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This report covers a total of 61 bouts taking place during the first half of August 1942. Two of the four WBA title bouts taking place this month are included in this report.

Aug. 1, 1942: The month’s fistic action kicks off with a card at Edmonton Gardens in Alberta, Canada. Featured is some non-title action in the WW division, with aging veteran Barney Ross facing “the Mud Flats Kid,” Jimmy Garrison. The two have met once before, in 1940, with Garrison securing a points win over the already Post-Prime Ross at a time when Garrison held the NABF WW belt. Ross struggles with his timing in the early going, and this allows Garrison to build an early lead in the punches landed stats. This translates into a nice points lead (49-46) at the halfway point, according to the unofficial card. Into the later stages of the bout, Ross is unable to mount an impression, as the effects of the ring wars take its toll on this veteran performer who is nearing End career status. By the end of round seven, Ross is sporting a cut lip, and the bout proceeds to decision without further incident. In the end, it is a solid UD 10 for Garrison (99-91, 99-91, 98-92), who improves to 27-7-3 (2) with the win. The loss continues a downward spiral for Ross, who ends the bout at 37-14-4 (11), and one step closer to retirement.

Aug. 7, 1942: The action shifts to San Juan, Puerto Rico for the next card at Escobar Stadium. The main event matches former WBA FW Champ Chalky Wright, still on the comeback trail after losing his title earlier this year. Wright’s opponent is LABF FW Champion Filio Julian Echevarria of Cuba. No titles are at stake, and these two battled to a draw in one previous encounter, which took place in Panama back in 1935. His time around, Echevarria has hit Post-Prime career stage but is still a dangerous opponent, as illustrated by his recent recapture and defense of the LABF FW title belt. In this, their second encounter, Wright appears to have the early edge, piling up points and pulling ahead in the punches landed stats. The situation changes abruptly early in round five, when a three-punch combo is unleashed by Echevarria that staggers the ex-Champion. After five rounds, Wright still holds a commanding points lead (49-46) headed into the second half of the bout. Echevarria, trailing at the midway point, tries to step up the pace and become more and more aggressive. Wright, on the other hand, adopts a safety-first attitude to preserve his points advantage and to avoid the kind of difficulties he ran into early in round five. As a result, there is little in the way of further action as the bout goes the distance and Wright comes away with a close but UD 10 (96-94, 97-94, 96-95). Echevarria will move from Post-Prime to End career stage after this bout. Post-bout career records: Wright, 40-13-4 (15); Echevarria, 40-18-5 (12).

Aug. 8, 1942: Lenny “Boom Boom” Mancini has worked his way up the LW ranks and is included in his first main event, facing “the Sweetwater Swatter,” Lew Jenkins, a former USBA LW Champ who remains among the top LW contenders. It’s a 10-round, non-title affair, topping the card at Jersey City’s Roosevelt Stadium, and it is the first meeting of these two. After a couple of lackluster opening rounds, “Boom Boom” moves inside and lands some telling blows in round three. Then, in round four, it is Jenkins working his way inside and doing some damage. In the fifth round, Mancini has the upper hand; a peek at the unofficial card has the bout even (48-all) after five. At this point, there is some bruising under the left eye of Jenkins. Into the later rounds, with the issue still in doubt, Mancini continues to press as the aggressor, while Jenkins seems content to stay on the outside. Late in round nine, Mancini decks Jenkins with a devastating cross to the head, but Jenkins is saved by the bell. The one KD appears to be sufficient for Mancini to claim victory, but Jenkins is not done – in the final stanza, he unleashes a hard cross of his own to send Mancini toppling to the canvas. Lenny barely manages to beat the count, and the 10-8 final round is enough for Jenkins to secure a UD 10 win by the narrowest margin (95-94) on all three cards. With the win, Jenkins improves to 26-2-3 (12) and re-establishes his credentials as a top LW contender. For Mancini, now 20-5-3 (6), it is back to the drawing board.

