On August 22, 1911, he defeated Billy Papke, two time World Middleweight contender, at St. Nicholas Arena in New York City in a newspaper decision of the New York Times. Papke was defending his World Middleweight title which he claimed from Jim Sullivan in a British World Middleweight Championship match, in a winning ninth round knockout two months earlier on June 8, 1911 at London's Palladium. Despite Papke's claim, the title did not pass hands as both men were over the middleweight weight limit of 160, and weighing nearer 165. Papke had no claim to the American title that August, as it was not recognized by boxing authorities, who credited Papke with the title only from September 7 to November of 1908, when he defeated and then again lost to reigning champion Stanley Ketchell.
