Lightweight · Denmark
Battling Nelson 69-34-27, 5 NC 40 KO · 1896–1941
Photo: Library of Congress http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/I?ils:18:./temp/~pp_8Ek…, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Battling Nelson was a lightweight boxer from Denmark, born Jun 5, 1882. Record 69-34-27, 5 NC with 40 knockouts over 1896–1941. Battling Nelson last fought Panama Al Brown on Jul 26, 1941 and lost by KO in round 4 of 10.
Also: اسکار بتلینگ · باتلينج نيلسون · バトリング・ネルソン +8 more Bat Nelson · Battling · Battling nelson · Oscar Mathæus Nielsen · Oscar Mattheus Nelson · Oscar Mattheus Nielsen · Oscar Matthew Nelson · Oscar ‘Battling’ Nelson
Born Jun 5, 1882
Died Feb 7, 1954
Country 🇩🇰 Denmark
Stance Orthodox
Height 165 cm
Nickname The Durable Dane
Debut Sep 3, 1896
Career 1896–1941
Rounds boxed 978
KO share 58%
Born in Copenhagen, Denmark
Titles World lightweight title 1910
Confirmed bouts 19 of 135
Career record Record
69-34-27, 5 NC, 40 KOs · 1896–1941
Last result L
KO 4/10 · Gimnasio Nacional, Panama City, 🇵🇦
The record 135 bouts, 1896–1941, newest first. Records under each bout are both boxers going in. Wikidata: 59-19-19
L
KO 4/10 · Gimnasio Nacional, Panama City, 🇵🇦
Nelson 69-33-27 · Brown 128-20-11
L
World lightweight title at stake 12 · Coliseum, Saint Louis, 🇺🇸
Nelson 69-32-27 · Welsh 116-24-16
W
Pierce Matthews
TKO 8/12 · Saint Louis, Missouri, 🇺🇸
Nelson 68-32-27 · Matthews —
L
PTS 10/10 · 20th Century A.C., Kansas City, 🇺🇸
Nelson 68-31-27 · Reagan 19-14-13
L
Bobby Waugh
PTS 20/20 · Plaza de Toros, Ciudad Juarez, 🇲🇽
Nelson 68-30-27 · Waugh —
W
Dale Gardner
KO 2 · Havana, 🇨🇺
Nelson 67-30-27 · Gardner —
W
Jimmy Fryer
PTS 25/25 · Havana, 🇨🇺
Nelson 66-30-27 · Fryer —
W
Stewart Donnelly
KO 3 · Havana, 🇨🇺
Nelson 65-30-27 · Donnelly —
L
10 · Southside A.A., Milwaukee, 🇺🇸
Nelson 65-29-27 · Wolgast 67-11-14
W
Cliff Ford
PTS 6/6 · Soo Opera House, Sault Sainte Marie, 🇺🇸
Nelson 64-29-27 · Ford —
L
6/10 · National A.C., Philadelphia, 🇺🇸
Nelson 64-28-27 · Bradley —
L
Gilbert Gallant
PTS 12/12 · Arena (Armory A.A.), Boston, 🇺🇸
Nelson 64-27-27 · Gallant —
D
Bay Wood
PTS 12/12 · Elm Rink, New Bedford, 🇺🇸
Nelson 64-27-26 · Wood —
W
Mike Malone
10 · Pueblo, Colorado, 🇺🇸
Nelson 63-27-26 · Malone —
L
Frank Ray Whitney
10 · Armory Auditorium, Atlanta, 🇺🇸
Nelson 63-26-26 · Whitney —
D
Bay Wood
PTS 12/12 · Bristol Arena, New Bedford, 🇺🇸
Nelson 63-26-25 · Wood —
W
Joe Burke
10 · Orpheum Theatre, Easton, 🇺🇸
Nelson 62-26-25 · Burke —
W
Harry Dillon
TKO 10/10 · Tamaqua, Pennsylvania, 🇺🇸
