HEAVYWEIGHT division
BILL BRENNAN
RetiredBorn WILHELM SCHENCK
Born 1893-06-23, LOUISVILLE, KY. (died aged 30)· Died 1924-06-15, NEW YORK, NY.· USA
· Height: 185 cm (6'1")· aka KO BILL BRENNAN, BATTLING BILL THE BARTENDER
Debut: 1913-05-29· Career: 1913–1923 (11 years)
Peak
2468
Current
2338
Wins (Official)
66
Losses (Official)
16
Draws (Official)
6
NC
7
Rated Fights
51
Brennan was born on June 23, 1893, in Louisville, Kentucky. Though many sources of his time stated he was born in County Mayo, Ireland or Chicago, these are fabrications he perpetuated to bolster the myth of his Irish ancestry. He was, in fact, of Scots-Irish, English, Irish, and German ancestry. He did live in the Chicago area during his early boxing career before moving to Manhattan where the boxing was more lucrative, and there were still plenty of Irish fans who would flock to see who they assumed was a native son.
He began fighting under the name Bill Shanks, close to his actual name, and knocked out 11 of his first 12 opponents, fighting in the Midwest and then the New York City area.
On June 15, 1924, Brennan was shot to death in New York City, outside the Club Tia Juana, on 171st Street in the Washington Heights section of Manhattan, A few years prior to the shooting, Brennan had purchased the club with the winnings from his second Dempsey fight.
Survived by a wife and child, he was only 30 years old at the time of his death. On June 18, after 5,000 attended his Memorial service at New York's St. Rose de Lima Catholic Church, his funeral was held.
Rating Over Time — First 3 Years (Preview)
See the full rating timeline
Pro members see the complete arc across every rated fight of the career.
Unlock with Pro7-day free trial · £4.99/mo or £39.99/yr
Head-to-Head Comparison
Compare BILL BRENNAN's career against any other fighter on record — records, ratings, common opponents, and any direct bouts.
Complete Record — 115 Bouts
| Date | Result | Opponent | Rds | Div. | Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🔒 07 NOV 1923 | LOSS | BILLY MISKE | 4 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | TITLE |
| 🔒 12 MAR 1923 | LOSS | LUIS ANGEL FIRPO | 12 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 12 JAN 1923 | LOSS | FLOYD JOHNSON | 15 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 03 JAN 1923 | NWS-W | HUGH WALKER | 10 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 04 JUL 1922 | ND | BOB MARTIN | 12 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 05 JUN 1922 | TKO | JACK LEON | 2 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 16 MAY 1922 | TKO | JIM TRACEY | 8 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 02 NOV 1921 | DEC | DAN O'DOWD | 12 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 26 OCT 1921 | KO | HARRY TATE | 2 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 26 OCT 1921 | KO | TEXAS TATE | 2 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 17 SEP 1921 | KO | NED CARPENTER | 1 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 15 SEP 1921 | NWS-W | HUGH WALKER | 12 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 15 SEP 1921 | NWS-W | HUGH A WALKER | 12 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 05 SEP 1921 | KO | DIGGER BROWN | 1 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 08 JUN 1921 | LOSS | BILLY MISKE | 10 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 16 MAY 1921 | KO | JACK BURKE | 4 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 31 MAR 1921 | LOSS | JEFF CLARK | 1 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 11 MAR 1921 | TKO | RAY SMITH | 3 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 18 FEB 1921 | DEC | BOB MARTIN | 15 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 15 FEB 1921 | KO | JOE VIDAS | 3 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 04 FEB 1921 | KO | AL BENEDICT | 6 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 01 FEB 1921 | KO | BANDSMAN DICK RICE | 2 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 27 JAN 1921 | NWS-W | HUGH WALKER | 12 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 21 JAN 1921 | TKO | BILL BAILEY | 3 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 14 DEC 1920 | LOSS | JACK DEMPSEY | 12 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | TITLE |
| 🔒 28 JUL 1920 | KO | GEORGE ASHE | 2 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 29 JUN 1920 | KO | OLE ANDERSON | 8 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 26 JUN 1920 | KO | OLE ANDERSON | 8 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 22 JUN 1920 | TKO | SAILOR WELDON | 3 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 04 JUN 1920 | DRAW | BARTLEY MADDEN | 12 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 19 MAY 1920 | DRAW | WILLIE MEEHAN | 6 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 15 MAY 1920 | TKO | WHITEY ALLEN | 4 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 06 MAY 1920 | ND | OLE ANDERSON | 10 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 23 APR 1920 | KO | FARMER LODGE | 3 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 30 MAR 1920 | ND | BOB DEVERE | 10 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 29 MAR 1920 | KO | JACK O'DONNELL | 1 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 17 MAR 1920 | TKO | FRED LANGE | 3 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 05 MAR 1920 | LOSS | BOB ROPER | 10 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 27 FEB 1920 | KO | JOE VIDAS | 2 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 04 FEB 1920 | NWS-W | HUGH WALKER | 10 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 07 JAN 1920 | DEC | BARTLEY MADDEN | 10 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 25 DEC 1919 | NWS-W | SAILOR ED PETROSKEY | 6 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 04 DEC 1919 | KO | JOE VIDAS | 1 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 01 DEC 1919 | KO | TOM MCMAHON | 2 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 20 NOV 1919 | TKO | AL BENEDICT | 6 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 17 NOV 1919 | KO | ANDY SCHMADER | 4 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 28 OCT 1919 | TKO | JOHNNY SAXON | 5 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 20 OCT 1919 | NWS-W | DAN O'DOWD | 8 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 