Harvey "Hooks" Evans

Harvey "Hooks" Evans fought at the 145 pound weight class of welterweight. He started as an amateur in the lightweight division. He fought as an amateur in Pittsburgh. He fought in the Mid-Atlantic Championship Tournament at Old City Hall in Pittsburgh. This tournament took place in 1910. Harvey beat Joseph Fabrick in the semi-finals and then Alvin Kelly in the finals. He later won the 145 pound division in 1912.

Hooks Evans originally came from Beltzhoover, a southside neighborhood of Pittsburgh.

 

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Here is a newspaper article from AFTER one of the the Mickey Rodgers vs. Hooks Evans fights. From the Pittsburgh Press. September 13, 1912.

EVANS AND RODGERS IN SAVAGE BATTLE

By Jim Jab

Southside feudists had a howling time last night when Mickey Rodgers and Hooks Evans, native sons, mugged, mauled, mashed and did everything except bite each other in a six-round joust. For downright excitement the mess beat anything yet presented for the fall season. The lads went at each other like wild beasts and put so much strenuous life in the first two rounds that bets were offered against both not going the distance. There came a lull soon, however, for tired nature asserted herself. It was a savage spree, Evans out-topped Rodgers by over a baker's dozen pounds. This weight was a factor.

To be fair, it must be said that Hooksey held on too much in the fourth, fifth and sixth frames. Rodgers tried to tear away from him and often rattled his fists against Evans' paunch. Mebbe he did go low several times, but for that if the referee if the referee had taken notice of foul tactics there wouldn't have been a fight. It was a biff, bingo, bout, allright. Rodgers dropped Hooks with a crashing right on the jaw right after first bell, but the Beltzhoover mixer got up and went forward to his knitting, finishing the stanza by getting Mickey on Uneasy ave. The second round was a soaker also, likewise the third. In the latter Hooks was so tired at bell that his corner seemed a mile away. Rodgers had a shade of the mussing if a ruling was necessary. Both men had claret-colored beaks and will bear souvenirs of slamdom for a few days.

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The following is from the October 28, 1913 issue of the Pittsburgh Post: HOOKS EVANS SHADES PARKS IN RATTLING BOUT ON SOUTHSIDE - In a battle fast and furious that left little to be desired, Hooks Evans of the South Hills shaded Ray Parks, the husky Northside boxer, in the opening show of the Southside Club at the Southside Market House last night. It was one of the best bouts staged in this city for some time, full of action from start to finish, and the margin Hooks had over his opponent at the end wasn't so great, at that.

The Northsider was coming strong at the finish, and had quite an edge in the final round, but he started his rally too late, and lost because Hooks piled up such a lead in the three opening rounds that Ray could not cut it down. This bout was the climax of a card that was good, and gradually worked up to it as a fitting climax; the fans, all partisans of one fighter or the other, were on their feet most of the time, and the police found it impossible to keep them quiet.

Hooks sailed right into the Northsider at the first bell and mussed him up with that super-active left of his. Parks seemed slow in learning how to avoid it, and Hooks worked him into positions where a right cross would fit in nicely. But the younger fighter refused to be discouraged, and such a hot pace was cut out at the start that Hooks had to slow up before the battle was over. Parks was the stronger at the finish, but he had not evened up.

Hooks had the first by a large margin, getting his left busy, and Parks rally started 15 or 20 seconds before the bell still left him behind. Hooks continued his aggresive tactics in the second round, fighting his opponent to the ropes several times. He started the blood from Parks' mouth and nose and kept it running through the rest of the battle.

Adding to his lead in the third round, Hooks kept on sailing in, although not quite so aggressive as in the two opening sessions. He picked his openings with care and landed some that worried the fellow from Allegheny.

Parks began to get on his feet in the fourth round as Hooks momentarily slowed up for the rest and recuperation. He was not so wild as he was earlier in the bout, and shot some to the stomach that hurt the Hilltopper. It was about even.

