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This report includes bouts from the second half of February 1948. One WBA title bout is included in this report.

Feb. 20, 1948: The Friday night fights “Down Under” series resumes with a card at Sydney. Aussie MW Ron Toohey steps up to main event status, despite still being at Pre-Prime career stage, and he faces British MW Tommy Davies in a title encounter, the reward being the Commonwealth MW title until recently held by Dave Sands, who relinquished the belt after his win over Marcel Cerdan to capture the WBA MW title. First meeting of these two, and neither fighter appears eager to seize the initiative in the early rounds. Toohey works his way inside in round four, which turns out to be a good action round, but also an even round. In round five, both men battle away on the inside, and Toohey emerges as winning most of those exchanges. By the midway point, however, it is Davies with the points lead (58-56) on the unofficial card, although the punches landed stats indicate a much closer contest. Starting in the seventh round, Toohey adopts a much more aggressive posture, continuing the work inside and apply maximum pressure in an effort to break down Davies’ defenses. Some clinching and roughhouse tactics near the end of the eighth round result in some puffiness under Toohey’s left eye. Meanwhile, Davies is content to keep his distance on the outside, allowing Toohey to initiate most of the action. Into the later rounds, and Toohey continues to press the action, finishing with an all-out assault in the final round. With time running out, a hard shot from Toohey manages to put Davies down, this with seconds before the final bell. The bell sounds, saving Davies, but the late KD is bound to have some impact on the judges. After a long delay, the judges’ cards are read, and in a decision that is roundly booed by the pro-Toohey crowd, Davies takes a SD 12 (115-112, 114-116, 114-113), winning the belt despite the last round knockdown. With the win, Davies runs his career record to 24-9-4 (8). Toohey slips to 13-4 (5) with the loss.

Feb. 21, 1948: To New Orleans’ Coliseum Arena for the next fight card, and the main event showcases a USBA WW title contest, with 21-1 Jimmy Sherrer challenging veteran Jackie Wilson for the title belt. The two have not met previously, Wilson has just hit Post-Prime career stage, and this is Sherrer’s first try at winning a title of any kind. Sherrer gets off to a strong start, and in round two, he rocks Wilson with a hook to the head that opens up a cut over Wilson’s right eye. Even while battling the cut, Wilson is able to bounce back and land sufficient leather to cause some puffiness around the right eye of the challenger. Then, in round four, Sherrer puts Wilson on the deck, connecting with a strong combination. Wilson resumes after taking a count of five, but he is forced to cover up and, meanwhile, the cut over his eye has worsened. More trouble for Wilson, who goes down again in round five, and this time there is noticeable swelling under his left eye while the cut over the right eye is still a problem as well. In round six, it is Sherrer who sustains a cut over his right eye, but he perseveres and, with just seconds remaining in the round, he forces Wilson into submission, and the ref steps in to call a halt. TKO 6 for Sherrer, who is the new USBA WW Champion. Post-bout career marks: Sherrer, 22-1 (12); Wilson, 37-14-3 (18).

Feb. 21, 1948: Next card takes place at Los Angeles’ Olympic Auditorium, and a twin bill of title bouts tops the agenda. In the first co-feature, two Post-Prime BWs, Benny Goldberg and Tony Olivera, are matched for the USBA BW title that was vacated after Tommy Forte moved up and captured the NABF BW title. The belt has been vacant for over six months, as there was a dearth of young talent in the BW division to take up the challenge, thus two guys on the downside of their respective careers have been tapped to vie for the vacant belt. In just one prior meeting, back in 1941, Goldberg emerged as a MD 10 winner. This time around, it is a rather cautious start by both men, neither of whom wants to allow any opportunity for an opening for their opponent in the early rounds. By the end of round four, Goldberg seems to be getting the better of Olivera, who retreats to his corner sporting a rapidly swelling left eye. Midway through the fifth round, Goldberg stuns Olivera which a quick hook to the head, and Olivera covers up in order to avert further damage. By the halfway point of the contest, Goldberg has pulled ahead (59-56) on the unofficial scorecard. After staying on the outside for most of the first half of the bout, Olivera takes a more aggressive posture in the second half, applying pressure in an effort to reverse the trend that has Goldberg winning. The bout comes to a sudden end in round nine, however, when Goldberg is called for some blatant low blows, and the ref steps in and Olivera is awarded the title via a DQ-9 win. Controversial end, with Olivera taking the belt, improving his career 33-11-2 (20). Goldberg drops to 34-7-3 (14) with the loss and, due to the controversial end to the bout, a rematch in two months’ time has been order. Then, in the second co-main event, the NABF LW title is on the line, with former WBA LW Champ Ike Williams challenging Lulu Costantino, who captured the vacant belt in late 1947. No prior meetings and, after a couple of uneventful opening rounds, Williams moves inside to apply some pressure in round three. The bout remains close, as Costantino is able to hold his own versus the ex-Champion. By the midway point of the contest, Costantino has edged in front (58-57) on the unofficial scorecard. Then, midway through round seven, Costantino suffers a cut lip, the result of a quick one-two combination from Williams. With Costantino occupied by the cut, Williams comes out swinging in round eight, decking Costantino with another combination for the bout’s first knockdown. Costantino struggles to his feet at the count of eight, then struggles to his feet. Williams continues, with his killer instinct having kicked in, and he drops Costantino a second time just before the bell. After taking a breather in round nine, a Williams hook in round 10 causes Costantino to tumble to the canvas for a third time. Two more KDs follow in round 11, and finally, in the waning seconds of the round, the ref steps in to call a halt, saving Costantino from further punishment. Impressive TKO 11 for Williams, who lifts the title and puts himself back in the conversation for a WBA title shot. Post-bout career marks: Williams, 32-4-1 (27); Costantino, 30-9-3 (11).

