Fistania Gazette May 1911
HBF Top 15
World Champion-Vacant
Top 15 Record Last Month
1-James Jeffries 16-0-0 (12) 1
2-Sam Langford 14-0-0 (12) 2
3-Kid Norfolk 24-4-0 (15) 7
4-Tom Sharkey 10-2-0 (8) 3
5-Jack Johnson 26-1-0 (16) 10
6-Frank Moran 15-1-0 (8) 4
7-Bob Fitzsimmons 17-1-0 (10) 5
8-Jake Kilrain 11-3-0 (8) 6
9-Sam McVey 22-1-0 (14) 9
10-Joe Jeannette 22-1-0 (10) 11
11-Jim Corbett 12-3-0 (5) 8
12-Peter Jackson 15-2-1 (10) 13
13-Jack Root 12-4-0 (4) 14
14-John L Sullivan 14-4-0 (14) 12
15-Leo Houck 13-2-1 (3) 15
Dropped out:
N/A
European Champion-Peter Maher
North American Champion-Sam McVey
April Results
San Antonio, Texas
Jack Johnson W 10 Kid Norfolk
Peter Jackson KO 4 Jim Barry
Luther McCarty W10 Joe Grim
Gunner Moir W 10 Tony Ross
Fireman Jim Flynn KO 1 Jim Stewart
Sailor Jack Carroll W 8 Al Benedict
Notes: The main event saw Local Texas favorite Jack Johnson taking on the highly regarded Kid Norfolk. The fight promised to be closely contested, with the cagey Johnson looking to counter Norfolk’s advances throughout. Norfolk started strong taking the first in close fashion, but Johnson found his timing to carry rounds 2-4 comfortably, moving just out of reach of his opponents punches, then making Kid pay with crisp counter Jabs and combinations, though Norfolk caught Johnson with a slicing Hook that opened an ugly gash over Johnson’s right Eye in the second, that bleed continuously until round 6. The 5th saw Johnson begin to favor the cut and Norfolk picked up the pace, stunning smiling Jack with a big right hand. Johnson, rallied in the 6th and carried the round easily with masterful boxing. Norfolk, slipping behind went for a knockout in the 7th stanza, winning the round, but failing to stagger his bigger opponent. Johnson trapped Norfolk along the ropes and had Ernesto Magano looking closely at the fading Boxer in the waning moments of the round. The final 2 cantos were relatively quiet as Johnson coasted home to the decision win. In the semi, Peter Jackson showed a sense of urgency from the opening bell, dominating Jim Barry and pounding him from pillar to post, finally ending the one sided affair at 1:52 of the 4th with a single left Hook. It was a miserably failure for Barry, who was looking to catapult into the rankings, but was never in the bout. In an exciting preliminary bout, Fireman Jim Flynn scored a brutal 1st round KO of hapless Jim Stewart, now 1-22 with crushing left, right combination that had Stewart unconscious before he hit the Canvas.
Paris, France
Joe Jeannette W 10 John L Sullivan
Jim Corbett KO 2 Mike Schreck
Charley Mitchell W 10 Victor McLaglen
Harry Wills W 10 Tom Kennedy
Arthur Pelkey W 8 Jack Munroe
Jewey Smith W 8 Joe Cox
Notes: The Parisian crowd went nuts for John L Sullivan in the days leading up to the fight and Big John relished the hype. The atmosphere was charged as the two warriors went toe to toe from the opening bell, trading violent doses of leather in the first 2 rounds. After a close 3rd Jeannette caught the Boston Strongboy walking in with a violent left Hook in the 4th that dropped John L to the shock of the pro-Sullivan crowd. Sullivan regained his feet, but the now confident Jeannette took charge beating Sullivan to the punch continuously in rounds 5, 6 and 7. Just as things were looking dismal for Sullivan, a wild right hurt Jeannette in the 8th, with a follow-up left hook dropping him on his seat for an 8 count. Jeannette survived the round and spent the final 2 stanza’s moving and jabbing as the frustrated Sullivan could only chase him about the Ring. The resulting majority decision win promising to get Jeannette some long overdue respect. For Sullivan it means a crossroads, with 2 consecutive losses sure to knock him from immediate title contention. Though his numbing power and ability to draw will ensure John L will reside at the top of the cards for quite some time. James Corbett showed surprising power dropping Mike Schreck with a picture perfect right hand counter in round 2 for an 8 count. After Schreck struggled to his feet Corbett attacked with a vengeance decking his outgunned opponent for the full 10 count with just over a minute left in the round. On the under card Harry Wills cemented his spot as an up and comer reeling off his 5th straight pro victory with a 10 round nod over tough, but limited Tom Kennedy.
May Fight Schedule
New York, New York
Night of Champions festival of the Ring
James Jeffries 16-0-0 (12) VS Sam Langford 14-0-0 (12) 15 (World heavyweight Championship)
*Sam McVey 22-1-0 (14) VS Frank Moran 15-1-0 (8) 12 (North American Title)
Bob Fitzsimmons 17-1-0 (10) VS Andre Anderson 5-8-0 (2) 10
Jack Root 12-4-0 (4) VS Joe Choynski 4-8-1 (1) 10
Denver Ed Martin 8-9-0 (4) VS Gunboat Smith 7-7-1 (1) 10
Jess Willard 2-1-0 (1) VS Jem Roche 0-13-1 (0) 10
Frank Slavin 3-4-0 (2) VS Irish Pat Duncan 2-16-1 (1) 8
Dan Daily 2-0-0 (0) VS Bill Squires 2-14-1 (1) 8
*denotes defending Champion
Fighter of the Month
Joe Jeannette 22-1-0 (10)-Shaking off the criticism of a padded record Jeannette was masterful in out-pointing the dangerous John L Sullivan showing skill, savvy and heart in climbing off the canvas to defeat the Boston Battler via a hard fought 10 round decision victory. Jeannette executed his fight plan almost flawlessly effectively countering Sullivan’s mad rushes and beating the beleaguered Sullivan to the punch time and again.
Fight of the Month
Jack Johnson W 10 Kid Norfolk-Both fighters showed impressive ringmanship in a purists dream, showing every trick in the book in an incredible match of skill and savvy that had the knowledgeable fans in the crowd on the edges of their seat throughout. Both Pugilists will present a threat to however the newly crowned Champion is over the coming Months.