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This report covers a total of 55 bouts taking place during the second half of June 1941. Three WBA title bouts, including two on one card, are included in this report.

June 20, 1941: Next is a card at Washington D. C.’s Uline Arena. No titles at stake, but the feature brings together a pair of HW contenders, reigning LABF HW Champ Jimmy Mendes and rising star Lou Nova. The two have not met before, and Mendes is at Post-Prime while Nova is at Prime and on his way up the HW ranks. It’s a good test for both men, and Nova starts well, taking the opening round by a decisive margin, dropping Mendes with a short, clean hook right before the bell. More of the same in round two, and Mendes elects to slug it out on the inside in round three – with decidedly better results as his aggressiveness is rewarded. Good action rounds in rounds four and five, with Nova ahead on the scorecard (49-45, according to the unofficial scorer) at the halfway point. Trailing, Mendes rallies with a big round six, where he drops Nova for an eight count. Despite the big round, Mendes is showing signs of fatigue as well as the effects of a rapidly swelling right eye. Nova’s corner urges him to become more active, and he battles back, sending Mendes to the canvas with an uppercut in round eight. Nova continues to fire away, landing punch after punch until the ref calls a halt. TKO 8 for Nova, who was trailing on two of the three cards after the first seven. Post-bout career marks are: Nova, 23-6 (18); Mendes, 37-14-4 (30). Good action bout, and a possible fight of the year candidate. However, after three straight losses, Mendes’ days as a top-flight HW contender may be numbered.

June 21, 1941: Next up is a card at Escobar Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and the feature pits none other than the Puerto Rican BW boxer, Sixto Escobar, in the role of challenger for the NABF BW title currently held by American Tommy Forte. It’s the first meeting of the two, and Forte is struggling to regain his form with this, his second title defense, after having been held to a draw by Lou Salica in his initial title defense and then suffering a KO loss – the first loss in his career thus far -- to Georgie Pace in an unsuccessful try for the WBA BW title. Escobar, a former LABF BW titleholder, is past his Prime and looking to regain his past glory, having gone winless (six losses and one draw) since his last win, almost two years ago. In this encounter, the two trade blows mostly from long range for the first few rounds. Early indications are that Escobar, buoyed by the support of the hometown fight fans, is doing well, and late in round five he connects with a short, clean cross that sends Forte to the deck. After the first six, it’s clear that Escobar has a stamina edge as well as a solid points lead (60-53, according to the unofficial card, although that includes a few close rounds that could have gone either way. Trailing, Forte is forced onto the offensive in an effort to retain his title. As Forte attacks, Escobar defends well, protecting his early advantage and, with the home crowd behind him, he goes on to take a solid UD 12 verdict (117-110, 116-111, 116-111) to capture the belt. As a result, Escobar improves to a post-bout 32-12-4 (10). For Forte, it is only his second career loss (and second loss in a row), dropping him to 23-2-2 (11).

June 21, 1941: Next card – featuring twin bill WBA title contests -- takes place at Chicago’s Comiskey Park. No supporting bouts worthy of mention, but the excitement is in the arena as two popular champions – Tony Zale and Joe Louis are set to defend their respective titles. In the first co-feature, Zale, the “Man of Steel,” puts his WBA MW title on the line, facing ex-Champ Ken Overlin. Classical slugger (Zale) versus boxer (Overlin) matchup, and their one prior meeting (back in 1937) went in favor of Zale, via a MD 10. This time around, there’s a lot of posturing but not much action in the opening couple of rounds. In round three, Zale manages to work his way inside and land a few good shots. More of the same in the next two rounds, and according to the unofficial scorer at ringside, it is enough for Zale to take a slim points lead (48-47 after the first five rounds). In the middle rounds, Zale continues to pursue his inside attack, while Overlin tries to outbox his opponent from the outside. Two good rounds in the ninth and the 10th for Overlin, and the unofficial scorecard has the fight even (95-all) headed into the final five rounds. Punches landed stats are almost even as well, and Zale takes the initiative to step up the pace, given that Overlin appears to be tiring. Good action round in round 11, and there is some puffiness around the right eye of Zale as the two men return to their corners. Zale continues to press the attack, looking to land a telling blow in rounds 13 and 14. However, Overlin’s defense remains solid, frustrating the Champ, whose timing seems a bit off. No cuts or knockdowns, and the bout goes the distance, with Zale coming out on top by a narrow SD 15 (142-143, 143-142, 143-142) to retain the title by the narrowest of margins – with two judges giving the nod to Zale in the final round to seal the victory. Zale improves to 31-2 (20) with the win. Overlin, now 38-8-5 (14), is already angling for a rematch – and the bout is already a Fight of the Year candidate. Then, in the finale, the WBA HW title is on the line, and it’s the “Brown Bomber,” Joe Louis, unbeaten in his last nine – all successful title defenses, and all inside the distance – who faces Nathan Mann, an opponent he has stopped twice before, most recently in June 1940. Mann tries to stay away from Louis’ power, and he succeeds for the first round or two, but Louis finds the range with a big hook in round two, then decks Mann in round three. A second trip to the canvas follows later in that same round, with Mann being saved by the bell. After a breather in round four, Louis seeks to finish Mann in round five, but the challenger’s defense remains solid. However, by this point, the damage has been done, with Louis well ahead on points after five (50-44, according to the unofficial scorecard). More punishment is dished out by the Champ in round six, but no knockdowns, although Mann’s left eye is beginning to puff up. In rounds seven and eight, Louis steps up the attack, but Mann remains upright despite being on the receiving end of a variety of Louis’ punches. Mann continues to survive until round nine, when a heavy fusillade of blows from Louis convinces to ref to call a halt to the one-sided affair. TKO 9 for Louis – his 10th win in succession since his only career loss to Max Schmeling back in 1938. Post-bout career marks: Louis, 35-1 (33); Mann, 23-7-2 (18).