Feb. 27, 1948: Next is an attractive Friday night card at Havana’s Gran Stadium, featuring an LABF title clash preceded by a couple of attractive supporting bouts. In the first of these, WWs take to the ring as LABF WW kingpin Joe Legon faces Johnny “Honey Boy” Bratton in face of the pro-Legon Cuban fight crowd. The two have not met before, and Bratton, while undefeated, is still a couple of bouts away from Prime career stage. On the other hand, Legon is at Post-Prime, but he comes off a controversial DQ win to retain the LABF belt over another up-and-coming young fighter, fellow Cuban Kid Gavilan. The early edge in punches landed goes to Bratton, who asserts himself by moving inside in round three, crowding his opponent and landing some effective punches. Not to be outdone, Legon gets the home fans exciting by doing some good work on the inside himself in round four. By the midway point, the issue is very much in doubt, with Legon leading on the unofficial card (48-47), while the punches landed stats continue to favor Bratton. In the second half of the bout, it is Legon who feels things slipping away, hence he takes a more aggressive posture as the later rounds approach. Both fighters appear to be exhausted for the final few rounds, and Legon continues to press until the very end. However, to the disappointment of the pro-Legon fight fans in attendance, the UD 10 goes to Bratton, and by a fairly wide margin (98-93, 100-91, 98-93). Bratton, now just one bout away from Prime, remains unbeaten, now 18-0-1 (10); Legon finishes the bout at 25-18-6 (14). In the second of two main supporting bouts, popular Cuban HW Nino Valdes faces Swede Olle Tandberg, in a tough crossroads bout for both men. No prior meetings, and Tandberg is putting a six bout winning streak on the line against the hard hitting Cuban slugger. The Swede, Tandberg, gets off to a solid start and, after the first three rounds, there is a noticeable patch of redness around the left eye of Valdes. Valdes battles back, staggering Tandberg with a hard cross near the end of the fifth round; Tandberg is able to cover up and last the round, but there is some noticeable puffiness under his left eye as he returns to his corner. At the halfway point of this 10-rounder, it is Tandberg clinging to a narrow one-point lead (48-47) on the unofficial scorer’s card. Cheered on by an appreciative hometown crowd, Valdes seizes the initiative, taking the fight to Tandberg in the second half of the bout. However, the Swede survived the worst of it, all while retaining a nice lead in the punches landed stats. In round nine, a right from Tandberg gets through, opening a cut over Valdes’ right eye. The cut is quickly patched up, but Valdes’ punches lack steam, so the bout goes the distance, and Tandberg scoops up a solid UD 10 (98-93, 98-94, 99-93) over a dangerous opponent for his seventh win in a row, further boosting his standing in the HW ranks. Post-bout records: Tandberg, 28-6-3 (9); Valdes, 20-7-2 (16). Then, in the main event, topping a card filled with Cuban fighters, two Cuban FWs take to the ring, as National Kid seeks to take away the LABF FW title from his countryman, Diego Sosa. It is the fourth meeting of the two, all for this same LABF title, with Sosa prevailing in all three prior meetings, all points wins, the closest being a MD 12 back in late 1944. This time around, with Kid at Post-Prime career stage, a huge second round for Sosa puts him ahead in the early going. Kid is able to gradually work his way into the bout, and in round five, he connects with a hard uppercut that rips open a cut over Sosa’s left eye. The cut is patched up between rounds and, at the halfway point, the unofficial card has Sosa bouncing back to lead by two (58-56) at the midway point. In the second half of the bout, Kid is forced to abandon a more passive approach in an effort to pose more problems for Sosa by moving inside and targeting the cut eye. In round seven, a short, clean hook from Sosa stops Kid in his tracks, dropping the challenger for a three count. A second KD follows a round later, and Kid now seems defeated and unable to bounce back. In the final two rounds, Kid shows signs of weariness, perhaps also the effect of the two knockdowns, plus he is suffering from a rapidly swelling left eye. The bout goes the rest of the way without further incident, and Sosa goes on to take a lopsided UD 12 (118-109, 118-109, 117-111) to retain the title and run his career totals to 29-6-2 (16). The loss leaves Kid at 29-13-3 (12).

