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This report covers fistic action from the first half of June 1943; no WBA title bouts are included in this report.

Jun. 4, 1943: The month’s action commences with a Friday night card at Atlantic City’s Convention Hall. Kind of a light card, and the main event matches two top 10 LH contenders in a 10-round, non-title affair: Danny “Irish” Devlin and Harry “Kid” Matthews. First meeting of the two, and Devlin plants an uppercut on the chin that causes Matthews to cover up. As the bout wears on, Matthews’ corner is forced to deal with a rapidly swelling left eye. However, the punches landed stats indicate an extremely close bout and, at the end of the first five rounds, the unofficial scorer at ringside actually has Matthews in front (by a count of 49-46). In the second half of the bout, Matthews is content to stay on the outside and wait for Devlin to tire himself out attempting to force the action. By the final two rounds, both men are exhausted, but in round nine Devlin leaves himself open to a Matthews combination that results in a knockdown. Devlin is able to resume and manages to last the distance. In the end, Matthews is rewarded with a close but UD 10 (97-93, 96-93, 96-94), so the 10-8 9th round played a key part in the outcome. Post-bout career marks: Matthews, 22-2 (16); Devlin, 37-17-6 (16). With this win, Matthews inches further up the HW rankings and puts himself in line for a future title shot.

Jun. 5, 1943: Next card is at Chicago, and the NABF FW title is on the line in the main event. Georgie Hansford, who won the title in February, makes his first defense versus a formidable challenger, ex-WBA FW Champ Everett Rightmire. In three prior meetings, Hansford has won twice, Rightmire once. However, this is the first time the two have met with a title at stake. Rightmire, looking to re-establish his credentials after losing the WBA title to Harold Hoshino in his most recent outing, starts out aggressively, but can make little progress against some solid defense from Hansford. However, the action doesn’t heat up until round five, when Hansford lands a big shot, decking a surprised Rightmire. After barely beating the count, Rightmire arises, covers up and manages to last the round. At the midway point of the bout, Hansford has a nice points lead (58-55, according to the unofficial scorecard). Into the later rounds, and, with Hansford seeming to control the bout, Rightmire decides to become more aggressive, pressing the action after taking a round or two for the effects of the knockdown to wear off. He does land sufficient blows to cause some puffiness to appear around the right eye of Hansford. By round 10, with both men tiring, Rightmire steps up the attack, looking for a knockout or at least a knockdown. However, this does not happen, and he only leaves him open for more countershots from the Champion, who manages to cause a trace of swelling to appear under Rightmire’s left eye. The bout goes the full 12 and, while the unofficial scorer at ringside has Hansford hanging on for a close points win, the three judges scoring the fight felt differently; it was a narrow UD 12 for Rightmire (116-112, 114-113, 114-113), who rallied to win the last two rounds versus an overly cautious and perhaps overconfident Hansford. Rightmire takes the title and ups his record to 35-13-3 (14) overall. The loss leaves Hansford at 34-15-2 (11).

Jun. 5, 1943: Seattle’s Sicks Stadium hosts the next fight card, featuring recently dethroned WBA Flyweight Champ Jackie Jurich and unbeaten Flyweight prospect Dado Marino. In an unusual arrangement, the winner will be awarded the long dormant NABF Flyweight title but, as a consolation prize, the loser gets the lesser, but also vacant, USBA Fly title. With two boxers, in their first ever meeting, a lot of probing and posturing and, as expected, a long feeling-out process through the opening few rounds. The bout remains close through the first four or five rounds; at the midway point, the unofficial scorer at ringside has it even (57-57). As the bout wears on, the greater experience and stamina of the savvy veteran Jurich gives him the upper hand. In round eight, Jurich fires a hard shot that drops Marino to the canvas; Marino arises after taking an eight count, then covers up to last the round. Marino battles back, becoming more aggressive as the rounds tick off, but he simply lacks the firepower to seriously trouble Jurich. However, near the end of round 11, Marino does manage to rip open a cut over Jurich’s left eye but, in the end, the cut does not prove to be a major factor in the outcome. The bout goes the distance, and Jurich takes a fairly comfortable UD 12 (117-110, 117-110, 116-111), capturing the title which had been vacant since Frankie Genaro’s retirement in 1938. Marino ends up being awarded the USBA title, previously held by Jurich prior to his stepping up to capture the WBA belt. Post-bout records: Jurich, 27-4-1 (17); Marino, 18-1 (12).

