Oliver Kirk is the only boxer to win two gold medals in separate weight classes at the same Olympics, a feat he accomplished at the 1904 St. Louis Olympics and that will surely never again be equaled. Kirk first won the bantamweight division, knocking out George Finnegan, the only other competitor. He was not entered in the featherweight class, but after only two boxers entered, the crowd wanted to see Kirk fight the winner, Frank Haller. Kirk, from the Business Men’s Gym in St. Louis, did so and won by decision, and was awarded the gold medal.
After the Olympics Kirk turned professional in 1906 and won his first three bouts, including a defeat of Abe Attell in 1912, longtime featherweight world champion, in a non-title fight – Kirk’s record from 1906-12 is blank in most boxing sources. But Kirk lost a re-match to Attell in 1913 and only won more pro fight in his career through 1915, finishing with a record of 4 wins (2 by KO), 8 losses and 1 draw.
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