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Old 02-26-2019, 07:24 PM   #1323
JCWeb
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Feb. 1942 - Part 2 of 2

This report covers a total of 56 bouts taking place during the second half of February 1942. Two WBA title bouts are included in this report. One of these turns out to be an instant classic and a strong early contender for Fight of the Year honors.

Feb. 20, 1942: Next, the scene shifts to Escobar Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Some interesting twin bill action to top the agenda. In the first co-feature, it is a rematch of a WBA BW title bout as two ex-Champs do battle in a 10-round, non-title affair: Panama Al Brown, who is now past his peak, and American Georgie Pace, who lost the title to Brown in 1941, who in turn lost it to current WBA Champ K. O. Morgan. In this, his first fight since losing the title he has held on four separate occasions, Panama Al takes the initiative, working his way inside after winning the better of the exchanges in round two. Pac, though, rebounds quickly, dominating the action with a big round in round four. At the midway point, it is anyone’s fight; the unofficial scorer at ringside has a slight edge (48-47) for Brown. In the later round, age and fatigue take its toll as Brown is felled by a Pace cross, decking the four-time Champ, who arises after taking an eight count. Brown recovers after covering up to last the round and, in round nine, he inflicts sufficient damage to cause some swelling under Pace’s left eye. Undeterred, Pace bounces back and floors Brown for a second time in the 10th and final round. The bout goes to decision, and the pair of late KDs is sufficient to secure a SD 10 verdict in favor of Pace (95-93, 93-95, 95-93) to run Pace’s career totals to 28-10-2 (19). For Brown, the loss – a tough one to take – drops him to 66-13-2 (25). In the second co-feature, unbeaten MW sensation Jose Basora is challenging Antonio Fernandez for Fernandez’s LABF MW title belt. As the two have not met before, there is a usual feeling-out process that lasts for the first few rounds. Basora, the more aggressive of the two, breaks through by landing a big hook in round three, stunning the Champ and forcing Fernandez to cover up. Basora’s power punching becomes too much for Fernandez to handle, and the challenger is well ahead (by 59-55, according to the unofficial card) at the halfway point. Fernandez, known more for his defensive prowess, tries to get more aggressive in the later rounds, but he is uncomfortable doing so and unable to trouble Basora, who seems to be well prepared for this, his first title contest. The bout ends up as a MD 12 win for Basora (by scores of 116-113, 114-114, 115-113), who manages to survive a late surge by Fernandez to lift the belt. Post-bout career marks: Basora, 18-0 (15); Fernandez, 33-15-4 (12).

Feb. 21, 1942: To Europe for the next card, at the Ullevi Stadium in Gothenburg, Sweden. Only one bout of note, and it’s the main event, pitting two ranked BWs, as GBU BW titleholder Tom Smith faces ex-OPBF BW Champ Little Pancho in a rematch of a bout in Manila in 1939, which resulted in a UD 10 for the Filipino fighter. This time around, there is not much in the way of action through the opening rounds, with both men cautiously probing for an opening. Then, suddenly, a minute into the fourth round, Pancho lands a hard shot that causes blood to spurt from the nose of the British fighter. The bout comes to an early end as Smith, suffering from a broken nose, cannot continue. It goes into the books as a TKO 4 for Pancho, who improves to 43-10-7 (10) with the win. The unfortunate Smith slips to 21-10-6 (11) with the loss.

