New HW Boxers Rated

[bear]

Originally Posted by Rocco Del Sesto

Thank you Bear! In the past had never paid much attention about the venues. Becoming more interested in them as I've built my collection of boxing magazines and searching through papers "finding" them in articles.

The boxrec encyclopedia has a lot of information on venues.

[Rocco Del Sesto]

I'd actually started to look for some info on Callahan the referee when I'd seen his name mentioned in some fights I was looking at for I think it was Tommy UK Martin so I took a little look at his fight career. His fighter rating is from the TBCB3 group so I did not do any updating of that. I just updated his bio info adding some additional information you might find interesting. Posting some photos I found of him as a fighter. You'll see the photo files have the newspaper edition where I found them.
Rocco

Mushy Callahan - JWW USA
Career Record: W48(KO 22) / L15(KO 3) / D3

TITLES:

National Boxing Association World Light Welterweight Title

Unknown information has been left blank.

Found short piece in the 02/06/32 Daily News, LA, CA that mentions Mushy Callahan's birth date, 11/3/1905 - Rocco

Previously in the bio:


Manager: Eddie Sears

Hall of Fame: WBHF(1989)

Had a tough defense against Fred "Dummy" Mahan in 1929. Callahan was down in the first, but managed to survive. Callahan decked Mahan in the second, but Mahan rose and floored Mushy later in the round. Callahan responded by knocking down Mahan for a second time in the round. Mushy ended the fight with a KO in the third. Jack 'Kid' Berg defeated Callahan for the title in 1930(TKO10). Callahan was a referee in California after his retirement. He also made a name for himself in Hollywood as a technical director, a stunt man, and a bit part actor(he played a referee several times). The most notable films he was a part of were, From Here to Eternity, Rebel Without a Cause and The War of the Worlds. Callahan was a Jewish boxer.

Added (Rocco):

01/11/28 - The News, Paterson NJ - Published the annual fighter rankings for 1927 by Tex Rickard as they are contained in the Ring.The publication by The News notes that Mushy Callahan is the No 2 rated Junior Welterweight and that he had been supplanted for the No 1 ranking from 1926 by Ruby Goldstein.

01/04/32 - The Los Angeles Times, CA - Ran an account on Mushy Callahan to fight in a 10 round bout against Chinese welterweight Ralph Chong. It will mark Callahan's comeback bid after being inactive in the ring since his 10th round TKO loss to Jack "Kid" Berg for the NBA World Super Lightweight title on Feb 18, 1930.

02/01/32 - Daily News, LA and The Pasadena Post, CA ran short posts about Callahan starting to train to make a comeback. Mentions he will be managed by "Gig" Rooney.

02/08/32 - The San Francisco Examiner, CA - An article more about "Gig" Rooney who has taken Mushy Callahan under his management for Callahan's comeback. Article mentions his management of Jackie Fields to the welterweight championship and then Fields decided he didn't want/need Rooney's advise anymore and left him.

03/22/32 - The Akron Beacon Journal, OH and The Bakersfield Californian, - A short notes about Callahan's comeback mentions that "until recently, was in teh haberdashery business in Los Angleses. He suffered businedss reverses and decided to resume boxing as a welter, having added a few pounds.

03/22/32 - Los Angeles Times, CA - Article mentions Callahan's comeback saying he is now a welterweight having added a few pounds.

04/01/32 - Los Angeles Times, CA(04/02) - His two year absence in the ring showed itself as Mushy Callahan showed lack of timing and co-ordination, but he still managed a 10 round decision over Ralph Chong. Chong was considered a four round fighter and apparently showed his lack of endurance after the fifth round. After that, Callahan scored heavily with lefts to the mid-section. The fifth round was Chong's best round aa he rocked Callahan with a right to the mouth that left Mushy bleeding from his lips the remainder of the fight. Callahan won seven rounds, Chong two, with one even.Referee was Larry McGrath. Main difficulty Callahan seemed to exhibit was an inability to make his mind up when to launch an attack, until about the last two rounds.

05/06/32 - Los Angeles Times, CA(05/07) - Mushy Callahan won a 10 round decision over Tod Morgan with Callahan winning 5 rounds, Morgan 4 and one even. Morgan had a flurry in the final round that had the crowd excited and caused them to boo Referee Freddie Gilmore's verdict. Morgan used left hands to Callahan's heart and rights to the chin to start out well. Callahan got going in the sixth with lefts to the stomach and rights to the chin to win the sixth through ninth rounds.

06/10/32 - The Sacramento Bee, News-Pilot, San Pedro, Los Angeles Times (06/10) - Callahan lasted buy six rounds against Baby Sal Sorio of the scheduled 10. Callahan was so tired and his left eye was completely closed and lips bleeding, his seconds threw in the towel between the sixth and seventh rounds giving Sorio the TKO win.Mushy fought hard, actually flooring Sal for an eight count in the second round. The count was halted by the bell. Sal came back strong after that and punished Callahan with hard rights and lefts to the head leaving Mushy's left eye closed at the end of the sixth. Callahan was quoted after the fight, "I'm all done, forever. When I can't beat the Sorios it's time to quit". Referee was Larry McGrath.

06/24/86 - Los Angeles Times, CA - Announced Callahan had died after a long illness the previous week. Placed his age at 81. Mentions he was born Vincent Morris Scheer in New York, but his family brought him out to Los Angeles as a youngster. He began boxing when he was 14 and chose his alias to keep his family from learning about his boxing. Callahan worked for Warner Bros. Studio as a trainer, teacher and adviser on boxing movies, occasionally playing bit parts.

10/11/80 - Petaluma Argus-Courier, CA - Article run in this paper actually had to do about the actor Steve McQueen who had died recently.The writer of the article happens to mention in it he had an old friend, Mushy Callahan, who knew a lot about a number of movie actors including McQueen. Mushy had trained actors for a variety of parts, including such stars as Clark Gable, Jimmy Cagney, Paul Newman, Errol Flynn and Steve McQueen. Mushy trained McQueen for his movie "The Sand Pebbles".

[Rocco Del Sesto]

Attached here the new rating file with all the new bio info posted above. Also found a photo of his manager "Gig" Rooney during his short 3 fight comeback in 1932.

[Rocco Del Sesto]

Tommy Martin - UK MW/HW
Stumbled on him and found quite a bit of interesting reading on him especially when he fought in the US.
Career Record: W60(KO 28) / L15(KO 5) / D2

Unknown information has been left blank

An Article in the January 1941 Ring Magazine places Martin's DOB as January 22, 1916 and at St. Mary's in Berkshire. Berkshire is an English county and St. Mary's is located in the town centre of Reading.An article found on boxingace.com website placed his date of death as in 1987. No specific date given.

The same Ring Magazine article notes that while in the US, he was managed by Johnny Rogers and Tommy Farmer and was part of thier boxing stable that included Manuel Ortiz, Mexican bantamweight champion, Jackie Jurich, former flyweight king and Ray Price, a lightweight fighter.That article happens to mention that Martin's permit will be up in March 1941 requiring to return to England, maybe sooner if called into service. Some later newpaper articles mention these circumstances as to why we see Martin fighting back in England and in active for six months after his fight against Turkey Thompson on 1/31/41.

Reading an article on the website blackpresence.co.uk, it mentions his first fight being in November 1933. In 1937,this article says after having put on weight he fought and won his first fight as a heavyweight.BoxRec has recorded on 1/4/37 winning by 5th round KO over Martin Miller listed as a LHW. Previous opponenents listed in BoxRec appear as Middleweights/Welters for most part.So the 1937 date appears logical point that I've split Martin's career between Middleweight from beginning of his career through 1936 and as Heavyweight from 1937 to end of career.That Ring Magazine article says after two years of touring the British Isles, Martin turned pro in 1936 as a welterweight?

Record 1933-36 MW W32(KO 15) / L5(KO 0) / D2
Record 1937-42 HW W28(KO 13) / L10(KO 5) / D0
Record in the US as a HW: W5(KO 3) / L3(KO 0) / D0
2 of the US KO's were TKO.

Down below the original bio from Lee Skye are summaries of articles found on Martin while in the US and then briefly after he returned to England.Some interesting reads. He came over and turned into a real crowd pleaser in the California boxing scene. Many articles described Martin as a very smart fighter in the ring, but, his fight results tend to exhibit a lack of knockout capability. He'd get some opportunities but then not take advantage and finish someone off.

