Mike O'Dowd
Michael Joseph "Mike" O'Dowd was an American boxer who held the World Middleweight Championship from 1917 to 1920.Biography
O'Dowd 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. 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.
O'Dowd died on July 28, 1957 from a heart attack at a Veteran's hospital, aged 62. He was inducted into the Minnesota Boxing Hall of Fame in 2011 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2014.
