Sailor Burke
Charles Presser (1885–1960), who fought under the name Sailor Burke, was an accomplished New York welter and middleweight boxer who often competed against light heavyweights including several contenders and champions. These included controversial black heavyweight champion Jack Johnson, American welterweight contender and European champion Willie Lewis, and British world middleweight championship Billy Papke. On August 22, 1911, Burke defeated world welterweight claimant Billy Papke, at St. Nicholas Arena in New York City, but could not claim the title as both men were fighting over the middleweight limit of 160. Papke was defending his World Middleweight title which he claimed from Jim Sullivan in a British World Middleweight Championship match, in a winning ninth round knockout two months earlier on June 8, 1911 at London's Palladium. Early life and career Charles Presser, known by the ringname "Sailor Burke" was born in 1885 in New York city. He began his career by 1904, focusing first in Philadelphia, and then primarily the New York City area, featuring many short 3-6 round bouts in well known clubs. According to one boxing history, he lost only seven of his first 29 reported fights. Professional career Burke's rare knockout of Philadelphia boxer Joe Grim, 1906 On