Pat O'Keeffe

One of O'Keeffe's earliest recorded fights was against Jack Palmer.{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000893/19021103/032/0002|title=TRAMPING TO BRIGHTON|date=3 November 1902|work=Sporting Life|access-date=12 January 2018|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}} O'Keeffe defeated him on two occasions over six rounds during 1902.{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001055/19021113/073/0004|title=THE SPORTSMAN THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13,1902|date=13 November 1902|work=The Sportsman|access-date=12 January 2018|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}} In 1903, at the age of twenty, he beat Jack Kingsland in a match fought at the Olympia centre in London to win the title of Welterweight Champion of England.{{Cite web|url=http://boxrec.com/en/event/246553/414684|title=Pat O'Keeffe vs Jack Kingsland|website=BoxRec}}

In 1906, having fought many of the top contenders for the British Middleweight Title, O'Keeffe was elected to contest the championship. He won the title beating Mike Crawley in a fight that lasted fifteen rounds.{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000893/19060320/083/0004|title=15 round contest|date=20 March 1906|work=Sporting Life|access-date=11 February 2018|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}}

One month later, O'Keeffe defended the title against Charlie Allum and knocked him out in the sixth round.{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001055/19060424/073/0004|title=O'Keeffe defeats Allum|date=24 April 1906|work=The Sportsman|access-date=10 January 2018|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}} O'Keeffe lost the belt in his next bout to Tom Thomas at the National Sporting Club (N.S.C.) by a narrow points margin.{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000893/19060529/045/0002|title=closing night of the season|date=29 May 1906|work=Sporting Life|access-date=12 January 2018|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}}

A year later in Paris, O'Keeffe defeated Allum again by knock out and won £200. This bout was billed the French Middleweight Championship.{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000893/19070302/104/0007|title=Boxing Items|date=2 March 1907|work=Sporting Life|access-date=10 January 2018|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}} O'Keeffe never defended the claim.

After losing the British Middleweight Championship title, O'Keeffe travelled the world and fought all over the United States and Australia.

In 1907, he fought World Middleweight Champion Billy Papke and World Welterweight Champion Henry Lewis with just over a month's rest between bouts. The match in Philadelphia with Papke was very hard-fought, ending in a draw.{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000893/19071112/072/0004|title=Ten Rounds Contest|date=12 November 1907|work=Sporting Life|access-date=13 January 2018|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}} He lost his bout with Henry Lewis in Boston, Massachusetts by decision. His next fight was against Willie Lewis originally scheduled for 19 December 1907, but the police placed an injunction on the venue in New York .{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001055/19080104/133/0007|title=Pat O'Keeffe's farewell matches|date=4 January 1908|work=The Sportsman|access-date=11 January 2018|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}} The fight went ahead on 23 December 1907. W.Lewis is said to have entered O'Keeffe's dressing room just before the fight, berating his apparent belly, quipping that he might kill him if he punched him there.{{Cite book|title=Refereeing 1000 Fights – Reminiscences of Boxing|last=Corri|first=Eugene|publisher=Read Books Ltd|year=2013|isbn=978-1447486565|chapter=IX}} O'Keeffe lost by knock out.{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000893/19080109/099/0004|title=Pat O'Keeffe knocked out|date=9 January 1908|work=Sporting Life|access-date=11 February 2018|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}} Despite not winning a bout in the US, O'Keeffe was upbeat and in February 1908, he returned to England. He placed a message in the Sporting Life, declaring "he is here for business", in a wide-ranging article that revealed he contracted malaria in the US. The article claimed that anyone who wanted to challenge the statement need only send money to the Sporting Life, with correspondence addressed to O'Keeffe and it would receive his immediate attention.{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000893/19080203/107/0005?browse=False|title=return of Pat O'Keeffe|date=3 February 1908|work=Sporting Life|access-date=14 January 2018|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}}

