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This report covers a total of 63 bouts taking place during the first half of February 1941. One WBA title bout is included.

Feb. 1, 1941: The month kicks off with a nice card at the Forum in Montreal. At stake in the main event is the Commonwealth BW title, with Brit Benny Sharkey defending that belt against Canadian challenger Horace Gwynne. The two have met three times before, with Gwynne winning the first two before Sharkey managed to lift the belt via a MD a year ago in Toronto. In the rematch, Sharkey looks sharp early but some solid boxing by Gwynne gives the hometown fans hope. The unofficial card has Gwynne ahead by a narrow margin (58-57) at the midway point. The bout remains close through the final rounds, with neither man showing signs of cuts or swelling. To the delight of the Canadian crowd, this time the verdict favors Gwynne, who takes a SD 12 (112-116, 115-114, 115-113) to regain the title. With the win, Gwynne improves to 27-9-1 (15), compared to 35-17-2 (19) for Sharkey.

Feb. 1, 1941: To Chicago's Comiskey Park for the next card. On the undercard, popular WW prospect "Sugar" Ray Robinson adds another stoppage win, this time in a scheduled eight rounder, taking a KO 2 to remain perfect, at 6-0 (6). In his six outings, none of Robinson's opponents have made it past two rounds. The featured bout is for the USBA MW title currently held by Holman Williams. Not looking for an easy defense, Williams agrees to accept a challenge from 22-1 Charley Burley. In the early going, Burley serves notice, landing a big right hand flush on Williams’ chin, but he is unable to follow up. Then, in round four, Burley puts Williams down briefly with a strong cross. Huge lead for Burley (59-54) at midway point. Williams tires badly down the stretch but is still able to mount a late rally, not enough to deny Burley the title, via a UD 12 (116-112, 116-113, 116-112). Post-bout records: Burley, 23-1 (20); Williams, 33-7 (20).

Feb. 7, 1941: Next is a Friday night card at Havana’s Gran Stadium. Topping the agenda is an LABF MW title clash, matching two familiar foes: reigning Champ Antonio Fernandez and challenger and ex-Champ Kid Tunero. The duo has met four times previously, with Fernandez winning three of those, including the most recent, last December, for this very same title, that resulted in a controversial MD 12 win for Fernandez. This time around, Fernandez seems to have the upper hand in the early going, but the tide turns in the Cuban challenger’s favor when he catches the Chilean Champ with an uppercut midway through round three, putting Fernandez on the deck briefly. The Champion covers up to last the round, but he must deal with a pesky and aggressive challenger, tempered by supported by a boisterous hometown crowd here in Havana. In round five, a trace of swelling appears under the of Fernandez, but the punches landed stats favor the Chilean, who also holds the points edge (58-55 on the unofficial card) at the midway point. Undaunted, Tunero steps up the pace; however, in round eight, things being to swing in Fernandez’s favor, as he rips open a cut on Tunero’s forehead as well as causing some puffiness to appear around the left eye of the Cuban challenger. Fernandez wisely adopts a defensive posture for the final few rounds and, despite the early knockdown, this time Fernandez walks away with a UD 12 (116-111, 114-113, 116-111) to retain the belt. Post-bout career marks: Fernandez, 33-13-3 (12); Tunero, 32-12-5 (10).

Feb. 8, 1941: Rome’s Sports Palace is the venue for the next fistic action. The main event, for the EBU WW title, pits reigning Champion Gustav Eder against Italian challenger and crowd favorite Saviero Turiello. This is the second meeting of these two, who battled to a draw some seven years ago. Solid boxing from Eder secures him the early advantage in terms of punches landed; the unofficial scorer has Eder ahead (59-55) at the midway point. In the second half of the bout, the Italian challenger is bothered by a swollen right eye, and he tires badly as Eder snuffs out any attempts at a rally by Turiello. Eder, never seriously threatens, goes on to retain the title via a UD 12 (117-111, 118-110, 117-111) to run his career record to 36-9-10 (9). The losses drops Turiello to 32-16-9 (14).

Feb. 8, 1941: No titles at stakes as he next fistic action unfolds at Syracuse’s War Memorial Auditorium. In the feature, Fritzie Zivic, the “Croat Comet,” faces Freddie “Red” Cochrane. First meeting of the two, and both men are coming off wins in their most recent outings. Zivic, the more aggressive of the two, dictates the action from the early going. Cochrane, on the receiving end of the most of the leather, is unable to offer much resistance, and Zivic has a wide lead (50-45, according to the unofficial scorer) by the halfway point. Outgunned, Cochrane begins to suck wind as early as round six. The action slows in the later rounds as Zivic adopts a more defensive posture, sitting on his points lead. The bout goes the distance, and all three judges have it scored the same – a solid UD 10 for Zivic (98-93 on all three cards). Post-bout career marks: Zivic, 28-9-4 (15); Cochrane, 25-7-4 (8).

Feb. 14, 1941: The fight fans in Manila are excited by the prospect of a WBA title bout at Rizal Arena, featuring a Filipino challenger seeking a World title belt. First up, however, is a main supporting bout matching two top 10 Flyweights, as crowd favorite Small Montana takes on reigning Commonwealth Fly Champ Benny Lynch. Lynch, who holds two prior wins over Montana, should be heavily favored except for the fact he is now at End career stage, while Montana is still in his Prime. Lynch is the aggressor, attempting to control the action on the inside, while Montana prefers to stay outside, planning to capitalize on his stamina advantage versus the aging opponent. Montana’s conservative approach pays off, and he builds a points lead (49-47, on the unofficial card) by the midway point. In the second half of the bout, Montana must withstand a late surge from Lynch, who does some damage with a straight right hand in round nine, causing the Filipino to cover up. By the final round, both men are exhausted, and Montana ekes out a MD 10 win (96-95, 96-96, 97-96) to the delight of the hometown crowd in Manila. Montana improves to 25-12-4 (8), while the loss drops Lynch to 33-11 (17). Then, in the finale, Georgie Pace makes his second defense of the WBA BW title, facing veteran Pablo Dano, who held the title on two different occasions in the early 1930s. First meeting of the two, with Dano – now at Post-Prime – having set up the title shot by capturing the OPBF BW title in late 1940. Solid start from Dano, who is content to try to control the action from the outside. Pace, the more aggressive of the two, moves inside and in round three, landing some good shots but also suffering a cut under his right eye. In round four, Pace puts the Filipino challenger; Dano resumes after taking an eight count. Dano must also deal with the effects of a rapidly swelling left eye. After five, the unofficial card has Pace well ahead (by a count of 49-45), but the crowd in Manila continues to cheer Dano on. Dano gamely carries on, working to establish his jab in an effort to negate the power of the American Champion. After 10, the unofficial scorer has Pace extending his points advantage to a nearly insurmountable lead (99-90). Pace eases up in the final few rounds, but Dano is simply too tired to mount an effective rally. A Pace combination puts Dano down for a second time in round 13. Pace goes on to take a fairly lopsided UD 15 win (147-136 on all three cards). Post-bout career marks: Pace, 27-8-2 (19); Dano, 38-14-5 (17).