Mellody took the World "White" Championship defeating the older New York boxer Matty Matthews in a 12-round points decision in Boston on January 13, 1904.
The title was a precursor to his Welterweight World Title, but carried far less authority and required a boxer to weigh very close to 142 pounds, still in the welter range.
 He defended his title for the World "White" Championship for 145 pounds against Martin Duffy on April 22, 1904, in a fourth-round knockout in Chicago.
 Mellody outweighed Duffy who was six pounds below the 145 pound limit.
 He defended his title twice against Jack O'Keefe in June and October 1904.

He lost the 145 pound "White" championship against talented welterweight Buddy Ryan in Chicago in a first round knockout and was down three times in the bout.
He had lost to Ryan twice previously in Chicago, though one of the decisions was questionable.
 After losing to Ryan, Mellody began an impressive ramp up to a Welterweight World Title bout.
Mellody took the World "White" Championship defeating the older New York boxer Matty Matthews in a 12-round points decision in Boston on January 13, 1904. The title was a precursor to his Welterweight World Title, but carried far less authority and required a boxer to weigh very close to 142 pounds, still in the welter range.  He defended his title for the World "White" Championship for 145 pounds against Martin Duffy on April 22, 1904, in a fourth-round knockout in Chicago.  Mellody outweighed Duffy who was six pounds below the 145 pound limit.  He defended his title twice against Jack O'Keefe in June and October 1904.
He lost the 145 pound "White" championship against talented welterweight Buddy Ryan in Chicago in a first round knockout and was down three times in the bout. He had lost to Ryan twice previously in Chicago, though one of the decisions was questionable.  After losing to Ryan, Mellody began an impressive ramp up to a Welterweight World Title bout.
William "Honey" Mellody