Nelson 61-26-25 · Dillon —
W
Jack Sorenson
10 · Lakeside Auditorium, Racine, 🇺🇸
Nelson 60-26-25 · Sorenson —
L
Frankie Russell
PTS 10/10 · Greenwall Theater, New Orleans, 🇺🇸
Nelson 60-25-25 · Russell —
Show all 135 bouts L
Yankee Schwartz
8 · Columbus, Ohio, 🇺🇸
Nelson 60-24-25 · Schwartz —
D
Jim Bonner
PTS 10/10 · Walker's Hall, Tamaqua, 🇺🇸
Nelson 60-24-24 · Bonner —
D
Teddy Maloney
6 · Olympia A.C., Philadelphia, 🇺🇸
Nelson 60-24-23 · Maloney —
L
Leach Cross
10 · 44th Street A.C., New Amsterdam Opera House, 🇺🇸
Nelson 60-23-23 · Cross —
W
Art Stewart
10 · Hammond, Indiana, 🇺🇸
Nelson 59-23-23 · Stewart —
D
Steve Ketchel
PTS 15/15 · Saint Joseph, Missouri, 🇺🇸
Nelson 59-23-22 · Ketchel —
L
Mickey MacIntyre
12 · Winnipeg, Manitoba, 🇨🇦
Nelson 59-22-22 · MacIntyre —
W
Andy Bezenah
12 · Auditorium Rink, Winnipeg, 🇨🇦
Nelson 58-22-22 · Bezenah —
D
Sammy Trott
PTS 15/15 · Dayton, Ohio, 🇺🇸
Nelson 58-22-21 · Trott —
D
Young Togo
PTS 6/6 · Athletic Club, Fort Smith, 🇺🇸
Nelson 58-22-20 · Togo —
L
Tommy O'Rourke
10 · Springfield, Missouri, 🇺🇸
Nelson 58-21-20 · O'Rourke —
W
Jack Redmond
PTS 20/20 · West Side A.C., Gretna, 🇺🇸
Nelson 57-21-20 · Redmond —
L
One Round Hogan
10 · Madison A.C., New York City, 🇺🇸
Nelson 57-20-20 · Hogan —
W
Willie Howard
10 · Irving A.C., Brooklyn, 🇺🇸
Nelson 56-20-20 · Howard —
W
Bobby Wilson
10 · Oneida County A.C., Utica, 🇺🇸
Nelson 55-20-20 · Wilson —
D
Andy Bezenah
10 · Jeffersonville, Indiana, 🇺🇸
Nelson 55-20-19 · Bezenah —
W
Joseph Spero
KO 6/20 · Agnes Street Theatre, Toronto, 🇨🇦
Nelson 54-20-19 · Spero —
D
10 · Convention Hall, Buffalo, 🇺🇸
Nelson 54-20-18 · Ponthieu —
W
Tommy Moore
TKO 9/10 · Convention Hall, Buffalo, 🇺🇸
Nelson 53-20-18 · Moore —
D
Frank Loughrey
10 · Grogan A.C., Watervliet, 🇺🇸
Nelson 53-20-17 · Loughrey —
W
Monte Dale
PTS 15/15 · Mechanics Hall, Manchester, 🇺🇸
Nelson 52-20-17 · Dale —
L
George Alger
6 · Augusta, Maine, 🇺🇸
Nelson 52-19-17 · Alger —
L
Philadelphia Pal Moore
PTS 12/12 · Armory A.A., Boston, 🇺🇸
Nelson 52-18-17 · Moore —
W
Willie Beecher
10 · Madison Square Garden, New York City, 🇺🇸
Nelson 51-18-17 · Beecher —
L
Milburn Saylor
PTS 12/12 · Armory A.A., Boston, 🇺🇸
Nelson 51-17-17 · Saylor —
W
Billy Nixon
TKO 10/12 · Armory A.A., Boston, 🇺🇸
Nelson 50-17-17 · Nixon —
W
Tommy Gaffney
TKO 5/10 · Opera House, Medford, 🇺🇸
Nelson 49-17-17 · Gaffney —
D
Percy Cove
PTS 6/6 · Fairgrounds, Bellingham, 🇺🇸
Nelson 49-17-16 · Cove —
L
KO 11/20 · Blot's Arena, San Francisco, 🇺🇸
Nelson 49-16-16 · Moran 66-9-7
D
Anton LaGrave