Answering O'Keeffe's message in the Sporting Life, fellow Canning Town boxer Steve Smith took on O'Keeffe at the Wonderland Francais, Paris, the match ended in a draw.{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001055/19080401/083/0003|title=Contests in Paris|date=1 April 1908|work=The Sportsman|access-date=14 January 2018|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}} Less than two weeks later at the same venue, he was disqualified for a low blow in the fourth round against Jeff Thorne.{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000893/19080413/114/0006|title=Contests in Paris|date=13 April 1908|work=Sporting Life|access-date=14 January 2018|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}}

File:Signed picture of Pat O'Keeffe in Australia.png|access-date=2 February 2018}}

]]

Later that year, O'Keeffe toured Australia with Tommy Burns, the World Heavyweight Champion. At {{cvt|5|ft|7|in}} Burns is the shortest boxer ever to hold the title{{Cite web|url=http://www.boxingmonthly.com/heavyweight-countdown/ranking-the-heavyweight-champions-no-23-tommy-burns/|title=Ranking the heavyweight champions: No. 23 Tommy Burns|website=Boxing Monthly|access-date=21 January 2018}} which he won in 1906.{{Cite news|url=http://www.rcinet.ca/en/2017/02/23/canada-history-feb-23-1906-a-canadian-becomes-one-of-the-greatest-heavyweight-boxers-ever/|title=Canada history: feb 23, 1906|date=23 February 2017|work=RCI|access-date=11 February 2018}} He also managed to successfully defend it eleven times against all claimants until he met with Jack Johnson on Boxing Day in 1908.

While in Australia, O'Keeffe and Burns trained together and used to invite the public to watch these exhibitions of their skills.{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001499/19080827/212/0010|title=Tommy Burns J World's Champion|date=27 August 1908|work=Cornubian and Redruth Times|access-date=14 January 2018|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}}

O'Keeffe fought a number of contests in Australia, mostly against heavier opponents, winning two, drawing one and losing three.{{Cite web|url=http://boxrec.com/en/boxer/32179|title=Pat O'Keeffe Bout record|website=BoxRec|access-date=14 January 2018}}

He did not fight again in England until 1911, when he fought Eddie McGoorty, losing on points over fifteen rounds.{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001384/19110411/149/0006|title=Boxing: Eddie McGoorty vs Pat O'Keeffe|date=11 April 1911|work=Dublin Daily Express|access-date=21 January 2018|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}} McGoorty went on to become world champion in 1915.{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000687/19150802/187/0008|title=Eddie McGoorty Defeated|date=2 August 1915|work=Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer|access-date=11 February 2018|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}} After this loss O'Keeffe won his next five fights between 1911 and 1913. His next defeat was a points decision against Private Jim Harris{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000321/19130211/054/0008|title=Sporting Paragraphs|date=11 February 1911|work=Nottingham Evening Post|access-date=21 January 2018|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}} which he reversed over twenty rounds two months later,{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000321/19130503/060/0008|title=Sporting Paragraphs|date=3 May 1913|work=Nottingham Evening Post|access-date=21 January 2018|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}} after defeating Frank Mantell twice in seven days.{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000164/19130416/140/0007|title=AMERICAN CHAMPION BOXER MAKES POOR APPEARANCE! IN LONDON, AND IS EASILY BEATEN BY PAT O'KEEFFE.|date=16 April 1913|work=Dundee Courier|access-date=21 January 2018|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}}

On 4 August 1913 he challenged Bombardier Billy Wells for the British Heavyweight Championship. He was a tall heavyweight who was almost three stones heavier than O'Keeffe, but it took fifteen rounds before Wells succeeded in knocking him out.{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000164/19130805/045/0004|title=Another Victory For Wells|date=5 August 1913|work=Dundee Courier|access-date=21 January 2018|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}}

