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This report covers a total of 57 bouts taking place during the second half of August 1940. Two WBA title bouts are encompassed in this report.

Aug. 17, 1940: Action is on at the Boston Garden. HWs are on display in the main event, a 10-round, non-title affair matching Buddy Baer, Max’s younger brother, with “the Alpine Alp,” Primo Carnera, in what should prove to be an entertaining bout. Baer, who is coming off a KO loss to ex-WBA Champ Max Schmeling, finds the range with a cross to the head that puts Carnera on the canvas in round one. Carnera struggles with his timing, but manages to land some good shots to take round four. Slight edge for Baer at the midway point (48-47, according to the unofficial card). After both men take a breather in round six, the action heats up in round seven, with Carnera breaking through with a big hook that puts Baer down and out. KO 7 for Carnera, running his career totals to 33-12-3 (23) for Carnera’s third win in succession. The loss leaves Baer at 20-6-1 (15).

Aug. 23, 1940: Next up is a card at Johannesburg’s Rand Stadium in South Africa – another seldom used venue. Topping a relatively thin card (not many South African fighters in the Uni to date) is a non-title bout involving a pair of ranked WWs, with Dutchman Bep Van Klaveren facing American Johnny Wilson. First meeting of the two, with Van Klaveren on the comeback trail after losing his EBU WW title earlier in the year, while Wilson – who has wrapped up his Pre-Prime career with an undefeated record -- is looking to build his credentials for a first-time title challenge. Solid start from Van Klaveren, who somehow manages to pick up a mouse under his left eye despite the lack of solid blows landed by his opponent in the opening round. Wilson then steps up the pace, taking round two and then moving inside in round three, where he lands a crunching left hook that forces Van Klaveren to cover up. Solid lead for Wilson (49-46 on the unofficial card) at the halfway point. Wilson remains the aggressor as the bout heads into its later stages, However, in round seven, he runs into a vicious counterattack by the Dutchman, who takes the round and causes some swelling to appear under the left eye of Wilson. The end result – a draw (95-95 from two judges while a third had it 97-93 for Van Klaveren) – leaves both camps disappointed. Post-bout records: Van Klaveren, 30-12-8 (11); Wilson, 19-0-2 (14).

Aug. 24, 1940: Next action is at the Olympia in London, for a huge card headlined by a WBA title clash. Two supporting bouts have GBU title belts on the line. In the first of these, veteran GBU LW Champion Harry Mizler faces a first-time challenger, Young Brit Eric Boon, the “Fen Tiger,” who is making his first ever title challenge. First meeting of the two, and Mizler’s third defense of the title he won back in 1937. Boon is on target early, landing some good shots in the opening round, enough to cause some initial swelling under the right eye of Mizler. Mizler recovers and has the edge in rounds two, three and four; both men move inside and land some good shots in round five. At the midway point, the unofficial scorer has Mizler well ahead (59-55), but Boon continues to push the pace headed into the later rounds. Good defense from Mizler, who manages to stifle Boon’s attack and, in the end, escapes with a SD 12 win (116-112, 113-115, 115-113), as one judge decided to reward Boon for his aggressiveness. Post-bout, Mizler improves to 23-11-4 (6) with the win, while the loss drops Boon to 17-6-1 (15). In the second co-feature, GBU FW Champ Frank Parkes puts that belt at stake, defending against challenger Ginger Foran, who briefly held the EBU FW title but is making his first attempt to take the GBU FW title. Through the early rounds, Parkes proves to be the more accurate puncher, while Foran is more aggressive. In a bit of a surprise, the unofficial card has Foran in front (58-57) at the halfway point. Parkes continues with a solid performance, not pushing forward and allowing Foran to overextend himself and become tired. The result – another split decision, once again favoring the titleholder, as the SD 12 goes to Parkes (117-111, 114-115, 117-112), with the dissenting judge favoring the aggressive posture of the challenger. Post-fight career totals: Parkes, 24-5-1 (14); Foran, 26-12-3 (11). Finally, the WBA Flyweight title is up for grabs as Fortunato Ortega, the man who ended Midget Wolgast’s long reign as Champion, makes his first defense, taking on USBA Fly Champ Jackie Jurich. First meeting of the two, and not much to choose in the early rounds, but in round four, Jurich manages to rip open a cut over the right eye of Ortega. The cut is patched up between rounds but, when it is re-opened in round five, it leads to an immediate stoppage. TKO 5 for Jurich, who becomes the new WBA Flyweight Champ, despite howls of protest from Ortega’s corner. For what it’s worth, two of the three cards had Jurich ahead at the time of the stoppage. Post-bout records: 19-3-1 (15) for Jurich; 26-10-4 (13) for Ortega.

