My Universe

[WeiLo]

Originally Posted by JCWeb

sorry to report that, due to some recent injuries from a very bad fall -- including a fractured left wrist -- there will be an indefinite pause in reports for this universe for the time being.

I hope you get better soon!

[Cap]

Originally Posted by JCWeb

sorry to report that, due to some recent injuries from a very bad fall -- including a fractured left wrist -- there will be an indefinite pause in reports for this universe for the time being.

Did you slip on the ice? Falling and landing hard is rough on seniors. Could have been your hip. Get better soon, eh.

Cap

[zyberianwarrior]

OW!!! sorry to hear get well soon.

[Rocco Del Sesto]

Ouch!! Sorry for such an unfortunate start to your new year! Get well soon!!
Rocco

[JCWeb]

Pleased to report that this Uni is back in action as of a few days ago, so expect a new report soon.

[Cap]

Good to hear it!

Cap

[JCWeb]

This report includes bouts from the second half of January 1951. Two WBA title bouts are included in this report.

Jan. 19, 1951: The next iteration of the Friday night fights “Down Under” series takes place at Melbourne. Featured in the main event is a title bout for the Commonwealth LW title featuring a pair of Aussies, and two familiar foes in Norm Gent, the holder, and Charlie Ashenden, the challenger and former Champ. The pair are meeting for the sixth time, with two draws and two wins to one for Gent in their prior encounters and, significantly, both are at Post-Prime for this encounter. It is a cautious start by both men, and Ashenden is the first to attempt to move inside and pick up the pace in round three. Ashenden’s early edge in the punches landed stats is erased after Gent begins to assert himself with a big round in the fifth. However, Ashenden lands some telling blows in round six, including one that opens a cut on Gent’s forehead. At the halfway point of the contest, the unofficial scorer has Ashenden with a big points lead (60-54), although, in reality, the punch count stats suggest that the bout is much closer than this score count. The cut is reopened in round eight, but Gent’s corner does a good job to staunch the bleeding. In the end, it is not the cut that decides the outcome, but a series of low blows (kidney shots) unleashed by Gent in round nine. The fouls are ruled to be flagrant, resulting in an immediate disqualification. Thus, Ashenden is able to regain the title via the DQ-9, improving to 21-9-8 (5) as a result. Gent, now 23-8-3 (8), had a good opportunity to retain the title, as the bout was scored as even on all three cards at the time the action was halted. Furthermore, Ashenden continues to retain the OPBF LW title he has held since 1949, a title belt that was not at stake in this title matchup.

Jan. 20, 1951: Next card takes place at Buenos Aires’ Luna Park, and, in the main event, the highly touted Cuban slugger, Nino Valdes, challenges homegrown favorite, Cesar Brion of Argentina, for Brion’s LABF HW title. This is a rematch of a bout for the same title in Havana in September 1950 that ended up as a points win for Brion. This time, Valdes gets Brion’s attention in the opening stanza, rocking the Champ with a sharp uppercut that forces Brion to cover up. After a close round in the second, round three sees Valdes go on the offensive, breaking through Brion’s offensive, landing several telling blows and dominating the action until the ref is forced to call a halt as Brion is literally out on his feet. Impressive TKO 3 for Valdes, who finally is able to lift the LABF title belt in his third try. Post-bout career records: Valdes, 25-12-2 (20); Brion, 20-4-1 (8).

Jan. 20, 1951: Two HW sluggers ranked in the top 10 are matched in the main event of the next card, at Los Angeles’ Olympic Auditorium. The two protagonists – Lee Q. Murray and Joe Weiden are meeting for the first time in a 10-round, non-title bout. Both have, in the past, held regional title belts: Murray is a former USBA HW titleholder, while Weiden was a one-time EBU HW Champ. In round three, Weiden attempts to move inside, but some strong counterpunching from Murray causes a welt to form under his right eye. Weiden recovers with a decent showing in round four but, as the two battle away on the inside in round five, Murray is able to land sufficient blows to cause some swelling around Weiden’s other (left) eye. Nonetheless, at the halfway point of the bout, it is Weiden with a narrow points lead (48-47) on the unofficial scorer’s card. Murray’s superiority is evident in the second half of the bout, as the rounds tick off and Weiden is unable to connect with any meaningful punches to turn the bout around. In the final round, Murray decks Weiden with a cross, but Weiden is able to scramble to his feet and finish the bout. The late knockdown only serves to emphasize Murray’s dominance in the second half of the bout, and he scoops up a UD 10 (96-93, 98-91, 98-91) to run his career totals to 36-13-2 (27). Weiden ends the bout at 23-4-1 (10).

