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This report covers fistic action from the second half of June 1940, encompassing a total of 56 bouts. Only WBA title bout is included in this report.

Jun. 15, 1940: Next is a fairly abbreviated six-bout card in Panama City. No titles at stake, but the feature showcases the talents of two-time WBA BW Champion Panama Al Brown, who is on the comeback trail, looking to set up another WBA title shot. His opponent is the lightly regarded Joesph Decico, yet to be ranked among the top 20, who proves to be a difficult opponent. In round two, Decicio sustains a cut over his right eye that only worsens as the bout wears on. In round five, some swelling appears around the cut eye, but the unofficial scorecard has the bout even (48-all), at this, the midway point. The cut becomes an issue and leads to an early stoppage a few rounds later. TKO 7 for Panama Al Brown on the cuts stoppage – not a terribly impressive outing, but it sets Panama Al up for a more interesting bout in the future. Post-bout career marks: Brown, 63-11-1 (22); Decico, 22-7-2 (9).

Jun. 21, 1940: Next up is a Friday night card at Los Angeles. Two top BW contenders square off for the USBA BW title, currently held by Georgie Pace, who is defending against challenger Lou Salica. It is Pace’s first defense of the belt he won back in the fall of 1939, and it is the third meeting of the two – with the slate standing at one win apiece. After a cautious start by both men, Salica holds a slight punches landed edge through the first half of the bout. At the midway point, the unofficial scorer at ringside has it even (57-apiece). Pace steps up the pace and scores well with a big round seven, causing some initial swelling around the right eye of the challenger. In round 10, Pace staggers Salica with a devastating hook, but the challenger remains upright. The bout remains close down to the wire, and Salica manages to lift the belt by winning the final round from a majority of the judges. SD 12 for Salica (115-114, 113-115, 115-114) – a controversial call, as many observers thought Pace deserved to retain the title. The win lifts Salica’s career totals to 26-6-1 (10). The loss leaves Pace at 24-8-2 (17).

Jun. 22, 1940: To the Far East for more fistic action at the Rizal Arena in Manila. A pair of non-title encounters headline an impressive card, with ex-WBA BW Champ Johnny King facing hometown favorite Pablo Dano in the first co-feature. It’s been over a decade since the two met previously, back in 1928, with Dano taking a UD 10 when both men were at Pre-Prime. Both are coming off recent WBA title losses to Panama Al Brown and seeking to set up a rematch or a WBA title shot in the near future with a win. Midway through the opening round, a quick hook to the head from Dano stuns the British veteran, but King remains upright, covering up to survive the round. King moves inside and becomes the aggressor, scoring well in round four. Slight edge for King (49-47 on the unofficial card) at the midway point. No cuts or KDs and the bout goes to decision, with King taking a narrow but UD 10 (97-95 on all three cards). Post-bout career marks: King, 49-6-1 (19); Dano, 37-13-5 (17). In the nightcap, another Filipino fan favorite, unbeaten Flyweight contender Little Dado takes on aging veteran Frankie Genaro in Genaro’s swansong – he’s announced his retirement after this bout. Little Dado, who won their one prior meeting in December 1939, takes charge from the outset, and he slices open a gash over the left eye of Genaro in round two. There is also noticeable swelling around the injured eye. Genaro battles back, however, and by round four, there is noticeable swelling under the left eye of Dado as well. Slight edge to Genaro on points (48-47, according to the unofficial card) at the midway point, but the aging veteran runs out of steam in the later stages, with the end result being a stoppage due to the cut over his eye. TKO 8 for Little Dado on the cuts stoppage; he remains unbeaten, boosting his career totals to 22-0 (13) as a result. Genaro wraps up a 21-year career with a record of 52-22-6 (19).

Jun. 22, 1940: Excitement is in the air as the most popular fighter on the planet, WBA HW kingpin Joe Louis, is in action in another defense of his title. In the preliminary co-feature, more HW fistic action as Jack Trammell faces Lou Nova. Trammell staggers Nova with a big shot in the opening round and, by round five, there is noticeable swelling around the left eye of Trammell. Undeterred, Trammell takes charge and dominates the action in round five, landing a couple of powerful uppercuts to force the ref to call a halt to save Nova from further punishment. TKO 5 for Trammell, who improves his career record to 28-9 (13). The loss leaves Nova at 20-5 (16). Then Joe Louis enters the ring to loud applause, and this time the challenger is Nathan Mann, who has risen in the ranks with a recent KO over aging veteran Tommy Loughran to earn a shot at Louis’ WBA HW title. Prior result ended in a TKO win for Louis, and most fight fans are predicting a repeat in this rematch. In the opening round, Louis drops Mann with an overhand right but Mann manages to cover up and last the round. Near the end of round two, Louis breaks through with a cross, and uppercut, then uses his jab effectively to put Mann in serious trouble, helpless against the ropes. The ref steps in and calls a halt as Mann appears helpless against the ropes. TKO 2 for Louis, whose career record improves to 31-1 (29) with the win – the only loss in a controversial stoppage versus Max Schmeling. The loss leaves Mann at 22-6-2 (17).

