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1915 FW Title Bouts

Headline: Two New FW Champs Emerge, Neither of Whom is Abe Attell

WBA Title Fights

Jimmy Walsh CH (30-11-4) vs Eugene Criqui #7 (18-2-3)

Criqui, who was biding his time awaiting a EBU title shot, was available, so the match was set up. Criqui comes in off a UD 10 over Grover Hayes. It is Walsh's third defense of the title he won last year from Abe Attell, but this time he is fighting at Post-Prime, so Criqui has a real chance here.

Good start for the Frenchman as a straight right by Criqui gets through Walsh's defenses, staggering the Champ in round one. Criqui mixes well the inside and outside attack to maintain the early edge. Walsh tries to move inside but Criqui keeps firing away, causing swelling around Walsh's left eye by the end of the fourth. Criqui wins the first five rounds to take a commanding lead, easing up a bit in the middle rounds. A low blow by Walsh in the 9th winds up costing him his title, but Criqui was well ahead on all three cards anyway. Criqui wins by DQ in round 9 and becomes the first French fighter to win a World title belt.

Eugene Criqui CH (19-2-3) vs Kid Julian #5 (20-5-5)

Criqui's first defense is against the EBU champ, who scored a UD 10 over Reddy after losing to Attell in a 1914 title try. The two fought to a 10-round draw back in 1912.

Criqui backs up Julian in the first with a straight right, forcing the Italian to cover up. Criqui remains aggressive in round two, traps his opponent against the ropes and lands a crippling hook to the head. This time Julian does not cover up, and he pays the price as a few seconds later the ref steps in to stop it although Kid Julian was never off his feet. Criqui by TKO 2.

Eugene Criqui CH (20-2-3) vs Eddie O'Keefe #6 (23-6-1)

Second defense for the Frenchman, and the first WBA title shot for O'Keefe, who set up the bout with a UD 10 win over ex-champ Walsh.

Criqui methodically builds an early lead, outbpunching O'Keefe consistently throughout the first five rounds. In round 9, Criqui nails an out-of-position O'Keefe to score the fight's first knockdown. O'Keefe runs out of gas soon after and never posed a serious challenge as Criqui wins easily. Criqui by UD 15 (148-136, 149-135, 146-138).

Eugene Criqui CH (21-2-3) vs Johnny Kilbane #2 (27-6-4)

First meeting of the two, and it is Kilbane's fifth try for the WBA FW title after three prior losses to Attell and a draw with Jimmy Walsh. Kilbane looked good in recent UD 10 wins over Brooklyn Tommy Sullivan and Johnny Dundee although he had suffered another loss to Attell for the NABF belt.

After a cautious start by both men, the action heats up in round four then Kilbane tags Criqui with a big left hand near the end of the round. Both elect to mix it up on the inside in round 5, and Kilbane wins the exchanges and is ahead 49-46 at this point on the unofficial card. Both settle into a groove, working the outside and conserving stamina in the middle rounds. Criqui becomes more aggressive but in round 9, Kilbane nails him with a vicious hook that goes for the fight's first knockdown. Another big hook right before the bell in round 10 stops Criqui dead in his tracks. Criqui tires badly in the later rounds but keeps on trying hard until the end. Kilbane finally wins the WBA title belt in a well-deserved UD 15 (143-142, 145-139, 143-141) as the knockdown in the 9th proved crucial.

NABF: Abe Attell defends the belt won from Kilbane last year, first versus Eddie O'Keefe, whom he nails in round 7 with a combination to score a KD and survives a late O'Keefe rally to win a UD 12 (116-113, 116-112, 117-112). Attell then takes on George (KO) Chaney, who is unable to cut the ring off and then is giving a boxing clinic by the Lil' Champ who takes a lopsided UD verdict (120-110, 120-108, 120-108). Then Abe takes on new USBA champ Patsy Brannigan, taking advantage of an early cut over the left eye of the challenger which eventually is reopened and leads to a 7th round TKO in favor of Attell.

USBA: Johnny "Scotch Wop" Dundee starts the year with the belt, defends versus Steve "Kid" Sullivan. Dundee struggles to find his rhythm against Sullivan, who is aggressive and constantly keeping his man off balance. Dundee makes a late rally as Sullivan is cut and suffers from swelling, but his early lead holds up for a MD 12 win (115-113, 114-114, 116-112). Sullivan defends versus Patsy Brannigan, who fights a smart fight, allowing Sullivan to punch himself out early and points win to lift the belt. Brannigan by UD 12 (117-112, 116-113, 117-112).

CBU: Veteran Owen Moran defends twice, first versus Kiwi Frankie Ellis who tries to work on the inside but is slowed by a cut over the right eye -- Moran walks away with a UD 12 (115-113, 117-111, 117-111) and later in the year defends against Canadian Percy Cove, who fares no better than Ellis. Moran stuns Cove early in round three, and although Cove battles back to make it close, it's another UD 12 win for Moran (116-111, 115-112, 116-111).

GBU: Moran retains the belt as no challengers emerge.

EBU: Kid Julian defends versus countryman Patsy Kline. Kline tries an aggressive approach and has Julian on the canvas in round 4. But then Kline is cut in the 5th, which allows Julian to regain the upper hand. The cut worsens and leads to an 8th round stoppage. TKO for Julian.