Inspiring Story of Boxing Legend Billy Miske
In the early 1920s, Billy Miske, from Minnesota, had established himself as a top contender in the heavyweight division. He'd won 17 fights in a row in just 18 months. But by this time in his life and career he'd already been diagnosed with a terminal kidney ailment known as Bright's Disease. His doctors had originally given him five years to live. He only had two years left.
With his health drastically declining, "The St. Paul Thunderbolt" wanted to leave his wife and three children with a Christmas to remember. Although he was too sick to even train, Miske entered the ring for the final time on November 7th, 1923 and knocked out Bill Brennan in the fourth round. He finished his career with a record of 45-3-3.
He accomplished his goal with the purse from the Brennan fight and gave his family one more memorable Christmas.
He passed away shortly after Christmas on January 1, 1924 at the age of 29.