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On to the reports for the first half of the month of August, 1929.

Aug. 2, 1929: First Friday night fight card in August is at Briggs Stadium in Detroit. Not much noteworthy in any of the preliminary bouts, but the main event is a WBA title clash -- and the 15th title defense for the "Toy Bulldog," Mickey Walker, who takes on the British MW Champ, Frank Moody. First meeting of the two. The "Toy Bulldog" starts well, landing a sharp uppercut to Moody's jaw in the opening seconds and finishing the opening round with a big right that stuns Moody. More of the same in round two, and Moody's left eye is starting to swell as a result. An accidental clash of heads causes a gash to open over Moody's right eye in round three. The cut is patched up in the challenger's corner, but in round four Walker unleashes a barrage of blows that puts the Brit on the canvas. A cautious Moody arises and tries to cover up, but Walker's killer instinct is operating on all cylinders as he tracks down and corners Moody, scoring a second KD with a cross. Moody folds like an accordion and does not arise. Walker by KO at 2:47 of round four. He moves to 41-1 (32) with the win. Moody is 37-18-4 (13) after the loss.

Aug. 3, 1929: It's fight night at the Amor Bahn in Munich, which always seems to draw a capacity crowd. This time, no Max Schmeling, the feature bout has an American and an Italian in a 10-round, non-title bout in the BW division. It's Bud the "Blonde Terror of Terre Haute" Taylor against Kid Francis. It's a fairly uneventful bout, as Taylor survives a cut under his right eye and takes a UD 10 (96-94. 96-93, 96-93) by a fairly comfortable margin. The win moves Taylor to 29-10 (9) while Francis slips to 19-6-2 (13) with the loss. Taylor retains his top 10 BW ranking with the win.

Aug. 3, 1929: North of the border at the Exhibition Gardens in Vancover for the next fight card. One of the key prelim bouts has unbeaten WW prospect Jackie Fields facing 17-1 Cleto Locatelli, a tough, young Swiss fighter. It is a cautious start by both, and the unofficial scorer has the bout even (48-all) after five. Fields starts stepping up the pace and gradually applying more pressure as the bout enters the latter stages. Locatelli appears to make a mistake by remaining on the defensive, allowing Fields to build a winning points lead. The bout lasts the distance, no cuts or knockdowns, and it goes as a UD 10 for Fields ( 96-94, 97-93, 96-94) who keeps his unbeaten record intact, moving to 18-0-1 (12). Locatelli's second career setback leaves him at 17-2 (8). One more both for each before they hit Prime career stage, and both seem destined for top 10 contender status.
Featured bout is for the Commonwealth BW belt, with Candian Vic Foley defending against Johnny Brown. A mandatory defense versus Nipper Pat Daly fell through when Brown defeated Daly for the British title, and thus Brown became the challenger. Foley expects to have little trouble, as Brown is at Post-Prime, plus Foley holds a TKO win in a prior title bout, back in 1928. Foley outboxes Brown from the outset, and by the end of the fourth round the challenger's left eye starts to swell. Brown starts to get more aggressive in the later rounds, but he also begins to tire and is bothered by a cut over his right eye. Foley survives a nick under his right eye and goes on to take a UD 12 (116-110, 116-110, 117-109) and keeps the belt. Foley moves to 28-10-1 (10) with the win, while Brown slips to 25-9-3 (18).

Aug. 9, 1929: Friday night fights returns to the Stadium in Liverpool, UK. Good card here tonight, and one of the preliminary bouts has top 10 LW Sammy Fuller taking on the Commonwealth and British Champ, Harry "Leeds" Mason. Unfortunately, Mason is no match for the young American, who dominates for an easy UD 10 win to move his excellent career record to 25-2 (8). Fuller is still looking for a title shot, either for the WBA or a lesser belt. The main event has two veteran WWs matched for the Commonwealth belt, recently vacated by new WBA Champ Jimmy McLarnin. Current EBU and former CBU Champ Bermondsey Billy Wells is heavily favored as he meets Hamilton Johnny Brown, whom he has bested on four previous occasions. Wells starts well, putting Brown on the deck with a strong shot in round one. Brown is cut over the right eye in round six. Nonetheless, he battles and manages to the last the distance, although the result is, as expected, another UD 12 win for Wells (116-111, 115-112, 116-112) . Wells adds the Commonwealth belt and improves to 45-12-2 (16) with the win, while Hamilton Johnny is now 20-14-5 (9).

Aug. 10, 1929: The scene of the fistic action moves to Kiel Auditorium in St. Louis. A notable debut tonight for highly touted WW Barney Ross, who takes on TC Troy Burnett. Ross establishes his jab at the outset and demonstrates his considerable boxing skills. By round three, Burnett's left eye is bruised and swollen. The bout lasts four rounds and, as expected, Ross takes a UD 4 (39-38, 40-37, 40-37) although I thought the bout was alot more one-sided than the 39-38 card would indicate. The 20-year old Ross will be brought along slowly, with his second bout not taking place until December. After several more preliminary bouts, it's on to the main event, for the USBA Flyweight title. This belt, held by Fidel LaBarba, has been vacated in favored of the NABF crown; Newsboy Brown and Jimmy Russo are matched for the vacant belt. Brown, who holds a prior TKO win over Russo, boxes well to take a points lead in the early rounds. Russo tries to change his style and try to be more aggressive, but to no avail. Turns out to be kind of a mismatch as Brown takes a solid UD 12 win (117-111, 118-112, 117-111) and captures the USBA Fly title for the third time in his career. Brown moves to 31-4-2 (10) compared to 22-11-3 (10) for Russo.

Aug. 16, 1929: Friday night fights goes down under again, this time for Melbourne, Australia. No titles at stake, and the feature bout has the British veteran, WW Ted Kid Lewis, taking on Cuban Manuel Quintero. Quintero is the aggressor throughout much of the bout, and the aging veteran, Lewis, now 36, still exhibits strong boxing skills to keep the bout close. The outcome remains in doubt until the later rounds, and Quintero nails Lewis with a punishing hook in round nine that stuns the former Champ. Quintero goes on to take a MD 10 verdict (97-93, 95-95, 96-94) to score the most impressive win of his young career. Post fight records: Quintero, 20-2-4 (10); Lewis, 52-20-4 (22).