Born September 10, 1876 in Sydney, Australia. Armed with an entrepreneurial spirit from a young age, during his colorful life McIntosh worked as a silversmith apprentice, silver ore picker, medical student, rural laborer, pie salesman at sporting venues, racing cyclist, newspaper publisher, Member of Parliament and boxing promoter.
With the gift of gab and not one to think small – hence the nickname “Huge Deal” – McIntosh ventured to bring big-time boxing to Australia. He signed heavyweight champion Tommy Burns to defend his title twice against Australians Billy Squires and Bill Lang. Burns stopped Squires (KO 13) in Sydney and Lang eight days later (KO 6) in Melbourne. McIntosh next staged Burns vs. Jack Johnson at Sydney in a specially built stadium at Rushcutter’s Bay on Boxing Day, December 26, 1908. With McIntosh also serving as referee, Johnson became the first African American heavyweight champion of the world by stopping Burns (TKO 14) in front of 20,000 fans. McIntosh also arranged to film the bout and toured Britain and America for viewings of this historic clash.
In 1912 he sold his stadium and other interests in boxing to prominent manager Snowy Baker to pursue theatrical business. McIntosh died on February 2, 1942.
Born: Sept.10, 1876
Died: Feb. 2, 1942
Induction: 2012
Hugh D. McIntosh
 | ||||||