Original Rating and below bio info by Lee Skye

Lee's file had Martins record at 49 wins / 12 losses / 2 draws / 24 KO. Most probably less completeness of his record on BoxRec at the time Lee did this.

Trainer: Sam Minto/Flutey Green
Manager: Johnny Sharps

Rating by: Lee Skye

Tommy Martin was born in Reading in 1916. In 1917, the family moved to Deptford. At 14 he ran away from home and joined a fairground, working in a Boxing Booth. In the late 1920s / early 30s there was always a token black boxer in a troupe, which helped draw crowds along with the slogan "have a go at the n****r".

Tommy got lots of practice and developed a fast punching style. He became a professional boxer in November 1933 and soon became known as the British Brown Bomber. By Christmas, he had fought and won four bouts. His first full season as a boxer was 1936 when he fought 25 bouts, losing only three.

Despite Tommy Martin's success as a boxer, he was having increasing difficulty finding fights. Already championship material, he sailed to the colonies in search of suitable opponents. Boxing Magazine already ranked him as the 4th Best Cruiser Weight (between middle and light weight) in the world.

In 1937, after having put on weight, he fought and won his first heavyweight bout. Boxing Magazine reported, "Martin did exceedingly well to give two stones in weight and a boxing lesson to Jim Wilde".

Although he had many victories under his belt, Martin was unable to fight for the British Heavyweight Championship. He was barred from fighting for Britain by a colour bar, introduced in 1909 and not repealed until 1947. Only Britain and South Africa didn't allow black fighters to contest Empire titles. Even American segregation didn't prevent US boxers fighting for their country.

As if to prove a point, in 1939, Tommy won every one of his fights. Then the war and the colour bar stopped his career in its tracks. While he campaigned against the colour bar, Boxing magazine and the local mayor championed his cause. The MP for Deptford raised the case in Parliament.

Unable to fight for Britain in the ring, Martin joined the RAF and later, when he was invalided out to the Merchant Navy. After that, he moved to the US, joining the Marines before setting up his own gym in Hollywood.

It was not until 1947 that the colour bar was finally abolished from British boxing. It was too late to benefit Tommy Martin and a shameful chapter that has been hidden from sports history. Without the struggles of fighters like Martin, today's boxing stars like Lennox Lewis and British Olympic boxer, Audley Harrison, would have been unable to fight for their country.

01/29/40 - The LA Times, short blug mentions that California manager Johnny Rogers (along with Tommy Farmer) is importing Tommy Martin, HW from London.

03/12/40 - The LA Times, records that Tommy Martin had started training this week at the Main Street Gym. It mentions that Martin "sports a monocle out of the ring". Later photos found show Martin wearing a monocle.

4/18/40 - Los Anglese Evening Citizen News, Hollywood, CA - An interesting little article to make you chuckle a bit. Recounts how Martin was in the office of the State Athletic Commission to get is fight license and his British accent posed some difficulty. When he was asked how much he weighed, Martin replied "Oh, about 13 stun four, Sir." "There, or thereabouts". The Assistant Chief Inspector, Bill Smith did not understand him asking what did "Thirteen stun four" stand for. Chich inspector, Willie Ritchie who was there and who had been to England in 1914 to fight Freddie Walsh explained what it meant and translated to 186 pounds.

04/23/40 - Oakland Tribune - Bob Nestell, 188-1/2 won a 10 round decision over Tommy Martin, 184-1/2. This was Martin's first fight in the US. He had quickly become a fan favorite around the California boxing scene and the 5000 fans at Martin's first show in the US cheered wildly for him as he put up a galliant stand for 10 rounds after hutting his knee in the third round.Nestell had floored Martin in the third round with a right to the head. Martin got up after a four count but went down again and apparently twisted his left knee.The LA Times noted that flooring of Martin as being only a 2 count? Accounts of the fight in the Times, The San Bernardino County Sun and Daily News mentions Nestell flooring Martin as many as a dozen times in the fight but Martin kept getting up! The Daily News says Martin went down for counts of 4 and 8 in that third round when he hurt the left knee. Martin managed to open a bad cut over Nestell's left eye.

05/28/40 - The Los Angeles Times and California Eagle (5/29) - In a rematch between and Bob Nestell,191,Tommy Martin, 185, a rapid attack of rights and lefts from Martin floored and stopped Nestell at 2:08 in the sixth round. In the fifth round, Nestell hit the canvas after a slew of blows from Martin. Nestell remained down for three then arose and rushed in to "rassle" with Martin getting in a couple of right counters. The Times article described Nestell as a slow and clumsy fighter, but showed respect for the fast punching "furriner" getting in some punches with his potent right and lying back on counterpunches in the first couple of rounds. The first measured as pretty even with Nestell gaining the upper hand in the second. In the second, Nestell popped Martin with a couple rights but Martin managed to counter with a left hook that caught Nestell opening a cut over his right eye.After that Nestell "tired rapidly".

07/12/40 - Los Angeles Evening Citizen News, Hollywood - A pre fight review of the upcoming fight that nigt between Tommy Martin and Junior Munsell, viewed the fight as a duel between Munsell's "hard-rock fists" providing "ram-rod hitting", vs Martin's speed in the ring that can start a sudden lightening fast attack that few heavyweights "anywhere" can match.

07/12/40 - The Los Angeles Times, Daily News and LA Evening Citizen News(7/13) - A Cut eye spelled defeat for Junior Munsell, 185-1/2, vs Tommy Martin, 181. Martin scored a TKO victory when Referee Jack Kennedy stop the fight at 1:32 of the fifth round of a scheduled 10 because of the bad cut over Munsell's left eye. There were no knockdowns in the fight even with the fast moving fight filled with much action. Martin, with close in two fisted punching won the first and third rounds while Munsell was able to counter from long range to win the second with the fourth called even. In the fifth round Martin back Munsell clear across the ring throwing more punches from both hands that opened the nasty gash across Munsell's eye.The Daily News recorded the stoppage at 1:25 of the 5th.

8/6/40 - Daily News, LA - Talk and reports coming out that with Billy Conn expected to abdicate his light heavyweight crown to accept a fight with Joe Louis, that Tommy Martin was being trumpeted for consideration to compete to fill Conn's throne.The Daily News reported this day that his managers Johnny Rogers and Tommy Farmer had plans to file notice with the New York and California rin commissions and the National Boxing Association to have Martin's name considered.

8/9/40 - Daily News, LA, The Los Angeles Times and Los Angeles Evening Citizen News - Some preliminary discussion on the upcoming fight between Tommy Martin, "Brown Bomber from Deptford, England" and Johnny Hanschen, "22 year old 200 pound 6 foot Norwegian from Minnesota". Martin was being installed as a "6 to 10 favorite". Martin's speedy rapid fire attacks and shifty footwork in the ring was felt to be too much for Hanschen. But the latter was being hralded as a "comer" and his manager apparently felt it a great way to step his fighter Hanschen up the ladder taking on Martin. Hanschen had been offered a spot on the upcoming Billy Conn-Bob Pastor card, but he passed it up to come out to Hollywood and take on Martin. Hmmm...probably should have rethought that decision?!Hanschen was becoming a sought after fighter after recently defeating another upcoming fighter Billy Miske. Hanschen's manager George Parnassus had turned down an offer of $5000 from Jack Hureley to buy Hanschen.

8/9/40 - Daily News and The Los Angeles Times (8/10/40) - Referee Jack Kennedy stopped the Tommy Martin, 176-1/2 / Johnny Hanschen, 197 fight in the sixth round by TKO.After 2:20 in the sixth, Kennedy stopped the fight to look at Hanschen's left eye which was black and closed bad. After gestering something to Hanschen's corner he told the fighters to resume, but then seconds later he looked at Hanschen's eye again and then suddenly raised Martin's arm! Later the house doctor said the eye was not that badly cut nore had it been bleeding badly. Many felt Kennedy made a way to hasty decision to stop the fight. Maybe the fact that Martin put Hanschen down for an 8 count just previous, swayed Kennedy's decision on the stoppage. Report had Martin winning the first round and Hanschen the second and then the Martin took the 3rd and 4th with the 5th round even.The Times account said the knockdown in the sixth, Hanschen was down for 9.

