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Old 05-26-2006, 05:12 PM   #63
JCWeb
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Join Date: Jun 2005
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1910-Heavyweights

Just concluded the action from 1910 in my uni and will start as usual with the HW Division. As a new feature, I will add some commentary on other than World title bouts as appropriate (which may make these reports a tad longer). Big news from the division was that a boxer who never got a World HW title shot in real life did so and thereby ascended to the WBA HW title.

WBA Title Bouts

Jack Johnson CH (59-4-3) vs Marvin Hart #22 (24-17-1)

Unusual to see such a low-ranked boixer get a title shot, but Hart had won his last bout, held the title in real life, and there was a paucity of other viable contenders available the month Lil' Arthur's number came up. Jack Johnson had won two prior meetings by TKO and was looking to make it three in a row.
Johnson piled up an early lead, and Hart started defensively but became more aggressive as he fell behind on points. Jack was called for a low blow in the 5th but staggered Hart who remained upright to last the round. Hart was cut in round 7, then totally dominated by Johnson in the 8th and 9th. The 9th proved decisive as a barrage of blows floored Hart, and not much later the ref moved to stop the bout. Johnson by TKO 9.

Jack Johnson CH (60-4-3) vs Al Kaufmann #10 (23-6)

Johnson picks journeyman fringe contender Kaufmann for his next opponent, and once again he's the heavy favorite. In round 2 the challenger scores with a strong uppercut, and Johnson is forced to cover up to avoid further damage. Kaufmann also holds his own in round 5, a good action round. Both are on the inside in the 6th and Johnson connects with a big right hand to take the round. Johnson steps it up in rounds 7 and 8 as he repeatedly catches a flat-footed Kaufmann. The end comes in the 12th when a game but tired challenger is floored with a right hook, and staggers to his feet only to have the bout halted shortly thereafter. Johnson by TKO 12.

Jack Johnson CH (61-4-3) vs Sam Langford #2 (33-5-1)

This is Johnson's first defense against a top-line contender since the Burns and O'Brien bouts a year ago. Langford had lost a SD 15 to Jack for the title in 1907 and had been clamoring for a rematch.
Langford moved to the inside from the start, crowding the champ -- a strong first round for the Boston Tar Baby. Round 2 Johnson works outside, but Langford shows good ring movement and again comes out on top. Langford continues to control the bout in the third through fifth rounds, and it becomes apparent that the champ is not in the best condition for this defense. Johnson, trailing, becomes more aggressive and more frustrated as the bout goes on. Langford continues to pile up the points and is able to coast to a surprisingly easy UD 15 verdict. (146-138, 147-139, 148-136)

NABF: Four NABF title bouts in 1910. James Jeffries defends versus Sam McVey, whom he had beaten once before. This time it was different as McVey opened a cut above Jeff's left eye in round 2, and then after surviving a KD by Jeff that put him down for a 6-count in round 4, managed to reopen the cut which led to a 7th round TKO. McVey then defended versus Frank Moran, where he got off to a great start and his superior boxing skills led to a lopsided UD 12 verdict. Then next up was Joe Jeannette, with whom he had split two earlier bouts (one of which was Jeannette's only loss so far), and Jeannette boxed well to take an early lead, McVey moved inside to try to launch a comeback, but was foiled by a big hook from Jeannette in the hard-fought 7th round. Jeannette went on to register a fairly comfortable but close UD 12 win. Late in the year Joe defended versus Jeff "Joplin Ghost" Clarke, who was making his first appearance in a title bout. Jeannette established his jab early to take the points lead and cause swelling on Clarke's face. Clarke was also suffering from a cut eye as well, but Jeannette's face was also bruised about the right eye. Jeannette drilled the challenger with a solid combo for the bout's only KD in round 8 en route to a comfortable UD 12 win.

USBA: Four title bouts here also. Jeannette started the year as champ, and defended versus aging vet Bob Armstrong who he easily disposed of with a KO 1. Jeannette vacated the crown and two veterans, Joe Grim and Denver Ed Martin, fought for the vacant title. In their first meeting, the result was a draw and a rematch was order two months later. This time Grim prevailed by a SD 12 as a late surge by Martin fell short. Late in the yeat Grim defended against two-time former USBA champ McVey, who prevailed after an intense struggle where both men suffeered bruising and swelling about the right eye (and McVey's corner had to deal with a cut). McVey by UD 12 to take the USBA belt for the third time.