PTS 15/15 · Dreamland Pavilion, San Francisco, 🇺🇸
Nelson 49-16-15 · LaGrave —
W
Monte Dale
TKO 3/10 · Hippodrome, Kansas City, 🇺🇸
Nelson 48-16-15 · Dale —
L
For world lightweight title TKO 40/45 · Arena, Point Richmond, 🇺🇸
Nelson 48-15-15 · Wolgast 56-4-10
W
Eddie Lang
Retained world lightweight title TKO 8/8 · Memphis A.C., Memphis, 🇺🇸
Nelson 47-15-15 · Lang —
L
10 · Naud Junction Pavilion, Los Angeles, 🇺🇸
Nelson 47-14-15 · Wolgast 46-3-9
W
Jack Clifford
TKO 5/15 · Auditorium, Oklahoma City, 🇺🇸
Nelson 46-14-15 · Clifford —
W
Dick Hyland
Retained world lightweight title KO 23/45 · Mission Street Arena, Colma, 🇺🇸
Nelson 45-14-15 · Hyland —
W
Retained world lightweight title KO 21/45 · Mission Street Arena, Colma, 🇺🇸
Nelson 44-14-15 · Gans 159-11-21
W
Won world lightweight title KO 17/45 · Mission Street Arena, Colma, 🇺🇸
Nelson 43-14-15 · Gans 159-10-21
D
PTS 15/15 · Coliseum, San Francisco, 🇺🇸
Nelson 43-14-14 · Attell 61-6-15
D
10 · Naud Junction Pavilion, Los Angeles, 🇺🇸
Nelson 43-14-13 · Britt 12-4-2
L
10 · Naud Junction Pavilion, Los Angeles, 🇺🇸
Nelson 43-13-13 · Unholz —
W
Jack Clifford
KO 5/20 · Opera House, Ogden, 🇺🇸
Nelson 42-13-13 · Clifford —
L
For world 'white' lightweight title PTS 20/20 · Auditorium Rink, Los Angeles, 🇺🇸
Nelson 42-12-13 · Britt 11-3-2
L
For world lightweight title DQ 42 · Casino Amphitheatre, Goldfield, 🇺🇸
Nelson 42-11-13 · Gans 152-10-21
W
6 · National A.C., Philadelphia, 🇺🇸
Nelson 41-11-13 · McGovern 66-4-4
W
Won world 'white' lightweight title KO 18/20 · Mission Street Arena, Colma, 🇺🇸
Nelson 40-11-13 · Britt 11-2-1
W
Jack O'Neil
6 · National A.C., Philadelphia, 🇺🇸
Nelson 39-11-13 · O'Neil —
D
Kid Sullivan
PTS 6/6 · Eureka A.C., Baltimore, 🇺🇸
Nelson 39-11-12 · Sullivan —
L
6 · National A.C., Philadelphia, 🇺🇸
Nelson 39-10-12 · Attell 35-4-10
W
TKO 9/20 · Woodward's Pavilion, San Francisco, 🇺🇸
Nelson 38-10-12 · Corbett II 57-7-11
L
For vacant world 'white' lightweight title PTS 20/20 · Mechanic's Pavilion, San Francisco, 🇺🇸
Nelson 38-9-12 · Britt 8-2-1
W
TKO 10/20 · Woodward's Pavilion, San Francisco, 🇺🇸
Nelson 37-9-12 · Corbett II 57-6-11
W
PTS 20/20 · Montana A.C., Butte, 🇺🇸
Nelson 36-9-12 · Herrera 65-9-8
W
Eddie Hanlon
TKO 19/20 · Woodward's Pavilion, San Francisco, 🇺🇸
Nelson 35-9-12 · Hanlon —
W
Martin Canole
KO 18/20 · Woodward's Pavilion, San Francisco, 🇺🇸
Nelson 34-9-12 · Canole —
W
Joe Spider Welsh
TKO 16/20 · Salt Palace, Salt Lake City, 🇺🇸
Nelson 33-9-12 · Welsh —
W
Jack O'Neil
PTS 6/6 · Badger A.C., Milwaukee, 🇺🇸
Nelson 32-9-12 · O'Neil —
W
