Pat O'Keefe

British Middleweight Title 1918 - Outright holder of Lonsdale Belt 1918.

Born of Irish Ancestors, on St Patrick' s day 1883
in Bromley-by-Bow London.

1907.               Became the sparring partner to Tommy Burns, 
after Burns' visit to the UK. 
Tommy Burns was the World heavyweight Champion, 
an Australian who had just beaten Gunner Moir over 10 rounds. 
Pat took up the chance to gain more experience.  

While taking part in many exhibition bouts with Burns, Pat took several beatings, 
until one day he had received enough punishment, that he put the 
Heavyweight Burns on the canvas. After this, he received more respect 
from the Champ and always received praise from Burns for his help.

In 1907, in Perth during several months of exhibition bouts he had a few 
bouts of his own.

                  At the Blackfriers Ring NSC. Title fight.

                 Vacant British Middleweight Title

                 Defence of Title against this tough London Irishman

                This Joe Beckett fought as heavyweight later.

WW1: served as a Sgt PT Instructor and became one of the Boxing Platoon.

                 This Fight was held at the Colders Green Hippodrome.
                 Non Title Fight.  

Two reports on the Sullivan v O'Keefe fight: 
Former World Flyweight Champion Jimmy Wilde described it as: 
"Quite the most punishing fight I ever watched".

Charlie Rose wrote: " Both men had similar ideas - the best form of defence
was attack, and they just belted away at each other. Never have I seen more
blood emanate from two fighters and the ring was realy like a
slaughter-house."

Pat won on points, and he and Jim remained the best of freinds. 
Pat was like that, he loved people, and his cheerful humour endeared him 
to everyone who knew him.

                This was a rematch,and a Title fight at the NSC. 

                Pat won the Lonsdale Belt outright and the Title.

Retired after this fight at the age of 35.

Died at the age of 77, in 1960, after many years as a publican.

Boxing writer Charlie Rose wrote: 
"OKeefe was probably the most popular fighter of all time."

Excerpts from a article by Ron Olver on fighters of yesteryear.

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