Jan. 26, 1951: Next up is a huge card at Havana’s Gran Stadium. Twin title bouts (including a WBA title matchup) top the card, but first, in a main supporting bout, the “Cuban Hawk,” Kid Gavilan, is in action, facing another top 10 WW, Frankie Fernandez. The two have not met before, and the bout is scheduled for 10 rounds. Looking very comfortable and composed before a large hometown crowd, Gavilan easily takes control and compiles a sizable early advantage in the punch count stats. In round three, Gavilan gets careless and goes down from a well-timed hook from Fernandez; he takes an eight count but manages to last the rest of the round. By the midway point of the contest, Gavilan holds a two-point lead (48-46) on the unofficial scorer’s card, this despite conceding a 10-8 round due to the one knockdown. Gavilan maintains his focus throughout the second half of the bout, which ends up going the distance. In the end, the UD 10 nod goes to Gavilan by wide margin (98-90 on all three cards). Post-bout marks: Gavilan, 28-5-2 (6); Fernandez, 23-6 (16). Next, for the third time in less than a year, Ciro Morasen faces Carlos Chavez for the NABF FW title that Morasen has held since late 1949; two prior bouts ended in a draw and a win for Morasen, a fan favorite here in Havana. In this rematch, the two boxers are content to circle each other without a lot of aggressive thrusts, leading to a boring bout through the opening few rounds. After the first three rounds are in the books, Morasen has pulled ahead in the punches landed count, landing enough leather to cause some initial swelling under the left eye of the challenger. Then, in round five, it is Chavez’s turn to do some damage; first, he opens a cut under Morasen’s left eye, then follows up with a solid combination that sends the Cuban Champ tumbling to the canvas. Morasen is able to recover quickly, regaining his footing after taking an eight count. At the halfway point, the unofficial scorer has Morasen with a solid but not commanding points lead (58-55). By as early as round seven, there is a touch of swelling around the cut left eye of Morasen. A weary and tired fighter, Morasen does his best, but he simply lacks the firepower to turn things around in the final few rounds, allowing Chavez to capture the NABF title via a UD 12 (116-111, 116-111, 116-112). Post-bout, Chavez improves to 34-11-4 (10), while Morasen ends up at 25-7-5 (4). The win enabled Chavez to regain the title he had previously held back in the 1946-47 time frame. Wrapping up the evening’s festivities is a bout for the WBA Flyweight title, with Black Pico making his first defense against former Champ Jackie Paterson, who held the title in 1943-44. The two are meeting for the first time, and Paterson, whose real-life retirement year was 1951, will be at Post-Prime for this bout. After a couple of desultory opening rounds, Pico connects with a hard right in round three; Paterson absorbs the blow, remains upright, and successfully covers up to last the round. Pico continues to hold the upper hand through the early going and, after five rounds are in the books, he has a healthy edge (49-46) on the unofficial scorer’s card. Then, in round six, Pico strikes again, doubling up on a hook that ends up opening a cut over Paterson’s left eye. The cut is patched up between rounds but is reopened in round eight, and it continues to be an issue at the bout proceeds. At the two thirds mark of the contest, Pico continues to hold a solid points lead (97-93) on the unofficial card. When the cut over Paterson’s eye is reopened a second time in round 11, the ref decides to call a halt. Pico retains the belt via a TKO 11 on the cuts stoppage, and his career record improves to 26-4-3 (3). The loss drops Paterson to 38-12-2 (22).

