From NKAA, Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (main entry)
Larue, John
John Larue began boxing as a lightweight in Louisville, KY. In 1897, it was published in The Courier-Journal that Larue had been defeated by Steve Crosby in a three-round fight. Larue had also been defeated by Shang Paretto and they fought a second time in December of 1897. The fight was for four rounds. Two years later, in 1899, Larue defeated Jim Brewster in West Baden Springs, IN. The fight was held outside in the woods. Another report in the newspaper told of Larue being previously knocked out by "Black Bear, of Columbus" in a preliminary fight at Music Hall in Louisville. The government name of "Black Bear" is unknown at this time.In August of 1899, John Larue was set to fight Jack Williams in a double header of the Manager Sander's Midsummer Boxing Shows in Louisville. Larue came to the fight having won all of his last seven fights in 1899. He was boxing at the welterweight level. The night of the fight with Williams, the two fighters were slugging it out, when Williams received a warning for swing on the break. The second time he swung on the break, a foul was called, and Larue was given the win.
The following month, in September of 1899, Larue was scheduled to fight Steve Crosby in a preliminary fight at Music Hall in Louisville. The fight went for four rounds and Crosby was given the win by decision.
In the year 1900, John Larue was seeking a component at the middleweight level, 142-145 pounds. In three years he had moved from the lightweight, to welterweight, to middleweight. Larue fought Ike Barrett at Music Hall in November of 1900. During the fight, Barrett was ahead in points until near the end of the first round when Larue knocked out Barrett. The following year, Larue fought "Shine" Russell in Hartford City, IN. The fight lasted until the third round when Russell knocked out Larue.
John Larue would leave Kentucky. In May of 1904, Larue fought Frank Carroll in Minneapolis, MN. The fight was a six-round preliminary that ended in a draw. The two men were scheduled to spar three rounds at the end of May as a benefit entertainment at Normana Hall in Minneapolis. On March 30, 1905, Larue lost to Billy Rhodes in Pillager, MN.
At this time, no information has been located about John Larue's birth or death dates, or his life before and after his boxing career.
Sources: "Both in good trim," The Courier-Journal, 03/21/1897, p.11; "McCoy begins his training," The Courier-Journal, 11/28/1897, p.8; "Police interfered," The Courier-Journal, 12/02/1897, p.6; "Larue defeats Brewster," The Courier-Journal, 06/09/1899, p.6; "Both boxers have signed," The Courier-Journal, 08/23/1899, p.6; "Larue wins on a foul," The Courier-Journal, 09/02/1899, p.10; "Star bouts to-night," The Courier-Journal, 09/29/1899, p.6; ""Freckless" O'Brien defeats Hennessy," The Courier-Journal, 09/30/1899, p.10; "Barrett and Larue matched," The Courier-Journal, 11/05/1900, p.6; "Bout ended in a rank fiasco." The Courier-Journal, 11/20/1900, p.8; "Two in one night," The Elwood Daily Record, 07/13/1901, p.4; "Eddie Gardner bested by Jimmie Potts," The St. Paul Globe, 05/03/1904, p.5; "Carroll will spar," The Minneapolis Tribune, 05/29/1904, p.47; "Billy Rhodes is in Grand Forks," The Evening Times [Grand Forks, ND], 07/13/1912, p.3.