The history of professional boxing can’t be told without mention of New Orleans, and likewise the history of collegiate boxing can’t be told without mention of the tiny university in its city limits, then-known as Loyola University of the South.
Prize fighting at its peak was well-established in New Orleans. The activity that has historically drawn the ire of adversaries flourished in New Orleans because of the city’s lax attitude compared to other parts of the country.
William H. Adams, a former history professor at Nicholls State University, wrote in the now-defunct Louisiana Historical Quarterly: “The city’s inhabitants held a tolerant attitude toward prize fighting, so vociferously condemned in other sections of the nation. Thus it was only natural for boxing to thrive in a metropolis noted as a ‘city of sin.'”
The first bout to garner wide acclaim in the area was the Battle of New Orleans, between John L. Sullivan and Jake Kilrain on July 4, 1889. Sullivan retained his title as champion of the world and earned $21,000 in side bets – the largest amount of its time. In 1892 several world championships were held in New Orleans. On Jan. 14, New Orleans hosted a championship between Jack Dempsey and Bob Fitzsimmons. In September the city hosted the “Carnival of Champions,” which put three titles on the line.
The 19th century saw a wave of Irish immigrants to New Orleans, and it was a trio of Irishmen who catapulted Loyola onto the national scene. Tad Gormley, trainer and coach, coupled with the Fighting Flynns (Denis and Eddie), brought immediate success to Loyola’s boxing program. In just his second year of competition, Denis Flynn became the first NCAA champion at Loyola in 1932. That same year his brother Eddie won gold at the Los Angeles Summer Olympics.
Initially, Loyola boxers fought against local athletic clubs. Their first team competition came in 1930 in a 3-3 draw against Southwestern Louisiana Institute (now the University of Louisiana-Lafayette). Clem Sehrt, Chester Schmittz and Denis Flynn each recorded wins for the Wolfpack.
Loyola continually sent boxers to the NCAA championship and U.S. trials during its tenure here. From 1934 to 1937, Loyola won consecutive team titles. After Flynn’s Olympic berth, no other Loyola boxer made the U.S. team, but many came close. In 1936 Elmer Kelly made it to finals of the U.S. trials. Sewelle Whitney, who won back-to-back NCAA championships in 1939 and 1940, did earn a berth on the U.S. Olympic team in 1940, but because of World War II he didn’t compete.
Loyola stopped competing in boxing in 1941 and the NCAA stopped collegiate boxing in 1954.