Art Simms
KO 3/6 · Milwaukee A.C., Milwaukee, 🇺🇸
Nelson 31-9-12 · Simms —
W
Clarence English
PTS 15/15 · Saint Joseph, Missouri, 🇺🇸
Nelson 30-9-12 · English —
W
George Memsic
PTS 6/6 · Badger A.C., Milwaukee, 🇺🇸
Nelson 29-9-12 · Memsic —
L
Charles Neary
PTS 6/6 · Badger A.C., Milwaukee, 🇺🇸
Nelson 29-8-12 · Neary —
NC
Daredevil Tildon
NC 2 · Chicago, Illinois, 🇺🇸
Nelson 29-8-12 · Tildon —
L
Eddie Sterns
KO 9 · Michigan City, Indiana, 🇺🇸
Nelson 29-7-12 · Sterns —
D
Mickey Riley
PTS 15/15 · Hurley, Wisconsin, 🇺🇸
Nelson 29-7-11 · Riley —
NC
Mickey Riley
NC 11 · Ashland, Wisconsin, 🇺🇸
Nelson 29-7-11 · Riley —
D
Clarence English
PTS 15/15 · Kansas City, Missouri, 🇺🇸
Nelson 29-7-10 · English —
W
Larry McDonald
KO 4 · Harvey, Illinois, 🇺🇸
Nelson 28-7-10 · McDonald —
D
Mickey Riley
PTS 6/6 · Panorama Building, Milwaukee, 🇺🇸
Nelson 28-7-9 · Riley —
W
Young Scotty
PTS 8/8 · Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, 🇺🇸
Nelson 27-7-9 · Scotty —
W
Stockings Kelly
KO 4 · Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 🇺🇸
Nelson 26-7-9 · Kelly —
W
Cyclone Johnny Thompson
PTS 6/6 · Milwaukee A.C., Milwaukee, 🇺🇸
Nelson 25-7-9 · Thompson —
D
Adam Ryan
PTS 15/15 · Capital Theater, Little Rock, 🇺🇸
Nelson 25-7-8 · Ryan —
W
Sammy Maxwell
KO 10 · Hot Springs, Arkansas, 🇺🇸
Nelson 24-7-8 · Maxwell —
W
Christy Williams
KO 17 · Hot Springs, Arkansas, 🇺🇸
Nelson 23-7-8 · Williams —
W
Billy Mayfield
PTS 10/10 · Hot Springs, Arkansas, 🇺🇸
Nelson 22-7-8 · Mayfield —
D
Battling Hurley
PTS 6/6 · Hammond, Indiana, 🇺🇸
Nelson 22-7-7 · Hurley —
W
Pudden Burns
PTS 6/6 · Hegewisch, Illinois, 🇺🇸
Nelson 21-7-7 · Burns —
D
Danny McMahon
PTS 6/6 · West Pullman, Illinois, 🇺🇸
Nelson 21-7-6 · McMahon —
W
William Rossler
KO 1 · Harvey, Illinois, 🇺🇸
Nelson 20-7-6 · Rossler —
W
Cyclone Johnny Thompson
PTS 6/6 · Wabash A.C., Chicago, 🇺🇸
Nelson 19-7-6 · Thompson —
W
Kid Ryan
KO 5 · American A.C., Chicago, 🇺🇸
Nelson 18-7-6 · Ryan —
W
Joe Percente
PTS 8/8 · Oshkosh, Wisconsin, 🇺🇸
Nelson 17-7-6 · Percente —
L
Charles Berry
PTS 8/8 · Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, 🇺🇸
Nelson 17-6-6 · Berry —
W
Frank Colifer
KO 5 · West Pullman, Illinois, 🇺🇸
Nelson 16-6-6 · Colifer —
L
Charles Berry
PTS 6/6 · Badger A.C., Milwaukee, 🇺🇸
Nelson 16-5-6 · Berry —
W
Mike Walsh
KO 6/6 · American A.C., Chicago, 🇺🇸
Nelson 15-5-6 · Walsh —
D
Joe Percente
PTS 6/6 · Milwaukee Boxing Club, Milwaukee, 🇺🇸
Nelson 15-5-5 · Percente —
L
PTS 6/6 · Pyramid A.C., Chicago, 🇺🇸
Nelson 15-4-5 · Santry —
L
Joe Percente
