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This report covers a total of 57 bouts taking place during the first half of October 1940. No WBA title bouts featured in any of these cards.

Oct. 4, 1940: The month kicks off with a Friday night card at Jersey City’s Roosevelt Stadium. No titles on the line, but the feature has none other than Jersey Joe Walcott, recently crowned USBA HW Champ, taking on long-time British top contender Tommy Farr in a 10-rounder. It is the first meeting of the two, and, after a cautious start by both men, Walcott opens up and begins to assert himself with a big round two. In round three, he manages to rip open a cut over the right eye of Farr. Another big round for Walcott in the fifth, in which he stunned the British visitor with a huge uppercut; solid points lead for Jersey Joe at the halfway point (50-45, according to the unofficial count). A straight right from Walcott at the outset of round eight rocks Farr again, and the cut also remains an issue for his corner. Farr gamely tries to battle back, but he is off target with his punches and totally exhausted for the last two rounds of the fight. Solid effort from Walcott, who takes a fairly comfortable UD 10 (98-92, 98-92, 97-93) to run his career record to 39-6 (24). Farr, who is just a couple of bouts away from hitting Post-Prime, is 46-16-3 (16) post-fight.

Oct. 5, 1940: Next action is at a rarely-used venue, the Rand Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa. Topping the agenda is a non-title matchup of two top 10 WWs, Ruby Goldstein and Holland’s Bep Van Klaveren. Goldstein, who is now past his prime, is looking to avenge an earlier loss to Van Klaveren back in 1936. Midway through the second round, Van Klaveren sustains a cut over his left eye. The cut continues to ooze blood and causes problems for the Dutchman and his corner as the bout progresses. However, Van Klaveren bounces back with a strong round in the fifth, and the unofficial card scores the bout even (47-all) at the halfway point. Meanwhile, Goldstein must deal with a rapidly swelling right eye, so the cornermen of both fighters are fully engaged in this one. Then, a sudden end to the bout in round seven, when the gash over Van Klaveren’s eye is reopened and becomes too dangerous to allow the bout to continue. Amidst boos from the crowd and protests from Van Klaveren’s corner, Ruby Goldstein’s hand is raised in triumph as he is declared a TKO 7 victor via the cuts stoppage. Post-bout career marks: 45-14-5 (30) for Goldstein; 30-13-8 (11) for Van Klaveren. Tough loss for Van Klaveren, who was ahead on two of the three cards at the time of the stoppage. For Goldstein, he avenges the prior loss but will be at End career stage from now on, so this could be the last main event win of his career.

Oct. 5, 1940: Next card is at Chicago’s Comiskey Park. Featured is a NABF BW title matchup, featuring the unbeaten Champion Tommy Forte, who is making the first defense of the belt that he won earlier in the year. His opponent is Lou Salica, who recently ascended to the USBA title. Forte and Salica battled to a draw in early 1939, in Forte’s last bout at Pre-Prime and, to date, it is the only blemish on Forte’s excellent 23-0-1 career record. This time around, Forte assumes the role of aggressor and seizes the upper hand when he connects with a blow to the top of the head that stuns Salica late in round three. Solid boxing from Salica impresses the judges, as well as the unofficial scorer at ringside, who has the challenger ahead (59-55) at the halfway point of the bout. Forte, not used to going longer distances, begins to show signs of fatigue as the later rounds approach. He tries to load up on his punches, but Salica’s defense remains firm. No cuts or knockdowns as the bout goes to decision. In a minor surprise, their earlier result is repeated, as it ends up being declared a draw (115-114 Forte, 113-115 Salica, 114-114), allowing Forte to keep the belt. Post-bout records: Forte, 23-0-2 (11); Salica, 26-6-2 (10). A peek at the cards showed that Salica’s decision to adopt a more defensive posture in the last two rounds cost him the win, as Forte won both those rounds to secure the draw.

Oct. 11, 1940: Next is a Friday night card at another seldom used venue, Buenos Aires’ Luna Park. At stake in the main event is the LABF HW title, held since 1937 by Jimmy Mendes. Mendes is defending against the man he defeated for the title, Eduardo Primo, but this time he must face a hostile crowd in Mendes’ native Argentina. Mendes takes charge at the outset, decking Primo with a hard cross in the opening stanza. Primo regains his footing and attempts to cover up, but Mendes shows no mercy, following with two more KDs, prompting the ref to call a halt before the first round is finished. The TKO 1 for Mendes lifts his career totals to 37-11-4 (30), while the loss leaves Primo at 19-11-1 (11). The fact that Mendes was at Post-Prime did not seem to hamper his performance or diminish his power, as he re-established his credentials as a possible WBA title contender.

