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This report includes bouts from the second half of November 1949. Two WBA title bouts are included in this report.

Nov. 18, 1949: Excitement is in the air for the next edition of the Friday Night “Down Under” series, as a WBA title clash tops the agenda. First up, in the main supporting bout, two veteran MW contenders do battle, both of whom are in the Post-Prime of their respective careers. These two protagonists are American MWs Artie Levine and Freddie Apostoli, the “Boxing Bellhop;” in two prior encounters, Levine came out on top both times. Boxing comfortably, Apostoli builds an early lead in the punch count stats over the first three rounds. At the halfway point, Apostoli has a comfortable lead (49-46) on the unofficial scorer’s card. Late in round six, Apostoli is able to break through, dropping Levine with a nice combination near the end of the round; Levine is barely able to beat the count, and the bell sounds before Apostoli can follow up. Levine ramps up the aggression in the later stages of the bout, but Apostoli is able to stay out of trouble, By the end of round nine, Levine’s corner is treating a welt under Levine’s left eye. The end comes a round later when, after two more knockdowns, the ref calls a halt, so the bout goes into the book as a TKO 10 for Apostoli. With the win, Apostoli improves to 41-21-3 (26). Levine slips to 28-12-1 (17) after the loss. Then, time for the main event, and Aussie Taffy “Sunny” Hancock, the reigning Commonwealth Flyweight Champion, challenges Teddy Gardner for Gardner’s WBA Flyweight title. It is the first meeting of the two, and two minutes into the opening round, Gardner connects with a strong combination that puts Hancock down for a count of three. Hancock regains his footing, then covers up to last the round without further difficulty. However, Gardner finishes off Hancock with a barrage of blows, putting the Aussie challenger down for the count. Impressive KO 2 for Gardner; post-bout career marks: Gardner, 35-9-2 (13); Hancock, 18-4-1 (14).

Nov. 19, 1949: Next up is a nice card at Miami. No titles at stake, and two top 10 ranked FWs take to the ring in the main event. Meeting for the second time are Carlos Chavez and Eddie Compo; these two battled to a draw in their one prior encounter, in Chicago in 1948. This time around, there is a blood on the forehead of Chavez at the conclusion of the opening stanza, and it is unclear if the cut was caused by a butt or a legal punch. In round two, a cut appears under Compo’s left eye. By the end of the third round, there is noticeable swelling under Compo’s injured eye. Then, in round four, the cut on Chavez’s forehead is reopened, but it is quickly patched up between rounds. At the midway point, Chavez is ahead on points (49-46), according to the unofficial scorer at ringside. With the punch count stats as well as the stamina favor also working in Chavez’s favor, Compo makes an effort to step up the pace, taking a more active approach in the second half of the bout. In round seven, the cut on Chavez’s forehead is reopened, and it is deemed to be too serious to allow the bout to continue. Since it was ruled to be the result of an accidental butt, the scorecards after round six decide matters, and Chavez is declared the victor via a UTD 7 (59-57, 60-56, 58-57). With the win, Chavez runs his career record to 32-10-3 (10). For Compo, this is only his third career loss, leaving him at 22-3-3 (5).

Nov. 19, 1949: To the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles for the next card, and featured in the main event is a bout matching LABF BW Champ Luis Galvani with an up-and-coming American BW, Cecil Schoonmaker, for the vacant NABF BW title previously held by Fernando Gagnon, who is now the WBA BW Champ. The two have not met before, and, after a solid couple of opening rounds from Galvani, there is some puffiness under Schoonmaker’s right eye. After a strong round in the fifth, Galvani is well ahead in the punch count stats and, at the halfway point, he has a commanding points lead (60-54), according to the unofficial scorer. In round seven, with Schoonmaker pressing forward, Galvani connects with a short, clean hook that sends his opponent to the canvas. Schoonmaker takes an eight count before arising, then he covers up to last the round. Galvani, well on his way to a convincing points win, registers a pair of knockdowns in round 11, aided by two more in round 12, and this is sufficient for the ref to step in and call a halt with just a few seconds remaining in the contest. The TKO 12 gives Galvani the NABF belt for the second time, lifting his career record to 29-5 (18). The loss drops Schoonmaker to 20-4-1 (8).

