Name/Title
Print, PhotographicEntry/Object ID
2007.24.146Description
Tacoma's Pat McMurtry fights former heavyweight champ Ezzard Charles at Tacoma's Lincoln Bowl in front of 10,729 cheering fans on July 1956. The hometown crowd saw their hero win a 10-round decision from the former heavyweight champ. A month later, McMurtry, a graduate from Lincoln High School in Tacoma, had another fight at Lincoln Bowl, drawing 11,095 cheering fans. In that fight, McMurtry lost a tough 10-round decision to Willie Pastrano. But McMurtry won his next five fights and capped that off with a second-round knockout of Carl Bobo Olson to climb to fifth in the world heavyweight rankings. On Oct. 27, 1959, McMurtry fought for the Pacific Northwest heavy title against powerhouse puncher Eddie Machen in Portland. The smaller McMurtry was knocked down three times to the canvas in the first round and lost by a knockout at 2:11 of the first round. It was McMurtry's last fight of his career. After the fight, McMurtry went to the hospital and X-rays showed brain damage that effected his balance for the rest of his life. McMurtry died of liver cancer on April 17, 2011 at the of 79.Made/Created
Date made
1956Place
Location
Lincoln Bowl, Tacoma, WALexicon
Search Terms
Boxing, Professional/Semi-ProRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
McMurtry, PatPerson or Organization
Charles, Ezzard