Oct. 12, 1940: The setting for the next card is at the Sports Palace in Rome, Italy. Two non-title clashes serve as the co-main events, both of which feature Italian boxers versus visiting opponents. In the first co-feature, LWs do battle as Wesley Ramey faces veteran Italian Aldo Spoldi. The two met once before, way back in 1932, when both were at Pre-Prime, and that bout ended in a draw. Ramey is on top early, and by the end of the third round, there is puffiness under Spoldi’s right eye. Slight edge to Ramey at the midway point (48-47, according to the unofficial card), and more trouble for Spoldi as a cut opens up over his left eye in round six. The cut is reopened in round nine, but otherwise not a problem, as the Italian – possibly with an assist from some hometown judging – manages to secure a draw (97-93 Ramey, 94-96 Spoldi, 95-95). Post-fight career records: Ramey, 31-10-7 (11); Spoldi, 35-9-5 (15). Then, in the co-feature, popular Italian HW, Primo Carnera, the “Ambling Alp,” faces “Der Blonde,” German Walter Neusel in a matchup of two veteran HWs. Carnera is seeking to avenge a TKO loss to Neusel for the EBU HW title back in 1938. Big punches landed edge to Neusel in the opening round, so much so that a mouse is formed under the left eye of Carnera. Solid points lead for Neusel (50-45, on the unofficial card) at the halfway point. In the later rounds, a weary-looking Carnera stalks his opponent but cannot land any telling blows. In round eight, a Neusel combination sends Carnera to the canvas. Carnera manages to arise, finishing the bout, but the UD 10 goes to Neusel by a lopsided score (99-89, 100-88, 100-88), leaving Carnera’s supporters disappointed. With the win, Neusel improves to 26-11-2 (18) overall, while Carnera ends the bout at 32-13-3 (23).

Oct. 12, 1940: Next fistic action is at Pittsburgh. A packed card headlined by an NABF title bout. However, first up is the main supporting bout featuring two veteran HW contenders, as Elmer Ray faces Tommy Loughran. Ray holds a prior win via KO over Loughran back in 1936. This time, it’s a tough start for Ray who sustains a cut over his right eye in the second round. Ray battles back, stunning Loughran with a solid uppercut in round four. Ray follows up by forcing his way inside in round five, and he decks Loughran with a big shot. In an exact repeat of their earlier encounter, Loughran cannot beat the count, and it goes as another KO 5 win for Ray, who improves to 44-12 (30). After the loss, Loughran decides to call it quits, wrapping a distinguished career with totals of 64-16-5 (20) that included a long reign as WBA LH Champion although the HW title proved more elusive. After saying farewell to Loughran, the fight fans settled in for the main event, with former WBA LH Champ Billy Conn, the “Pittsburgh Kid,” challenging Tony Shucco for Shucco’s NABF LH title. It’s a rematch of a bout earlier in the year that resulted in a controversial MD 12 win for Shucco. Cautious start by both men, particularly Shucco, who enters the bout riding a seven bout unbeaten streak (six wins, one draw). The bout remains close through the opening rounds, and the unofficial scorer has a slight edge for Shucco (58-56) at the midway point, although several rounds were close and could have gone either way. Conn appears to be in better shape stamina-wise as the bout heads into the later rounds. In round nine, a right cross from Shucco does some damage, ripping open a cut under the left eye of Conn. Shucco continues to pound away from the inside, targeting the cut eye, while Conn is content to stay outside, also protecting the cut. The bout comes down to the final few rounds, The cut is not re-opened, and Conn’s superior stamina and conditioning enable him to lift the belt via a SD 12 (115-115 Shucco, 115-114 Conn, 116-113 Conn), to the delight of the pro-Conn crowd in Pittsburgh. Post-bout career marks: Conn, 25-3-2 (11); Shucco, 35-13-1 (11). Conn’s connections hope this win will serve as a springboard to another WBA title shot, this time versus new WBA LH Champ Gus Lesnevich.