Carl E. Morris

thumb|right|Carl Morris thumb|Louis De Ponthieu; Carl Morris; and Leach Cross '''Carl E. Morris''' (February 23, 1887 – July 11, 1951) was a professional boxer who was known as '''the Oklahoma Giant, the Sapulpa Giant''' and '''the Oklahoma White Hope'''. He was a heavyweight fighting at 225–240 pounds. He was 6 feet 4 inches tall.<ref>[http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/morris-c.htm Carl Morris], cyberboxingzone.com, accessed June 2010</ref>

==Biography== Born on February 23, 1887, in Fulton, Kentucky. Carl Morris was a locomotive engineer prior to boxing. Despite being known as "the Oklahoma White Hope" Morris was part Cherokee.<ref>{{cite web |title=CARL MORRIS, NEW 'WHITE HOPE,' WINS: Cowboys and Indians Yell and Cheer When Mike Schreck Is Knocked Out. |url=https://www.proquest.com/hnpnewyorktimes/docview/97149694/ |publisher=The New York Times |access-date=14 November 2023}}</ref>

Morris began his career 7–0 with 7 knockouts, including a huge win against former heavyweight champion Marvin Hart. Like many white heavyweights in the era he was dubbed a white hope. Morris went to the final bell with Fireman Jim Flynn and lost by newspaper decision. After draw with Jim Stewart, Morris lost the rematch, which caused The New York Times to report "a white hope exploded."<ref>{{cite web |title=PASSING OF CARL MORRIS.: Oklahoma Giant Goes Home to Rest -- A White Hope Exploded. |url=https://www.proquest.com/hnpnewyorktimes/docview/97280298 |publisher=The New York Times |access-date=14 November 2023}}</ref> Morris was knocked out for the first time against Luther McCarty. He fought Jack Dempsey 3 times.

In later life he worked as a steam shovel operator. He died on July 11, 1951, in Pasadena, California, of cancer.<ref name=obit>{{cite news |title=Former Boxing Great Dies in California |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=p80KAAAAIBAJ&pg=2857,2328477&dq=carl+morris+boxer&hl=en |quote=Funeral services will be held Friday for exheavyweight fighter Carl E. Morris whose career was at its ... |work=United Press |date=July 12, 1951 |access-date=2010-09-28 }}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{BoxRec|id=10588}} *[https://www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/tags/carlmorris/ Carl E. Morris] at Flickr Commons

{{DEFAULTSORT:Morris, Carl}} Category:1887 births Category:1951 deaths Category:People from Fulton, Kentucky Category:Boxers from Oklahoma Category:American bare-knuckle boxers Category:American male boxers Category:Heavyweight boxers Category:20th-century American people