O'Keeffe's next bout was against the young prodigy Georges Carpentier. The match was billed as the Heavyweight Championship of Europe although both men were under the light heavyweight weight limit. He was knocked out in two rounds by the man who, at the time, appeared capable of beating all of Europe's boxers in quick succession.{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000687/19140121/259/0014|title=CARPENTIERS LATEST VICTORY|date=21 January 1914|work=Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer|access-date=9 January 2018|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}} O'Keeffe gave a simple no-nonsense reason for his defeat to the Sheffield Daily Telegraph: "He was too big and strong for me."{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000250/19140124/347/0013|title=O'Keeffe's opinion of Carpentier|date=24 January 1914|work=Sheffield Daily Telegraph|access-date=28 January 2018|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}}

His next fight was against Henry Reeve for the British Middleweight Championship on 2 February 1914. O'Keeffe won on points over twenty rounds.{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000687/19140224/217/0010|title=Pat O'Keeffe defeats Harry Reeve on points|date=24 February 1914|work=Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer|access-date=9 January 2018|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}} Later Reeve moved up to the light heavyweight division and won the British championship in 1916 against Dick Smith.{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000290/19161031/143/0006|title=Boxing Championship|date=31 October 1916|work=Portsmouth Evening News|access-date=9 January 2018|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}}

[[File:Pat O'Keeffe vs Nicol Simpson.png|thumb|O'Keeffe (L) vs Simpson (R)

27 April 1914

|205x205px]]

O'Keeffe successfully defended his middleweight title two months later against Nichol Simpson.{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19140428/173/0016|title=Pat O'Keeffe beats Nicol Simpson on points.|date=28 April 1914|work=Daily Mirror|access-date=11 February 2018|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}} In May of the same year he earned a second notch on his belt by defeating Jim Sullivan{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000276/19140526/128/0006|title=MIDDLE-WEIGHT BELT|date=26 May 1914|work=Sheffield Evening Telegraph|access-date=9 January 2018|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}} who had himself held the belt in 1910 when he beat an old adversary of O'Keeffe's, Tom Thomas. O'Keeffe earned £650 for winning this fight.

A year later in March 1915, he fought and knocked out the heavyweight, Joe Beckett in eight rounds.{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000164/19150305/078/0004|title=victory for Pat O'Keeffe|date=5 March 1915|work=Dundee Courier|access-date=11 February 2018|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}} Following this O'Keeffe had a return fight with Jim Sullivan. Although it was billed as being for the British Middleweight Title, the fight was not endorsed by the N.S.C; therefore, the Lonsdale Belt was not at stake on this occasion. The two met again on 21 February 1916. Jimmy Wilde, the former Flyweight champion, described the fight as the most punishing he had ever seen.{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000250/19160222/241/0010|title=BOXING. VICTORY FOR WELLS O'KEEFFE.|date=22 February 1916|work=Sheffield Daily Telegraph|access-date=8 January 2018|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}} Both men fought as though their lives depended on it. The ring and spectators sitting nearby were splashed with blood by the end of the battle and it can be seen from photographs of the event that Sullivan's white shorts were dark with blood by the end of twenty rounds when O'Keeffe gained the decision.{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000711/19160222/200/0006|title=BOXING CHAMPIONS|date=22 February 1916|work=Lancashire Evening Post|access-date=21 January 2018|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}} Two months later he fought Bandsman Blake and knocked him out in the thirteenth round.{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000250/19150511/153/0008|title=PAT O'KEEFFE WINS|date=11 May 1915|work=Sheffield Daily Telegraph|access-date=21 January 2018|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}} Blake had a fine record at this stage having lost to only one man to date in his five-year professional career, Bombardier Billy Wells.{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000771/19140304/173/0006|title=Wells Interviewed|date=4 March 1914|work=Liverpool Evening Express|access-date=11 February 2018|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}}

[[File:O'keeffe vs Sullivan.jpg|thumb|275x275px|Sullivan (L) vs O'Keeffe (R) – Sullivan's white shorts dark with blood 21 February 1916

