JIMMY GOODRICH
LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION

1925

From 1902 to 1917, the lightweight title went from Gans to Battling Nelson to Ad Wolgast to Willie Richie to Freddy Welsh to Benny Leonard, who retired undefeated on January 15, 1925.

The New York State Athletic Commission, then one of boxing's major sanctioning organizations, arranged a tournament to fill the vacancy. The winner was Goodrich, a 24 year-old Buffalonian who was born James E. Moran in Scranton, Pennsylvania in 1900. Goodrich began his boxing career in 1919 but records of his bouts before 1921 are not available. Who's Who In Boxing said Goodrich, "a clean hitting, stylish boxer, was a real professional, ready to go anywhere to earn his fight pay.

Goodrich won the tournament July 13,1925 by knocking out Stanislaus Loayza of Chile in the second round at Queensboro Stadium in Long Island City. He won with "a show of vicious fighting that was a surprise to even his closest friends" The Buffalo Evening News reported.

Goodrich knocked Loayza down five times in the first round, and Loayza broke his right ankle in the final fall. He answered the bell for the second round, but was unable to continue and his corner threw in the towel after 35 seconds.

The Goodrich reign lasted only 147 days. On Dec 7,1925 in one of the most memorable fights in Buffalo history, Goodrich lost the title on a 15-round decision to fellow Buffalonian, Rock Kansas.

Goodrich fought for five more years, but never got another title shot. He retired in 1930 after 110 bouts and a record of 44-33-33 with six knockouts.

He died in Ft. Myers, Florida on September 25,1982, at the age 82.