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Old 02-28-2018, 05:34 PM   #1286
JCWeb
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Feb. 1941 - Part 2 of 2

This report covers a total of 63 bouts taking place during the second half of February 1941. Two WBA title bouts -- both on the same card -- are included.

Feb. 15, 1941: Next card is at the Rand Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, a venue that is seeing increasing usage given the situation in war-torn Europe. The featured bout is one unlikely to be staged in the home nation of either participant, as top HW contender Max Schmeling takes on former WBA LH Champ Maxie Rosenbloom, in a matchup of two savvy ring veterans. First meeting of the two, and no titles are at stake. Both men are riding some long winning streaks; Schmeling has won seven in a row since losing a WBA title challenge to Joey Louis; Rosenbloom has won his last four, since losing the WBA LH title to Billy Conn back in 1939. After a couple of feeling out rounds, Schmeling is comfortable moving on the inside in round three, assuming the role of aggressor. Schmeling takes his time, finally dropping Rosenbloom with a barrage of blows with just seconds remaining in round four. Another KD – from an overhand right – follows midway through round five. This time Schmeling’s killer instinct kicks in, and with plenty of time remaining in the round, he manages to bludgeon his way to a TKO 5 victory, as the ref steps in to save the hapless Rosenbloom from further punishment. Another impressive outing for the “Black Uhlan,” who improves to 54-6-1 (38) with the win. The loss leaves Rosenbloom, who is at Post-Prime, at 51-14 -6 (18).

Feb. 15, 1941: To Dodge Stadium in Phoenix for the next fistic action, and the main event is for the NABF MW title, recently vacated by Tony Zale who successfully challenged for the WBA crowd. Paired together for the vacant belt are former WBA MW Champion Freddie Steele, “the Tacoma Assassin,” and Al Hostak, “the Savage Slav.” First meeting of the two, and it is Steele’s first bout since losing the WBA title, as well as his first outing at Post-Prime. For Hostak, it is his first title shot of any kind, and he takes advantage, outscoring Steele from the opening round, which sees puffiness forming around Steele’s right eye and, by the end of round two, his left eye also shows signs of swelling. Steele battles back and drops Hostak with a combination near the end of round three. At the midway point, the bout remains close, with the unofficial scorecard having Steele with a slim points lead (57-56). Early in round eight, Hostak connects with a cross to the head, and Steele drops to the canvas, bouncing up after taking a three count. Steele attempts to cover up, but two more KDs follow and it’s over – an automatic TKO 8 for Hostak via the three-knockdown rule. This win, which gives Hostak’s career a big boost, lifts him to 31-5 (25), while Steele, whose best days are definitely behind him, drops to 47-8-1 (31)
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Feb. 21, 1941: Next is a Friday night “Down Under” card at Melbourne, Australia. The main event has two titleholders doing battle in a non-title affair, as EBU MW Champion Marcel Cerdan faces his OPNF counterpart, Aussie Fred Henneberry. First meeting of the two, and Henneberry is attempting to regroup after losing his last three, while Cerdan has won his last three, all EBU title defenses. With the fans solidly behind him, Henneberry gets off to a great start, dominating the opening round of action. However, midway through round two, Cerdan connects with a three-punch combo that rocks Henneberry, forcing the Aussie fan favorite to cover up. After a lackluster round three, Cerdan continues to take the fight to Henneberry, who is unable to duplicate his early success. Thus, at the midway point, Cerdan holds a solid points lead (49-46), but the hometown faithful continue to urge on the Aussie Champion. A game Henneberry remains full of fight, but he is unable to negate Cerdan’s superior power and punching ability. Another three-punch combo near the end of round seven forces the Aussie to cover up a second time. This time, Cerdan follows up with a short, clean uppercut that sends Henneberry to the canvas; fortunately for him, the bell sounds as the count reaches five. Still, significant damage was done and, halfway through the next round, the ref has seen enough. Cerdan, well ahead on all three cards, is awarded a TKO 8 victory. Post-bout career marks: Cerdan, 28-2-2 (22); Henneberry, 30-16-2 (12). Another big win for the “Casablanca Clouter,” who is angling for a title shot versus new WBA Champ Tony Zale sometime later in 1941.

Feb. 22, 1941: A pair of GBU title bouts top the next card at London’s Harringay Arena. On the undercard, the career of popular British LH Len Harvey finally comes to an end, as he is a TKO 8 victim of unbeaten American prospect Harry Matthews, who improves to 17-0 (15) with the win. Harvey wraps up a 22-year career with totals of 51-27-3 (19). In the first co-feature, Joe Curran faces Jackie Brown for Brown’s GBU Flyweight title. First meeting of the two, and the fact that Brown has recently hit Post-Prime gives Curran some reason for optimism. In round three, Brown manages to work his way inside and lands some heavy leather, enough to cause a trace of swelling to appear under Curran’s right eye. Then, in round five, Brown drills Curran with a couple of quick jabs just before the end of the round, and the challenger hits the deck, only to be saved by the bell. Solid points advantage for Brown on the unofficial card (58-54) at the midway point. In the second half of the bout, Curran is forced into an uncomfortable role as the aggressor. However, Brown’s defense remains solid, and – except for a lapse in round seven when he loses a point for excessive holding and hitting – he controls the action the rest of the way, doing just enough to retain the title via a UD 12 (115-110 on all three cards). Post-bout career marks: Brown, 39-15-5 (12); Curran, 25-12-2 (10). The second and final co-feature is a rematch of a 1940 encounter for the GBU LW title, with titleholder Harry Mizler defending against Eric Boon, whom he edged by a SD 12 in August 1940. Early edge for Mizler, who seems more comfortable taking an aggressive approach than the more tentative challenger. However, Boon begins to find the range in rounds five and six and, at the halfway point, the unofficial scorer at ringside has the bout even (57-all). No cuts or knockdowns, and Mizler pulls away to take a close but UD 12 win (115-114, 116-112, 115-114) to keep the belt. The win boost Mizler’s career stats to 24-12-4 (6). The losses drops Boon to 18-7-1 (16).