Jun. 11, 1943: Next is a Friday night gathering at Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens. Only bout of note is the main event, matching the “Croat Comet,” Fritzie Zivic, with another WW, Vic Dellicurti, in a 10-round, non-title bout. First meeting of the two, and Zivic, the more experienced of the two, sets the pace through the early going. By the midway point, Zivic has forged a solid points lead (49-46) on the unofficial card. Into the second half of the bout, Zivic remains the aggressor, forcing the action on the inside. The bout goes the rest of the way without incident, and Zivic goes on to take a UD 10 (99-90, 95-94, 99-90), winning by lopside margins from two of the three judges. Zivic, who recently lost his NABF WW title to the up-and-coming “Sugar” Ray Robinson, improves to 33-11-6 (15) with the win. For Dellicurti, his second straight loss against top-flight opposition drops him to 22-4 (11).

Jun. 12, 1943: The scene shifts to San Juan, Puerto Rico, for the next fistic action. Highlighting another light card is a MW encounter matching the reigning LABF MW Champ, Jose Basora, with ex-WBA Champ Ken Overlin, in a 10-round, non-title affair. The two had not met previously, and, as a consequence, there is a long sorting out process as each man probes for an opening. Not much to choose between the two in the early rounds and, by the midway point, the savvy veteran, Overlin, holds a slim one-point edge (48-47) over the hometown favorited Basora on the unofficial card. In round six, Overlin has a point deducted for low blows. Urged on by the Puerto Rican crowd, Basora seizes the initiative and becomes more and more aggressive. The bout remains extremely close headed into the final few rounds, and the stamina factor favors the younger man (Basora). With both men unmarked, the bout goes to the scorecards, and the UD 10 goes to Basora (96-93 on all three cards). Post-bout career marks: Basora, 22-2 (16); Overlin, 40-12-5 (14).

Jun. 12, 1943: Next card takes place at Pittsburgh. In the first of two co-features, former WBA MW Champ Tony Zale, “the Man of Steel,” continues on the comeback trail, facing Ernie Vigh in a 10-round, non-title bout. First meeting of the two, and Zale sets the pace in the early going, banging away on the inside and gradually building a solid points lead. Trouble for Vigh near the end of round three in the form of a cut under his left eye. By the end of the fourth round, Vigh’s left eye is beginning to puff up. However, Vigh manages to land a hard hook early in round five that sends Zale reeling. Momentarily out on his feet, the “Man of Steel” covers up, managing to last the round. A peek at the unofficial card at the halfway point shows Zale with a narrow one-point lead (48-47). Early in round seven, Zale connects with a stinging hook to the head that causes Vigh to cover up. In round nine, the cut under Vigh’s eye is reopened and, in addition to taking a pounding from Zale, the blood is flowing freely, so the ref steps in to call a halt. TKO 9 for Zale on the cuts stoppage, running his career totals to 35-4-1 (21); the loss leaves Vigh at 21-5 (15). A peek at the judges’ cards after eight showed Zale leading on two, while a third had the bout even. In the second co-feature, the USBA LH title is on the line, as Melio Bettina defends this belt against a strong challenger, former WBA LH Champ Archie Moore. First meeting of these two, and it is Bettina’s fourth title defense, although the most recent have ended in draws. Punches landed stats favor Moore in the early going and, by the end of round four, there is a trace of swelling under Bettina’s right eye. In round five, Bettina finally finds the range, hurting Moore with a right to the head, forcing the “Old Mongoose” to cover up. Moore recovers between rounds and, late in round six, he fires a jab that opens a cut on Bettina’s left eyebrow. At the midway point, Moore appears to be well in command, leading on points (60-57, according to the unofficial card), plus a solid stamina edge as the bout heads into its later rounds. In round eight, the cut over Bettina’s eye is reopened, and The bout goes the rest of the way without incident, no knockdowns, and Moore wins the USBA belt by taking a UD 12 (115-114, 117-111, 115-112). Post-bout records: Moore, 25-3-4 (18); Bettina, 28-6-6 (11).