Nov. 25, 1949: Next is a Friday night card at Johannesburg’s Rand Stadium. Featured bout matches two regional Champions in the LW division, as former WBA LW titleholder and current NABF LW Champ Bob “Bobcat” Montgomery takes on Charlie Ashenden, who recently captured the OPBF LW title. No prior meetings of these two, and no titles at stake in this 10-rounder. Montgomery, the heavier hitter of the two, gets off to a solid start, dominating the action in the early going. Ashenden, however, proves to be a resilient and resourceful foe. In round five, Montgomery breaks through, ripping open a cut over Ashenden’s left eye with a couple of sharp jabs, then flooring the Aussie with an overhand Into the middle rounds, and last the round. At the midway point, the unofficial scorer has Montgomery with a slim one-point lead (48-47), this despite a 10-8 round for the American Champion in the fifth. In round seven, the cut over Ashenden’s eye is reopened. Going into the later rounds, Montgomery has a huge stamina advantage, as well as a nice edge in the punch count stats. The end comes in round nine, when Montgomery breaks through, dropping Ashenden twice, once with a barrage of blows, then again with a nice uppercut, forcing an early stoppage. TKO 9 for Montgomery, who improves to 41-5-2 (22) with the win; the loss drops Ashenden to 20-7-8 (5). Both of these guys will be at Post-Prime which their next outing, some time in early 1950.

Nov. 26, 1949: Next card takes place in London. At stake in the main event is the EBU FW title, currently held by France’s Emile Famechon. Challenging Famechon for the title is a Brit, Teddy Peckham. In one prior meeting, Peckham prevailed via a first round knockout, but this was back in 1946 when both boxers were at pre-Prime. Peckham, the more aggressive of the two in the early going, tries to assert himself by moving inside in round three. Once the bout reaches the middle rounds, Famechon has settled in and, with both fighters mixing it up on the inside in round five, he gets the better of Peckham, landing a huge shot a minute into the round that puts the British challenger down and out. Impressive KO 5 for Famechon, who avenges the earlier loss and retains his EBU title belt. Post-bout records: Famechon, 23-4-1 (7); Peckham, 19-5 (9).

Nov. 26, 1949: Final card of the month takes place at New York City’s Madison Square Garden. A WBA title clash tops the agenda, but first up is a matchup of two LH contenders in the main supporting bout. In this 10-round, non-title bout, veteran Harry “Kid” Matthews faces, for the first time, Bob Murphy. After a couple of pedestrian opening rounds, Matthews takes charge in round three, ripping open a cut over Murphy’s left eye with a hard cross. Later in the round, even more damage is done as a mouse forms under Murphy’s other eye. With Murphy barely able to remain upright, the bout comes to an early end with seconds remaining, as the ref steps in to save Murphy from further punishment. Impressive TKO 3 for Matthews, who improves to 35-9-1 (23) with the win, reinforcing his position among the top LH contenders. Meanwhile, Murphy slips to 19-4 (17) with the loss. Then, in the main event, former WBA WW Champ “Sugar” Ray Robinson challenges Jose Basora for the WBA MW title belt. The two met once before, almost three years ago, with Robinson prevailing via a TKO stoppage. In this rematch, Robinson takes charge with a strong round in the third, then moves inside in round four. After the first five rounds are in the books, Robinson has forged a solid points lead (49-46) on the unofficial scorer’s card. Into the middle rounds, and Basora makes an effort to turn things around, starting with a strong round in the seventh that sees some initial swelling appear under Robinson’s right eye. However, Robinson maintains the edge in the punches landed stats and, at the two-thirds mark, he holds a two-point lead (96-94), according to the unofficial card. In round 11, a right from Basora opens a cut over Robinson’s left eye. Basora, desperate to retain his title, tries to capitalize on the situation, reopening the cut over Robinson’s eye in round 13, but Robinson is able to cause some puffiness to appear under Basora’s right eye. Robinson’s corner is able to keep the cut under control, and “Sugar Ray” gradually pulls away to register a solid points win, taking the UD 15 (148-136, 146-138, 145-140) and the WBA MW title. Post-bout career marks: Robinson, 41-3-1 (29); Basora, 36-10-1 (24).