1910 T220 Champions Tommy Burns 🥊🏒
On the eve of the start of the 2025-26 NHL season, my mind wanders to crossover athletes who were World Boxing Champions and also hockey players.
Boxing and hockey both prize toughness and hand skills, but it’s rare to find someone who competed seriously in both.
That's where Tommy Burns steps into focus.
Tommy Burns, born in Canada, became the World Heavyweight boxing Champion from 1906 to 1908.
His is the first and only Canadian-born to hold that title. Though small for a heavyweight at just 5'7" and around 175 pounds, he relied on speed, skill, and tenacity to defeat much larger opponents. Burns made history by defending his title around the world.
Before his boxing fame, Burns was a skilled hockey player in Ontario, known for his quick skating and physical toughness, traits that translated directly into his boxing success.