[JCWeb]

Will try to squeeze the JLW recap into one post.

WBA

Sid Barbarian CH (27-8) vs Jack Bernstein #6 (19-11)

Rematch of the 1923 USBA title clash that resulted in a TKO win for Barbarian.

Barbarian uses his jab to set up a hard shot off the top of the head, and Bernstein tumbles to the canvas in round one. More trouble for the challenger in round two, as a cut is opened on his mouth. The cut is still bleeding in round three, but at least Bernstein survives another onslaught from Barbarian without further damage. Closer round in the fourth, as both men stay outside in safety-first mode. Then some good inside action in round five, and surprisingly, the ringside observer has it even (47-47) although it seems as if Barbarian has certainly had the best of it in the opening rounds. Barbarian continues to press the action on the inside in round six, strong round for the Champ. Bernstein battles back on the inside in round seven, an even round. After another close round with lots of inside action in round eight, Barbarian steps up the pace and, as a result, Bernstein's left eye starts to swell. Another strong round for the Champ in the 10th, and Barbarian now has the nod by one (95-94) from our ringside expert. After another close round in the 11th, Barbarian impresses with a huge round 12 -- Bernstein appears to be tiring badly. After another strong round by Barbarian in the 13th, Bernstein throws caution to the wind, putting Barbarian down in round 14 and the Champ, in real trouble for the first time, has to cover up. The final round is anti-climatic, and Barbarian turns out to be a UD 15 winner (145-138, 145-138, 144-139) as the ringside observer's scoring seemed a bit off for this bout.

Sid Barbarian CH (28-8) vs Tod Morgan #2 (22-5)

Morgan has been unbeaten since suffering a TKO loss to Barbarian in their one prior meeting in 1926; Barbarian has won his last five.

The two seem evenly matched in round one, when all of a sudden Barbarian unleashes a three-punch combo that forces Morgan to cover up. Both men trade from the outside in round two, slight edge to the Champ who moves inside and seems to have the better of the action in round three as well. Barbarian lands a strong shot and puts Morgan on the deck for an 8-count in the fourth. Morgan battles back and holds his own in the inside action in round five. At this point, the unofficial scorer has Barbarian well ahead (50-44). A more aggressive Morgan starts to turn things around in round six. The challenger continues to impress in the middle rounds, as an aggressive Barbarian seems to fall victim to Morgan's strong defense and counterpunching. Morgan is cut over the right eye late in round nine, and he battles back in round 10 to reduce the gap (96-93 in Barbarian's favor, according to the unofficial scorer). A puffy right eye starts to trouble Barbarian in round 11, and Morgan presses the action on the inside to take advantage. Morgan battles all the way to the end and Barbarian, worried about the eye, appears to be overly cautious in the late rounds. When the scorecards are read, the belt changes hands as it goes down as a UD 15 for Morgan (143-142, 144-140, 144-140).

Tod Morgan CH (23-5) vs Eddie Wagner #1 (34-15-1)

The two split two prior bouts, with Morgan taking a UD in 1924 but Wagner scored a TKO in 1925. Each enters the bout on a three-bout win streak.

Not much action in round one, but Wagner is off to a good start. Both men remain cautious in round two, another close round. Wagner tries to work inside in round three, good round for the Champ. Morgan presses the action on the inside, another close round in the fourth. Both men trade blows on the inside in round five, and Morgan dominates the round to seize the early points lead (49-46 on the unofficial card). Both men stay outside in round six, another strong round for the Champ. Wagner gets more aggressive in the middle rounds, but this just plays into Morgan's hands as he continues to build an unassailable points lead. Wagner starts to tire and is bothered by a split lip suffered in round 10. Morgan is well ahead now (99-91 on the unofficial card) which means Wagner needs a knockout to win. Instead, Morgan continues to wear down his opponent and coasts to another UD 15 win (145-139, 145-139, 144-140).

USBA: Johnny Dundee takes on Morgan, who takes advantage of the fact that the "Scotch Wop" is no longer in prime shape. Morgan comes on strong in the later rounds to take a UD 12, which sets up the title shot with Barbarian. With Morgan winning the WBA title, the belt is up for grabs later in the year, and Eddie Wagner is matched with Mike Ballerino. Wagner battles a cut eye but does enough to take the belt with a close but UD 12 win.

Jan. 1928 JLW Division Profile

Total: 16 RL: 10 TC: 6

RL by Career Stage:
End - 1
Post - 21
Prime - 4
Pre - 30
Beginning - 0 (0 New)

Rated: 8
800+: 2
500+: 6
200+ : 7

Jan 1928 Rankings (Perf Points and Changes from Jan. 1927 in Parens):

Champ: Tod Morgan 24-5 (8) (946) (+4)
1. Eddie Wagner 34-16-1 (15) (873) (+1) (USBA Champ)
2. Johnny Dundee 49-18-2 (15) (769) (-1)
3. Steve Sullivan 34-23-7 (8) (683) (NC)
4. Mike Ballerino 20-7-4 (5) (663) (+1)
5. Frankie Klick 15-3 (9) (558) (new)
6. Jack Bernstein 19-13 (5) (373) (+1)
7. Vincent Martin 26-21-3 (12) (54) (+1)

Comments: Dundee and Sullivan are at Post-Prime, Klick at Pre, Martin at End while the others are still at Prime. A bit of musical chairs action here, as all of the top ten from last year are back in the list again, but most in different positions. Morgan began the year with a UD win over veteran George Chaney then won the USBA and WBA titles to fashion a four-bout win streak. Wagner had a very strong year going, impressing with a SD win over veteran LW Rocky Kansas, then winning the USBA crown before falling short in the WBA title clash with Morgan. "Scotch Wop" Dundee seemed to reflect the effects of aging, dropping a UD to Kansas in addition to the USBA title loss after a promising UD win over Benny Valgar (now the WBA LW Champ) to start the season. Sullivan fought only twice in 1927, losing both (a SD to Wagner and a UD to Ballerino). Ballerino had notched up some impressive results (a draw with LW Al Gordon, then wins over Sullivan and hot LW prospect Sammy Fuller) but did not come through when given the USBA title shot versus Wagner. Top newcomer to the rankings list is Frankie Klick, who started the year with his third career loss (a UD to LW prospect Sammy Dorfman) before reeling off five straight wins, including UDs over LWs DeMarco and Marcus, a MD over Tommy Cello, and a SD over George Chaney. Bernstein had a SD win over Tommy Cello, but dropped the title bout and then lost a UD to Meyer Grace. Bringing up the rear is Vincent "Pepper" Martin, who won only one bout during year (that coming versus a TC) but dropped three versus LW opponents, including a TKO at the hands of Mexican Joe Rivers who was approaching retirement.

Prospects: Leslie Wildcat Carter (10-0, 8 KO) and Pete Nebo (8-0, 3 KO) continued to make progress versus LW and JLW TC opposition.

Retirements: None as yet.

Looking Ahead: Dethroned Champion from last year, Sid Barbarian, moved up to the LW division as did the aging George Chaney; thus the number of active RL fighters in this division has shrunk from 1927. Since Johnny Dundee seems to have lost interest in the division, it looks like there are no serious challengers to Morgan unless Barbarian returns to the division for a rematch of the close 1927 title clash. No newcomers on the horizon for 1928, so (like its counterpart, the JWW division), this division's prospects are not all that great.