The Boxing Bulletin History Corner: May 14-20, 1930, 1940 & 1950

By Andrew Fruman

Picking up from where we left off last time (May 14 to May 20, 1910 & 1920), we're moving on to the years 1930, 1940 and 1950 for the week of May 14 to May 20.

In this edition...

• Mickey Walker vs Paul Swiderski - Louisville, May 16, 1930
• Midget Wolgast vs Willie LaMorte - world (NYSAC) flyweight title, New York, May 16, 1930
• Petey Scalzo vs Frankie Covelli - world (NBA) featherweight title, Washington D.C., May 15, 1940
• Joey Archibald vs Harry Jeffra - world (NYSAC) featherweight title, Baltimore, May 20 ,1940
• Art Aragon vs Tommy Campbell - Los Angeles, May 16, 1950

1930

May 16…

Mickey Walker (167 ½) won a wild ten round newspaper decision from Paul Swiderski (178 ½) at the Jefferson County Armory in Louisville on the eve of the Kentucky Derby.

Both fighters were dropped on four occasions, with Walker (pictured, Antiquities of the Prize Ring) touching down three times during a hectic opening session capped off by a brawl involving both corners after the bell. In his haste to try and put the unsteady middleweight champion away, Swiderski had landed a late shot, prompting Walker’s manager Jack Kearns to come charging into the ring throwing punches in the direction of the Syracuse fighter. Swidersky’s manager Harry Lonney immediately went after Kearns, and within moments police were in the ring trying to quell the chaos.

It took several minutes, but the second round eventually got underway and Walker again found himself on the canvas. He managed to clinch his way out of trouble, and rebounded to drop Swiderski twice in the following session. Swiderski edged the next two rounds, but Walker took over from there, dropping the bigger man twice while sweeping the second half of the contest.

There have been many brands of ring battles before big crowds and for big purses that had about as much excitement as push bail or a dancing match. Mickey Walker and Paul Swiderski met in Louisville before 4,000 spectators, who paid in $7000 and result was one of the most sensational fights of many years.

– Grantland Rice, The Sportlight

* * * *

In a battle the Manitoba Free-Press called "a wonderful fight" Frank Battaglia (152) defeated Lauri Peppin (151) to claim the vacant Canadian middleweight crown at the Amphitheatre Rink in Winnipeg.

After trailing through five rounds, Battaglia (pictured, Antiquities of the Prize Ring) came on very strong over the second half of the bout to edge his local rival. The 1928 Olympian had a strong sixth round, before scoring big with two heavy knockdowns – the second of which sent Peppin crashing through the ropes – during a wild seventh session…

During the round, scenes of unprecedented excitement were witnessed. The crowd was on its feet as one, and a rush to the ringside took place. Rival factions were yelling themselves hoarse and for all the world it was like Bedlem let loose.

– Manitoba Free Press

Still groggy after a minute’s rest, Peppin summoned the energy to make a gallant stand in the eighth, but Battaglia had more left to claim the ninth and tenth rounds. Both fighters were given a huge ovation at the end.

* * * *

At New York’s Madison Square Garden, flyweight champion Midget Wolgast (110 ½) was credited with a knockout victory of Willie LaMorte (112), after the title challenger collapsed on his way back to the corner at the close of the fifth round.

The attending ringside physician, Dr. William H. Walker wasted no time in racing to the aide of the downed fighter, whose body was "quivering in a series of convulsions." LaMorte was eventually revived, but not before some scary moments…

Still trembling, La Morte was carried to his dressing room and given a hypodermic and a stimulant. After an examination, Dr. Walker announced that La Morte had suffered "a spasm of the heart brought on by a blow just under the heart."

– United Press

Wolgast (pictured, Harry E. Winkler Collection) was well out in front at the time of the stoppage, having outfought the challenger in every round. His most effective weapon was the left hook, though right hands were responsible for the blows credited with bringing about the abrupt ending…

Near the end of the fifth session Wolgast ripped home with two solid right-hand blows to the heart which coupled with the fact that La Morte had difficulty making the weight, are believed have induced the Newark challenger’s collapse.