PTS 6/6 · Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 🇺🇸
Nelson 15-3-5 · Percente —
NC
Billy Heck
4 · West Pullman, Wisconsin, 🇺🇸
Nelson 15-3-5 · Heck —
D
Harry Fails
PTS 10/10 · Rhinelander, Wisconsin, 🇺🇸
Nelson 15-3-4 · Fails —
NC
Harry Fails
6 · Omro, Wisconsin, 🇺🇸
Nelson 15-3-4 · Fails —
D
Charles Berry
PTS 6/6 · Milwaukee Boxing Club, Milwaukee, 🇺🇸
Nelson 15-3-3 · Berry —
L
Mickey Riley
PTS 6/6 · Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 🇺🇸
Nelson 15-2-3 · Riley —
W
Black Griffo
KO 3 · Chicago, Illinois, 🇺🇸
Nelson 14-2-3 · Griffo —
W
Jack Martin
PTS 4/4 · Chicago, Illinois, 🇺🇸
Nelson 13-2-3 · Martin —
W
Joe Percente
DQ 2 · Star Theatre, Chicago, 🇺🇸
Nelson 12-2-3 · Percente —
L
Pete Boyle
DQ 4 · Chicago, Illinois, 🇺🇸
Nelson 12-1-2 · Boyle —
D
Danny McMahon
PTS 4/4 · Chicago, Illinois, 🇺🇸
Nelson 12-1-2 · McMahon —
W
Ed Burley
KO 5 · Chicago, Illinois, 🇺🇸
Nelson 11-1-2 · Burley —
W
Black Griffo
KO 3 · Chicago, Illinois, 🇺🇸
Nelson 10-1-2 · Griffo —
D
Clarence Class
PTS 6/6 · Chicago, Illinois, 🇺🇸
Nelson 10-1-1 · Class —
W
Young Bay
PTS 6/6 · Chicago, Illinois, 🇺🇸
Nelson 9-1-1 · Bay —
W
Young Griffin
PTS 6/6 · Orpheus A.C., Chicago, 🇺🇸
Nelson 8-1-1 · Griffin —
L
Joe Hedmark
PTS 6/6 · Star Theatre, Chicago, 🇺🇸
Nelson 8-0-1 · Hedmark —
W
Charles Dougherty
KO 1 · Star Theatre, Chicago, 🇺🇸
Nelson 7-0-1 · Dougherty —
NC
Feathers Vernon
6 · West Pullman, Illinois, 🇺🇸
Nelson 7-0-1 · Vernon —
W
John Smith
KO 2 · Chicago, Illinois, 🇺🇸
Nelson 6-0-1 · Smith —
W
Bull Winters
KO 1 · Chicago, Illinois, 🇺🇸
Nelson 5-0-1 · Winters —
W
Eddie Penny
KO 1 · Chicago, Illinois, 🇺🇸
Nelson 4-0-1 · Penny —
D
Eddie Herman
PTS 6/6 · Hegewisch, Illinois, 🇺🇸
Nelson 4-0-0 · Herman —
W
Soldier Williams
KO 3 · Sioux Falls, South Dakota, 🇺🇸
Nelson 3-0-0 · Williams —
W
Freddie Green
KO 7 · Sioux Falls, South Dakota, 🇺🇸
Nelson 2-0-0 · Green —
W
Ole Olsen
PTS 3/3 · Hegewisch, Illinois, 🇺🇸
Nelson 1-0-0 · Olsen —
W
Wallace Kid
KO 1 · Hammond, Indiana, 🇺🇸
Nelson 0-0-0 · Kid —
Ratings now Not in any current ranking.
World titles No world title reigns recorded.
Facts
What is Battling Nelson's record? Battling Nelson's professional record is 69-34-27, 5 NC with 40 knockouts.
Who did Battling Nelson fight last? Battling Nelson last fought Panama Al Brown on Jul 26, 1941 and lost by KO in round 4 of 10. Sources Boxerbook ID 18535 · permanent link boxerbook.com/id/18535 . Wikidata (CC0), English Wikipedia (CC BY-SA), photo from Wikimedia Commons. Last fetched: 2026-10-12. Spot a mistake? Every bout page has a link to report it.