Jan. 27, 1951: The scene shifts to London’s Earls Court for some more title bout action, with a regional title at stake followed by another WBA title clash. First of the twin title contests is for the GBU FW title, currently held by Ronnie Clayton who faces former Champ Al Phillips in the second defense of the title he won back in 1949. This is the fourth meeting of the two, with Clayton holding a 2-1 edge in their prior confrontation. Clayton gets off to a good start and has an early lead in the punches landed count, so Phillips begins to try to work his way inside in round three. In round five, the two tangle while exchanging blows on the inside, and Clayton drops Phillips who bounces back to his feet as the count reaches two. A peek at the unofficial scorer’s card at the halfway point of the 12-rounder shows Clayton holding a wide points lead (59-54). After a lull, action picks up in round eight, when Phillips opens a cut over Clayton’s left eye, but then Clayton manages to counter, causing some swelling under Phillips’ right eye. Then, in round nine , a Clayton hooks rips open a cut over Phillips’ left eye. In round 10, the cut over Clayton’s eye is reopened. A round later, Clayton decks Phillips for a second time, once again with a hook; Phillips takes a count of six before resuming. Two more knockdowns in the final round help seal the win for Clayton, who takes a lopsided UD 12 (119-102, 119-102, 120-101), improving to 35-6 (17) as a result. A disappointed Phillips ends the bout at 33-15-1 (14). The final bout of the card is for the WBA LH title recently vacated by Archie Moore, who moved up to concentrate on the HW division. Matched for the vacant belt are Lloyd Marshall and Freddie Mills, both of whom are at Post-Prime. Marshall prevailed in both their prior meetings, both of which ended inside the distance. There is not much to choose between the two through the opening few rounds; Marshall pulls ahead with a strong round in the fourth. After the first five rounds are in the books, the bout is extremely close, with the unofficial scorecard having Mills up by just a single point (48-47). Into the middle rounds, Mills seems energized by the support of the London fight fans and he manages to dominate the action in the seventh round, causing a trace of swelling to appear under Marsdhall’s left eye. Marshall rallies with a couple of strong rounds in the ninth and 10th. At the two-thirds mark, the unofficial scorer has the bout scored as even (95-95). The bout comes down to the final few rounds, and both fighters are willing to throw caution to the win with the WBA title on the line. Marshall seems to have the upper hand with a big round in the 13th, while Mills appears to be flailing away. The bout goes the distance, and Marshall’s strong second half enables him to lift the belt by a narrow UD 15 verdict (145-142, 145-142, 144-143), a decision that does not sit well with the British fight fans in attendance. Post-bout records: Marshall, 44-9-5 (34); Mills, 37-21-2 (17).

Jan. 27, 1951: The final card of the month takes place at New York’s Madison Square Garden. On the line in the featured bout is the USBA MW title, with Rocky Graziano challenging Artie Towne for the belt. No prior meetings of the two, and, less than a minute into the opening round, Towne connects with a big hook that forces Graziano to retreat, and he wisely elects to cover up to last the round and avoid further damage. In round two, Graziano returns the favor, connecting with a hard hook of his own that causes Towne to resort to the cover up. Graziano tries to get more aggressive, moving inside in round three, but Towne manages to pull ahead in the punch count stats. In the fourth round, Towne rattles Graziano with a sharp combination, and he opens a cut under Graziano’s right eye as well. In round five, the two go toe-to-toe on the inside, and Towne seizes control, reopening the cut and dominating the action to the point where the ref is forced to call a halt to save the challenger from further punishment. It goes into the books as a TKO 5 for Towne, who improves to 27-5-2 (10) as a result. Disappointment for fans of Rocky Graziano, now 28-13-1 (21) after the loss.

[JCWeb]

This report includes bouts from the first half of February 1951. One WBA title bout is Included in this report.

Feb. 2, 1951: The month commences with a Friday night card at San Juan, Puerto Rico. Matched in the main event are two regional titleholders in the WW division: long-time LABF WW Champ Cocoa Kid, who is on his home turf taking on his EBU WW counterpart, Eddie Thomas, from the UK. The two have not met previously, and the bout is scheduled for 10 rounds. Kid, now at End career stage, struggles with his timing in the early going against his much younger (12 years his junior) opponent, Thomas. Thomas is able to compile an early edge in the punch count stats and, at the midway point, this translates into a points lead (49-47) on the unofficial scorer’s card. By round six, a trace of swelling is apparent under the left eye of Kid. The stamina factor also favors the younger man, Thomas. In round seven, a sharp exchange of blows results in a cut over Kid’s already injured left eye. Kid throws caution to the wind and goes on the offensive in round nine, but Thomas is able to counter, reopening the cut. The ref has seen enough, and calls a halt to the action. The bout goes into the books as a TKO 9 for Thomas, now 21-3-2 (5) on the cuts stoppage. For Kid, this turns out to be the final bout of a 23-year career, as he ends up at 59-18-7 (13).

