Sam Langford - Newspaper clipping from January 11, 1910

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By Andrew Fruman

Moving on to the week of January 8-14, we continue our look at what was happening in the pugilistic world during the years 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940 & 1950.

In this edition, we've got plenty of fight reports, news of negotiations and other details of the times you might find interesting.

Check out last week's History Corner: January 1 - 7

1910

January 10...

Heavy handed Sam Langford trounced the Dixie Kid in Memphis.  It was a one sided battering from the start with the the significantly bigger Langford scoring several knockdowns, before putting the Kid down for the count with a right to the stomach in the 3rd round.

"Langford's tremendous blows surprised the southern fight fans, although the mild resistance put forth by the "Dixie Kid" afforded them little opportunity to see the Boston negro in real fighting action...

Sports here today declare that on last night's showing Sam Langford, the Boston tar baby, would have a splendid chance if matched with some of the men "higher up" in the pugilistic world." - Associated Press

January 11…

Former bantamweight champion and current featherweight/lightweight contender Owen Moran says the best fighting these days does not take place in Paris…

"In Paris it’s awful. Most of the fighters are bums. They can’t get enough money in the house for a big go. Most of the class fighters in France get $200 for a big fight. Why, that’s not enough for cigarette money. A good many of them box for $20 and some fight for a quid – five bucks. Paris is all right for the dead ones. Give me London and California. If there is any good fighting you will find it in one of those two places."

While spouting off, Moran also mentioned that lightweight champ Battling Nelson is afraid of him, and that Jack Johnson is underestimating Jim Jeffries.

January 12…

With reports of trouble swirling around the promotion of the upcoming lightweight title match-up between champion Battling Nelson and challenger Ad Wolgast, promoter Sid Hester assured fight followers that plans to stage the bout were going well.

Despite losing decisively to Wolgast in a 10 round non-title affair last July, Nelson is reportedly unconcerned about the challenge the Milwaukee fighter poses.  With the early line favoring the Dane by odds of 10 to 7, it appears the betting public feels the 45 round distance should favor the champion's legendary stamina.

January 14…

Around 200 boxing fans braved blizzard like conditions to attend the new American Athletic Club’s first boxing show, but were disappointed to discover that no decisions would be handed out. In the main event, former welterweight champion Billy "Honey" Mellody floored San Francisco’s Kyle Whitney with left hooks in each of the opening two rounds. The Boston Globe’s report did not offer up an opinion of the winner, but mentioned both fighters had their moments, and that Whitney "did a lot of clinching and executed some wrestling stunts." According to a newswire report, Whitney just edged it.

1920

January 9…

Several cities are reportedly bidding to be the new host of the much anticipated lightweight clash between Benny Leonard and Johnny Dundee.

The 20 round title match-up had been set for January 16 in New Haven, Connecticut until the local Chief of Police revoked the bout’s permit, explaining that the licence was granted for a "boxing exhibition" and not a "prize fight." The chief had repeatedly assured the public that the fight would go on as scheduled, and only days earlier New Haven’s mayor had also offered his input, telling the press that "There’s no reason too worry about the bout."

Reportedly the local clergy along with the chief’s political opponents had been pressing hard for the permit to be withdrawn. Not surprisingly, the decision to relent to the pressure did not sit well with fight fans or the parties involved.

According to Benny Leonard’s manager Billy Gibson, about $48,000 in tickets had already been sold for the bout that was expected to draw a gate of over $100,000.

Januray 12…

In a battle of heavyweights, Fred Fulton (214) handed out a beating to Frank Moran (194) at the First Regiment Armory in Newark, New Jersey. Fulton weathered a hard charge from Moran in the opening frame, before using his superior skills to dominate the rest of the bout…

"Moran’s undying courage, bulldog tenacity and remarkable ability to assimilate punishment were what kept him on his feet, despite the fact that he was literally battered from pillar to post for the major portion of the eight rounds." – New York Times

January 14…

John H. Smith, chairman of the New Jersey Athletic Commission announced that in support of the American Legion, Jack Dempsey and his manager Jack Kearns would not be welcome participants at any boxing events in the state. New Jersey had been reported to be the most likely landing spot for the much talked about match-up between Dempsey and Frenchman Georges Carpentier.

During the previous week, various American Legion posts throughout the United States had passed resolutions condemning Dempsey as a "slacker" over allegations he avoided service during the War. Kearns has offered a vigorous rebut of the allegations, explaining that Dempsey raised over $100,000 for war-time charities, and at no point asked to be exempted from service.

1930

January 10…

The judges were unable to separate New York's Bruce Flowers (137 1/2)  and Milwaukee's King Tut (137 1/4) after "10 sizzling rounds" at the Chicago Stadium.  With a 5 inch edge in height, Flowers was the master from outside, while Tut had the better of the infighting.

Flowers managed to survive a rough 3rd round after being floored by a right cross to the jaw.  He was up at 9, and managed to clinch his way out of the round.  Flowers managed to hurt Tut in return with a long right hand, but it didn't come until the final bell.  One judge had it for Flowers, the other a draw, while referee Dave Barry had Tut in front.

