Muldoon, William

William Muldoon, byname Iron Duke, (born May 25, 1852, Caneadea, N.Y., U.S.—died June 3, 1933, Purchase, N.Y.), American wrestling champion and boxing trainer.

Muldoon was a policeman from 1876 to 1882, won the New York Police heavyweight title, and in 1880 the American Greco-Roman wrestling title. He became well known when he began to tour the United States as a boxing promoter and coach of John L. Sullivan. Muldoon was chairman of the New York Boxing Commission from 1921 to 1924. A proponent of strict physical conditioning, Muldoon established his notable gymnasium on East 22nd Street in New York City and later developed a training camp and health resort in White Plains, N.Y. He also invented the medicine ball. He and boxer Gene Tunney established the bronze heavyweight trophy on July 28, 1928.