Feb. 3, 1951: Next card takes place at Liverpool. Two top 10 BW contenders square off in the main event, as newly crowned GBU BW Champion Frankie Williams takes on veteran Benny Goldberg, a former WBA BW Champ now near the end of his long career. This is the first meeting of the two, and the bout is scheduled for 10 rounds. Early edge in the punches landed stat favors the Brit, Williams. Williams, encouraged, moves inside in round three but is forced to absorb a sharp combination from Goldberg that rips open a cut over Williams’ right eye. Williams’ corner is able to patch up the cut quickly, and Williams bounces back to dominate the ring action until, midway through round five, Goldberg is unable to put up any resistance, so the ref calls a halt. Impressive TKO 5 for Williams, who continues his rise up the BW ranks while Goldberg is now just one or two bouts away from retirement. Post-bout career records: Williams, 24-6-2 (14); Goldberg, 38-10-4 (14).

Feb. 3, 1951: Chicago’s Comiskey Park sets the scene for the next fistic action; featured in the main event is a USBA HW title bout, with the “Cleveland Spider Man,” Jimmy Bivins, facing challenger Aaron Wilson. The two have not met before, and the bout is scheduled for 12. In the opening round, Wilson serves notice, dropping Bivins for a four-count. Bivins recovers quickly, after covering up and then clearing his head between rounds, then bouncing back with a strong round in round two. By the end of the third round, the tide had turned in Bivins’ favor, with Wilson showing the effects with a rapidly swelling right eye. Then, in round four, Wilson strikes again, sending Bivins tumbling to the deck for the second time; this time, he takes an eight count before arising, covering up once again. Even with two 10-8 rounds awarded to the challenger, the unofficial card shows the bout as even (56-56) at the halfway point of the bout. In the second half of the bout, Wilson continues to maintain an aggressive posture but, in round nine, Bivins gradually wears him down, finishing him off with a barrage of blows that put Wilson down and out. Great action bout, ending with a KO 9 for Bivins. With the win, Bivins improves to 35-8-3 (23). Wilson ends the bout at 21-4 (16).

Feb. 9, 1951: Next is a Friday night card at the Coliseum Arena in New Orleans. In the main event, former WBA LW Champion “Bobcat” Bob Montgomery, now at Post-Prime career stage, faces Brit Harry Hughes, the reigning EBU and GBU LW titleholder. The two have not met previously and, with no titles at stake, the bout is scheduled for 10 rounds. The action heats up in round three, when Hughes drops Montgomery with a nice combination; Montgomery arises at the count of six, then covers up to last the round. At the halfway point, Hughes has a narrow points lead (48-47), according to the unofficial scorer at ringside. In the second half of the bout, both fighters continue to take an aggressive approach, and the stamina factor favors Montgomery. The bout goes into the 10th and final round, when Montgomery comes alive, decking Hughes twice, but the British Champ is able to survive until the final bell. The strong final round is sufficient for Montgomery to take a MD 10 (96-92, 94-94, 96-93). Post-bout marks: Montgomery, 42-7-2 (22); Hughes, 23-8-1 (9).