Feb. 21, 1942: Next fistic action takes place at Chicago’s Comiskey Park. Twin bill title action, with a WBA title bout topping the card. In the co-feature, it is the USBA MW title on the line, with Billy Soose defending that belt against challenger George Abrams. First defense for Soose, who dropped a split decision to Abrams back in 19, when both men were still at Pre-Prime. First blood to Abrams – literally – when he rips open a cut over the left eye of Soose in round two. While the cut is patched up between rounds, this gives Abrams an early edge and, by the midway point, he has a slim points edge (58-56, according to the unofficial card). In the second half of the bout, Soose takes a more aggressive posture while Abrams is content to box on the outside. As the bout heads into the later rounds, Soose begins to tire and Abrams takes advantage, working his jab and landing repeatedly, enough to cause some swelling to appear beneath the right eye of Soose. In round 11, the cut over Soose’s left eye is reopened, but he throws caution to the wind, going all out for the knockout in the final round but it is to no avail, as Abrams manages to lift the belt via a UD 12 (117-111, 118-110, 115-113). Post-bout career marks: Abrams, 21-4-2 (10); Soose, 18-5-1 (12). Then, in the main event, it is a much anticipating meeting of two WBA Champions at the peak of their careers, as MW Champ Tony “the Man of Steel” Zale faces his WW counterpart, Henry “Homicide Hank” Armstrong, for Zale’s WBA MW title. Armstrong has won fighter of the year honors for two of the past three seasons, and both men have not lost a contest for a long time: Zale, since 1937, and Armstrong, since 1938. In the opening round, the two combatants circle the ring, looking for an opening. Zale lands the only solid punch, a big hook, near the end of the round. In round two, Zale also gains the upper hand, using his jab to set up a hook followed by a powerful uppercut. In round three, Zale moves inside, using his uppercut very effectively, following with a four-punch combo. Late in the round, Armstrong is able to get in a straight right that scores. Into round four, and this time it is Armstrong who is the aggressor, landing a big cross to get Zale’s attention. Despite landing some more good shots, Zale remains standing but it is clearly Armstrong’s round. The two mix it up on the inside in round five, with Zale using his jab effectively to set up a straight right. Armstrong gives ground but does manage to get in a hook to the head right before the bell. After five rounds, the unofficial scorer at ringside has Zale in front (49-46), but a couple of rounds have been close. In round six, plenty of good action as Zale connects with a cross and a hook to the body. Armstrong counters with a couple of good uppercuts, so the round is fairly even. In round seven, Armstrong takes the initiative, trying to take advantage of some initial puffiness around the right eye of Zale. Instead, Zale battles his way off the ropes, landing some countershots that enable him to take the round, slowing Armstrong’s momentum. More of the same in round eight, with Armstrong connecting with a sharp combination. More great action in round nine, as Zale is forced to battle off the ropes against a two-fisted attack from “Homicide Hank”; both men get in some good shots and the round appears to be even. By now, there is some swelling around the left eye of Armstrong. Zale connects with a nice uppercut and follows with a short hook on the inside to take round 10. With five rounds remaining, the unofficial scorer has Zale ahead by three (97-94). Armstrong presses the action in the 11th round, landing a hard cross but then he leaves himself open for a big hook from Zale. Armstrong drops to the canvas, and he arises after taking a count of six. Zale’s killer instinct has kicked in, but he cannot finish his man. The action ratchets up in round 12, as both men are looking for the knockout. Armstrong breaks through, landing an uppercut, then a cross, and big left that puts Zale back on his heels. A solid cross by Armstrong puts Zale on his back, and the count reaches six before “the Man of Steel” is back on his feet. Still plenty of time left in the round, and Zale attempts to cover up. A barrage of blows from Armstrong, but Zale survives the rest of the round without further damage. Armstrong continues as the aggressor into round 13, with both men showing signs of fatigue at this point. Zale, who adopts a more cautious approach, is able to take the round, shaking off the effects of the prior round. Armstrong presses even harder in round 14, but neither man is able to dominate the action until Zale digs a left hook to the body late in the round. Round 15, the two men touch gloves, but by now, both men’s punches lack steam. Zale works the uppercut expertly and, except for the lapse in round 12, appears to have done enough to retain his title. The scorecards are read and, indeed, it is a UD 15 for Tony Zale (144-139, 145-139, 143-140) in a bout that is sure to become a Fight of the Year candidate. The win, his 17th in succession, lifts Zale to a career mark of 33-2 (20). Armstrong’s first loss after two successive wins at MW makes him reconsider his decision to abandon the WW class; his post-bout record of 39-5-3 (32) keeps him near the top of any PFP list.

Feb. 27, 1942
: Next up is a Friday night card in New Orleans. Featured is a matchup for the USBA FW title, recently vacated by Chalky Wright who moved up to win the WBA FW crown (before losing it earlier in the month). Mike “Bronx Spider” Belloise and Leo Rodak are matched for the vacant belt; the two have not met before. Belloise, the higher ranked of the two who briefly held the WBA FW title in 1940, takes advantage of a rather pedestrian start from Rodak to build some early momentum. In round five, Belloise decks Rodak with a short, clean combination. Rodak recovers, covers up, but the damage has been done – by the midway point, Belloise has a solid points lead on the unofficial card (59-55). In the later rounds, Rodak tries to become more aggressive, but he lacks the weapons to seriously trouble Belloise. The bout goes the distance, and it ends up with a UD 12 for Belloise (115-113, 116-112, 117-111) who captures the belt and improves to 29-12-7 (11) with the win. The losses drops Rodak to 27-11 (7).