The fifth round was the first one in which Parks had a margin, and it was not large. Parks began to use more judgement and avoided Hooks rushes long enough to plant in some jolts. He used an uppercut now and then that had force behind it, but Hooks was not altogether on the recieving end and landed some of his own.

Parks had quite a margin in the last round, but still he didn't even up. Hooks was able to take care of himself at all times, and besides landing a few hot ones on his own account, blocked many of the storm of blows Parks aimed at him. They wanted to keep on fighting at the bell..

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The following is from the November 1, 1914 issue of the Pittsburgh Post: "Hooks evans, the southside boxer, is ready to jump into the ring game again, and is getting into condition for the busiest glove campaign of his career. Evans returned home recently after a season in baseball. He was catcher and outfielder for the strong independent team at Reynoldsville, Pa., and did such good work there that he may be appointed manager of the team for 1915. But for the present Hooks is going to give his entire attention to the boxing game. He will make his first appearance at the Southside market house a week from tomorrow night, the Southern Club having signed him for the main bout of a show to be held on that date. The Southern Club is now scouting around for a suitable opponent for Evans, and has it's eye on a classy local miller who probably will be signed up in day or two."

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The following is from the November 18, 1914 issue of the Pittsburgh Post BEFORE Hooks Evans fought Swats Adamson: BETWEEN OLD RIVALS - "..........as Adamson and Evans are old rivals, and as both come from south of the Monongahela, the rivalry is a bitter one. They will do their best as a victory at this stage of the game would fit in right for either one of them. The fans can look for plenty of action in the Rowe building at the corner of Highland and Penn avenues, East liberty, this evening."

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The following is from the November 27, 1914 issue of the Pittsburgh Post after Hooks Evans fought Red Robinson. "Before a small crowd in the Adelphia Theatre this afternoon Hooks Evans and Red Robinson, both Pittsburgh boys, fought six rounds to a draw. Outside of the third round, honors were even; in that session Hooks managed to lay on Red with a terrific left, closing one of Red's eyes. The fight was one of the best ever seen here, both fighters going to it in whirlwind style from start to finish."

 

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RING RECORD : (unknown)

 selected bouts

AMATEUR RECORD
1912
Feb 10	1912	Joseph Fabrick		Pitts.		Win (Tri-State Boxing Tournament)
Feb 10	1912	Alvin  Kelly		Pitts.		Win (Tri-State Boxing Tournament) Evans gave his opponent a sever beating
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PROFESSIONAL RECORD

1912
Mar 28	1912	Walter Monoghan		Pitts.		KO'd by 3 (loss)
Apr 18	1912	Swats Adamson		Pitts.		ND 6 (loss)
Aug	??	1912	Red Robinson		Pitts.		L 6
Sep 12	1912	Mickey Rodgers		Pitts.		ND 6 (loss)
Sep 21	1912	Battling Terry		Pitts.		ND 6 (some say a draw, some say Terry won by a shade.)
Dec 17	1912	Red Robinson		Pitts.		Draw 6
Dec 23	1912	Battling Terry		Pitts.		W 6 ("Evans was the aggresor throughout and though Terry fought back gamely he was unable to cope with the heavy smashes handed out by the Beltzhoover welterweight.)

1913
Jan ??	1913	Mickey Rodgers		Pitts.		W 6   (the exact date is unknown. It may have taken place as early as December 1912)
unknown	1913	George  Lewis		Pitts.		L 6   (possibly a draw)
Jun 16	1913	Battling Terry		Ohio		L 6
Oct 11	1913	Harry   Greb		Pitts.		ND 6  (win)
Oct 27	1913	Ray    Parks		Pitts.		ND 6 (win)
Dec 13	1913	Mickey Rodgers		Pitts.		L 6  (they fought previously "almost a year ago". Hooks Evans won the previous fight)

1914
Nov 18	1914	Swats Adamson		Pitts.		ND 6  (result is unknown)
Nov 26	1914	Red Robinson		Pitts.		Draw 6




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