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): Adolphus Frederick VI • Dara O'Kearney • Derek Ibbotson • Estelle Morris • François de Montmorency, 2nd Duke of Montmorency • Giovanni Paolo Panini • Jacob H. Gilbert • John Baldessari • Joseph of Cupertino • Ken Clark (running back) • Ken Livingstone • Koichi Yamadera • Mati Laur • Mike Milbury • Peter Rosei • Pierre Berbizier • Red Foley • Snakefinger

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