Feb. 28, 1948: The Earls Court in London is the venue for the next fight card. Only one bout of note, and this is the main event, for the GBU MW title, with Vince Hawkins defending versus a credible challenger in Dick Turpin. In fact, in 1944, in their one prior meeting, Turpin came away a UD 10 winner. Turpin gets off to a solid start, and he gradually builds a lead in the punches landed stats while preventing Hawkins from landing any telling blows in the early rounds. However, a strong fifth round puts Hawkins back into contention, plus he has managed to cause some initial puffiness around the right eye of the challenger. At the halfway point, Turpin maintains the edge in points (58-56), according to the unofficial scorer at ringside. Undeterred, Hawkins works his way inside in round seven, doing some major damage, then unleashing a powerful uppercut that rips open a sizable gash over the left eye of Turpin. Blood spurts forth, and the cut is adjudged too dangerous to allow the bout to continue. In an upset, Hawkins retains his GBU title via a TKO 7. Post-bout records: Hawkins, 21-12-4 (8); Turpin, 20-10-2 (11).

Feb. 28, 1948: The month ends with a big card in New York City, topped by a WBA title clash. In the main supporting bout, unbeaten FW prospect Sandy Saddler, who has already captured his first title (the USBA FW belt), takes on Sal “the Pride of East Boston” Bartolo for Bartolo’s NABF FW title. Bartolo starts well, with a strong opening round. Saddler gradually works his way into the bout, but he runs into some stubborn resistance from his more experienced opponent. Into the middle rounds, and Bartolo retains the upper hand in terms of the punches landed stats. At the halfway point, the unofficial scorer has Bartolo nursing a two-point advantage (58-56), with Saddler poised to go on the offensive as the bout headed into its later stages. While Saddler is launching a furious assault on the inside, Bartolo is content to stay outside, fending off most of the blows. However, midway through round eight, Saddler manages to break through, dropping Bartolo for an eight count with a barrage of punches. With Bartolo attempting to cover up, Saddler is unable to finish the job, but he does manage to open a nasty looking cut over Bartolo’s right eye just before the bell. Bartolo battles back, recovering and making it a close fight right until the final few rounds. The cut turns out not to be an issue, as the bout goes the distance. In the end, the one 10-8 round in the eighth makes all the difference, so Saddler takes a close but UD 12 (114-112 on all three cards) to prevail, adding the NABF title belt to his collection, all while running his record to 20-0 (16) – could a matchup with WBA FW Champ Willie Pep be next? Meanwhile, a tough loss for Bartolo, who slips to 34-11-4 (10). Then, in the finale, the WBA LH title is on the line, with Melio Bettina, who won the belt in late 1947, facing “Fearless” Freddie Mills, who currently holds all three regional titles he is eligible for (those being the British, Commonwealth and European titles). In three prior meetings, however, the best Mills has managed has been a draw but, with Bettina now at Post-Prime career stage, Mills hopes for a better outcome in this, his first ever WBA title shot. Mills starts strongly, grinding his way to an early edge in the punches landed stats after a solid second round. Moving inside, Mills runs into a Bettina uppercut that manages to draw blood, opening a cut over Mills’ left eye. In the ensuing rounds, Bettina presses forward, moving inside and targeting the cut. Belatedly, Mills’ corner is able to close the cut and, near the end of round five, Mills connects with a big hook that forces Bettina to cover up. After the first five, Bettina’s left eye shows signs of swelling and, according to the unofficial card, the title is very much up for grabs, with Bettina up by just one (48-47) at this point. Into the middle rounds, both fighters are ready to mix it up on the inside, with Bettina still looking to reopen the cut over Mills’ eye. In round seven, Bettina’s approach bears fruit. First, he opens a new cut over Mills’ right eye; then, the original cut over the left eye is reopened, and this time, the ref steps in and calls a halt. TKO 7 on the cuts stoppage enables Bettina to retain the WBA title. Post-bout career marks: 43-10-7 (18); Mills, 32-17-2 (15).