09/13/40 - Daily News and Los Angeles Evening Citizen News(9/14) - Tommy Martin, 183 won six rounds, lost two and drew another in the first 9 rounds of the ten rounder with Buddy Knox, 181 and appeared a cinch to win the fight.Martin's punching speed easily won him the first four rounds, dropping Knox for a no count in the fourth with a short right to the jaw.Knox kept coming at Martin throughout the fight, but he came in wide open and took too much beating from Martin. Until the end of the 10th round.With about 30 seconds to go, Knox caught Martin in his own corner with a wicked left hook that sent Martin reeling into a half sitting position against the ring post. Knox then proceeded to hammer Martin with a dozen punches to his unprotected face, but then the bell ran.Knox kept punching until Martin's manager, Tommy Farmer got into the ring to intervene at the same time tht referee Charley Randolph went to get between the fighters. Randolph without hesitation raised the hand of the semicounsious Martin! It about brought down the roof with protests from the crowd and Knoxes corner. In seconds the ring was littered with papers and programs.Knox's manager Oscar Menachof was irate backing Randolph up against the ropes. Randolph called the fight six rounds for Martin, three for Knox and one even.

10/25/40 - Daily News and Los Angeles Times (10/26) - Buddy Knox of Dayton, Ohio fought and uphill battle to win a 10 round decision over Tommy Martin of England. Knox was floored for a nine count in the third round from a couple of right hand uppercuts to the chin by Martin. Gradually working to some advantage through next rounds to gains points back, Knox finally found an opening in Martin's defense in the eighth round sent Martin to the canvas with a right under the heart. Apparently some question in referee Benny Whitman's decision going to Knox. The Times had Martin winning five rounds to three for Martin and two even saying the fight could and probably should have been called a draw. The Daily News had the same assessment to the outcome of the fight should have been a draw.

11/11/40 - The Des Moines Register, Iowa which was discussing the latest ranking of heavyweights by the Ring, noted that Tommy Martin was positioned as number 8 in the Ring's December Rankings having moved up from number 9 in the November rankings.

11/16/40 - Petaluma Argus-Courier, CA.(What a name for a newspaper) - Listed the latest California Athletic Commission's state boxing rankings. For Heavyweights, Champion-Joe Louis, then in order Tommy Martin, Junior Munsell, Harold Blackshear, Eddie Sargota, Odell Polee, Chuck Crowell, Yancy Henry, John Hanschen, Ernie McDonald, Newsboy Millich. the Commission noted it did not rank Lou Nova who had been inactive and the Baer brothers, Max and Buddy because they did not hold 1940 California licenses.

11/24/40 - The San Bernardino County Sun and The San Francisco Examiner - Announcements that Pat Valentino, bright young San Francisco heavyweight prospect, and Tommy Martin where scheduled to meet in San Francisco on December 9th. Then the 11/30/40 Examiner announced that the fight was posponed due to Valentino taken ill. It was to be rescheduled to December 16.

12/05/40 - The San Francisco Examiner - The Valetino/Martin fight is once again postponed, this time with Martin reported sick with the flu.

1/13/41 - The San Francisco Examiner(1/14/41) - Tommy Martin, 185 decisioned Pat Valentino, 178 in 10 rounds. Martin dropped Valentino in the 10th round to one knee with a right hand uppercut. The paper's score sheet had Martin winning eight rounds, Valentino two, the second and seventh. The Examiner's accessment of the fight was "a smart fighter outthinking a fellow who depends mostly upon his slugging ability". A jarring left hand by Martin had Vantino's left eye closing halfway through the fight. several times, Martin after leading in with a left, he'd cut of Valentino's counters and then pull out from a clinch to send a short cross to the whiskers.Martin would let Valentino lead into him and then he'd attack with both fists at the body.Martin showed too he could take some shots for when Valentino would nail him on the chin, Martin stood his ground and just kept swinging back. In the late rounds, Martin took advantage of Valentino trying to reach Martin bringing himself into close quarters and Martin would then connect with short uppercuts that bobbed Valentino's head back.

1/16/41 - The Sacramento Bee and the Los Angeles Evening Citizen News both reported on the State Athletic Commission approving arrangements for a fight between Turkey Thompson and Tommy Martin and it be recognized for the California heavyweight championship. A follow up article by the California Eagle, LA was billing it as the Boxer vs the Slugger.The 1/26/41 Los Angeles Times was placing Thompson as the early favorite. The fight was getting top billing in California and national notice with the fight being billed for the california title over other notible heavies, Max and Buddy Baer, Lou Nova and Gene Vinassa.It was being figured the winner of this fight would figure quite prominently in the current light-heavyweight league with the likes of Billy Conn and Anton Christoforidis. Also it was being played that the winner might head up a supporting card when Joe Louis was to fight Arturo Godoy in April. So in 7 fights since coming to the US and California in not quite a year, Tommy Martin had built himself a quite a standing. Note also he'd fought himself into the Ring's top 10 rankings.

1/31/41 - The Los Angeles Times(2/1/41) - "Thompson Conquers Martin - Tommy Down Four Times" the headlines read. A fast finish by Thompson as he floored Martin four times in the last round, but was unable to put him away for good, to end winning the 10 round decision for the California Heavyweight Title. The packed house saw Martin almost stopped in the first round by a left hook from the powerful punching Thompson, but he rallied and a terrific battle continued that was fairly even until Thompson closed Martin's eye in the ninth was a left hook.In that last round Martin managed to escape being knocked out by backpedalling around the ring after being floored the four times, for counts of 7, a no count, 9 and 8. Abe Roth officiated the fight. Both fighters scaled 183 pounds.
2/20-25/41 - California Eagle, LA - A short report that Martin's visa has run out and he's headed home. An earlier report had he would go to South America to possibly meet Arturo Godoy. The San Francisco Examiner also reported this. The Billings Gazette, Montana, said Martin had gone to South America for a short stay in order to comply in some fashion with United States immigration regulations. The 2/25/41 Los Angeles Times listed the current California Commission rankings and it had Martin listed Number 1 challenger after Champion Turkey Thompson.

3/27/41 - The San Francisco Examiner - Runs the California State Athletic commissioners ranking for March and it notes that Tommy Martin has been dropped from his previous number 1 rank with him having left for South America.


4/7/41 - Courier-Post, Camden, NJ - Reports that Tommy Martin is in Buenos Aires for three months in order to qualify to return to the United States on another one year permit.

4/17/41 - California Eagle, LA - Reports that Ivan Harold Browning, "an international tenor and close friend of Tommy Martin", had received a letter from Martin who wrote that he had left Buenos Aires on March 12th headed for home. Martin wrote in this letter that his father was killed recently in a Nazi air raid and his mother had asked him to come home. Thus ending Martin's 1 year boxing career in the US.

Came across two articles in The Pittsburgh-Courier, PA of interesting note. Both were written by Wendell Smith in his "Smitty's Sport Spurts". The pieces ran in the 6/21/41 and 7/19/41 editions and "Smitty" discusses the plight of one Tommy Martin of Great Britain, back home and serving for his country during the war, but because of his color, he cannot compete for the British heavyweight boxing crown.

7/24/41 - Star-Phoenix, Saskatoon, Canada - Reports that Tommmy Martin has signed to fight Jack London, one of the last men Martin had fought and beatin in England before he'd made his journy to the United States. The fight was scheduled for Albert Hall in London, but it didn't end up being fought there.

08/01/41 - The Winnipeg Tribune, Manitoba, Canada(8/12/41)- "Big Jack London moved a step nearer a bout with Len Harvey for the British Empire heavyweight boxing championship by soundly beating Tommy Martin a 10 round bout. London gave Martin a rough ride and only his gameness kept Martin on his feet to the end."

Ring Nov 1941 - From "Timely Chatter From Great Britain", by John S. Sharpe, "Sergt. Jack London of West Hartlepool, and The R.A.F., fought one of his best fights when he met Air Craftsman Tommy Martin of Deptford, in a 10 round contest at Belle Vue Manchester. Martin and London were meeting in an elimination contest for the right to meet Len Harvey for the Empire Heavyweight Title, and now the colored man will have to wait his chance, for London, in his victorious way has won his right to a British Title contest, besides and Empire Title bout. You see, Readers, here is the explanation:-Martin being a Negro, is not allowed to box for the British Title, but is allowed to box for an Empire Title. The color question, has been brought up in Parliament, when Mr. Walter Green, Member of Parliament put the question of Martin, to Mr. Herbert Morrison, The Home Secretary, and the reply of The B.B.B.C. The Home Secretary, in a written reply, stated that The B.B.B.C., have a rule, which states , that a colored boxer may box for the Empire Title, but not as a contestant for the British Title as laid down by the B.B.B.C. It seams that Jack London in defeating Tommy Martin, has helped shelve this question for some time, but methinks, that the time is not far off, when a colored lad, born in these British Isles, will have the right to box for The British Title, for if he is good enough to go to Battle for these Isles, then he should have the privileges that are given to all other folk, born in Great Britain." Sharpe then finaly gets back to commenting on the fight. London with fast left hitting and hard hooks controlled the fight. London won every round except maybe even rounds in 4, 7 and 8. Martin had a lump under his left eye at the end of the fight and a split nose while London finished with no marks on him.