Feb. 10, 1951: The scene shifts to Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens, where a WBA title bout is the centerpiece, preceded by an impressive supporting bout matching two top 10 WW contenders: Billy Graham and Johnny Greco, the current Commonwealth WW titleholder. No titles are at stake, the bout is scheduled for 10, and Graham took a close points win in their one prior encounter, back in New York City in 1944 when both were still at Pre-Prime. This time around, Greco has the support of the Canadian crowd. Graham has the edge in the punch count stats before Greco, a slugger, elects to move inside in round three. Greco manages to keep the bout close, but, at the halfway point, Graham is up by two (49-47) on the unofficial card. In the second half of the bout, an aggressive Greco pulls ahead in the punches landed count, plus the stamina factor also favors the Canadian fighter. The bout goes the rest of the distancer without incident, and Greco prevails, taking a close but UD 10 (96-95, 96-94, 96-95) to run his career record to 30-13-3 (16). The loss leaves Graham at 29-12-1 (12). The ring is cleared for a WBA BW title bout, and Canada’s Fernando Gagnon is making the fifth defense of the title he won back in 1949. The challenger is Harold Dade, who recently won the USBA BW title. Three prior meetings, the most recent in 1948, all resulted in points wins for Gagnon. However, this time, it is Dade who rocks Gagnon with a three-punch combo less than a minute into the bout, putting the Champ on the defensive; Gagnon responds by covering up, enabling him to survive the round without further damage. After taking some time to clear his head, Gagnon moves inside in round three, and he connects with a big uppercut in the final minute of the round. Dade responds by covering up and lasting the round. Dade battles back with a solid round in round four, Early in the fifth round, a straight right from Gagnon gets through, and, again, Dade adopts the cover up approach to last the round. At the one-third point of the bout, the unofficial scorer at ringside has the bout scored as even (48-48). At this time, a huge welt has formed under the right eye of the challenger. Early in round six, Dade doubles up on his jab and manages to draw blood in the form of a cut over Gagnon’s right eye. As the two continue to battle through the middle rounds, Gagnon gradually pulls ahead in the punch count stats and, after 10 rounds are in the books, he has a solid points lead (98-93) as well, according to the unofficial scorer’s card. In round 12, Dade manages to reopen the cut over Gagnon’s eye. The cut is patched up between rounds, and then Gagnon is finally able to break through in round 13, firing a barrage of blows that sends Dade tumbling to the canvas. Dade barely beats the count, and he is able to cover up to survive the remainder of the round. Gagnon continues to display his dominance over Dade in round 14, connecting for two more knockdowns, with Dade being saved by the bell at the end of the round. The bout does manage to go the distance, with Gagnon’s superiority in the middle and late rounds making it a lopsided UD 15 (147-135, 147-136, 146-137) in favor of the Champion, a result that is well received by the Canadian fight fans in attendance. Post-bout records: Gagnon, 34-5 (18); Dade, 28-10-4 (9).

Feb. 10, 1951: A twin bill of featured bouts tops the next card at Mexico City. In the first co-feature, Enrique Bolanos, “the Durango Dropper,” the current LABF LW titleholder, is matched with Maxie “Little Duke” Docusen. The two have not met previously and, with no titles at stake, the bout is scheduled for 10 rounds. Bolanos, to the delight of the Mexican fight fans in attendance, connects with a big cross near the end of the opening round. By the end of the second round, Bolanos has landed sufficient leather to cause some initial puffiness to appear under the right eye of Docusen. In round four, a sharp jab from Docusen gets through, opening a cut over Bolanos’ left eye. At the halfway point, Bolanos is up by three (49-46) on the unofficial scorer’s card. Docusen battles back with a strong round six and, as a result, there is a trace of swelling under Bolanos’ right eye, plus the cut over the other eye is reopened as well. In the end, the cut decides the outcome, after being reopened twice more, in round seven and finally, in round nine, after which a halt is called. TKO 9 for Docusen on the cuts stoppage, so Docusen improves to 24-3-5 (3) as a result; the loss leaves Bolanos at 29-7 (21). The second co-main event is for the LABF Flyweight title recently vacated by Black Pico, who is now the WBA Flyweight Champion. Matched for the vacant belt are two Mexican fighters, Otilio Galvan and Monito Flores, both of whom were unsuccessful in challenging Pico for the belt in past. No prior meetings, and the bout is set for 12 rounds. Galvan has the upper hand in the early going, and he manages to compile an early lead in the punch count stats over the first two rounds. By round three, Flores is showing the effects, with a rapidly swelling left eye. At the halfway point, Galvan has a nice points lead (59-55), according to the unofficial scorecard. As the rounds tick off, Galvan maintains a huge stamina edge as well as an advantage in the punches landed stats. Flores, trailing, goes on the attack in the final three rounds, but he is unable to penetrate Galvan’s defenses. Thus, in his fourth try (having lost three times to Pico in prior encounters), Galvan lifts the belt via a UD 12 (118-111, 116-112, 118-111). Post-bout career records: Galvan, 29-14-3 (5); Flores, 20-8-1 (4). It should be noted that Flores was at Post-Prime career stage for this bout.

[JCWeb]

This report includes bouts from the second half of February 1951. One WBA title bout is included in this report.

