James McLarnin, known as Jimmy McLarnin, (19 December 1907 – 28 October 2004) was a Irish professional boxer who became two-time welterweight world champion and an International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee. BoxRec ranks McLarnin as the 11th best pound-for-pound fighter of all-time, and the greatest welterweight of all-time (ahead of the great Henry Armstrong).
ウェルター級は元よりパウンド・フォー・パウンドで史上最強・最優秀の拳闘家
McLarnin was born in Hillsborough, County Down, Ireland, into a large Methodist family who emigrated to Vancouver when he was three. He took up boxing at the age of 10 after getting into a fight defending his newspaper-selling pitch. Former professional Charles "Pop" Foster recognised McLarnin's talent at the age of 13. He constructed a makeshift gym for McLarnin to train in, sure that he would one day be the champion of the world. The two of them would remain close, so much so that when Foster died, he left everything he had to McLarnin.
童顔の暗殺者、左右の拳の力、特に右
Following a successful start to his career in Vancouver, Foster took McLarnin to San Francisco, where his youthful appearance made it difficult to get a fight until he lied about his age, it is for this reason that McLarnin was known as the "Baby-faced Assassin". Despite his youthful appearance, McLarnin had incredible power with both fists, his right being particularly feared. However, like many similar fighters McLarnin suffered several hand injuries throughout his career; towards the end of his career McLarnin was forced to become more of a boxer due to this.
McLarnin lost his first title shot on 21 May 1928 in New York against world lightweight champion Sammy Mandell. However, he did go on to beat him twice in the following two years. It would be five years before McLarnin would next get a title shot, during which time he knocked out several top names, including Al Singer, Ruby Goldstein, and Sid Terris.
McLarnin's second title shot came against welterweight champion Young Corbett III. McLarnin won by knockout after only 2 minutes 37 seconds. Following his title success, McLarnin fought an epic three-fight series with Barney Ross. The first fight, on 28 May 1934, was won by Ross, but McLarnin regained his title in their next match four months later. In the deciding fight on 28 May 1935, McLarnin lost his title for the final time in a narrow decision, and for the rest of his life McLarnin claimed he had done enough to retain his belt.
McLarnin retired in November 1936 still at the top of his game, having won his last two fights against all-time greats Tony Canzoneri and Lou Ambers. His record was 54 wins, 11 losses, and 3 draws in 68 contests. In 1996 Ring Magazine voted McLarnin the fifth-greatest welterweight of all time.
Unlike many boxers, McLarnin invested his money wisely and retired a wealthy man. He opened an electrical goods store, and also did some acting, golfing, and lecturing. He never returned to the ring despite the large incentives for him to do so.
McLarnin died in Richland, Washington in autumn of 2004, aged 96, and was interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.