– James P. Dawson, New York Times

Though appearing to have recovered at the venue, LaMorte was sent to a nearby hospital for observation before being allowed to go home.

May 17...

Stanley M. Issacs, president of the National Boxing Association announced that Primo Carnera (pictured, Antiquities of the Prize Ring) and his management team were indefinitely suspended. The move barred the Italian heavyweight from fighting in any of 28 NBA affiliated states.

Isaacs was acting on a report submitted by the head of the Illinois Boxing Commission, General John V. Clinnin, who had been appointed to investigate the shady details of Carnera’s barnstorming tour. According to Clinnin’s findings, a definite conspiracy to defraud had taken place and in the best interest of the sport, a suspension of the fighter’s activities was necessary.

…When we took into consideration the unsuitable opponents selected for him, and the positive evidence given at the hearing before the California commission of efforts to "frame" bouts, we believe we established a case of conspiracy which would stand in law.

- John V. Clinnin

1940

May 14…

The NYSAC cleared the way for a bout between Henry Armstrong and Lew Jenkins, by getting around one of its own newly implemented regulations.

...the commission recently put a rule on its books forbidding one titleholder from meeting the champion in another division without first abdicating his title.  The commission even went one step farther and said any fighter who wanted to be regarded as a contender in a higher weight division than that in which he would ordinarily campaign, would have to relinquish all claims in his original division.  Thus, if Jenkins wanted to take on Armstrong, he would have to vacate the lightweight throne and shoot at Hammerin' Hank's 147 pound laurels since both are under that weight limit.

- Sid Feder, Associated Press

Since Jenkins had no intention of giving up his newly won lightweight crown, the making of the bout had been in doubt.  That was until promoter Mike Jacobs and representatives for Armstrong and Jenkins sat down with the commission, and came up with a solution.  Since New York only recognized bouts of 15 rounds as title contests, the group decided to make the fight a 12 round go.  Jenkins could keep his title, Jacobs and Madison Square Garden could have their big money bout, and the NYSAC could claim that they didn't break any of their own rules.  Everyone was happy and the non-title affair was signed for July 17 at the Polo Grounds.

Grantland Rice on the match-up…

Jenkins and Armstrong are two real fighting men. Jenkins is a two-handed fighter, jabbing and hooking with his left and throwing a shattering punch with his right. Armstrong is a one-man storm of leather and blows in all directions from bell to bell.

Jenkins never has faced a fighter of Armstrong’s type, because there isn’t another fighter like Henry. Armstrong never has faced a puncher of Jenkins’ caliber.

"The first time Armstrong comes swinging low into Jenkins, Lew will tear his head off." Hymie Caplin assured me.

I’m not so certain of that. But I’m curious to see what happens when Jenkins starts bombing the bobbing, weaving, ceaseless little Negro.

– Grantland Rice, The Sportlight

May 15…

Newly appointed NBA featherweight champion Petey Scalzo of New York made the first defense of his crown with a sixth round stoppage of Frankie "Kid" Covelli at Griffith Stadium in Washington.

Though up on the scoresheet, Scalzo had appeared to be tiring heading into the fifth under Covelli’s relentless body attack, when he dropped the challenger four times, with only the bell saving the youngster.

Having not fully recovered from the previous session’s pounding, Covelli was easy pray, and a left hand dropped him to start the round. Scalzo (pictured, Harry E. Winkler Collection) pressed his advantage, hammering his spent opponent with a body attack, followed by a left hook and right uppercut that dropped the Chicago fighter into a heap. Referee Ray Bowen didn’t bother to count, immediately walking over to raise the New Yorker’s hand in victory, as Covelli’s seconds rushed to the aide of their fighter.