Ring Jan. 1942 - Tommy Martin, 186, Deptford against Freddie Mills, 180 of Bournemouth and the R.A.F.Referee was Charles Thomas of Wales. In the second round, Mills caught Martin with a left hook that put Martin on the deck for a count of four. Martin weathered the storm of Mills left hooks till the fifth round when the crashing hooks finally put Martin down, barely beating the count at 9. But, Mills put Martin down again, and referee Charles Thomas stopped the contest and declared Mills the winner of the scheduled 10 rounder.

Ring May 1942 - Sergt. Al Robinson of Leeds and the R.A.F., all 6ft 4in, 212 pounds of him, scored a sensational one round victory over Tommy Martin, Deptford in a scheduled 10. Robinson put Martin away with a right to the jaw putting Martin on his back. BoxRec notes Martin was down three times, John S. Sharpe's account in "Timely Chatter From Great Britain" only noted the one knockdown.

[Rocco Del Sesto]

Some articles about Martin early on when he got to the States the writers talked about him wearing a Monocle!

[Rocco Del Sesto]

Going to look at some of Tommy Martin's opponents starting with his last opponent before he went to the states and then was his last last career fight after moving back to England......

Al Robinson - HW, England
Did a little re-rating but as always kept the original rating that was in my DB, that done by LeeSkye back when?

Photo I found in a Boxing News issue at the time of his Gerry McDermott fight late in his career. Updated his fighter bio some and added some notes on some fights that i could find in some magazines I have.

Career Record: W36(kO 30) / L24(KO 10) / D3

Unknown information has been left blank

DOB has been estimated

Birth name: Albert Edward Robinson

Original rating by LeeSkye

A handfule of Robinson fight accounts that could be found (Rocco):

Ring April 1940 - Short account of Al Robinson vs Tommy Brown bout on 1/14/40. After taking a beating in the fourth round, Tommy Brown, Hackney retired.

Ring May 1940 - In what would be his last fight at home as he makes his way to the US, Tommy Martin, Deptford, beat Al Robinson in the 9th round at Belle Vue, Manchester.The referee stopped the fight which was held on 2/12/40.

Ring July 1940 - 3/11/40 - Corporal Al Robinson of the R.A.F. knocked out Corporal George Last of the R.A.F. in the seventh round.

An interesting tidbit also in the July 1940 Ring were listed British N.B.A Ratings "up to April 30, 1940". In the heavyweights, Mr. Al Robinson was ranked 9th.

Ring Feb 1942 - 10/11/41 Al Robinson vs Tom Reddington. It was not a very big crowd at Granby Halls, Leicester who watched Robinson with about a 28 pound advantage over Reddington battle to a 10 round draw. Robinson gave Reddington fits with a right hand counter every time Reddington led with his left and in the third, Robinson connected putting Reddington down on the deck for a count of nine. After that though, Reddington fought better defensively making the heavier Robinson miss with his punches. In the late parts of the bout, Reddington, after making Robinson miss with his lumbering swings, scored with a left to the face and managed to pile up points to pull out the draw called by the referee.

Ring March 1942 - 11/24/41 - Sergt. Al Robinson, 211 of Leeds and R.A.F. and Sergt. instructor George Markwick, 185, of Cuckfield and heavyweight champion of the Army, fought a very thrilling heavyweight battle as described by John s. Sharpe in "Timely Chatter From Great Britain". Besides being outweighed by 26 pounds, Markwick conceded about 5 inches in height.Markwick though, displayed good fighting skill to outmaneuver Robinson. Eventually though, Robinson's weight and height advantage began to pay dividends by the seventh round.In the seventh round, Robinson caught Markwick with a right to the side of his head, sending him down for an eight count.Seven times Markwick was put down for counts and seven times continued to get back up. Eventually though, referee, Ben Green stepped in and stopped the fight in that seventh.

Ring May 1942 - 02/02/42 Sergt. Al Robinson of Leeds and the R.A.F., all 6ft 4in, 212 pounds of him, scored a sensational one round victory over Tommy Martin, Deptford in a scheduled 10. Robinson put Martin away with a right to the jaw putting Martin on his back. BoxRec notes Martin was down three times, John S. Sharpe's account in "Timely Chatter From Great Britain" only noted the one knockdown.It was Martin's last career bout (listed in BoxRec)

Ring Feb 1944 - 10/25/43 - Al Robinson of Leeds and the R.A.F. vs Al Delaney of the Canadian Army fought in the chief supporting bout at The Royal Albert Hall in London in an early card promoted by Jack Cappell and Jack Solomons marking the reopening of the Hall to boxing per this article by John S. Sharpe. Delaney secured a points decision in the 10 round bout that didn't exhibit anything very exciting to watch. Delaney was marked the clear winner.
In this issue, the Annual Ring Rankings, for 1943, Al Robinson was listed in the Group 4 of Heavyweights, the last tier ranking.

Ring April 1944 - 01/05/44 - Martin Thornton of Eire was too hard of a puncher for Al Robinson, Leeds to handle. Thornton battered Robinson dropping him for two long counts of eight and nine before the fight was stopped in the 3rd round. Robinson had managed to drop Thornton in the first round for a count, but that was apparently the high point of the fight for big Al. Interesting accessment made in John S. Sharpe's account of this fight, on Al Robinson's career. "Robinson was a good prospect, but bad matchmaking by somebody connected with the blond Leeds man has made him just another fighter". This was the fourth straight defeat for Robinson in a string that would reach 11 straight.

Ring Dec 1944 - 09/18/44 - Ken Shaw, Dundee earned a close points win in an 8 rounder against Al Robinson. Shaw was considered one of the young up and coming fighters, this earning his 6th win against 1 loss and 2 draws.Shaw dropped Robinson for an eight count in the first round but then Robinson floored Shaw for an eight count in the second round.Shaw was cut bad bleeding profusely from his lips, but he remained the more aggresive fighter to end up with the popular decision.

Ring Feb 1945 - 10/30/44 - The Al Delaney, canada vs Al Robinson, Leeds fight was actually a replacement for a scheduled bout between Freddie Mills and Martin Thornton, when because of war duties, Mills was not able to make the bout. The fight between Delaney and Robinson was described as an affair "notoriously lacking in science, but was a real stand up and slug affair". Delaney who was 20 pounds in weight under Robinson was doing most of the "running" throughout the fight. Neither fighter landed any really good blows, but Delaney ran up the more points to get the 8 round decision.

Ring March 1945 - 12/06/44 - Tom Reddington, 198, won an 8 round decision over Al Robinson, 212. Not much action in this one as it was described as "dreary". Reddington generally displayed the better boxing skills making Robinson miss badly at times. Robinson sustained a cut over his left eye in the first round, but it didn't seem to affect him any.

Ring July 1945 - 03/15/45 - Jock Porter, 182, from Elgin, Scotland, former ABA heavyweight champion, made a successful professional debut in Great Britain by forcing the referee to stop the bout in the 5th round of a scheduled 8 against Al Robinson, 210. Porter's first professional bout was in New Bedford, Massachusetts.
Porter attached early going for a kayo win, dealing punishment which had Robinson bleeding badly from the nose and mouth.Robinson was floored in the fourth for an eight count, continued on gamely taking plenty of punishment, but in the fifth the referee decided enough was enough and stopped the fight for Porter's victory.

Ring Oct 1946 - 06/29/46 - Al Robinson, 216, scored a sensational first round KO of Jock Porter, 193. Three left hooks to the face from Porter stung Robinson and then he counter attacked sending Porter down for three counts of ninve each before finally being floored the fourth time and Porter didn't get up.

Ring Dec 1946 - 08/26/46 - Al Robinson had an easy win over George Markwick(BoxRec has his name Marwick, but Ring magazine accounts was spelling it Markwick).Markwick was subsituting for Pat Duffy of Ireland and was floored for counts of nine, nine, four and three in the first round and then was knocked out after four seconds into the second round.(BoxRec notes it as :14 in the second).

