May 23, 1922 – Boxer Gene Tunney suffered his only professional defeat in a 15-round unanimous decision against opponent Harry Greb. The fight which took place at Madison Square Garden in New York City may have been a catalyst for Tunney that propelled and motivated him to end up being the World Heavyweight Champion later in his career.
How about more boxing history from the Garden?
May 23, 1941- Joe Louis was a beast in the ring! In his 20th World Heavyweight Boxing title defense, the Brown Bomber knocked out Buddy Baer in the first round of their highly publicized match at New York’s Madison Square Garden.
This boxing double take is in memory of our fallen SHN brother, Frank Reading, host of the Ringside with Reading podcast.
To find more great daily sports history make sure to check out the Sports Jersey Dispatch and Pigskin Dispatch.
More From Sports History Network

The Nesser Brothers: Pro Football’s Forgotten Pioneers
Back in the prehistoric days of professional football, a family of rugged, tough as

How Pickleball Grew From Backyard Game to Global Phenomenon
Imagine you’re a kid tagging along with your parents, they just finished a game

How the Super Bowl Became America’s Biggest Betting Event
The Super Bowl began as a relatively niche event. It didn’t attract the enormous

A Brief History of Predicting Sports Outcomes
Pick any bar during a big game and you’ll hear the same sound: confidence.

How Tragic Stadium Accidents Led to Nationwide Safety Protocols
Have you ever paused during a thrilling game to consider the unseen safeguards keeping

How New England’s History Is Influencing Patriots Super Bowl Odds in 2026
Sportsbooks don’t price New England like a typical market. They price the Patriots with

Laws, Lines, and Leaps: The Evolution of Sports Gambling Culture
It’s been a wild ride for sports gambling, from back-alley bets to billion-dollar industries,

Super Bowl LX: A History-Making Super Bowl?
Once the Super Bowl game is done and dusted, there will be plenty of