The distance (boxing) 19, 1987. While the International Boxing Federation, which had recently broken away from the WBA, continued to hold onto the position there was no documented medical evidence to show a 15-round fight is more dangerous than a 12-round fight, they eventually voted to shorten their championship distance to 12 rounds as well on June 3, 1988. The last heavyweight 15-rounder title fight was on October 16, 1987 between Mike Tyson and Tyrell Biggs. The last middleweight 15-rounder title fight was a World Boxing Board title match on June 7, 1997 in which Jose Alfredo Flores won a split decision over
Jim Coffey Heavyweight World Champion Jess Willard. Unfortunately for Coffey, Moran won both contests. Following his losses to Moran, Coffey continued to box, taking on other famous names from the time, including Carl Morris, Battling Levinsky, Joe Jeanette and Harry Greb. However, he never again came close to challenging for the world title. Jim Coffey's last professional fight was a 15th round defeat to Martin Burke in the Tulane Arena, New Orleans, on November 18, 1921. Jim Coffey returned to Ireland for good in 1923 and married schoolteacher Kate Kenny in December of that year. Following his retirement from boxing, Jim took