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Old 05-31-2006, 01:22 AM   #70
JCWeb
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1910-Bantamweights

In the BW division, a bizarre twist in a championship fight led to a surprise new champion by the end of the year.

WBA Title Bouts

Johnny Coulon CH (23-2) vs Frankie Conley #7 (17-4)

First meeting of the two and first WBA title shot for Conley, the reigning USBA champion. Conley surprised the champ with a flash knockdown in the second, but Coulon came back strong, staggering Frankie with an uppercut in the 5th. Conley did well in the 6th, a good action round where the challenger came on at the end. In the middle rounds Coulon re-established control as Conley started to show signs of fatigue. Conley 's left eye showed signs of puffiness and Coulon was cut late in the bout. The result was a solid UD 15 verdict for Coulon.

Johnny Coulon CH (24-2) vs Harry Harris #1 (46-7-2)

Coulon puts it on the line against the aging but skilled Harris, still a threat at 38. Coulon established an early lead as Harris' timing was off. Harry finally started connecting in round 4, the result being some redness around Coulon's left eye. Coulon presses home the attack and dominates the middle rounds. Harris' left eye shows noticeable swelling and both boxers battle hard, with Coulon coasting to another UD 15 win. (146-139 on all three cards in favor of Coulon.)

Johnny Coulon CH (25-2) vs Phila. Pal Moore #3 (15-0-2)

This is the first title shot of any kind for the unbeaten 19-year old Moore, who is thought by many to be moving up too soon. The Chicago Spider is more effective in the early rounds, but Moore does enough to keep the bout close. Round 7 sees some swelling start around Moore's right eye. In round 9, a huge surprise -- Coulon badly injures his hand and cannot continue. The title thus goes to Moore by TKO 9. (A huge upset as Coulon was comfortably ahead on all 3 cards.)

NABF: Hugh McGovern defends the title twice in 1910, first against the higher-ranked Kid Murphy against whom McGovern is 2-0 in prior meetings. A crushing uppercut from the champ forces the Kid to cover up in round one. After several uneventful rounds, Murphy decides to go for broke in the 5th but McGovern gets there first, repeatedly drilling the hapless challenger. A late surge by Murphy falls short and it's a UD 12 win for McGovern. Next up is Biz Mackey, and on paper this one doesn't look good for the champ who is 0-3 lifetime versus Mackey. McGovern keeps it close in the early rounds and a strong fifth has Mackey gasping for air and with puffiness under the left eye. Biz comes back strong in two good action rounds, 7 and 8, opening a cut above McGovern's left eye. Mackey works the cut, but McGovern's defense is solid as he registers another UD12 win.

USBA: Frankie Conley took on Kid Beebe in an effort to repeat his earlier KO win. This time Conley built up an early points lead and was content with a UD12 win. Next Conley defended against Frankie Neil in a rematch of the 1909 bout in which Conley won the USBA title on a controversial foul call. Each had moments in the early going, and then Conley forged a lead by working inside to the head and body in the 5th. Conley went on to prevail by a MD12, the scorecards had the bout surprisingly close. Conley rounded out 1910 by taking on Al Delmont, an ex-USBA champ seeking to establish his credentials for a WBA title shot. Conley worked both inside and outside to establish an early lead after four rounds. In round 5, Delmont was cut under the left eye. Delmont rallied in the late rounds and the decision was another close one that went for Conley by SD12 (116-112, 113-115, 116-112)

CBU: Joe Bowker did not defend the belt in 1910.

GBU: Digger Stanley defended once, and once again for the sixth time he took on Pedlar Palmer, with whom he was 3-2 lifetime, Stanley having won the last three. Palmer manages to keep the bout close for four rounds, but then Stanley works well from both outside and inside to take command. Despite a cut over one eye, Stanley drops Palmer in the 11th and takes an easy UD 12 win.

EBU: No defenses of the EBU crown by Stanley in 1910.

Jan 1911 Rankings (Perf Pts and Changes from 1910 in parens):

Champ: Phila. Pal Moore 16-0-2 (8) (846) (new)
1. Johnny Coulon 25-3 (13) (845) (-1)
2. Harry Harris 47-8-2 (30) (791) (NC)
3. Hugh McGovern 27-9-1 (12) (717) (+3)
4. Biz Mackey 30-9-3 (12) (696) (-3)
5. Frankie Conley 20-5 (12) (691) (+3)
6. Kid Murphy 22-9-1 (16) (661) (-3)
7. Al Delmont 27-10-1 (14) (542) (NC)
8. Frankie Burns 12-2-1 (6) (526) (new)
9. Tommy Feltz 27-16-1 (17) (522) (+2)
10. Digger Stanley 24-15-2 (8) (522) (-6)

Comments: All at Prime except for Moore and Burns (still at Pre) and Harris and Feltz (both at Post). New champ Moore paced the newcomers, moving from prospect to contender with wins over Goldman and Beebe (both SDs) and a draw with Bowker to set up the title bout with Coulon. Coulon had won five in a row until the controversial loss to Moore. Another former prospect, Frankie Burns, reached the top 10 despite losses to Neil and M. Attell by defeating Phil McGovern and Harry Forbes. Feltz rebounded with wins over Attell and P. McGovern but his progress was thwarted when he suffered a loss to Harris. Dropping out of the top 10 from 1910 were Neil (down from #5 to #11), who lost three straight to Conley, Forbes and Delmont; Harry Forbes (down from #9 to #12), who lost to Bowker and Burns; and Monte Attell (down from #10 to #13), whose career stalled with two losses to Mackey and Feltz. Joe Bowker, the CBU champ, checks in at 28-13-4 (14), good for 14th spot with 441 pp. Stanley, who managed to stay in the Top 10 at #10, is the top-ranked non-American. No TCs grace this year's rankings list for the BW division.

Prospects: All four in the prospects category are undefeated, all versus TCs. Charles Ledoux is a perfect 10-0, all by KO. Young Oliver is 6-0 (4), while Eddie Campi and Kid Williams sport identical 5-0 (4) marks.

Looking Ahead: There is already a great clamoring for a Coulon-Moore rematch, but others are seeking a shot as well. NABF champ McGovern would like to succeed and take a World BW crown, something his brother Terry could not accomplish. Charles Goldman and "Louisiana" are still at Pre-Prime and could make a move at the Top 10 soon. Ledoux could well contend for the EBU belt in a year or two. Jack Kid Wolfe and Brit Joe Fox will join the BW ranks in 1911.

Division Profile: 59 total boxers, 25 real-life, 34 TCs
RL by career stage: End-0 Post-4 (Feltz, Forbes, Harris, Neil) Prime-11 Pre-8 Beginning-2 (both newcomers)
Ranked - 19
800+: 2
500+: 11
200+: 19

Retirements: Two boxers in the BW ranks called it quits in 1910. Their career stats:

Thomas Pedlar Palmer (UK) 1891-1910 31-32-3 (20) EBU, CBU, GBU Champ
Morris Rauch (USA) 1897-1910 25-22-2 (10) USBA Champ
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