Johnny Kilbane

Birth Name:

John Patrick Kilbane

Birth Date:

April 9, 1889

Birth Place:

Cleveland, Ohio

Death Date:

May 31, 1957

Place of Death:

7413 Herman Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio

Age:

Cause of Death:

Cancer

Cemetery Name:

Calvary Cemetery

Claim to Fame:

Sports

Johnny Kilbane was a successful featherweight boxer in the early part of the 20th century. He held the World Featherweight title from 1912 to 1923, the longest period in the division's history, having defended the title against four contenders during the reign. Statistical boxing website BoxRec lists Kilbane as the No. 2 ranked featherweight of all-time, while The Ring Magazine founder Nat Fleischer placed him at No. 5. With a record of 110 wins (24 by knockout), 17 losses, 15 draws and 1 no contest he was inducted into the Ring Magazine Hall of Fame in 1960 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1995.

Fun Facts

Johnny Kilbane’s mother died when he was 3 years old and his father went blind when he was 6. He attended school until the sixth grade when he dropped out to help support his family as a laborer.

Kilbane’s first professional fight was in 1907, for which he earned $25. Although Kilbane received $75,000 for his last fight, he was almost broke by the time of the Depression. He worked for Cleveland Public Schools as a physical education instructor in 1934-35, but by the 1940s served in the Ohio Senate and House of Representatives.

Johnny Kilbane lived at 7413 Herman Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio at the time he won the world featherweight boxing championship in 1912.

Cemetery Information:

Final Resting Place:

Calvary Cemetery

10000 Miles Avenue

Cleveland, Ohio, 44105

USA

North America

Map:

Cemetery map of Calvary Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio.

Grave Location:

Section 9, Lot 333, Grave 5

Grave Location Description

As you enter the cemetery stay to the right and drive past the offices on your right. Continue straight for a short distance and turn left at the intersection of Sections 8 and 9. Drive up to the end of the one-story maintenance and engineering building. On your right is Section 9. Walk up 8 rows from the road and look of the distinctive monument which is partially hidden behind a large tree. Here is the final resting place of boxing champion Johnny Kilbane.