Ring Dec 1946 - 09/06/46 - Two British Boxers went to Copenhagen, to take part in contests againsts Denmark's "best boxers". One of those British Boxers was Al Robinson of Leeds who was to meed up and coming Carl Nielsen (4-0 at the time). It was a sold out show in K.B. Hall. Nielsen, was apparently just too fast for Robinson as Al was not able to get himself set by the hard hitting Nielsen who work Robinson down. In the seventh round with blood streaming from a cut overr the right eye, Nielsen floored Robinson with a left hook followed by a right swing. Al was counted out.

Boxing News 11/12/47 - 11/03/47 - Len Bennett was disqualified in the 2nd round for an alleged low blow ending the fight in a chorus of booing.

Boxing New 03/17/48 - Short piece about Al Robinson rushing off to catch the 10.45 back to Leeds after he stopped Gerry McDermott in Leyton. Robinson worked as an electrician in a power plant. In the 8 round scheduled bout in Leyton, the referee stopped it in the fifth round between for a victory for Al Robinson 203 over Gerry McDermott, 185.

Boxing News 03/24/48 - 03/15/48 - Al Robinson was too good for Joe Kerry, Irland and the towel was tossed in by Kerry's corner at the end of the 2nd.

Boxing News 04/21/48 - 04/16/48 - Frank Ronan, Fulham outpointed Al Robinson over 8 rounds in "an uninspiring contest". Ronan had a good left but didn't seem to know what to do with his right to follow up.Robinson caught Ronan once or twice with his right but without hurting Ronan.

Boxing News 06/30/48 - 06/17/48 - Al Robinson and Bill Brennan, Royston, put on a good fight. Robinson the more experienced fighter, but he younger Brennan gradually wore down Robinson.In the fourth round Brennan suffered a cut eye but he didn't give in to Robinson's left and punching furiously he earned a points win in the 6 rounds over Robinson.

[Rocco Del Sesto]

Career Record: W11(KO5) / L22(KO17) / D0

Unknown information has been left blank

DOB has been placed as 1942 based on account in 1977 fight he was 35 at that time.

Full name is Emmett Alfred Banks in BoxRec but two early newspaper accounts of Golden Glove fight in 1957 and pro debut fight in 1958 names him as Alandrus. Newspaper account of pro fight in May 1967 names him as Emmett. Alandrus Emmett Banks?

Original Rating by: Rocco Del Sesto

in New HWs Thread Dec 2006.

Upgraded HW Rating by John Dewey in April 2009

The fight weights listed in BoxRec and then some fight accounts found online listed below appear to indicate Banks fought as a Light Heavyweight from March 1977 beginning with his fight against Tony McMinn, on thru his July 1979 fight with Grover Robinson.

So I've broken his ratings down by:
MW 1958 W0 / L1(KO1) / D0
HW 1967-1976,Oct 1979-80 W10(KO 4) / L17(KO 12) / D0
LHW 1977-July 1979 W1(KO 1) / L4(KO 4) / D0

The new HW rating is kind of a twist between my original and John Dewey's.

Some career hilites from newspaper and Ring records:

27 Feb 1957, Alamogordo Daily News, NM - Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions, Alandus Banks,New Mexico Light Heavyweight was stopped by Tony Burton of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Note this article and the Odessa article next, has Bank's nave as Alandrus.

15 Jul 1958, The Odessa American, TX - List the fight card that Banks fought in against Rip White. It's shows Bank's weight at 165 and from Albuquerque while White is listed at 162 and from Odessa.So the 1957 article on the Golden Gloves tournament in 1957 and this listing Banks from Albuquerque, give some evidence he was originally from New Mexico?

20 Jul 1958, The Odessa American,TX - Ran account of a fight card at Hobbs, Texas. In that card was a former Hobbs Golden Gloves star, Alandrus Banks, middleweight making his pro debut against "slashing" Rip White of Odessa. White knocked out Banks in 1:23 of the first round slipping in a hard right and then followed with a left that put Banks out.

24 May 1967, The Austin American, TX - ran a short account of Banks split decision win over Willis Earls and shows his name as Emmett Banks of Dallas.

Sept 1967 Ring Magazine reports Al Banks, 195, Dallas was loosing is fight against Big JOhn Phillips, 211 or a couple rounds but then in the 3rd round decked Phillips twice to score a knockout.


Sept 1967, January 1968 and April 1968 Ring Magazine accounts of Banks fights against Willis Earls, Cookie Wallace and Lee Estes all name him by Al.All later newspaper articles all name him by Al Banks. So based on the 1957 and 1958 articles listing his name as Alandrus makes sense his name was Al. Could not find any other reference to him being named Emmett. Was that in in an earlier Ring Record Book possibly?

03 Jan 1968, The Minneapolis Star - Article on upcoming fight between Al Banks and Ed Hurley mentions Banks record at 7-1 with the one loss being a decision over 10 rounds.BoxRec lists Banks record at 4-2 going into the Hurley fight. The 1968 Ring Record Book which I have lists the four fights BoxRec shows, less the 1958 bout against White as a middleweight. This Ring Records has his name as Al Emmed Banks.

10 Jan 1968 The Minneapolis Star and the Star Tribune, Minnneapolis accounts of the Al Banks vs Ed Hurley fight. The Minn. Star reports that with 1:47 remaining in the 8th round, the top strand of the ring ropes all of a sudden came tumbling down with both fighters tumbling over the ropes! Both paper's pretty much bombed Hurley's fight, "Hurley showed promise as a wristler. He retired two fights back and looked it."The Tribune reported Hurley lost the decision due to penalities from "holding wrestling, butting and hitting after the bell". Banks made and effort to make a fight of it, but Hurley's tactics kept either fighter from doing little damage. The July 1968 Ring Magazine account of the fight noted Harvey's jaw was fractured.


02 April 1968, St.Louis Post-Dispatch quotes Al Banks that a left hook had been his big punch against Walter Harvey who suffered a broken jaw in the fight.

June 1969 Ring Magazine notes the scheduled 6 rounder between Johnny Griffin, 191 and Al Banks 192,lasted only to 1:05 of the fourth with Griffin "polishing off" Banks.

October 1969 Ring Magazine notes that a cut eye proved the undoing for Banks against Forest Ward who gained the TKO at 1:31 of round 5.

20 Sept 1969, The Bangor Daily News accounts that Willie Burton, 190 of New York still managed the 10 round decision over Al Banks, 195 even though penalized several times for low blows.Banks bloodied Burton's nose with jabs but Burton used a heavy body attack to win.

04 Jun 1970, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, Texas, accounts Jim Elder using two lefts and a right to Banks head in the second round and opened a "gaping" cut over Banks left eye. The fight was stopped at 1:56 in that round. So some accounting of Banks being prone to cutting.

27 Jul 1971 Fort Worth Star-Telegram,Texas, Jeff Merritt knocked out Banks at 2:53 of the 2nd round with a left hook and then followed that with a right hand to the side of the head.

BoxRec then shows no fights for Al Banks until August 1975 against Tracy Morrison. Could not find any account of that fight or his next against Ibar Arrington, but did find and account of his next fight against Ed Bytheway in April 1976.

20 Apr 1976, the News Tribune, Tacoma, Washington, A prefight article on Ed Bytheway vs Al Banks fight accounts that Al Banks record was 17-7-1? "Banks had most of his action while stationed at Alaska's Elmendorf Air Force Base". So that break from 1971-1975 Banks was Serving apparently in the Air Force? Found no other account though to confirm this.

19 Dec 1976 The Marshall News Messenger, Texas, some earlier in the week prefight account articles noted Pal Ray Storie was to have fought a Mark White, but Al Banks was a last minute substitute for White and Banks gained the 3rd round TKO win at 2:42 when Storie suffered a broken nose.The Marshall article says Banks record was 22-9-2? Is there a lot of Bank's record missing? The Sun Times of Shreveport, LA reports that a crowd of 1200 turned out.The Oakland TRibune, CA on Dec 20th reports that Storie had Banks on the canvas"four or five times" but then in the middle of the 3rd suffered a head butt from Banks that broke his nose. The article notes that under Texas rules, referee Curtis Cokes had no choise but to award Banks a TKO. It noted then under California rules, Storie would have been given a technical draw since he as ahead when the head butt happened.