The title contest was witnessed by just over fifteen hundred spectators, well below the 5-10 thousand that promoter Joe Turner had been hoping for. The promoter wasn’t too downhearted over the disappointing turnout…

The fight game in this town is in a bad way, but it’s because the people haven’t had time to get over that Archibald bout last summer. I think Washington wants to see fights and I’m going to continue to provide them. It’s going to take time and money to build the fight game back up, but I believe it can be done.

– Joe Turner

May 20…

In front of 4,500 spectators at the Coliseum in Baltimore, local fighter Harry Jeffra (123 ½) won the world featherweight title – as recognized by New York and Maryland - with a fifteen round decision victory over Joey Archibald (122). With the victory, the former bantamweight champion became the first Baltimore fighter to have won world titles in two weight classes.

After an uneventful opening session, Jeffra (pictured, Antiquities of the Prize Ring) exploded to very nearly put a dramatic early end to the contest…

Jeffra connected with an overhand right that sent Archibald against the ropes, and while his opponent was still dazed, pumped a vicious right to his jaw.

Archibald hit the canvas with a resounding thump and the resin dust welled up about him as he crouched on his hands and knees with a hurt, bewildered look. He took a count of nine and came back only to have Jeffra bounce him to the floor again for the same count. Archibald went down once more just before the round ended.

– Associated Press

Archibald managed to recover enough to eventually do some decent work, backing Jeffra up a little in the middle rounds and winning the eighth and ninth sessions, before the new champion again took over to pull away down the stretch. The overhand right was a key to win for Jeffra, and he used it to stagger Archibald several times over the late going.

When Announcer Nate Bass boomed out, "The winner and new world’s champion," that was as far as he could get. Ringsiders stormed the ring, and Jeffra and his seconds gave a demonstration that would make a jitterbug convention turn green with envy.

– Al Hailey, Washington Post

1950

May 16…

Controversy reigned at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles after Tommy Campbell’s (140) strange performance in a third round stoppage loss to local star Art Aragon (137 ½).

Campbell’s odd antics started after he knocked the favored Aragon through the ropes and onto the ring apron with a right hand in the second round. According to George Main of the Los Angeles Herald-Express, Campbell appeared "amazed" by what he’d done and "reached out as if to help Aragon to his feet" before backing off while the count was administered. After rising at eight, the Golden Boy looked none too steady but rather than go for the finish, Campbell made the bizarre move of retreating to a neutral corner and allowing Aragon (pictured, Antiquities of the Prize Ring) to wail away on him until the end of the round…

Never once did the onetime high-ranking Illinois battler make a serious move to ward off Aragon’s stream of leather.

At this sudden turn of events the crowd went into an uproar with many fans making uncomplimentary charges about Campbell’s integrity.

– Cal Whorton, Los Angeles Times

When he came out for the third session, Campbell continued to make no effort to defend himself, seemingly content to stand and get drilled by Aragon's right hand, before eventually being dropped for the count. At the finish, "most of the 7500 spectators were on their feet yelling 'fake' and showing the ring with debris." Commission representative Clayton Frye was none too impressed either, and told the press he believed the strange happenings "could do with some investigating."

The opinion of foul play wasn’t shared by matchmaker Babe McCoy, who stated that he saw nothing amiss with the bout, brushing aside rumors that Campbell had taken a dive "to help build Aragon up."

The purses of the fighters were held up until a hearing before Norman Houston of the California State Athletic Commission two days later. Campbell explained his performance by saying that he didn’t want to veer from his plan of trying to outbox Aragon, believing that the local star wasn’t really hurt after the knockdown. He also reiterated the reason he’d given immediately after the bout for backing off, explaining that he’d been partially blinded after being hit in the eye.

Though Mushy Callahan and Joe Stone, the two official fight judges, stated at the hearing that something wasn’t quite right about the fight, Houston ruled that "the facts don’t support any form of collusion."

First they ask the supposed culprits if they had been bad boys, then accept their denials as factual… Then they ignore the fact that two of the three ringside officials swore under oath that they though the bout was "fishy" while it was in progress. Result: None, as usual.