Welterweight champion Jackie Fields (146 3/4) featured on the under-card in a non-title bout, easily stopping an over-matched Jimmy Owens (146) via 2nd round TKO.  Also in action on the show in a 133 pound contest was Barney Ross.  The 20 year old won a 6 round decision over Louis New, with the Chicago Tribune reporting the youngster had shown "vast improvement."

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Tommy Freeman (149 1/4) got the nod over "Young Jack" Thompson (146 1/4) In a match-up of welterweight contenders at the Detroit Olympia.  The bout was reportedly "uninteresting" with Thompson showing "anything but championship quality."  Referee Al Day had Freeman winning by a tally of 7 round to 1, with 2 even.

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A relentless Paulino Uzcudun (196 ½) ground out a unanimous 10 round decision over Otto van Porat (203 ½) at Madison Square Garden. Early on it looked like it was van Porat’s night as he scored with countless flush right hands that had many in attendance believing an early knock-out was imminent. By the 4th round however, it was Uzcudun that was doing the better work, as he managed to get inside and push his taller opponent back with a steady attack to the body and head.

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The NYSAC announced that Buffalo fighters Lou Scozza and Jimmy Slattery will meet on February 10 to determine the successor to Tommy Loughran as light-heavyweight champion.  The commission declared that the winner must meet Maxie Rosenbloom within 60 days of the vacant title clash.

Scozza secured his chance at the title with a DQ win over George Courtney in December, while Slattery earned his spot by getting past Rosenbloom in November.

1940

January 11…

A night after defeating heavyweight journeyman Henry Cooper, light heavyweight champion Billy Conn was awarded the *Edward J. Neil Award as "the man who did the most for boxing during 1939." In accepting the bronze plaque at the awards dinner, Conn was described by writer Whitney Martin as being "nervous as a preliminary boy fighting for the first time before a big crowd."

Conn claimed the 175lb title from Melio Bettina in July, and defended the belt in November with a victory over Gus Lesnevich. All told, the 22 year old Pittsburgh Kid was a perfect 7-0 for the year.

• Neil was killed by shrapnel while covering the Spanish Civil War in early January 1938. Before being assigned abroad by the Associated Press in 1935, he had been a prominent American sports writer, specializing in boxing.

"The fact that he had ability made him a fine newspaperman; but the fact that he was a fine man is the reason the boxing writers perpetuate his memory in this way annually." – James J. Walker (former mayor of New York)

January 12…

In a battle of two of the world’s best welterweights at Baltimore’s Coliseum, the Cocoa Kid used his left jab to bank most of the early frames before hanging on desperately to edge Holman Williams in a 15 rounder. With heavyweight champion Joe Louis working his corner, Williams came on very strong over the last third of the bout and had the Kid on the ropes and in big trouble in the final round, but the late push was not enough to reverse the early deficit.

1950

January 11…

With a 10 round upset victory before a crowd of over 12,000 at the Detroit Olympia, Tony Janiro (151 ¾) put a dent in big punching Charlie Fusari’s (148 ½) welterweight title hopes. A 3 to 1 underdog, Janiro turned it up over the second half of the bout, holding the edge from the 6th round on. Fusari was cut in the 9th – possibly from a clash of heads – and in trouble throughout the final round. The scores were 54-46, 52-48 and 50-50 for Janiro.

Fusari had been negotiating for a title shot against Sugar Ray Robinson, and the bout was reportedly all set for Madison Square Garden on March 31.

January 12…

At the annual dinner of the Boxing Writers’ Association, Ezzard Charles was a unanimous winner of the Edward J. Neil award for 1949. The new heavyweight champion also received The Ring Magazine award as the year’s top fighter. Detroit welterweight Lester Felton was also recognized at the dinner, receiving The Ring award for "the young boxer that made the most progress in 1949."

January 13…

A beer bottle was among the items hurled into the ring by angry fans after referee Eddie Joseph declared Tuzo Portuguez (158) a TKO winner over local fighter Paddy Young (155) in the main-event at Madison Square Garden. A clash of heads late in the 7th round opened up a nasty cut above Young’s left eye, and with the cut bleeding badly, Joseph called a halt to the bout 43 seconds into the following round.

The unpopular stoppage came as a surprise as the ringside physician, Dr. Vicent A. Naridello had given Young the go ahead to continue after examining him before the 8th. It had been a fierce struggle to that point with Young holding a narrow 4-3 lead on 2 of the official cards, with the other judge’s tally at an even 3-3-1. James P. Dawson of the NY Times also had Young up 4-3.

"Young disappeared to his dressing quarters as the excitement was at its threatening height and left Portuguez standing there in the ring, the target for mingled cheers and jeers.  This was unfair to the gallant little fighter from Central America, but he was just a victim of circumstances." - James P. Dawson, NY Times

Portuguze was almost finished off in the 3rd, when he was dropped by a left hook and hammered all over the ring, but the Costa Rican fighter gamely hung on and was firing back by the end of the round. Portuguez was again in trouble in the 6th, but once again came firing back strongly.

The show, attended by just over 10,000 fans, also featured two promising young welterweights in Joe Miceli and Johnny Saxton. The 21 year old Miceli recorded a first round stoppage over Buddy Garcia, while 19 year old Saxton took care of Cuban Mario Moreno in the 2nd round.

We'll be back next week with stories from January 15-21.

e-mail Andrew Fruman