Around 1900 the most famous resident of the Saugeen area was Tommy Burns born in 1882 as Noah Brusso in Chesley or some say Hanover.  He was an accomplished Lacrosse player in both Canada and the United States and was described as very quick.  He became heavyweight champion of the world.  No, not George Chuvalo, Tommy Burns, the Saugeen Strong Man

He was not a big man being only 5 foot 7 and weighing 175 lbs or less in his best condition.   He had powerful and broad shoulders increasing his reach to be equal to men six inches taller than he was.  Being short, he got even shorter in the ring crouching low to avoid punches by his always taller opponents. 

His first recorded fights were around Detroit, Mount Clemens and Sault Saint Marie Michigan, but he probably fought a lot in the Saugeen area before that.  Old timers have said that there were many unrecorded 'barn fight's both here and in the Michigan with no holds barred.

Today he would be classed as a middleweight and would probably train down to 160 lbs.  Then he took on all comers at all weights, even 250 pounders.  He defended his heavyweight crown no fewer than 11 times which was remarkable for the time when big fights came only once in a year or two although contenders fought often.

I've talked to old time Saugeeners and some of them have vague memories of their fathers or grandfathers speaking with pride of the Saugeen Strong Man.  He is almost forgotten now.  The recent documentary by Ken Burns called "Unforgiveable Blackness" the Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson"  brings Tommy out clearly, but not in his best form. 

(next column)

Johnson challenged Burns repeatedly showing up at many of his championship fights and finally caught up with him in Sidney, New  South Wales in Australia where Johnson defeated Burns in 14 rounds when the Police intervened as per a prior agreement to not to let the little man be humiliated.

Burns was being soundly pummeled by the clever Johnson in every round.  Johnson talked and grinned at the crowd.  It was very hot and Burns wasted a lot of energy trying to free himself for a go at the great black boxer..  You can in fact view that fight on the Internet.  You'll see evidence of the heat and get an idea of Tommy's size.

It shows Johnson smiling  at  Burns with his gold teeth glittering in that classic smile.  He just plain  wore Tommy out over 14 rounds.  Burns looks like a child next to the tall and well  muscled Johnson.  If you look closely, though, Burns is built like a brick and you can see why so many huge men fell flat before his fists.

Burns is highly under-rated as a champion.  He fought all over the world... England, Ireland, France and even Alaska where he took on the Champion of the North and gave him a whipping before the northern 250 pound giant kicked him in the stomach out of frustration.  The whole thing was set up by Tex Rickard the legendary promoter. Rickard promoted Jack Dempsey bouts and founded the NY Rangers Hockey Team.

Tommy also should be credited with the light heavyweight championship of the world as he defeated Jack O'Brian in a heavyweight championship bout when both were under the 175 pound limit and O'Brian was the light heavyweight champion.

The Saugeen Strongman became rich before the 1929 crash wiped him out with many others. He was a 'canny' man with his prize fight money and negotiated well for himself.  He had to revert to security guard jobs -- sad story. 

Burns was ordained as a minister in 1948. He was an evangelist living in Coalinga, California at the time of his death. He died while visiting a church friend in Vancouver, British Columbia, suffering a heart attack at age 73. Only four people attended his burial at Ocean View Cemetery in Burnaby, British Columbia. He was interred in an unmarked pauper's grave until 1961 when, as the result of fundraising efforts begun by a Vancouver sports writer, a memorial plaque was finally placed on his grave.

It appears that both Chesley and Hanover claim him as their own.  Hanover seems to have remembered.  Maybe another plaque somewhere quiet along the Saugeen might be nice.  There is a nice park near the bridge in Chesley.