– Dick Hyland, Los Angeles Times

• In 1956, McCoy was banned for life by the CSAC for "ordering fights lost to fighters including Art Aragon, Harry Mathews and Del Flanagan." The ban came after Campbell testified as a surprise witness before a special investigating committee set up by California Governor Goodwin J. Knight. Campbell told the committee he was there voluntarily "to do what was right." According to Campbell’s testimony, his manager George Moore had made a deal with McCoy before the bout. Campbell explained that he was supposed to "make it look good" for three rounds, and in doing so had nearly knocked Aragon out by accident, prompting the strange sequence of events in the second round that had lead to the original suspicions over the bout’s legitimacy.
• Fighters Georgie Hansford and Watson Jones also testified at the hearing, stating that they had tanked fights for McCoy. Jones also testified that the influential matchmaker had robbed him of his purses.
• At the hearing, it was also revealed the Clayton Frye had been barred from the dressing rooms by the Olympic Auditorium management, making it very difficult for the commission member to properly oversee what took place at the venue. Rather suspiciously, the CSAC refused at the time to do anything about Frye’s lack of access.

May 17…

Bob Satterfield (178) rose from the deck to knock out heavyweight Lee Oma (190 ½) in a wild encounter at the Chicago Stadium. Satterfield (pictured, Antiquities of the Prize Ring) started the bout well, opening up an early points lead by driving Oma backwards, but by the fourth round, the bigger man had taken command on the bout. The key for Oma’s resurgence were right hand smashes, and in the fifth session, one of these blows dropped Satterfield heavily…

At the count of eight Satterfield came to his feet. He waited and Oma, certain of victory, looked at the huge clock on the south wall.

Oma looked again. As he glanced, Satterfield whipped over a terrific right which caught Oma flush on the jaw. Oma went down and would have been counted out, save for the end of the round, with one second of the count remaining.

– Wilfrid Smith, Chicago Tribune

Oma was still unsteady to start the sixth round, and a left-right combination quickly dropped him for the full count. At the close of hostilities, Satterfield’s management indicated a desire to challenge Joey Maxim, who was in attendance at the bout, for the 175lb champion’s title.

May 19…

European middleweight champion Tiberio Mitri (161) made his American debut with a one sided decision victory over Dick Wagner (170) at Madison Square Garden in New York. Mitri (pictured, Wikipedia) countered well with both hands to win by scores of 9-1 on all three scorecards against the rugged but limited light-heavyweight from Toppenish, Washington, who was substituting for an injured Tuzo Portuguez.

Though he finished the bout marked up around the eyes from Wagner’s blows, the Associated Press report stated that the Italian fighter "showed plenty of class" in the victory. The New York Times wasn't as enthusiastic…

Despite the fact that the count was so heavily in his favour, Mitri did not impress the slim crowd of 4,129 fans with any exceptional fighting ability. The fact that he holds the middleweight championship of Europe would seem to indicate that the 160-pound fighters on the Continent are not a formidable lot.

– Joseph C. Nichols, New York Times

* * * *

Third ranked lightweight contender Rudy Cruz (132) won a dominant ten round decision over Eddie Bertolino (130) at the Municipal Auditorium in San Antonio.  Cruz (pictured, Antiquities of the Prize Ring) dominated from start to finish, sweeping the bout on two cards, while losing only a single round on the other.

It was the 13th straight victory for the Los Angeles larruper, who is angling for a title bout with Ike Williams this summer. And his task was made much easier by Bertolino who fought just the fight Cruz wanted him to. He tried to box with Rudy, and today two black eyes, a battered nose and a puffed up lip are evidence enough that this was the wrong thing to do. And also evidence what a rapier like left can do. Cruz used his right only sparingly.

– Dick Peebles, San Antonio Express

For more great boxing photos of the past, make sure to visit Antiquities of the Prize Ring.

Check back in a couple days for more of The Boxing Bulletin's History Corner as we move on to the week of May 21 - 27.