25 Mar 1977 The News Tribune, Tacoma, Washington reports that Dale Grant KO'd Al Banks in the fifth round of their lightheavyweight Bout. So after the first Storie fight in December 1976, Banks slimmed down to the light heavweight division. BoxRec shows his fight weight against Tony McMinn, weight 163 as 173 before the Grant fight.

21 Aug 1977, The Marshall News Messenger, Marshall, Texas - A fairly lengthly prefight article leading up to the 2nd STorie v Banks fight mentions an interesting piece of news that maybe sheds more light on that Bank's BoxRec record may be incomplete. This artcle talks about Storie spending time between the two fights not having fought, while Banks had been kept busy boxing. The article says "One of the latter opponents for Banks was Mike Quarry, brother of the former heavyweight title contender Jerry. The scheduled ten rounder went the distance before Quarry connected with the deciding knockout blow." Some kind of exhibition? Could not find any other account of this.

26 Aug 1977 The Marshall News Messenger, Texas - Storie suffers a broken nose again in his rematch with Al Banks.Storie was in control of the fight until the 3rd round when Banks landed a series of rights and lefts and earned a standing 10 count. This article places Banks record at 14-7? With 2:20 left in the 5th round, Banks land a quick jab which broke Storie's nose.Shortly after his corner threw in the towel. The Times, Shreveport, LA placed the end of the fight at 34 seconds of the 5th. The Times reported Storie's fight weight at 235 and Banks at 178,confirming Banks still fighting at LHW.

11 Dec 1977, The Wichita Eagle, Kansas - A prefight article of the upcoming Ned Hallacy v Al Banks fight places Banks record as 33-19? It mentions Banks "currently handled by former world welterweight boxing champion Curtis Cokes". The Wichita Beacon, Kansas article on 13 Dec 1977 lists Banks as a light heavyweight fighting Wichitan Ned Hallacy.

15 Dec 1977 The Wichita Eagle, Kansas - The Al Banks v Ned Hallacy fight ended in a 7th round TKO of Banks as he "succumbed to a left hook to the body with 51 seconds gone in the 7th.The article state Banks beat the count but the referee, Vern Miller stopped the fight.Judges in the fight were Claude Sullard, Don Chandler and. The Eagel report Banks "had the tools of a better fighter...but wasted energy punching away at gloves, elbows, and shoulders in the early rounds."

Both the Wichita Eagle and the Wichita Beacon, Kansas reporting on the Hallacy fight reported Banks age as 35. Birth year then around 1942?

22 Oct 1979, Sioux City Journal, Iowa - Denver heavyweight Eric Sedillo knocked out Al Banks getting him with a left hook midway in the 3rd round of the 10 round bout.Sedillo weighed in at 197, but Banks' weight was not mentioned.Banks was dropped at the end of the first round with a right and dominated the fight with persistent body punching.

17 Aug 1980, The Odessa American, Texas - The fight between Alvin Dominey and Al Banks, last recorded fight in BoxRec for Banks was reported ended at 2:42 of the fourth. Dominey delivered continous hooks to the body with Banks sending little in return.

[Rocco Del Sesto]

Looking through newspapers for Al Banks articles, ran across Paul Ray Storie and was intrigued with this guy coming out in his early 30's to start a boxing career. Dug back far enough, found a birth record and some Junior and Senior high articles about him to confirm his DOB.

Career Record: W3(KO 3) / L2(KO 2) / D0

Unknown information has been left blank.

Manager - Henry C. Winston
Trainer - Charles (Chuck) Williams

Birth Certificate found on MyHeritage website places Paul Ray Storie born on March 10, 1943 in Marshall, Harrison, Texas. His father was Teddy Ray STorie and mother, Mary Mildred Yanke.

23 Nov 1958 The Marshall News Messenger, Texas - "Junior High News" article about the honory co-captains of the Mighty Mite Football squad featured background info about the young Paul Ray Storie.Mentions he's 15 years old so that confirms the 1943 birth year with his birth day as May 10th and he is the son of Teddie Ray Storie. Lists his height at 5 ft, 11-1/2 inches.

Newspaper accounts 1960-62 Paul Ray Storie playing fullback and tackle for Marshall High School football team and was a Shot Putter in Track and Field along with boxing for the Marshall Boys Club as a heavyweight and in 1962 competed in the Tri-State Silver Gloves Amateur Boxing Tournament.

The rest of the 1960s after high school found Paul Ray going off to college, earning an Associate Business Administration degree from Eastern Oklahoma A&M, playing foot ball for the Eastern A&M Mountaineers.Paul Ray then later attended North Texas State University playing football and boxing during his college years. On May 7th 1965 Paul Ray married and with he and his wife raising a family with a son, Paul Ray II and a daughter, Amy.

27 Sep 1976, The Marshall News Messenger, Texas - Paul Ray decides to attempt a professional Boxing career as a heavweight! Article mentions his plans to begin with his first bout in about 8 weeks having started training at Rosborough Springs under management of Henry Winston.

15 Oct 1976, Oakland Tribune, CA - Oakland Promoter, Henry C. Winston taking on the management of 6 feet, 232 pound, Marshall, Texan legend, Paul Ray Storie, trying to jump start a boxing career at the age of 33!Henry Winston is quoted in the article that Paul Ray had "something over 200 amateur fights, and won all but two or three." The article mentions Storie has amateur credits including triumphs in Golden Gloves, Silver Gloves and regional AAU tournaments. Did not find other accounts of this execpt for fighting in the Silver Gloves.The article mentions his wife, Geral Elaine with a daughter 12, and a son 10.

28 Oct 1976, The Marshall News Messenger, Texas - Storie is working with sparring partner heavyweight Eddie "Boss Man" Jones of Los Angeles preparing for a 6 bout exhibition to take place November 6th with is first professional fight, NOvember 20th.

29 Oct 1976 Longview News-Journal, Longview, Texas - Paul Ray Storie,
5-11, 230 Marshall native to make his professional boxing debut November 20th.Interesting and comedy of sorts observation in this article is that it was noted STorie once held the Mid-South Heavyweight amateur title and was now laying claim to the Texas professional crown without having yet fought his first pro fight! Per Henry Winston since the title was empty as this point in time, "so we claimed it," Winston said. The article notes he his being trained by Chuck Williamson. MOre comedy in tis article when Storie was asked about his intentions on the world heavyweight title eventually, Storie replied, "I want my name on it." Expressing confidence that he can successfully take on any opponant to win it.He said of current champion, Muhammed Ali, "He has never fought anyone who is as strong as I am. I want to fight him more than anything else in the world and I know I can win."!!??

08 Nov 1976, The Marshall News Messenger, Texas - Paul Ray Storie makes a successful professional debut defeating Eddie "Boss Man" Jones in a 6 round exhibition bout. Storie weighed in at 215 while Jones was at 193.After a lackluster first two rounds by both fighters, Storie started finding the mark with some Jabs and Crosses in the third.He continued to connect, delighting the crowd in the 4th and 5th rounds battering JOnes in the head and mid-section.

NOv 11 and 14 1976 The Marshall News Messenger, Texas pre fight accounts of Storie's first regular fight with Rocky Robinson of Los Angeles California put Robinson's heavyweight professional record at 20-5-5 and 25-5-5. BoxRec only lists a record of 0-3-0 with two KO's before meeting Storie. Joe Louis is announced to be coming in to referee the bout at the Wiley College Gymnasium, which is noted with a seating capacity of 2500.

22 Nov 1976, The Marshall News Messenger, Texas - There were 7 bouts in the fight card that featured Paul Ray Storie's professional debut with a 2nd round KO of Rockie Robinson. BoxRec shows Robinson as Rocky.A quick left hook within 30 seconds of the first round from Storie sent Robinson to the canvas. Robinson got up to fight on but then in the second round two lefts sent Robinson into the corner and then Storie connected with a right upper cut that put Robinson out.
An interesting side note in the article, Storie recounted how his last fight came as an amatuer back in 1965.He gave his reason for leaving the ring, "I got married, well, it was the week before, and when I met my wife I had a broken nose, so..". Hmm, broken nose, shape of things to come. Former Welterweight Champion, Curtis Cokes, a native of Dallas, refereed Storie's match.

05 Dec 1976, The Marshall NEws Messenger, Texas - Article writes that Storie's next fight was to be On Dec 7th against Jimmy (King) Flutcher of Los Angeles.On the day on the fight, on Dec 7th, though, the Marshall News reports Storie was now to fight Bruce Scott of Fort Worth in a 10 round bout.