]]

Just three months later, on 22 May 1916, O'Keeffe was at the N.S.C to fight Bandsman Blake again. The £500 match went the full 20 rounds. "The contest was not a good one" according to the Sheffield Independent. In the 12th round, the referee gave both fighters a last warning that he would order them out of the ring if they did not alter their methods. The paper reported that blame for this messy fight lay squarely with Blake, citing his constant clinching and holding, which was employed to avoid the infighting quality of O'Keeffe. Blake won the fight on points, a verdict "received by a crowded house with something almost akin to amazement", the Sheffield Independent states.{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001464/19160523/062/0003|title=Hard luck on Pat O'Keeffe|date=23 May 1916|work=Sheffield Independent|access-date=21 January 2018|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}}

Thus, O'Keeffe lost both the Championship and his Lonsdale Belt. Following this fight, both O'Keeffe and Blake were posted to France and the return fight demanded by the fans could not take place until their return.

On 28 January 1918, O'Keeffe fought his last professional fight, defeating Blake to win the Lonsdale Belt outright along with an N.S.C Pension.{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001055/19180129/015/0001|title=Veterans Lonsdale Belt|date=29 January 1918|work=the Sportsman|access-date=1 March 2018|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}}

In an article two days later, the Sportsman reported on the tributes being paid to O'Keeffe at the N.S.C. "No more popular ring victor in recent years has been seen than Sergt Pat O'Keeffe", it begins. Arthur Frederick Bettinson, one of the founding members of the Club remarked on O'Keeffe's exploits, remembering his name on the belt in both 1914 and 1918 and congratulated him as a sportsman and a man. O'Keeffe replied to these tributes modestly, saying that securing the Lonsdale Belt as his own was one of his key ambitions in his career. He would now concentrate on charity and family he said. O'Keeffe retired from professional boxing having made many lifelong friends.{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001055/19180130/058/0003|title=The Lonsdale Belt Presentation to Pat O'Keeffe|date=30 January 1918|work=The Sportsman|access-date=21 January 2018|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}}

File:Pat O'Keeffe, British Middleweight Champion, boxing exhibition.png during World War I]].

At the start of 1915, O'Keeffe joined the 1st Surrey Rifles. He was a Physical Training Instructor and Recruiting Sergeant.

This is an excerpt from an Article about O'Keeffe's recruiting skill:

{{Blockquote|text={{omission}} He was recently crossing London Bridge in company with his Sergeant-Major when from the other direction came a husky, healthy youth pushing milk cart. Said the Sergeant-Major to the Corporal There's a likely-looking recruit for you, Pat; try him." O'Keeffe approached his victim, prodded him in the chest with his little stick, and said: "Say, don't you want to serve your King?" Yus," answered the youth. " How many quarts will he want? ** The Bulletin does not complete the story, but prefer to believe that Pat gained another recruit that day, for the soft answer is no good against an Irishman {{omission}}|title=He wanted to serve|source=Star Green 'un Via British Newspaper Archive 17 July 1915{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001914/19150717/014/0002|title=He wanted to serve|date=17 July 1915|work=Star Green 'un|access-date=21 January 2018|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}}}}

He found Army life at the Regiment's home at Camberwell suited his boxing training well. With good, plain food, strict routine and drill, plenty of sparring partners, and ample space to train, he thrived in a friendly atmosphere where he was very popular with the men.{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000729/19150502/238/0017?browse=False|title=All this weeks news from the boxing rings|date=2 May 1915|work=The people|access-date=27 January 2018|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}}

O'Keeffe and other boxer-turned-soldiers planned activities to help boost the morale of injured troops. One such time was an organised boat trip down the Thames.{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0001857/19150807/012/0006?browse=False|title=Wounded soldiers entertained on the river|date=7 August 1915|work=Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News|access-date=27 January 2018|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}}