Feb. 22, 1941: It’s standing room only for a massive card at New York’s Madison Square Garden, topped by no fewer than two WBA title bouts, not to mention an NABF HW title contest as the appetizer. However, first up, is a notable non-title affair, matching two top 10 LWs, Tony Chavez and Eddie “the Pride of Taxony” Cool. Strong opening round by Chavez, and Cool’s right eye shows signs of puffiness as a result of being on the receiving end of Chavez’s punches. Despite a solid punches landed edge, the unofficial scorer at ringside has it even (48-all) after five. In the second half of the bout, Chavez is the more aggressive of the two, while Cool prefers to remain on the outside, relying on his defense and counterpunching ability. Finally, in round nine, Chavez catches Cool with a big shot and puts him down briefly. Although Cool recovers and is able to resume quickly, the damage is done and it has a big impact on the outcome, as Chavez goes on to take a MD 10 (97-93, 95-95, 97-92) although one judge – surprisingly – scored the bout even. Post-bout records: Chavez, 31-9-2 (12); Cool, 36-16-5 (12). Next on the card is an NABF HW title bout, with Jersey Joe Walcott defending against Leroy Haynes. The two met back in 1933, when both were at Pre-Prime, with Walcott walking away with a TKO win. However, Haynes has impressed, remaining unbeaten for over two years, with seven straight wins, including a stoppage of Max Baer. This time around, Jersey Joe connects with a big hook less than a minute into the opening stanza, putting Haynes on the defensive, but the challenger manages to cover up to last the round. Then, in round three, it is Haynes who stuns Walcott with a solid hook. By the end of the round, there is a trace of swelling under the left eye of Jersey Joe. Walcott bounces back with a strong round four, and lands sufficient leather to cause some initial swelling around the left eye of the challenger. Midway, the unofficial card has a comfortable points edge for Walcott (59-56). In round seven, a cut appears above the left eye of the challenger. Then, in round eight, a Walcott uppercut decks Haynes for the first time in the bout. The game challenger regains his footing, but he is unable to fend off Walcott who, well ahead on points – is declared a TKO 8 victor. With the win, Walcott’s career stats improve to 41-6 (25), while Haynes – who was handicapped by the fact that he just hit Post-Prime career stage – fell to 29-10-2 (21) with the loss. Then, in first of the WBA title twin bill, Gus Lesnevich makes his second defense of the WBA LH title, taking on challenger Lloyd Marshall. First meeting of the two, with Marshal coming off a technical draw with the higher rated Archie Moore to set up the title shot. Solid boxing from Lesnevich, with Marshall electing to move inside to try to force the action in round three. Late in the round, he manages to break through, landing a sharp combination that puts Lesnevich on the deck. Gus barely manages to beat the count and covers up to last the few remaining seconds in the round. Despite some solid follow-up blows from the challenger, Lesnevich manages to recover and, after five rounds, the unofficial scorer has the bout even (47-all). The bout remains close, with Lesnevich clinging to a narrow lead (95-94) after 10 rounds, according to the unofficial card. Headed into the final few rounds, the challenger appears to have a stamina edge, and he connects with a straight right in round 12 that forces Lesnevich to cover up. Lesnevich, seeing his title slipping away, becomes the aggressor in the last few rounds, but matters only become worse, as he suffers a cut under his right eye, and Marshall does just enough to lift the title, by a UD 15 (146-141, 144-140, 146-138) by gradually wearing down Lesnevich in the later rounds. Post-bout career marks: Marshall, 20-1-2 (19); Lesnevich, 30-5-2 (14). Finally, in the nightcap, WBA WW Champ Henry Armstrong faces #1 contender Izzy Jannazzo for that title. First meeting of the two, and Jannazzo – the reigning NABF WW Champ – has remained unbeaten (six wins, three draws) since a 1938 loss to Fritzie Zivic. Slow start by Armstrong, and Jannazzo takes advantage with a big round four. Armstrong finally gets on track in round five, landing a straight right that causes Jannazzo to cover up. Armstrong’s killer instinct kicks in, and he continues to apply the pressure, forcing an early stoppage. TKO 5 for Armstrong, who improves to 35-4-3 (29) with the win, while the loss drops Jannazzo to 31-5-3 (13).

Feb. 28, 1941: The month wraps with a Friday night card at Caracas’ Nueva Circa, a seldom used venue. No titles at stake, and the feature matches two former WBA FW Champions, Chalky Wright and hometown favorite Simon Chavez. In their one prior meeting, back in 1939, Wright prevailed, taking the title from Chavez via a UD 15. This time around, on his home turf, Chavez hopes for a better outcome. In this rematch, action is slow to develop but then, suddenly, midway through the third round, Wright lands a punch but is contorted in pain from an injured hand. Unable to continue, by default the bout goes to Chavez via a TKO 3 due to the injury. Tough luck for Wright, but Chavez’s fans are delighted as their man has managed to even the score. Post-bout career marks: Chavez, 20-13-2 (7); Wright, 36-12-4 (16).
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