Mike O'Dowd

Michael Joseph O'Dowd (April 5, 1895 in St. Paul, Minnesota – July 28, 1957) was an American boxer who held the World Middleweight Championship from 1917 to 1920. He won the title on November 14, 1917 by knocking out Al McCoy in the sixth round after dropping him six times. O'Dowd was the only active boxing champion to fight at the front during World War I (1918, while serving in the U.S. Army). During his career he claimed victories over Hall of Famers Jack Britton, Mike Gibbons, Kid Lewis and Jeff Smith. On February 25, 1918, he held the legendary Harry Greb to a draw. O'Dowd was knocked out just once in his career, his last fight on March 16, 1923. He was inducted into the Minnesota Boxing Hall of Fame in 2011 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2014.