MATTHEWS, MATTY INK SIGNATURE (1900)

Matty Matthews was born on July 13, 1873 in New York City. He fought as a lightweight during the 1890's and early twentieth century. During his career he fought Eddie Connolly and Mysterious Billy Smith among others. On April 17, 1900 in New York he stopped Mysterious Billy Smith in the 19th round to win the World Welterweight Title. After losing it he fought Rube Ferns on October 16, 1900 and won a 15 round decision to regain the title. Offered here is a very rare ink signature of Matty Matthews, signed at the Robert Fitzsimmons training camp at Bath Beach on August 8, 1900.
This bold and dated ink signature is signed on lined paper from this ledger book. There are several other names on the page with Matthes largest and at the center. There is a stain on the page which lightly runs into the signature. Some edge nicks away from the signature. 5 3/4" x 11" and slightly irregular. Matthews is one of the rarest signatures of all champions. This is only the second we have handled in the past 30 years.