27 AUG 1919 | KO | JACK BURKE | 7 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 23 AUG 1919 | NWS-L | HARRY GREB | 10 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 04 JUL 1919 | NWS-L | HARRY GREB | 15 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 25 JUN 1919 | DRAW | BILLY MISKE | 8 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 28 APR 1919 | LOSS | BILLY MISKE | 15 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 17 MAR 1919 | NWS-L | HARRY GREB | 10 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 10 FEB 1919 | NWS-L | HARRY GREB | 10 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 01 JAN 1919 | DEC | AL BENEDICT | 6 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 20 DEC 1918 | TKO | JOE BONDS | 3 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 01 JUL 1918 | LOSS | BARTLEY MADDEN | 8 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 18 JUN 1918 | ND | TOM MCMAHON | 10 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 01 MAR 1918 | DEC | AL BENEDICT | 6 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 25 FEB 1918 | LOSS | JACK DEMPSEY | 6 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 15 JAN 1918 | DRAW | BATTLING LEVINSKY | 12 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 10 DEC 1917 | NWS-W | HOMER SMITH | 10 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 27 NOV 1917 | LOSS | BATTLING LEVINSKY | 12 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 09 NOV 1917 | LOSS | JIM COFFEY | 10 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 05 NOV 1917 | ND | TOM MCMAHON | 10 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 01 NOV 1917 | KO | JOE BONDS | 2 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 23 OCT 1917 | DEC | BATTLING LEVINSKY | 12 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 05 OCT 1917 | KO | JACK HANLON | 2 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 02 OCT 1917 | DRAW | BATTLING LEVINSKY | 12 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 27 SEP 1917 | KO | JACK CLIFFORD | 4 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 18 SEP 1917 | ND | BARTLEY MADDEN | 10 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 07 AUG 1917 | DEC | BARTLEY MADDEN | 10 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 03 AUG 1917 | KO | JOE COX | 3 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 20 JUL 1917 | KO | BOB DEVERE | 3 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 03 JUL 1917 | TKO | SOLDIER JONES | 2 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 12 JUN 1917 | NWS-W | BOB DEVERE | 10 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 09 JUN 1917 | KO | JACK CARROLL | 2 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 09 JUN 1917 | KO | SAILOR JACK CARROLL | 2 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 28 APR 1917 | NWS-W | JOE BONDS | 10 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 05 MAR 1917 | LOSS | TOM COWLER | 10 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 12 FEB 1917 | KO | TEX MCCARTHY | 2 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 05 FEB 1917 | KO | AL BENEDICT | 7 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 29 JAN 1917 | DEC | JOE COX | 10 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 06 JAN 1917 | KO | JACK HUBBARD | 2 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 30 DEC 1916 | KO | JACK KEATING | 3 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 20 NOV 1916 | LOSS | TOM COWLER | 10 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 04 NOV 1916 | NWS-W | HOMER SMITH | 6 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 31 OCT 1916 | LOSS | TOM COWLER | 10 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 26 OCT 1916 | TKO | TIM LOGAN | 2 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 21 JUL 1916 | KO | JACK HUBBARD | 3 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 15 JUL 1916 | NWS-W | JOE COX | 10 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 01 JUL 1916 | KO | SOLDIER KEARNS | 8 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 30 JUN 1916 | DEC | TERRY KELLAR | 10 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 27 JUN 1916 | LOSS | JOE COX | 7 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 24 MAY 1916 | DRAW | ANDRE ANDERSON | 12 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 23 MAY 1916 | KO | TONY ROSS | 8 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 06 MAY 1916 | TKO | AL WILLIAMS | 6 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 04 MAY 1916 | KO | GEORGE RODEL | 3 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 01 MAY 1916 | KO | GEORGE ONE ROUND DAVIS | 2 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 01 MAY 1916 | KO | GEORGE DAVIS | 3 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 03 APR 1916 | KO | BOB WILLIAMS | 1 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 31 MAR 1916 | TKO | BATTLING RYAN | 6 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 23 MAR 1916 | KO | JOE VIDAS | 6 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 20 MAR 1916 | KO | AL BENEDICT | 2 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 01 FEB 1916 | NWS-W | LARRY WILLIAMS | 10 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 29 JAN 1916 | ND | LARRY WILLIAMS | 12 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 29 JAN 1916 | KO | FRANK MCMAHON | 2 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 24 JAN 1916 | KO | TIM O'NEIL | 3 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 22 JAN 1916 | KO | GEORGE RODEL | 7 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 17 JAN 1916 | KO | AL BENEDICT | 2 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 13 DEC 1915 | TKO | ELI STANTON | 1 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 02 JUL 1914 | NWS-W | MARTY CUTLER | 6 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 13 APR 1914 | NWS-W | MARTY CUTLER | 10 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 29 MAY 1913 | NWS-L | NED CARPENTER | 10 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — |
Some bouts are locked in the archive
Free members see fights from 2016 onwards; Pro unlocks the complete career record from 1881.
Unlock with Pro7-day free trial · £4.99/mo or £39.99/yr
Team & Corner
- LEO P. FLYNNManager
—
- DIA DOLLINGSTrainer
—
- FRANK CLINETrainer
—
Final Resting Place