Aug. 8, 1942: Next up is a huge card at Chicago’s Soldiers Field, featuring a WBA title bout. First up, the main supporting bout sees USBA WW Champ Izzy Jannazzo challenging Fritzie Zivic for Zivic’s NABF WW title. This is a rematch of a bout for this same title that took place earlier in 1942 that ended in a draw. The bout remains close through the opening rounds; at the midway point, the unofficial scorer at ringside has Zivic ahead by two (58-56). Into the second half of the bout, and Zivic continues to bang away from the inside, seeking to wear down the challenger, who appears to be more comfortable staying on the outside. As the bout wears down, two exhausted fighters continue to do battle, with Jannazzo, at the urging of his corner, gradually becoming more aggressive. Near the end of round 10, a cut appears on the forehead of Jannazzo, but it has no effect on Zivic, who stuns Jannazzo with a hard cross near the end of round 11. In the final round, the cut is reopened, but Zivic ignores it and decks Jannazzo with a nice combination, punctuating his superiority near the end of the bout. The bout proceeds to decision and, with a strong finish, Zivic is able to retain the belt with a UD 12 (114-113, 115-112, 115-112), with the late KD (and a two-point final round) sealing the win. Post-bout career marks: 31-10-6 (15) for Zivic; 34-6-4 (13) for Jannazzo. The final bout of the evening is for the WBA FW title, with Petey Scalzo making his second defense against USBA FW Champ Everett Righmire. First meeting of these two and Scalzo, the consummate boxer, goes to work right away, causing some initial puffiness around the right eye of the challenger. Nonetheless, Rightmire manages to land a few shots of his opening, keeping the bout close; after the first five rounds, the unofficial scorer has a slim lead for Scalzo (48-47). Rightmire bounces back with a strong round six, and Scalzo decides to press the action on the inside, rocking Rightmire back on his heels. The bout hits the two-thirds mark with both men beginning to tire; at this point, the unofficial card has it even (95-all), and the punches landed stats have swung in favor of the challenger. Scalzo takes a more aggressive posture, redoubling his efforts as the title hangs in the balance as the action heads into the final few rounds. In round 11, Rightmire suffers a cut over his right eye. With the eye as a target, Scalzo continues to fire away, but some solid defense by Rightmire keeps him at bay. The bout goes to decision, and, while one judge gives the nod to Scalzo for his aggressiveness, Rightmire lifts the belt via a razor-thin SD 15 (143-142, 142-143, 143-142) and runs his career record to 33-12-3 (14), while the loss leaves Scalzo at 23-3-2 (13).

Aug. 14, 1942: Next is a Friday night card at Johnannesburg’s Rand Stadium, and featured is the second WBA title matchup of the month. A co-feature matches two veteran MW contenders, ex-WBA Champ Freddie Steele, the “Tacoma Assassin,” who faces long-time OPBF MW kingpin Ceferino Garcia, who is nearing the end of his long career. The two, who have not met before, do battle in a 10-round, non-title bout. At the outset, Steele rocks Garcia with a solid combination, and Garcia covers up to last the round. Steele continues to hammer away, keeping Garcia on the defensive, and the unofficial card has Steele well ahead (49-46) after five. Into the later rounds, and Garcia becomes more aggressive. In round eight, Garcia tumbles to the deck, floored by a Steele cross. A second KD follows later in the round. The bout lasts into the final round and, after Steele decks Garcia for a third time, a halt is called and the bout goes into the books as a TKO 10 for Steele. With the win, Steele improves to 52-9-1 (36), while it proves to be the end of the line for Garcia, who wraps up a 20-year career at 43-26-2 (24). Then, in the main event, the WBA Flyweight title is at stake, with Jackie Jurich making his sixth title defense, facing Commonwealth Fly Champ Teddy Gardner, in Gardner’s first bout at Prime. First meeting of the two. Jurich starts well, confidently piling up points from the opening bell. By round five, there is a noticeable lump under the left eye of the challenger and, after the first five rounds, the unofficial scorer has Jurich well ahead (49-46). In the middle rounds, Jurich continues to use his jab to control most of the action. By the end of round 10, Jurich had extended his lead (to 98-93) on the unofficial card. Jurich appears to be coasting to victory, but in round 14 he gets careless, and goes down in a barrage of punches from Gardner. After arising after a count of four, Jurich wisely covers up to avoid further damage. Despite the late surge from Gardner, Jurich hangs on to retain the title via a UD 15 (144-142, 144-142, 144-141). Post-bout career records: Jurich, 25-3 (17); Gardner, 18-2-1 (10).

Aug. 15, 1942: To Europe for a card at the Ullevi Stadium in Gothenburg. Featured is an EBU WW title bout, with the “Dutch Windmill,” Bep Van Klaveren making his second title defense against a familiar foe, Saviero Turiello, the “Milan Panther.” In four prior meetings, the past ledger is tipped in Van Klaveren’s favor, with two wins and two draws. In this encounter, Turiello manages to keep the bout close and, with two boxers doing battle, the bout devolves into a tactical affair. At the midway point, the unofficial scorer at ringside has the bout even (57-57). Into the later rounds, and the stamina factor works in favor of the Dutch titleholder. A steady workman-like performance from Van Klaveren, but Turiello persists and manages to pull off the upset, via a MD 12 (115-113, 114-114, 115-113), although the punches landed stats favored the Dutch fighter. In his third try, Turiello is finally successful and lifts the EBU WW belt, all while improving his career totals to 34-17-10 (14). Van Klaveren is the surprise loser, and he ends the bout at 36-15-9 (11).