June 27, 1941: Next is a Friday night fight card, held at New Orleans’ Coliseum Arena. Key matchup is a USBA LW title fight, and it’s a rematch of a bout held in 1940 in which Davey Day lifted the title from the “Sweetwater Swatter,” Lew Jenkins and now, almost a year later, Jenkins is looking to regain that belt and avenge the only loss thus far in his career. Since lifting the title, Day has had some indifferent results, hanging on in his first defense in a draw with Lefty Satan Flynn, and dropping a UD 10 to British Champ Jack Kid Berg. This time, the two have taken a cautious approach with little action in terms of hard punches landed in the opening few rounds. In round three, Jenkins works his way inside and scores well with some stinging shots that cause some swelling to appear under the left eye of Day. After six, the unofficial scorer has Jenkins with a solid points edge (59-56). Into the later rounds, Jenkins continues to focus on Day’s swollen eye, while Day – a boxer by nature – tries to become more aggressive. Jenkins holds a stamina edge, taking advantage of the fact that Day has recently hit Post-Prime career stage. In round 10, Day manages to open a cut under Jenkins’ left eye – not a dangerous location. The bout goes the full 12 with no knockdowns, and Jenkins’ hand is raised in triumph as he takes a UD 12 (118-111, 117-111, 116-114). The win boosts Jenkins’ career totals to 24-1-2 (11), while the loss leaves Day at 32-7-4 (13).

June 28, 1941: Next card is at London’s Earls Court, and twin bill title bout action tops the agenda. In the first co-main event, the GBU FW title is on the line, with Frank Parkes defending against Dave Crowley, whom he defeated to capture this belt back in 1938. The bout remains close through the opening rounds, with both men holding their own. Crowley, the more aggressive of the two, struggles to land a telling blow, but the unofficial scorer at ringside has him with the points edge (by a count of 58-56) at the midway point. Parkes manages to outbox Crowley, and he holds a stamina edge over the challenger as the bout heads into the later stages. Crowley responds with a strong round nine, putting pressure on Parkes to step up the pace. The issue remains in doubt all the way to the final bell, finishing without either man suffering from cuts or knockdowns. After a long break, the scorecards are read, and Crowley is announced the winner via a MD 12 (116-113, 114-114, 116-114) to regain the title he held kn 1937-38. Post-bout marks: Crowley, 31-23-1 (13); Parkes, 24-8-1 (14). Then, the second co-feature, Ireland’s Rinty Monaghan challenges Joe Curran for the Commonwealth Flyweight title belt currently held by Curran. The two have met once before, back in 1937, with Curran winning, but that was while Monaghan was still at Pre-Prime career stage. This time around, Mongahan starts well, and by the end of the opening round, there is a trace of swelling around the right eye of Curran. Then, in round five, things appear to turn in favor of the Champ as Monaghan suffers a cut over his right eye. However, at the halfway point, Monaghan appears to be well ahead on points (59-55 on the unofficial card). Mongahan has a definite stamina edge as the bout heads into the later rounds, and Curran continues to struggle with his timing as fatigue begins to set in. In the end, the cut proves not to be an issue (indeed, Curran is cut over his right eye in the final round), and a solid performance by the challenger, Monaghan, earns him the title with a comfortable UD 12 win (118-110, 117-111, 117-111), boosting his career totals to 28-5 (11). The loss leaves Curran at 26-13-2 (11). Monaghan, who has been improving with every bout, has to be taken seriously as a possible WBA Fly title contender.

