Arthur Pelkey

Who is Arthur Pelkey?

Arthur Pelkey was a Canadian boxer who fought from 1910 to 1920. Born Andrew Arthur Pelletier in Chatham, Ontario, the 6′ 1½″ Pelkey fought in the heavyweight division at a weight of between 206 and 210 lbs. He was one of the "White Hopes" of the time that African American Jack Johnson was the world heavyweight champion.

The height of his pro career and its nadir happened simultaneously when on 24 May 1913, he met Luther McCarty at Tommy Burns's Arena in Calgary, Alberta for McCarty's World White Heavyweight title. Burns had been the world heavyweight champ who had lost his title to Jack Johnson, and the title had been created to crown a white heavyweight champ in light of the failures of successive White Hopes to wrest the title from Johnson.

Approximately two minutes into the first round of the scheduled 10-round bout, the 210 lbs. Pekley K.O.-ed the 200 lbs. McCarty. Eight minutes later, McCarty was pronounced dead. Pelkey reportedly broke down and wept when told of McCarty's death. Tommy Burns's Arena burned down the following day, likely as a result of arson.

A coroner's jury ruled that McCarty had died of a cerebral hemorrhage. The ruling held that he had not been killed by a blow delivered by Pelkey but that the hemorrhage likely was the result of a previous injury. Pelkey later claimed that his legal expenses linked to McCarty's death bankrupted him.