[JCWeb]

Well, after just two different bantam World Champs in over a decade (i.e. Jimmy Barry and Harry Harris), there were three new ones crowned in less than a year in just five WBA title bouts as the action was hot, heavy and unpredictable.

WBA Title Fights

Harry Harris CH (41-4-1) vs Harry Forbes #8 (26-16-4)

On paper, an easy defense for the champ, who was 4-0 lifetime versus Forbes going into the bout. Forbes decided to start off aggressively this time and it worked, as Harris remained passive through much of the early action. Behind on points, however, Harris moved to the inside more often starting Round 6. Round 8, the challenger's blows had a telling effect as Harris' eye began to swell. Harris countered by scoring the only KD of the bout in round 9. Forbes came back strongly, with a good defensive effort to take rounds 11 and 12. Harris, with the title he had held for 6 1/2 years slipping away, stepped up the pace in the final rounds but this time his effort came up a little short. Forbes by SD 15. 143-142, 142-143, 144-141.

Harry Forbes CH (17-16-4) vs Biz Mackey #3 (24-5-2)

Forbes took on a tough foe in Mackey with whom he had previously registered a draw and a loss. Mackey proved to be too much, landing a big shot in round 3 to floor the champ. Forbes couldn't beat the count, and Mackey became the new WBA BW champ. Mackey by KO 3.

Biz Mackey CH (25-5-2) vs Digger Stanley #11 (19-12-1)

Mackey journeyed to London to take on the reigning GBU and EBU champ, Digger Stanley. Mackey stalked the challenger in the early going, and then he got the better of the exchanges when both boxers opened up in Rd 4. Stanley got off first in round 7, but strong counterpunching by the champ made the difference in rounds 8, 9 and 10. The steam went out of Stanley's punches in the later roungs, and Mackey had the challenger down in rounds 10 and 12. A game Stanley barely managed to last the distance. Mackey by UD 15.

Biz Mackey CH (26-5-2) vs Hugh McGovern #9 (21-8-1)

Mackey seemed to have little to fear, as he carried a 2-0 lifetime record into this bout against Terry McGovern's younger brother. McGovern started well, picking his shots in Rd. 1. Mackey stepped up the pace in round 2, and McGovern offered little resistance as Mackey gradually increased the intensity to result in an early stoppage. Mackey by TKO 3.

Biz Mackey CH (27-5-2) vs Johnny Coulon #1 (19-1)

Mackey who had by now won 5 in a row, was matched with the #1 contender, Johnny Coulon, who as USBA champ also brought a 5-match win streak into the tilt. (Coulon's only loss had been to Kid Murphy.) Not much action for the first few rounds, with Mackey planting himself on the inside while Coulon worked from the outside. In Round 4, Mackey landed a big uppercut that had Coulon in full retreat -- Coulon had a big round of his own in Round 6 to keep it close. Coulon did not seem to be bothered much by a welt under his right eye, as he kept his distance through much of the middle rounds, much to the champ's frustration. In round 11, Coulon caught Mackey with a strong cross for the bout's only knockdown. In the late rounds, Mackey went for the KO, but Coulon showed great boxing skill and stamina to seal the win. In the end, the issue was not much in doubt. Coulon by UD 15.

NABF: Mackey retained the NABF crown with a TKO 7 over the aging vet, Tommy Feltz, then vacated the title after winning the WBA crown. Al Delmont annexed the belt with an easy UD 12 over TC Carl DeWitt and followed up with a UD 12 win in his first defense against Morris Rauch.

USBA: Coulon defended three times versus Delmont (UD 12), Hugh McGovern (TKO 5) and ex-champ Forbes (UD 12) before moving up to fighte for the World crown. Thus, with Coulon as WBA champ, the USBA crown will be vacant and up for grabs going into 1909.

CBU: Joe Bowker made two successful defenses, both UD 12 verdicts versus TC Lee Ridley (avenging an earlier loss) and Thomas Pedlar Palmer.

GBU: Digger Stanley defended versus TC Stuart Markham (UD 12).

EBU: Stanley made one defense, a devastating KO 1 of the aging vet Palmer, to keep the crown.

Jan. 1909 Rankings (perf pts and changes from prior year in parens)

Champ Johnny Coulon 20-1 (13) (876) (up 2)
1. Biz Mackey 27-6-2 (12) (792) (up 2)
2. Harry Forbes 27-18-4 (11) (676) (up 5)
3. Kid Murphy 18-7 (14) (585) (up 6)
4. Harry Harris 43-6-1 (30) (584) (down 4)
5. Frankie Conley 14-1 (11) (566) (debut ranking)
6. Frankie Neil 22-11-1 (13) (551) (up 2)
7. Phil McGovern 26-13-2 (10) (546) (down 1)
8. Al Delmont 24-7 (14) (542) (down 7)
9. Joe Bowker 27-10-2 (14) (533) (up 5)
10. Hugh McGovern 21-9-1 (11) (440) (down 5)

Everyone here is at Prime except Harris at Post and Conley who is still at Pre. The big story this time is the closeness of the pack, particularly from positions 3-9 which are separated only by 50 pp or so. Top TC is Carl DeWitt at #16 with a 11-9-1 (3) record and 137 pp. Monte Attell (Abe's younger brother) took a big tumble out of the Top 10 from #4 to #11 with two losses during the year; Morris Rauch, who only one 1 of 4, slipped from #10 to #13 and, along with Pedlar Palmer, is now at the End career stage, too. Forbes' upset win over Harris propelled him up the rankings. Kid Murphy didn't win any titles but he did score an impressive UD 10 over former champ Harris, who right now seems to be fading. Frankie Neil, with wins over Attell and Conley, may finally be ready for a title shot. (The vacant USBA crown perhaps?) The story last time, the absence of any Brits, was remedied by Bowker who won three in a row to move up the list.

Top prospects? Conley is now Top Ten material, but Charles Goldman, who started 1908 undefeated, suffered losses to Rauch and P McGovern and now stands at 9-2-1 (5). Joseph Biderburg (aka "Louisiana) is undefeated at 7-0 (3) versus TC stiffs, as are Frankie Burns at 6-0 (4) and Phila Pal Moore at 4-0 (3). One real life BW champ, Frenchman Charles Ledoux, is set to join the BW ranks in 1909.

No retirements in 1908, but look for Rauch and Palmer to hang it up soon. Harry Harris still has a ways to go, however. Interestingly, Coulon won the World title in my uni about two years ahead of schedule, IRL he was not recognized as BW champ until 1910 which he solidified with a 1911 win over Conley. Prediction? Could be the start of a long reign for Coulon, who held the title until 1914 IRL.