The Fightin’ Kentuckian, Marvin Hart
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
He fought as a professional from 1899 to 1910. This article puts the spotlight on one of the most obscure world heavyweight champions, The Fightin’ Kentuckian, Marvin Hart. Born is Fern Creek, Kentucky, where he lived his entire life, Hart compiled a professional record in the ring of 28 wins, seven losses, and four draws, with a respectable 20 knockouts in the fiercely competitive heavyweight division. He also recorded 47 newspaper bouts, winning four, losing three, and drawing one for those which had an official outcome.
Hart was a heavyweight in the right place at the right time, available when James Jeffries retired, and the lineal world heavyweight title became vacant. Hart not only had a 20 round decision win over the legendary Jack Johnson (before Johnson became champion), but he had a six round decision win over Joe Choynski who knocked Johnson out.
Scheduled as a finish fight (the winner has to win by knockout), Hart knocked out Jack Root in the 12th round to win the vacant world heavyweight title, with James Jeffries as the referee, at The Amphitheater in Reno, Nevada, on July 3, 1905. After getting stopped by Car Morris in three rounds, Hart retired at age 34 in December 1910.
Hart won only five of his last twelve pro bouts. Hart lost to Mike Schreck three times, and was decisioned in a rematch over six rounds by John Willie-a fighter with a losing record.
Tommy Burns decisioned Root over 20 rounds to win the title from him at Pacific Athletic Club, in Los Angeles, California, on February 23, 1906. Hart had held the title for only seven months and 20 days. In later years, Hart operated a Tavern in Louisville, Kentucky, and also worked as a boxing referee. He died of an enlarged liver and high blood pressure at his home in 1931 at age 55. One of only 15 established boxers to come out of Kentucky, and one of four heavyweight champions to come out of Kentucky. The others were Muhammad Ali (Cassius Clay), the late Jimmy Ellis, and the late Greg Page.