O'Keeffe remained a public figure for many years. He took a seat on the inaugural British Boxing Board of Control with fellow ex- champion boxers Billy Wells and Jim Driscoll.{{Cite book|title=Lonsdale's Belt: Boxing's Most Coveted Prize|last=Harding|first=John|publisher=Pitch Publishing|year=2016|isbn=978-1785312540|chapter=7}} He participated in charity events, such as boxing an Aston Villa football player,{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001914/19180309/010/0003|title=Footballer and Boxer|date=9 March 1918|work=Star Green 'un|access-date=27 January 2018|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}} refereed amateur tournaments and took part in charity exhibition matches, most notably with his old rival Bombardier Billy Wells.{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001557/19270917/179/0009|title=Wells and O'Keeffe's boxing contest at the Market Halls|date=17 September 1927|work=Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser|access-date=27 January 2018|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}} These exhibitions could some times get heated, with O'Keeffe said to have once shouted "Stop it Billy! – I'm not the Kaiser!".{{Cite book|title=Thirty years a boxing referee|last=Corri|first=Eugene|publisher=Longmans, Green & Co|year=1915|location=the New York Public Library|pages=189}} O'Keeffe was a regular star spectator at big bouts.{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001055/19241119/045/0002|title=Palmer, O'Keeffe and summers|date=19 November 1924|work=The Sportsman|access-date=27 January 2018|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000749/19240411/307/0014|title=Pat O'Keeffe, ex middleweight champion; Pat Condon and others will be present|date=11 April 1924|work=Bedfordshire Times and Independent|access-date=27 January 2018|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}} He also had his own boxing column in the Daily Herald for a while{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000681/19190915/172/0008|title=Boxing by Pat O'Keeffe|date=15 September 1919|work=Daily Herald|access-date=27 January 2018|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}}

O'Keeffe carried on working. He was engaged in the licensing business, was a Publican{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000072/19150826/108/0011|title=Pat as a Publican|date=26 August 1915|work=Illustrated Police News|access-date=28 January 2018|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}} and was involved in bookmaking. The French and British armies employed him as a boxing instructor in 1925.{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0001898/19251009/173/0011?browse=False|title=Pat O'Keeffe to teach two armies Boxing|date=9 October 1925|work=Nottingham Journal|access-date=27 January 2018|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}}

In March 1938, the N.S.C. moved into new premises in Piccadilly and held a banquet to honour the occasion. There were hosts of fighters presented including many of the old timers, Jimmy Wilde, Billy Wells, Teddy Baldock, Pedlar Palmer, Tancy Lee, Johnny Basham and O'Keeffe.{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001857/19380408/046/0040|title=Danahar--Champion Within a Year: Certain Defeat turned into Glorious Victory over Cameron|date=8 April 1938|work=Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News|access-date=8 January 2018|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}}

O’Keeffe died 16 August 1960 at the Mount Vernon Hospital in Middlesex, aged 77.{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000769/19600817/127/0013|title=Pat O'Keefe dead|date=17 August 1960|work=Coventry Evening Telegraph|access-date=7 January 2018|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}}

O'Keeffe's professional boxing record can be summarised as follows:{{Cite web |url=http://boxrec.com/en/boxer/32179 |title=Pat O'Keeffe |website=boxrec.com |access-date=16 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180416142241/http://boxrec.com/en/boxer/32179|archive-date=16 April 2018|url-status=live}}

{{BoxingRecordSummary

|draws=7

|nc=2

|ko-wins=36

|ko-losses=9

|dec-wins=52

|dec-losses=15

|dq-wins=1

|dq-losses=1

}}

{{s-start}}

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="8"|Notable bouts

|- style="text-align:center; background:#e3e3e3;"

| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Res.

| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Record

| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Opponent

| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Type

| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Round

| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Date

| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Location

| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Notes

|- align=center

|{{yes2}}Win

|77-24-7

|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} Bandsman Jack Blake}}

|{{small|KO}}

|{{small|2(20)}}

|{{small|1918-01-28}}

|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} NSC, Covent garden, London}}

|align=left|{{small|Regains British Middleweight title}}

|- align=center

|{{no2}}loss

|75-23-7

|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} Bandsman Jack Blake}}

|{{small|PTS}}

|{{small|20}}

|{{small|1916-05-22}}

|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} NSC, Covent garden, London}}

|align=left|{{small|Loses British Middleweight title}}

|- align=center

|{{yes2}}win

|60-23-7

|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} Harry Reeve}}

|{{small|PTS}}

|{{small|20}}

|{{small|1914-02-23}}

|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} NSC, Covent garden, London}}

|align=left|{{small|Wins British Middleweight title}}

|- align=center

|{{no2}}loss

|60-22-7

|align=left|{{small|{{flag icon|FRA}} Georges Carpentier}}

|{{small|KO}}

|{{small|2(20)}}

|{{small|1914-01-19}}

|align=left|{{small|{{flag icon|FRA}} Eldorado-Casino, Nice}}

|align=left|{{small|European Heavyweight title attempt}}

|-align=center

|{{no2}}loss

|59-20-7

|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} Bombardier Billy Wells}}

|{{small|KO}}

|{{small|15(20)}}

|{{small|1914-08-04}}

|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}}The Ring, Blackfriars Road, Southwark, London}}

|align=left|{{small|British Heavyweight title attempt}}

|-align=center

|{{no2}}loss

|48-14-6

|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|AUS}} Ed Williams}}

|{{small|KO}}

|{{small|15(20)}}

|{{small|1908-10-26}}

|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|AUS}} Cyclorama, Melbourne}}

|align=left|{{small|Australian Middleweight title attempt}}

|-align=center

|style="background:#abcdef;"|Draw

|48-11-4

|align=left|{{small|{{flag icon|USA}} Billy Papke}}

|{{small|PTS}}

|{{small|6}}

|{{small|1907-11-09}}

|align=left|{{small|{{flag icon|USA}} National A.C., Philadelphia}}

|align=left|{{small|Papke later went on to become World Middleweight Champion}}

|-align=center

|{{yes2}}win

|28-10-4

|align=left|{{small|{{flag icon|UK}}Mike Crawley}}

|{{small|PTS}}

|{{small|15}}

|{{small|1906-03-19}}

|align=left|{{small|{{flag icon|UK}} NSC, Covent garden, London}}

|align=left|{{small|Wins British Middleweight title}}

|-align=center

|{{yes2}}win

|6-1-0

|align=left|{{small|{{flag icon|UK}} Jack Kingsland}}

|{{small|PTS}}

|{{small|20}}

|{{small|1903-01-02}}

|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} Olympia, Kensington, London}}

|align=left|{{small|Wins British Welterweight Title}}

{{s-end}}

• List of British middleweight boxing champions
• List of British welterweight boxing champions
• Lonsdale Belt

