Patrick McFarland (November 1, 1888 â September 22, 1936), nicknamed "Packey" or "Packy", was an American boxer in the lightweight and welterweight divisions. Despite an extraordinary winning record, he was unable to secure a match for either world title. The Ring Record Book and Boxing Encyclopedia as of 1936 "suggests" McFarland was the best fighter never to become a world champion.
McFarland was born on November 1, 1888, in Chicago, Illinois. McFarland became a professional boxer on January 1,1904 at the age of 15 by defeating Pete West.
On January 14, 1908 McFarland won a decision victory in Boston over Bert Keyes that helped establish him on the East Coast. On February 21, 1908 he won a 10-round decision victory in Milwaukee over future lightweight champion Freddie Welsh that began his famous rivalry with the Welsh wizard.
On April 11, 1908 he beat Jimmy Britt, who had a disputed claim to be the lightweight world champion, although this fight was not for a title. It was a career-defining performance where McFarland scientifically knocked out the former world lightweight champion in the 6th round in Colma, California.
On July 4, 1908 fought Freddie Welsh again in a 25-round draw in Los Angeles, in a fight described as one of the fastest lightweight bouts ever witnessed. On August 7, 1908 he defeated Phil Brock in a knockout victory in the 7th round in Los Angeles.
On March 30, 1909 fought Dave Deshler to controversial 12-round draw in Boston. McFarland was so upset by the decision he struck the referee and a cornerman. On May 30, 1910 fought to a draw with Freddie Welsh. It was their third and final meeting, a 20-round bout at the National Sporting Club in London. Most observers believed McFarland clearly won, but the referee scored a controversial draw. The bout was for British recognition of the world lightweight title. McFarland never fought for another world title bout.
On January 30, 1911 he fought an 8-round draw in Memphis against the future welterweight legend Jack Britton. On September 15, 1911 Wisconsin officials halted a highly anticipated world lightweight championship boxing match in Milwaukee between Ad Wolgast and McFarland, despite the event's potential to generate over $100,000 for local businesses. Acting Governor Thomas Morris enforced a sporadically used anti-prize-fighting law, deeming the match a threat to public morals, which outraged fans and merchants. On November 30, 1911 he won a hard-fought 20-round victory in San Francisco over Harlem Tommy Murphy. McFarland later called this one of the toughest fights of his career.
On April 26, 1912 he beat Matt Wells at Madison Square Garden, in New York City. On March 7, 1913 and December 8, 1913 he fought No-Decision bouts with Jack Britton. McFarland won the newspaper decisions in these two 10-round fights, in New York and Milwaukee, to unofficially claim the series against Britton.
On September 11, 1915 he fought a No-Decision bout with Mike Gibbons. It was McFarland's final professional fight. He came out of semi-retirement to face the defensive master "The St. Paul Phantom" in Brooklyn. Most reports called it a draw or gave a slight edge to McFarland. It was a tactical, chess-like match between two brilliant boxers.
He was a boxing instructor at Camp Zachary Taylor in 1918. On January 27, 1933, he was appointed to the Illinois Athletic Commission by Governor Henry Horner. McFarland also managed his sizable investments and was director of two banks. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992.
When interviewed in 1980 actor James Cagney said Packey McFarland "was my idol. He was a hell of a boxer. He was a real fighter because he did it all and never even got a black eye. Which was great of course because of the hero worship I felt for him."
McFarland died at Joliet, Illinois, of a streptococcus infection which had attacked his heart.
All information in this section is derived from BoxRec, unless otherwise stated.
All newspaper decisions are officially regarded as âÂÂno decisionâ bouts and are not counted in the win/loss/draw column.
Record with the inclusion of newspaper decisions in the win/loss/draw column.