08 Dec 1976, The Marshall News Messenger, Texas - Storie scored his second heavyweight bout victory when he knocked out Bruce Scott in 1:42 in the 3rd round. Scott had sent STorie to the deck in the second round, but, Storie came back in the third with a series of punches that sent Scott down for the victory.

09 Dec 1976, The Marshall News Messenger, Texas - Mark White of Los Angeles was to be Storie's next fight on December 18t at the Wiley College Gymnasium.

19 Dec 1976, The Marshall News Messenger, Texas - Storie suffers defeat when he sustained a broken nose at 2:42 of the second round at the hands of Al Banks of Dallas, who subsituted for scheduled Storie opponant Mark White.Banks weighed in at 182 while Stories was at 215.A crowd of 1200 per The Times, Shreveport, LA was on hand.

20 Dec 1976, Oakland Tribune, CA - According to an account of the Storie / Banks fight, Storie had Banks on the canvas four or five times before then suffering that broken nose in the 3rd round by "an obvious butt that broke his nose." This article states that under Texas rules, Referee Curtis Cokes had to award Banks a TKO, but under California rules, he would have given Storie a Technical draw since he was ahead when butteed.

08 Jun 1977, The Marshall News Messenger, TExas - Storie knocked out Tom Hargis at 2:53 of the 1st round in his first bout since suffering the broken nose against Al Banks in December. Storie came into the bout at 220, while Hargis weighed 233.

21 Aug 1977, The Marshall News Messenger, Texas - Discussing Storie's upcoming return "Revenge" match against Al Banks, Storie recounts that what happened in that first fight..."He broke my nose about ten seconds after the opening bell when Banks used a head-butt against me. Then in the third, I was looking at the referee Curtis Cokes after I had knocked Banks down for the 3rd time in the round to see if the fight had been stopped. When I turned around, Banks landed a solid punch on my nose. What that I could not breath and was at the verge of choking.""So I left the ring."

26 Aug 1977, The Marshall News Messenger, Texas - Al Banks wins the second fight against Paul Ray Storie as Storie again suffers a broken nose! Storie appeared to be in control in the third round when a series of rights and lefts earned Banks a standing 10 count. Then the tables turned and in the fiftih round, with 2:20 left Banks landed a quick jab which connected and broke Storie's nose. The Marshall native turned to his cornered and yelled, "It's borken again".The bout was called shortly when the Storie corner threw in the towel. The Times out of Shreveport, LA reported Storie came into the fight well over 235 compared to the 178 for Banks. This account said Storie had his right eye cut open in the first round.

The end of Paul Ray storie's brief fight career. Some later newspaper accounts found Storie involved in different business'. He became quite known locally as a fisherman. Apparently still living.

[Rocco Del Sesto]

I did this very quick rating and offer it up as I found the photo when researching Paul Ray Storie's history. Seeing the articles about Robinson in his fight against Stories the articles mention Robinson with a 20-25 wins to 5 loss record. Wondered. Did a quick search and pretty quick found an article back in 1974 of Robinson fighting a bout on Dec 7, 1974 on a card that Henry Clark featured against Roy Williams. BoxRec does not record the Robinson fight that the article says a Stan Ward KO'd a Rocky Robinson from LA. So going to see what else I can dig up for Rocky (Rockie) Robinson of Los Angeles.
Right now in BoxRec he stands at with the two articles about fight with Storie

Career Record: W0(KO 0) / L4(KO 3) / D0

Unknown information has been left blank.

DOB has been estimated.

NOv 11 and 14 1976 The Marshall News Messenger, Texas pre fight accounts of Storie's first regular fight with Rocky Robinson of Los Angeles California put Robinson's heavyweight professional record at 20-5-5 and 25-5-5. BoxRec only lists a record of 0-3-0 with two KO's before meeting Storie. Joe Louis is announced to be coming in to referee the bout at the Wiley College Gymnasium, which is noted with a seating capacity of 2500.

22 Nov 1976, The Marshall News Messenger, Texas - There were 7 bouts in the fight card that featured Paul Ray Storie's professional debut with a 2nd round KO of Rockie Robinson. BoxRec shows Robinson as Rocky.A quick left hook within 30 seconds of the first round from Storie sent Robinson to the canvas. Robinson got up to fight on but then in the second round two lefts sent Robinson into the corner and then Storie connected with a right upper cut that put Robinson out.
An interesting side note in the article, Storie recounted how his last fight came as an amatuer back in 1965.He gave his reason for leaving the ring, "I got married, well, it was the week before, and when I met my wife I had a broken nose, so..". Hmm, broken nose, shape of things to come. Former Welterweight Champion, Curtis Cokes, a native of Dallas, refereed Storie's match.

[Cap]

Whew! Good work digging all that up.

Cap

[Rocco Del Sesto]

This guy is not a heavyweight but posting here since this is where I post most everything.

I was looking through my 1940 Ring Magazines a bit this weekend and I ran across a short piece in the March edition under the "Timely Chatter From Wartime Great Britain" about, according to Ring anyways, the first professional boxer to loose his life in the war.

That person was Wally Thornton, a featherweight, who according to Ring had fought in Australia, but the only fight records for him in BoxRec is in the UK. He was serving in the merchant marine in 1939 when the war started. His ship the Rawalpindi was serving as an Armed Merchant Cruiser at the beginning of the war. Well on the afternoon of November 23,1939 while patrolling somewhere off of Iceland, the Rawalpindi ran into the German Pocket Battleship, Deutschland and another ship. Battle ensued with the lightly armored Rawalpindi no match for their German foes.

Actually found quite a bit of newspaper articles from Newspapers.com that carry a couple UK papers and also other articles on the internet about the Rawalpindi and it's encounter on November 23, 1939.

Here's a short rundown what I've included in Thornton's rating record. Not much of a career, at least what BoxRec has but, here he is. Interesting bit of research. Like finding stories like this. Got me thinking more about what happened with boxing during the war.

Wally Thornton - Featherweight - UK
Career Record: W6(KO 1) / L5(KO 0) / D0

Unknown information has been left blank.

DOB has been estimated.

DOD placed whtn the Rawalpindi was sunk during World War Two.

From the March 1940 Ring Magazine - "The first professional boxer to lose his life in this Great War was Wally Thornton of Lambeth, posted as missing by the Admiralty after the sinking of the merchantman, Rawalpindi. Thornton, who had boxed with success in Australia and England, had mapped out a career in the Mercantile Marine, besides boxing, and will be sorely missed by his many friends."


There are numerous newspaper articles from The Guardian, London and the Evening Standard, London about the sinking of the Rawalpindi, an Armed Mechant Cruiser that was sunk by a German Pocket Battleship and another ship on the late afternoon of November 23, 1939. There were 27 sailers taken prisoner by the Germans and their names were later reported in the papers via the Red Cross being held as prisoners of war. Thornton was not listed as one of those captured and he was not listed among the 10-11 that was rescued by the British.

In both The Guardian and the Evening Standard a complete list of crewmembers that were aboard the Rawalpindi. There was listed in both a W.S. Thornton, Fireman. Also found on line at naval-history.net a list of the crew members and listed was Walter S. Thornton, Fireman, NAP 72847 MKP.

Could not find any direct confirmation on line stating the walter S. Thornton was our boxer Wally Thornton. Assuming the Ring Magazine record is correct from some other source I could not find.

[Rocco Del Sesto]

Ran across an article in Boxing News with a photo of this heavyweight from England and looked in my data base and seen him in there a rating done originally by Mark Elwood. That article, mentioned about Ronan being found dead in the Thames river. This was in late July 1950. Peaked my interest.

Following is a visit into Ronan's career and tragic ending to his young short life that I founding looking through Boxing News and newspapers online.
Then looked did a bit of tweaking of Mark's rating. Included are both.

I've included more that I found about Ronan's fights in his biography in the rating file.

Career Record: W21(KO 13) / L11(KO 6) / D1


Original rating by "created by me" Mark Elwood (vistaman44)

Unknown information has been left blank.

Some newspaper articles listed him as 6ft 4in, some as 6ft 3in.

DOB from the 1949 Boxing News Annual

DOD from boxerlist.com

August 2, 1950 Boxing News had a short account that the previous week

the body of Frank Ronan, Fulham heavyweight was recovered from the

Thames at the Vauxhall Bridge, London. The article noted that Ronan had

shown a promising career after his release from the Army adn then

winning a heavyweight competition in July 1948. At one time he was

working as a sparring partner for Bruce Woodcock.

