rube Ferns first took the welterweight title may be in minor dispute, as many sources recognize Fern's claim to the title as early as his defeat of Mysterious Billy Smith on January 15,1900, though Smith did not as he claimed he was winning the fight before his disqualification, and the claim had some validity.
17.
Rube Ferns continued boxing until around 1910 and took on some high-profile contenders, including three more bouts with Matty Matthews, and two each with Martin Duffy and Charley Sieger.
18.
Rube Ferns worked as a referee from his early days in boxing, throughout his career, and into his retirement.
19.
Rube Ferns refereed at least fourteen bouts between November 1899 and December 1922, including bouts with Wildcat Ferns, Kid Stein, Otto Knopp, Joe Leonard, and brothers Art and Dennis Magirl.
20.
Rube Ferns refereed primarily in the New York area, and out west after his retirement from boxing.