Aug. 24, 1940: To New York City’s Madison Square Garden for the next fistic action. Fans are up for one of the preliminary bouts, with up-and-coming WW prospect “Sugar” Ray Robinson, in only his third pro start, making his first appearance in the “Big Apple.” Robinson does not disappoint, flattening his TC opponent with a big uppercut less than a minute into the opening round for his third stoppage win in just three starts. A pair of LH bouts top the card. In the first of these, former WBA LH Champ Billy Conn, the “Pittsburgh Kid,” is back on the comeback trail, taking on Bob Olin in a 10-round, non-title affair. Conn holds a UD win in one prior encounter, back in 1938. Conn is on target early, and he builds a solid lead against the aggressive but awkward Olin. By the end of the fourth round, Olin is suffering from a cut over his left eye and a rapidly swelling right eye. At the midway point, the unofficial scorer has a runaway lead for Conn (50-45). Not much changes in the latter stages, as Olin’s cut continues to ooze blood and his aggressive tactics are ineffective against some solid defense from Conn. End result is a lopsided UD 10 for Conn (99-91, 99-91, 97-93), running his career record to 24-3-2 (11) and putting him back in the LH title picture after two straight wins following recent setbacks in title bouts. The loss drops the post-Prime Olin to 33-18-3 (10), and the hopes for a resurgence for the one-time NABF LH Champ appeared to be extinguished. In the main event, Tony Shucco is making his fourth defense of his NABF LH title (all in 1940), this time against challenger Joe “Cairo Calamity” Knight. Shucco is looking to avenge an earlier loss to Knight, via a SD 10, back in 1936 – now Knight is at Post-Prime and a less formidable opponent. Knight tries to get aggressive and mix it up on the inside, but is unsuccessful, as Shucco’s jab is effective at keeping Knight at bay. Superior boxing skills enable Shucco to forge a formidable lead in punches landed by the midway point but, for some reason, the unofficial scorer at ringside has the bout even (57-all). Shucco continues his workmanlike performance, gradually wearing down Knight in the later rounds to take a UD 12 (117-112, 117-113, 115-114) and retain the belt. Post-bout career marks: Shucco, 35-12-1 (11); Knight, 33-13-3 (17). Both Conn and Shucco are angling for a shot at the WBA LH Champ Eddie Booker by the end of the year. It remains to be seen if this will happen for either man; perhaps they will end up meeting each other in a rematch of a bout earlier this year, won by Shucco.

Aug. 30, 1940: Another Friday night card is next, this one at Manila’s Rizal Arena. Unbeaten Filipino Flyweight hopeful Little Dado has his first title shot, for the OPBF Fly title currently held by veteran Small Montana. No prior meetings; for Montana, it is the fourth defense of this title he has held since 1935. Early edge to the challenger, Dado, who manages to take the opening two rounds, but Montana finds the range from the outside as Dado gets overly aggressive in round three. Dado rebounds quickly, taking the next two rounds; Montana battles back, winning the sixth but is behind (58-56 on the unofficial card) at the midway point. More exchanges on the outside in rounds seven and eight, again favoring the challenger. Montana, who is beginning to tire, gets more aggressive as the bout heads into the later rounds. Dado also tires badly down the stretch, and a late surge from Montana closes the gap. Dado regains the initiative in round 11, taking advantage of a rapidly swelling left eye on the part of Montana. Dado takes the last two rounds and a UD 12 (116-112, 115-113, 115-113), lifting the belt and running his unbeaten record to 23-0 (13). There is already talk of a WBA title shot, either later in 1940 or in early 1941. The loss leaves Montana at 23-12-4 (8).

Aug. 31, 1940: The month wraps with a card at Mexico City, with a WBA title bout as the featured event. FWs on display, both in the title bout and in the main supporting bout, a non-title affair matching two top 10 contenders: Filio Julian Echevarria and Frankie Covelli. Echevarria, the reigning LABF FW titleholder, holds a UD win over Covelli in one prior meeting, back in Havana in 1935 – and now, five years later, both are at Post-Prime career stage for this rematch. The two appear to be evenly matched, as indicated by the fact that the unofficial scorer has it even (48-all) at the midway point. Covelli begins to tire in the later stages, enabling Echevarria to gradually pull ahead, grinding out a points win. UD 10 to Echevarria (96-94, 96-95, 98-94) to push his career totals to 37-14-4 (12); the loss drops Covelli to 32-13- 8 (7). Then, it’s time for the main event, for the WBA FW title, with the titleholder, Mike “Bronx Spider” Belloise, facing a difficult challenger in former Champ, reigning NABF FW Champ and hometown crowd favorite Baby Arizmendi. First meeting of the two, and Arizmendi has won his last three since losing the WBA title belt in a controversial DQ loss to Chalky Wright. Arizmendi looks sharp from the opening bell, landing repeatedly and dominating the action in the first two rounds. Belloise bounces back with a big round three, but his efforts to move inside are neutralized by some strong defense and counterpunching from the Mexican challenger. Arizmendi holds a slight points advantage (48-47, on the unofficial card) after the first five rounds. Belloise tries unsuccessfully to bang away on the inside, and Arizmendi pulls ahead even further (97-93 on the unofficial card) headed into the later rounds. Arizmendi gradually wears down Belloise and regains the WBA title with a comfortable UD 15 (147-139, 147-138, 144-141). Big win for Arizmendi in front of his hometown fans. Post-bout career marks: Arizmendi, 42-9-2 (10); Belloise, 26-10-5 (9).