08/04/50 Nottingham Evening Post and 08/05/50 The Londonderry Sentinel -

News article on this death said his body was found in the Thames on July

24th. In the articles a police contsable is quoted saying he heard and

then ran into two men who were running and they ran into him. He got

into a struggle with one of the men who then broke free and ran toward

some steps leading to the river. On July 26th he identified the body

taken from the Thames river as the man he'd struggled with apparently

recognizing him enough to itentify him. That man was Frank Ronan. So

that would confirm his DOD as 7/22/50 that boxerlist.com shows.

A tragic ending to a still very young life. Ronan had at first early in

his career shown some promise in the British heavyweight boxing world,

granted in the 40's not a lot to say about heavyweight boxing in the UK

at that time. But then some mental demons started affecting his boxing

that prematurely ended it.

03/18/48 Daily Mirror, London - Ronan, 6ft 3in (or 4in depending on the

article) was the son of a 5ft 3in London underground railway worker.

Artilcle mentions he's a private in the East Lancashire Regiment,

expecting to be demobilised in June.Mentions that Ronan was being

groomed better in the "finer points of the game", and then be taken to

South Africa for a series of fights. That never happened of course.

07/26/50 The Sheffield Telegraph - Ran an account of the death of Ronan

by drowning in the Thames. Mentioned he lived on Dynoch Street in

Fulham.Mentioned that he did a little boxing before he went into the

Army. His favorite punch was a short right uppercut.

07/30/50 The People - A very good article, rather long accounts how

Frank Ronan was being billed only a couple years earlier "as one of the

most promising of Britain's pitifully small crop of up-and-coming

heavyweights." Interesting their press seem to acknowledge to sad state

of British heavyweight boxing at the time. What held Ronan back

ultimately? "Fear" The writer of the article quoted a friend who said

"Frank Ronan realised how pathetically simple it was-and is- for a boxer

to be permanently , irreparably hurt." "That knowledge I believe, alone

kept him from becoming a champion."

[Waltercito]

Awesome stuff as always, Rocco!

[IceTea]

Originally Posted by Rocco Del Sesto

Ran across an article in Boxing News with a photo of this heavyweight from England and looked in my data base and seen him in there a rating done originally by Mark Elwood. That article, mentioned about Ronan being found dead in the Thames river. This was in late July 1950. Peaked my interest.

Following is a visit into Ronan's career and tragic ending to his young short life that I founding looking through Boxing News and newspapers online.
Then looked did a bit of tweaking of Mark's rating. Included are both.

I've included more that I found about Ronan's fights in his biography in the rating file.

Career Record: W21(KO 13) / L11(KO 6) / D1


Original rating by "created by me" Mark Elwood (vistaman44)

Unknown information has been left blank.

Some newspaper articles listed him as 6ft 4in, some as 6ft 3in.

DOB from the 1949 Boxing News Annual

DOD from boxerlist.com

August 2, 1950 Boxing News had a short account that the previous week

the body of Frank Ronan, Fulham heavyweight was recovered from the

Thames at the Vauxhall Bridge, London. The article noted that Ronan had

shown a promising career after his release from the Army adn then

winning a heavyweight competition in July 1948. At one time he was

working as a sparring partner for Bruce Woodcock.

08/04/50 Nottingham Evening Post and 08/05/50 The Londonderry Sentinel -

News article on this death said his body was found in the Thames on July

24th. In the articles a police contsable is quoted saying he heard and

then ran into two men who were running and they ran into him. He got

into a struggle with one of the men who then broke free and ran toward

some steps leading to the river. On July 26th he identified the body

taken from the Thames river as the man he'd struggled with apparently

recognizing him enough to itentify him. That man was Frank Ronan. So

that would confirm his DOD as 7/22/50 that boxerlist.com shows.

A tragic ending to a still very young life. Ronan had at first early in

his career shown some promise in the British heavyweight boxing world,

granted in the 40's not a lot to say about heavyweight boxing in the UK

at that time. But then some mental demons started affecting his boxing

that prematurely ended it.

03/18/48 Daily Mirror, London - Ronan, 6ft 3in (or 4in depending on the

article) was the son of a 5ft 3in London underground railway worker.

Artilcle mentions he's a private in the East Lancashire Regiment,

expecting to be demobilised in June.Mentions that Ronan was being

groomed better in the "finer points of the game", and then be taken to

South Africa for a series of fights. That never happened of course.

07/26/50 The Sheffield Telegraph - Ran an account of the death of Ronan

by drowning in the Thames. Mentioned he lived on Dynoch Street in

Fulham.Mentioned that he did a little boxing before he went into the

Army. His favorite punch was a short right uppercut.

07/30/50 The People - A very good article, rather long accounts how

Frank Ronan was being billed only a couple years earlier "as one of the

most promising of Britain's pitifully small crop of up-and-coming

heavyweights." Interesting their press seem to acknowledge to sad state

of British heavyweight boxing at the time. What held Ronan back

ultimately? "Fear" The writer of the article quoted a friend who said

"Frank Ronan realised how pathetically simple it was-and is- for a boxer

to be permanently , irreparably hurt." "That knowledge I believe, alone

kept him from becoming a champion."

Mark is still on Facebook

[Rocco Del Sesto]

Originally Posted by IceTea

Mark is still on Facebook

He is?! That's great to know. Unfortunately I'm not on Facebook. There was a Title Bout site on there, is that where you see him?

Rocco

[Rocco Del Sesto]

Originally Posted by Waltercito

Awesome stuff as always, Rocco!

Thanks! Love looking on line for stuff like this on these fighters. End up spending quite amount of time doing it so I don't get too many ratings done, but, sometimes what I find makes it worth the time and being able to share with everyone here.

Rocco

[IceTea]

Originally Posted by Rocco Del Sesto

He is?! That's great to know. Unfortunately, I'm not on Facebook. There was a Title Bout site on there, is that where you see him?

Rocco

No. He just has a profile and posts from time to time.

[Cap]

Originally Posted by IceTea

No. He just has a profile and posts from time to time.

Well, he's still breathing. I'm not on Facebook any more. If you exchange words with him tell him to drop us a line here sometime.

That reminds me, has anyone heard from Bear lately?

Cap

[Rocco Del Sesto]

I found interestingly enough a listing of ratings for German fighters by the Boxing News in the September 30 1966 issue. Thought I'd go through them see how many I may have in my DB by myself or others.They have for different weight divisions so I'll look at those. Many names below cruiserweight (LHW) and below never heard. May not find much on any of them so may not be much time/effort put into rating these. Just like this first offering......

Knut Brucher - HW, Germany

Career Record: W0(KO 0) / L1(KO 0) / D0 1NC

Unknown information has been left blank.
DOB has been estimated

Was listed in Boxing New, Sept 30, 1966 in a listing of German Boxer Ratings. He was listed under "New Pros". Well only shows up with two fights in BoxRec, a 4 round decision loss to Klause Krueger and then a fight against a Roland Swoboda that was stopped in the 3rd round and declared a no contest.

[Rocco Del Sesto]

This next German heavyweight I rated some time ago 2004-6 not sure, could not find here in the forum. I adjusted the ratings a bit and play tested to some favorable results.

Klaus Krueger - HW - Germany
Career Record: W2(KO 1) / L7(KO 4) / D0

Unknown information has been left blank.
DOB has been estimated.

Original Rating by: Rocco Del Sesto sometime 2004-2006?

Was stopped in 4 of his 7 losses. His very first fight he lost a 4 round decision to Jurgen Blin who was also fighting his first professional round. Krueger then lost by 2nd round KO a month later in Novermber 1964 to Peter Weiland who was 1-2 at the time early in his career. After winning a 4 round decision from a Knut Brucher who was fighting for the first time, Krueger then lost a 4 round decision to Peter Schulze and was stopped in the 4th round against Kurt Stoer(20-14-4,8KO). After stopping Herman Linder(3-6-1) in the 3rd round in December 1966, Krueger then fought and lost 3 fights in early 1967 to abruptly end his career. He lost to Conny Velensek and then twice again to Peter Schulze.

Feb 1965 Ring - 10/16/64 Klaus Krueger, 198 was beat in a 4 round decision by Juergen Blin, 187 who was making his pro debut.

No other information readily available. Found no other accounts of Krueger fights in Ring.