Feb. 28, 1942: Back in London, this time at the Olympia, for a fairly limited fight card, with only one bout of interest, as two familiar foes, Tommy Martin and Tommy Farr, do battle for the GBU HW title currently held by Martin. In three prior meetings, all of which have gone the distance, each man has recorded one win, one draw and one loss. For Martin, it represents his first GBU title defense in over two years; Farr, who held this belt from 1931 to 1936, is seeking to regain in for a second time. Some solid boxing by Farr puts him in the driver’s seat, and he manages to convert this early advantage into a solid points lead (60-55 on the unofficial card) at the midway point. Farr was never in difficulty in this bout, while in round five, he stunned Martin with a hard shot off the top of the head of the “British Brown Bomber.” Martin, suffering from the effects of Post-Prime career stage for the first time, is unable to launch a rally and goes down to the defeat; the result is a solid UD 12 win for Farr (117-112, 118-111, 118-111), who regains the GBU HW title after a six-year hiatus. Post-bout career marks: Farr, 50-16-3 (16); Martin, 28-9-3 (17). With the win, however, Farr also reaches Post-Prime career stage so these two British HWs, who have been the chief standard-bearers for British HWs in the 1930s into the early 40s, are both slated for a decline in their respective abilities from this point forward.

Feb. 28, 1942: The month wraps with a stellar fight card at New York City’s Madison Square Garden. Not only is WBA HW Champ Joe Louis in action, but so is Tiger Jack Fox in a LH title matchup, with Fox returning to the ring after losing his WBA LH title in August of 1941 – a six-month layoff. Furthermore, the undercard showcases two top unbeaten prospects, Joey Maxim and Jake LaMotta, both of whom manage to dispatch their TC opponents inside the distance. Maxim, campaigning at LH, moves to 4-0 (1) with the win, while LaMotta, a MW, remains perfect, at 5-0 (5). In the co-feature, Tiger Jack Fox faces Al Gainer for the vacant NABF LH title; it is second time in less than two months since the vacant belt (previously held by Archie Moore, who moved up to become WBA LH Champion) has been up for grabs; a January bout resulted in a draw, so the title remained vacant. Instead of a rematch, Fox and Gainer’s scheduled bout was upgraded to a title affair. There is some history between these two; in two prior meetings, neither has gone the distance, each winning once, the most recent being a USBA LH title encounter that ended in a surprise fourth round KO of Fox by Gainer, who has since hit Post-Prime career stage. Seeking revenge, Fox wastes little time, dominating the action from the opening bell. By the end of round four, there is already some noticeable swelling around the left eye of game but outgunned Gainer. In round five, Gainer sustains a cut over his right eye. The end comes in round six, after Fox floors Gainer with a big hook. Although Gainer regains his footing, Fox’s killer instinct kicks in, and the ref is forced to call a halt to save Gainer from further punishment. TKO 6 for Fox, who captures the NABF LH belt and improves his career totals to 52-7-1 (37). Gainer dips to 29-11-2 (19) with the loss. The main event looks on paper to be a bit of a mismatch as Joe Louis, in the midst of a dominant reign as WBA HW Champ, reaches far down the list of contenders to face a challenge for his WBA HW title from Al McCoy, who is ranked just outside the top 20 and just hit Post-Prime career stage. The matchup with McCoy, who can best be described as a fringe contender or more accurately, a journeyman, adds even more weight to the contention that Louis has been “ducking” other worthy competition, although frankly, just about all the ranked HWs have had a title shot at one time or another and come up short versus “the Brown Bomber.” Anyhow, the bout gets underway and McCoy does well to survive the opening round, although Lewis landed sufficient leather to cause some initial puffiness to appear under the right eye of the challenger. A hard right from Louis connects, and a stunned McCoy tries to cover up, but Louis follows up with a devastating attack to the head and the body, forcing another early stoppage. It’s a TKO 2 for Louis, marking his 13th straight win, all inside the distance. Post-bout career marks: Louis, 38-1 (36); McCoy, 39-18-3 (15).
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