Monster Boxing Carnival: Knights of Columbus entertains returning World War I soldiers at Madison Square Garden
July 15, 2025
On September 12, 1919, the Knights of Columbus hosted a “monster boxing carnival” at Madison Square Garden in New York City. It consisted of 16 boxing matches and two wrestling matches featuring several boxing and wrestling world champions. The carnival was given to entertain World War I soldiers mainly at Camp Mills, in Long Island, New York, and at Camp Merritt, in New Jersey, which were demobilization centers after World War I.
The carnival honored the “First Division Heroes” referring to the 1st Infantry Division which was first deployed to fight in World War I. The First Division is the oldest continuously serving division in the United States Army. During WWI, they suffered almost 5,000 killed in action, over 17,000 wounded in action, and over 1,000 missing or died of wounds.
The Knights of Columbus were deeply involved in serving U. S. soldiers during World War I. They were able to quickly mobilize and coordinate with the U. S. Army due to their earlier work with the Army during the Mexican Expedition in 1916. The Knights of Columbus erected over fifty recreation centers at various camps within the United States and had over 1,000 staff and nearly 150 clubs and huts overseas in the war zones. These centers were purely recreational and were open to all though they were staffed with Catholic chaplains to tend especially to Catholic soldiers. The Knights of Columbus staged many shows, including boxing matches, for soldiers at their centers.
After the war’s end, the Knights of Columbus continued to serve returning troops with recreational activities and educational opportunities. This monster boxing carnival continued in that vein, but was offered specifically to the soldiers of the “Fighting First Division.” Members of the First Division from officers to privates attended, although commander of U.S. forces General John J. Pershing was unable to go. The New York Times recorded that “the General saw many of the boxing entertainments staged by the Knights abroad and he said he was sorry to miss the big show.”
Many of the featured boxers fought at Knights of Columbus matches during the war and were involved with the war effort in other ways. Mike O’Dowd, middleweight world champion from 1917-1920, was the only active boxing champion to fight at the front during World War I and Johnny Kilbane, featherweight world champion from 1912-1923, became a lieutenant in the U.S. Army and trained U. S. soldiers in self-defense during World War I.
This advertisement speaks to the massive mobilization of the United States, its organizations, and its people after its late entry into World War I. Fraternal organizations played their part to serve, protect, and entertain American soldiers at home and abroad. The Knights of Columbus, aided by a strong national leadership structure, quickly organized and provided relief to soldiers on the war front. Even after the war concluded, the Knights of Columbus continued to provide service and opportunities to returning soldiers.
References
Kauffman, Christopher J., Faith & Fraternalism: The History of the Knights of Columbus, 1882-1982, Harper & Row, Publishers (New York), 1982.
“Titleholders Box Tonight,” New York Times, September 12, 1919. Newspapers.com
Photo caption
Monster boxing carnival advertisement, 1919 September 21, Museum purchase, A2025-026-001.