{{Reflist|}}

• {{cite book |last=Lee |first=Tony |title=All in My Corner: A tribute to some forgotten Welsh boxing heroes |year=2009 |publisher=TL Associates |location=Ammanford |isbn=978-0-9564456-0-5}}
• {{Cite book|title=Refereeing 1000 Fights – Reminiscences of Boxing|last=Corri|first=Eugene|publisher=Read Books Ltd|year=2013|isbn=978-1447486565}}
• {{Cite book|title=The Battle of the Century: Dempsey, Carpentier, and the Birth of Modern Promotion|last=Waltzer|first=Jim|publisher=ABC-CLIO|year=2011|isbn=978-0313382444}}
• {{Cite book|title="Seconds Out!": Chats about Boxers, Their Trainers and Patrons|last=Dartnell|first=Fred|publisher=T. W. Laurie, Limited|year=1924}}
• {{Cite book|title=Ring Battles of Centuries|last=Diegle|first=C.R.|publisher=Tom Andrews Record Book Company|year=1924|location=University of Minnesota}}
• {{Cite book|title=Lonsdale's Belt: The Story of Boxing's Greatest Prize|last=Harding|first=John|publisher=Robson|year=1994|isbn=0860518469}}
• {{Cite book|title=Irish Guards: The First Hundred Years 1900-2000|last=Guards|first=Irish|publisher=Spellmount|year=2000|isbn=1862270694|location=the University of Michigan}}
• {{Cite book|title=Daily Mail Year Book|last=Parker|first=percy Livingstone|publisher=Associated Newspapers Groups, Limited|year=1925|location=the University of Michigan}}
• {{Cite book|title=Country Life, Volume 46|year=1919|location=Princeton University}}
• {{Cite book|title=Fight Pictures: A History of Boxing and Early Cinema|last=Strieble|first=Dan|publisher=University of California Press|year=2008|isbn=978-0520940581}}
• {{Cite book|title=Popular Culture in London C.1890-1918: The Transformation of Entertainment|last=Horrall|first=Andrew|publisher=Manchester University Press|year=2001|isbn=0719057833}}
• {{Cite book|title=The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall of Fame Official Record Book|last=Roberts|first=James B|publisher=McBooks Press|year=2006|isbn=1590131215}}
• {{Cite book|title=Lonsdale's Belt: Boxing's Most Coveted Prize|last=Harding|first=John|publisher=Pitch Publishing|year=2016|isbn=978-1785312540}}
• {{Cite book|title=Clashes of the Boxing Greats – Accounts of the Contests at the Beginning of the 20th Century – Boxers Included are James Corbett, John L. Sullivan, Jack Johnson, James J. Jefferies, Georges Carpentier and many more|last=Anon|publisher=Read Books Ltd|year=2013|isbn=978-1473380554}}
• {{Cite book|title=What Do You Know about Boxing?|last=W.|first=Buchanan-Taylor|publisher=Cranton Heath|year=1947|location=Pennsylvania State University}}
• {{Cite book|title=Masters of boxing|last=Carpenter|first=Harry|publisher=A.S. Barnes|year=1965|location=the University of California}}
• {{Cite book|title=Great Book of Boxing|last=Mullan|first=Harry|publisher=Crescent Books|year=1987|isbn=0517629534|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/illustratedhisto00mull}}
• {{Cite book|title=The illustrated encyclopedia of world boxing|last=Arnold|first=Peter|publisher=Golden Press|year=1989|location=Pennsylvania State University}}

• [https://www.britishpathe.com/video/VLVA12JAI0LHY5X32VZOXXYJ9EJ3T-ARMY-BOXING-MATCH/query/Pat+Okeefe Pat O'Keeffe vs Billy Wells-British Army exhibition match-1916] From British Pathe
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRRyeZL64h4 Soldier Boxer Corpl Pat O'keefe To Fight Sullivan (1914-1918)] From British Pathe

• {{boxrec|id=32179|name=Pat O'Keeffe}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-ach|ach}}

|-

{{s-non

| reason = Earns Lonsdale Belt outright

}}

{{s-ttl

| title = British Middleweight Champion

| years = 28 January 1918 – retires

}}

{{s-vac | next= Ted "Kid" Lewis

}}

{{s-end}}

{{Subject bar |portal1=England |portal3=Biography |commons=yes |commons-search=Category:Pat O'Keeffe|q=y |q-search=Pat O'Keeffe|d=y |d-search=Q7143866}}

{{Authority control}}

{{British boxing}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:O'Keeffe, Pat}}

Category:1883 births

Category:1960 deaths

Category:English male boxers

Category:People from Canning Town

Category:Boxers from the London Borough of Newham

Category:Welterweight boxers

Category:Middleweight boxers

Category:British Army personnel of World War I

Category:Military personnel from the London Borough of Newham

Category:London Regiment soldiers