CBU: Tommy Burns defended versus Langford in a marquee matchup where both men had their moments, but the key blow was a Langford uppercut which floored Burns in the 12th and the scorecards showed a lopsided UD 12 win for Langford. Then Sam defended versus Englishman Gunner Moir, a bout he dominated and where Moir suffered from a cut and swelling. TKO 7 (cut) win for Langford. Of course, the CBU Belt will be up for grabs in early 1911 after Langford's surprise win over Johnson for the WBA crown.

GBU: William Hague defended twice, first against Victor McLaglen, in a good action fight where neither man was shy about mixing it up. Result was a MD 12 for Hague (116-112, 114 all, 116-112). Next up was Moir, who surprised Hague with a KD in the 2nd but "Iron" Hague came back to put Moir on the canvas with a wicked cross in the 9th. The bout ended abruptly in the 10th when Moir was DQ'ed for a low blow. Hague WF 10. It was Moir's fourth try for the British title belt, all of them unsuccessful.

Jan 1911 Rankings (Perf Pts and change from prior year in parens)

Champ: Sam Langford 34-5-1 (26) (1217) (up 5)
1. Jack Johnson 61-5-3 (48) (1216) (down 1)
2. Joe Jeannette 30-1 (22) (1174) (up 1)
3. Sam McVey 30-7-1 (20) (1039) (up 3)
4. Tommy Burns 32-7-2 (25) (1027) (NC)
5. James Jeffries 48-8-3 (42) (970) (down 4)
6. Frank Moran 15-3 (9) (573) (new)
7. Bob Armstrong 40-21-2 (33) (573) (NC)
8. Jeff Clarke 15-2-1 (12) (568) (new)
9. Bill Squires 21-16 (16) (489) (up 3)
10. Al Kaufmann 23-7 (15) (478) (down 1)

Comments: Of the Top 10, all at Prime except for Jeff and Armstrong (at Post) and newcomers Moran and Clarke who are still at Pre. Langford who has won 6 in a row and is 10-0-1 in his last 11 bouts, may be on a collision course with Jeannette, who has won 13 straight. McVey is also on the upsurge winning 4 of 5 bouts in 1910. Burns is still holding his own but may be a cut below the top contenders. Jeff is beginning to show his age, losing his only two tilts in 1910. Moran and Clarke advanced to the elite group but both faltered when given their initial title shots. Squires moved up by winning 4 of 5 bouts, all by KO, versus Hague, Palmer, Jim Johnson and Porky Flynn. Dropping out from last year were O'Brien (ranked 2, returned to LH ranks), Barry (was #8, lost to Haines and McLaglen) and Denver Ed Martin, who narrowed failed to snare a lesser title when he lost the USBA belt clash with Grim. British champ "Iron" Hague is rated 13th, with a 12-4 (9) mark, and 419 pp.

Prospects: Gunboat Smith is now 11-0 (8), going 5-0 for the year but his only non-TC opponent was Charley Miller. Denver Jack Geyer won four in a row, including a KO win over Andy Morris, which is Morris' only loss. Tom McMahon is still unbeaten at 8-0-1 (4), albeit all versus TCs. Successful debuts in 1910 were registered by Charles Horn (6-0 with 3 KOs), Arthur Pelkey (6-0 with 2 KOs), Bandsman Dick Rice (5-0 with 3 KOs). Noteworthy was the 5-0 start by Carl Morris, all by KO. Al Benedict is now 4-0, and Brits Tom Cowler and Bombadier Billy Wells are both 3-0.

Looking Ahead: Two all-time greats, Jess Willard and Harry Wills, join the HW ranks in 1911 along with the ill-fated Luther McCarty. More great white hopes will also swell the ranks.

Division Profile: 121 total boxers, 63 real-life and 58 TCs
RL by career stage: End: 2 (Haines and Palmer), Post-Prime: 6, Prime: 14, Pre-Prime: 25, Beginner: 16 (including 12 new for 1911).
Rated: 31
800+: 6
500+: 9
200+: 24

NOTE: I made a slight recent change in how I do my rankings. I pumped the default minimum bout value up from 10 to 12, but what I report here is for those with 15 or more bouts, with the sole exception of where a boxer has won some kind of a title belt before his 15th bout, in which case that boxer will be rated as well. (As I get further along and more bouts, I expect to up the minimum bout value to 15 across the board but right now I need to allow for these types of exceptions.)


Top TC is #29 Chris Bridger (AUS) at 12-10-1 (3) (37 pp).

Retirements in 1910: None

Last edited by JCWeb; 05-27-2006 at 01:29 PM.
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