Feb. 16, 1951: Next edition of the Friday night fights “Down Under” in Melbourne features a pair of OPBF title bouts. In the first co-feature, the vacant OPBF MW title is at stake, having been last held by Dave Sands, who moved up to claim the WBA MW title. Contending for the vacant belt are Alfie Sands, Dave’s brother and a former Commonwealth MW titleholder, and Japan’s Hachiro Tatsumi, who is making his first try for a title of any type. No prior meetings and, from the outset, it is clear that Sands is going to be the aggressor, pushing the pace, while Tatsumi is content to adopt a more passive approach. After some effective punching from Sands in the third round, Tatsumi is seen sporting a puffy left eye. Subsequent rounds see the swelling around Tatsumi’s eye worsening, all while Sands opens up a wide lead in the punch count stats. At the midway point, this translates into a points lead for Sands (59-55) on the unofficial scorer’s card. In the seventh round, Tatsumi connects with a hook and opens up a cut on the bridge of Sands’ nose. From this point, Tatsumi focuses on the cut, which is reopened in round nine and, again, in round 11. The cut is still bleeding when action commences in the final round, and Sands gets careless after repeatedly being warned for head butting and hitting below the belt. The result is a surprising disqualification, and Tatsumi becomes the new OPBF titleholder via a controversial DQ-12. Post-bout career records: Tatsumi, 16-2-4 (2); Sands, 22-9 (12). After this surprising and unpopular result, the ring is cleared for the second co-feature, with Tsuneo “Piston” Horiguichi, making his third defense of the OPBF FW title, facing an Aussie challenger in Keith Francis. One prior encounter resulted in a KO win for Francis in a non-title bout, and Francis, who since had won the Commonwealth FW title, hopes to repeat his success against an aging opponent, as Horiguchi is now at End career stage. In the early going, Francis is able to forge an early lead in the punch count stats and, by the end of the fourth round, a touch of swelling is apparent under the left eye of Horiguchi. At the midway point, Francis leads by two (58-56) on the unofficial scorer’s card. Horiguchi, trailing, takes a more aggressive posture as the bout enters its later stages. In round nine, though, he runs into a sharp combination from Francis, taking an eight count before resuming. Francis then proceeds to grind out a UD 12 win (116-110, 117-109, 116-110) to take the belt, improving to 21-2-1 (15) as a result. Horiguchi, now just one step closer to retirement, finishes the bout at 50-20-3 (23).

Feb. 17, 1951: Next card takes place at the Sportpalast in Berlin. No titles are at stake, and two BWs do battle in the main event, with Stan Rowan facing Tommy Forte. Rowan, the reigning EBU and Commonwealth titleholder, takes on Forte, an aging former Champ; the two have not met before, but Forte has the handicap of having reached End career stage. Rowan connects with a big shot and puts Forte on the deck in the opening round. Forte scrambles to his feet after taking a five count, and he covers up to survive the round. Rowan maintains control through the first half of the bout and, at the midway point, this translates into a wide points lead (50-44) on the unofficial scorer’s card. It is more of the same in the second half of the bout, with Rowan snapping Forte’s head back with a sharp uppercut in round seven: this time, Forte remained upright but still resorted to the cover up to avert further damage. In round eight, Rowan fires a barrage of blows to put Forte down a second time; he resumes after taking an eight count. Forte is unable to mount a rally, and the bout goes the distance, with Rowan prevailing via a lopsided UD 10 (98-89, 99-88, 99-88). Post-bout career records: Rowan, 31-4-2 (13); Forte, 41-16-4 (14).

Feb. 17, 1951: The Cow Palace in San Francisco sets the scene for the next fistic action; featured in the main event is an NABF LH title bout, with Harold Johnson making his sixth defense of that belt, facing the man he won the title from via a split duke back in 1949: Oakland Billy Smith. Both are still in Prime condition, and this will be just the second meeting of the two (the first being the aforementioned 1949 encounter). In this rematch, the action heats up in round two, when Smith sustains a cut over his right eye (presumably caused by an accidental butt, not a cut); meanwhile, Johnson is on the receiving end of enough punishment that a trace of swelling is apparent under his right eye. Johnson dominates the action in round three, and it is Smith who shows signs of swelling around his other (left) eye. Then, in round five, Johnson continues to hammer away, and the cut over Smith’s eye is reopened. Midway through the sixth round, Johnson finishes Smith off, putting him down and out with a barrage of blows. The KO 6 win lifts Johnson’s career totals to 26-2 (11). Smith drops to 31-11-5 (22). Johnson is now attempting to line up a challenge for the WBA LH title, now that Archie Moore has moved up to HW).