June 28, 1941: The month wraps with a huge card at the Polo Grounds in New York City. The card kicks off with a couple of notable debutants, specifically LH Joey Maxim who takes a UD 4, followed by Jake “the Bronx Bull” LaMotta, who quickly disposes of this TC opponent via a TKO 2. Champions, former Champions and unbeaten prospects are included on the rest of the star-studden card, topped off by a WBA title contest. The first of the two supporting bouts (leading into a pair of title fights) matches unbeaten MW prospect Steve “Spider” Belloise with an aging, former WBA Champ, Eddie “Babe” Risko. No prior meetings of these two. Belloise looks sharp early, moving well and landing sufficient to blows to cause some initial swelling under the right eye of the ex-Champ. Risko, not to be outdone, rallies to land sufficient leather to cause some minor swelling around Belloise’s left eye by the end of round four. After some good inside action in round five, Belloise appears to have the upper hand but, surprisingly, the unofficial card has Risko ahead (by a count of 49-46) at the halfway point of this 10-rounder. With both men running low on energy, the two battle into the later rounds, essentially on even terms. Under prodding from his corner, Belloise shifts tactics and moves inside in round eight, forcing the action. Both men swing freely in round nine, essentially an even round. It all comes down to the final round, which goes to the wily veteran Risko, just enough to secure him the SD 10 verdict (96-94, 95-96, 96-94), handing Belloise his first career setback. Post-bout career marks: Risko, who will hit End career stage with his next outing, 31-12-4 (11); Belloise, 18-1 (11). In the next bout, another unbeaten fighter is featured as LH Harry Matthews faces former WBA LH Champ John Henry Lewis in a non-title affair. Again, no prior meetings, and Lewis is looking for his first win since dropping the WBA title to unheralded Eddie Booker in mid-1940. Solid start from Matthews, who seems sent to lay back and allow the older man to wear himself out. However, after a solid round four, Lewis appears to be on top, with Matthews battling a rapidly swelling right eye. At the midway point, the unofficial scorer has Lewis up by a narrow margin (48-47). Then, with both men battling swollen right eyes, Matthews takes round seven by remaining outside, successfully counterpunching as Lewis dictates the pace. By the last two rounds, both men are running low on energy, and, as the prior bout, it is the aging veteran coming through to take a narrow decision, this time a UD 10 for Lewis (96-95, 97-94, 96-95), who took the final round on all three cards to secure the victory, moving to 27-9-3 (19) overall, while Matthews’ first career loss leaves him at 17-1 (15). So, two perfect career marks do down the drain. Then, it’s time for a twin bill of title bouts, the first of which is a rematch for the NABF LH title, with Archie Moore defending against former WBA LH Champ Billy Conn, the “Pittsburgh Kid,” whom he defeated for the belt earlier in the year. This time around, Conn suffers a split lip in what appears to be a fairly even opening round. Conn, the consummate boxer, battles back, showing excellent ring generalship skills to take round two. Moore seizes the initiative in round three, stepping inside and scoring well. With Conn’s corner focusing on the cut, which is continuing to occasionally ooze blood, Moore is able to forge a solid points edge by the halfway point (58-56, according to the unofficial card). As the bout heads into the later rounds, Moore continues to press forward, while Conn is content to stay outside. Some good counterpunching by Conn in round eight leads to the first signs of puffiness around the right eye of Moore, who finally seems to be easing up the pace a bit. Still, Moore has the stamina edge and continues to aggressively pursue his opponent into the final rounds of the fight. Moore finishes with a strong final round and, after the judges’ cards are read, it turns out to be needed as he managed to secure a draw to hang on to the belt (114-114, 114-114, 115-113 Moore). Post-bout career marks: Moore, 20-1-4 (15); Conn, 26-4-3 (15). The evening (and the month’s fistic action) wraps up with a WBA WW title bout, featuring Henry “Homicide Hank” Armstrong making his sixth defense against an aging veteran and two-time former WBA WW Champ, Young Corbett III. No longer “young,” it has been a decade since Corbett, now 36 and at End career stage, has last held the belt, plus he was a KO victim of Armstrong when the two squared off, back in 1937. So, most observers are predicting an “easy” defense for Armstrong, setting up a bigger challenge or possible move to MW in the future. After a huge opening round for Armstrong, Corbett is lucky to remain upright and relatively unscathed. More of the same in round two, and Armstrong rocks the challenger with a crippling right early in the third, forcing Corbett to cover up. Again, Corbett survives to the end of the round,and he manages to withstand a further barrage of blows from Armstrong in round four. Finally, in round five, an Armstrong combination decks Corbett, and he follows up, finishing Corbett with an uppercut that puts the veteran challenger down and out. KO 5 for Armstrong, running his career totals to 37-4-3 (31), and Corbett, who has only one or two more bouts left before contemplating retirement, is now 57-21-6 (14).