Tommy Burns (Canadian boxer)

Tommy Burns was a Canadian professional boxer. He is the only Canadian-born World Heavyweight Boxing Champion. The first to travel the globe in defending his title, Burns made 13 title defences against 11 different boxers, despite often being the underdog due to his size. Burns took on all challengers as Heavyweight Champion, leading to his legendary bout with the African American Jack Johnson. According to his biographer, Burns insisted, "I will defend my title against all comers, none barred. By this I mean white, black, Mexican, Indian, or any other nationality. I propose to be the champion of the world, not the white, or the Canadian, or the American. If I am not the best man in the heavyweight division, I don't want the title."

17 June 1881

Born on the same birth day (17 June): Alex (footballer, born June 1982) • Chuck Rainey • Clodovil Hernandes • David "Stringbean" Akeman • Giovanni Paolo Panini • Gregory Blaxland • Henry Lawson • Jason Patric • Johann Georg Walch • Maurice Stokes • Patrice Tardif (politician) • Pierre Berbizier • Sam Hamad • Stephanie Rice • Stéphane Fiset • Tommy Franks • William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse • Young Maylay

Born in the same month (June 1881): Curt Sachs • George Shiels • Harry Frazee • Maggie Gripenberg • Maginel Wright Enright • Mikhail Larionov • Mordecai Kaplan • Old Style and New Style dates • Spiros Xenos • Ya'akov Cahan • Zoltán Halmay