Jun. 28, 1940: Next is a Friday night card at New York City’s Madison Square Garden. Two top 10 HW contenders do battle in the co-feature which serves as the main support for an NABF title bout. Max Baer, hungry for another WBA title shot, faces another knockout artist, “Big Charley R” Charley Retzlaff in a non-title affair. Baer holds a prior win over Retzlaff, via TKO, back in 1933. This time around, Baer moves inside in round three and starts landing some heavy shots, doing enough damage to force the ref to step in to save Retzlaff from further punishment. TKO 3 for Baer for his third straight win inside the distance. Baer improves to 32-13 (28) with the win: Retzlaff drops to 33-19 (25) with the loss. In the main event, it’s a rematch as Tony Shucco faces Gus Lesnevich for Shucco’s NABF LH title belt. Shucco, who is making his third defense of the belt, took a controversial DQ decision from Lesnevich earlier in the year and agreed to a rematch. Shucco, who has won his last five outings, starts well. In round five, there is a nick under the left eye of Lesnevich. At the midway point, it is a close bout, and the unofficial scorer at ringside has Lesnevich with a slim points edge (59-58) with a couple of even rounds. By round 10, there is noticeable swelling under the right eye of Lesnevich who has been carrying the fight to Shucco. The bout goes the distance, and Shucco is fortunate to escape with a majority draw (113-115 Lesnevich, 114-114, 114-114) that enables him to retain the title – barely. Post-bout career totals: Shucco, 34-12-1 (11); Lesnevich, 28-4-0 (14).

Jun. 29, 1940: Final card of the month is at the Earls Court in London. Two title bouts top the card, first co-feature is for the GBU LH title belt, long held by Len Harvey but now belonging to Bert Gilroy, who lifted it from Harvey in an upset in late 1939. The challenger is Freddie Mills, who is still one bout short of Prime but posting an excellent record of 18-1 to earn the title shot. Huge first round for Gilroy, but Mills withstands the punishment and gradually works his way into the fight. In round five, it is Mills in control as he decks Gilroy with a hook to the head. Gilroy arises at the count of two, but the damage is done. The unofficial card has Mills with a points edge (by 58-56) at the halfway point. In the second half of the bout, Gilroy tries to become more aggressive but he just opens things up more for Mills to land some good countershots. A barrage of blows from Mills puts Gilroy down a second time in round eight; a third KD -- from a Mills uppercut -- follows a round later. However, Mills gets careless in round 11 and Gilroy decks him with a short, clean hook. Mills takes a six-count but is able to resume, covering up to last the round. In the end, the bout goes to decision, and Mills takes a UD 12 (115-111, 113-112, 115-111) although the late surge from Gilroy made the outcome quite a bit closer. With the win, Mills wraps up the Pre-Prime stage of his career at 19-1 (13) and is angling for a matchup with EBU LH titleholder Heinz Lazek. The loss drops Gilroy to 20-7-2 (14) In the final bout of the evening, the EBU FW title is at stake as Frank Parkes (who also holds the GBU FW title) defends against Frenchman Maurice Holtzer. First meeting of the two, and first defense of this belt in almost a year. Parkes lands early and often, causing a trace of swelling to appear around the right eye of Holtzer as early as round two. Holtzer, who takes some time to regroup, lands a straight right in round five that stuns Parkes, forcing the Brit to cover up. Still, it’s a solid points lead for Parkes at the midway point (59-56, according to the unofficial card). Holtzer manages to keep the bout close and, going into the final three rounds, both fighters are exhausted. Parkes seems a bit too passive, at least until the final round when he realizes he may be losing his belt. Great effort from both men, and Holtzer manages to take a SD 12 (117-112, 114-115, 115-114) despite being at Post-Prime career stage. To the dismay of the British crowd, Holtzer is crowned EBU FW Champion, improving to 42-18-4 (15) with the win. Parkes, who still has the GBU FW title, falls to 23-15-1 (14) with the loss.