Feb. 23, 1951: Next is a Friday night card at the Havana, and a pair of FW bouts top the agenda. In the first of these, former LABF FW Champion Diego Sosa takes on “the Austin Atom,” Jackie Graves; Graves has previously held the NABF and USBA FW titles. The two have not met previously and, with no titles at stake and both in Prime condition, the bout is scheduled for 10 rounds. Graves is able to gradually build a solid lead in the punch count stats through the opening rounds. At the halfway point, Graves is far ahead (50-45), according to the unofficial scorer at ringside. In the second half of the bout, Sosa, now battling a swollen left eye, takes a more aggressive approach. In the end, he is not able to make much of an impression on Graves, who goes on to take a rather decisive UD 10 (99-91, 98-92, 99-91) to improve to 26-6-2 (16), while Sosa ends up at 34-13-2 (27) after the loss. The second co-feature is for the LABF FW title currently held by Panama’s Simon Vergara, who faces challenger Miguel Acevedo from Cuba. In one prior meeting, Vergara took a MD 10 back in 1948 in Mexico City. Interestingly, both these guys are at Post-Prime while the other two FWs who contested the prior bout were not. At any rate, early in round two, Acevedo connects with a short hook to the head that draws blood – Vergara has suffered a cut on his forehead. The cut is in a bad spot and, after being reopened in round four, leads to an immediate stoppage. Acevedo is declared as a TKO 4 victor and lifts the belt as a result. Post-bout marks: Acevedo, 31-13-1 (14); Vergara, 22-8-4 (6).

Feb. 24, 1951: To London and the Olympia for the next card, and it is topped by a Commonwealth Flyweight title bout which sees Jimmy Laffin coming all the way from Australia to challenge Peter Kane for the title. The two have not met previously, and both are at Post-Prime career stage for this bout. Laffin gets off to a decent start, but Kane moves inside in round three, inflicting some damage, enough to cause some puffiness to appear under the right eye of the challenger. Although the bout remains close, the punch count stats favor Kane, who rips open a cut over Laffin’s left eye with a sharp combination in round six. At the halfway point, Kane has a solid points lead (59-55) on the unofficial scorecard. In the second half of the bout, Kane continues to dominate the action while Laffin’s corner struggles with the cut, which proves to be difficult to bring under control. The cut is reopened in round 10, patched up between rounds, but reopened around later, and this time it causes an immediate stoppage. Kane retains the Commonwealth title (in addition to the GBU and EBU Fly belts) via a TKO 11; he improves to 46-12-1 (18) as a result. Laffin, who retains his OPBF Fly title, slips to 15-8 (7) with the loss.

Feb. 24, 1951: The month wraps up with a significant card at New York City with a WBA title bout being the featured item on the agenda. The main support matches two MW contenders, as Rocky Castellani is paired with Walter Cartier. The bout is scheduled for 10 as no titles are at stake, and it is the first meeting of these two. The opening rounds see Castellani open up an early edge in the punches landed count. Cartier responds by moving inside for a big round in round three, and early in the fourth round a Cartier hook sends Castellani tumbling to the canvas. Castellani recovers quickly and covers up to last the round, but the damage has been done. At the halfway point, Cartier is up by one (48-47) on the unofficial scorer’s card. The bout comes to a sudden and premature end early in round six, when Cartier injures his hand and is unable to continue. It goes into the books as a TKO 6 for Castellani, who improves to 26-6-2 (5) as a result; the loss leaves Cartier at 20-4-2 (13). Then, in the main event, and highly anticipated contest for the WBA MW title, with #1 challenger “Sugar” Ray Robinson taking on Aussie Dave Sands. It is the first meeting of the two, and Robinson is seeking to regain the title he held in 1949 and into 1950. Robinson gets off to a strong start, taking the fight to Sands and dominating the action in the early rounds. After just three rounds, there is noticeable swelling under Sands’ left eye – proof that Robinson’s punches have had an impact. After the first five rounds are in the books, Robinson has open a large points lead (50-45), according to the unofficial scorecard. In the middle rounds, Sands becomes increasingly frustrated, as Robinson continues to dominate, with Sands already beginning to tire in mid-bout. At the two thirds mark of the bout, Robinson has a commanding points lead (99-92) on the unofficial card. More trouble for Sands in round 12, when a Robinson uppercut rips open a cut over his left eye. Robinson is able to coast through the final few rounds, but it is the cut that decides matters, leading to a stoppage when reopened in the final round. TKO 15 for Robinson, who regains the WBA title. Post-bout career records: Robinson, 42-5-1 (30); Sands, 37-5 (24).