My Universe

[JCWeb]

Thanks, Cap. On to the next report.


This is a summary of ring action from the second half of November 1937, covering a total of 46 bouts. One WBA title bout is included in this report.

Nov. 19, 1937: Friday night card card “Down Under” is next, at Melbourne in Aussie-land. Good card, with a CBU title encounter topping the agenda, preceded by a FW clash, with veteran Tommy Paul lured to face up-and-coming young OPBF titleholder, Japan’s Tsuneo Horiguchi. Horiguchi strikes first, in round three, putting Paul down with a nice combination; Paul is able to resume after taking a nine-count. Horiguchi builds a solid points lead, but later in the bout Paul rebounds, but a big hook from Horiguchi stuns Paul in round eight. Horiguchi then coasts to a UD 10 victory (97-93 on all three cards). Post-fight career marks: 20-2 (14) for Horiguchi; 30-12-4 (7) for Paul. In the main event, Aussie fan favorite Ron Richards puts his Commonwealth MW title on the line, facing Canadian Lou Brouillard. Richards hopes to repeat his earlier win over Brouillard (a TKO in 1934). Brouillard, on the other hand, seems prepared for a career effort, landing repeatedly to cause a trace of swelling under Richard’s right eye in the opening round. Brouillard continues attacking, impressing the judges and building a nice points lead. Richards tries to pressure the Canadian challenger in the later rounds, but in round nine he walks into a Brouillard right and goes down, taking a six-count. Brouillard follows up with a second KD in round 11, then goes on to take a comfortable UD 12 (116-110. 116-110. 115-111) to lift the title. Brouillard moves to 28-8-2 (13) with the win, while Richards drops to 31-9-2 (23) after the loss.

Nov. 20, 1937: Next is an abbrievated five-bout card at Vancouver’s Exhibition Gardens. Only bout of note is the main event, with Canadian CBU BW Champ Horace Gwynne matched with American Lou Salica. The early edge goes to Salica, forcing Gwynne to become more aggressive. In round six, Salica is cut under the right eye, but the cut proves to be a non-factor in the bout. Gwynne does well to claw back some of the deficit in rounds six through eight, but Salica retains the edge, finishing strongly to take a UD 10 (98-93, 99-92, 98-93), moving his career totals to 22-3 (9). Gwynne ends the bout at 22-3 (13), but retains both the CBU and NABF BW titles, neither of which was at stake.

Nov. 20, 1937: Next is a big card in Chicago, with a WBA title bout headlining the action. On the undercard, unbeaten MW prospect Charley Burley manages to keep a perfect record by flooring a TC opponent; the KO 3 win leaves Burley at 9-0 (9) – and the expectation is that he will soon be facing more difficult opposition heading into 1938. In the co-feature, two top 10 LWs take to the ring, as former JLW Champ Tod Morgan faces once-beaten Lou Ambers, aka the “Herkimer Hurricane.” Morgan, now at Post-Prime, has the misfortune of suffering a cut over his right eye in the opening stanza, plus Ambers proves to be a difficult opponent. With the cut leading to an early stoppage, Ambers takes a TKO 6 win to move up in the LW ranks. Post-bout records: Ambers, 24-1 (17); Morgan, 48-16-5 (13). Then, in the feature, Tony Canzoneri defends his WBA LW title against a familiar foe, Jack Kid Berg. For the fifth time, it is the “Roman Warrior” matched with the “Whitechapel Whirlwind.” The two are 2-2 in prior meetings, with Berg having won the first two (back in 1929), while Canzoneri prevailed in two more recent pairings, in 1934. Canzoneri comes out firing in round three, taking a decisive edge while causing swelling under the right eye and a cut under the left eye of the challenger. Berg remains active, but has trouble breaking through Canzoneri’s excellent defense. Canzoneri piles up a huge points lead but, headed into the final five rounds, the cards are even (95-all) according to the unofficial ringside observer. In round 13, a second cut is opened, this time over Berg’s right eye. The cut proves to be decisive, and the bout is halted with just one minute remaining as the flow of blood from Berg’s eye becomes too problematic to allow him to continue. TKO 15 for Canzoneri on the cuts stoppage. For Canzoneri, it is his 12^th win in succession, and his 21^st successful title defense going back to 1932, lifting him to 45-4-3 (16) overall. Berg ends the bout at 35-13-5 (14). With this win, Canzoneri’s Perf Point total has crossed the magic 2000 threshhold, making him just the fourth boxer in this Universe to do so (the others being Mickey Walker, Tommy Loughran and Max Schmeling).

Nov. 26, 1937: Next fistic action is a Friday night card at the Rand Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa. It’s an abbreviated card – just four bouts total – but the main event if for the Commonwealth HW title, with Tommy Farr defending against ex-Champion Don McCorkindale, the crowd favorite here in South Africa. Both men are trying to rebound after some recent setbacks; Farr has lost his last two since taking the belt via a UD from McCorkindale in January; McCorkindale has lost his last three. The bout evolves into a boxing exhibition by Farr, and McCorkindale cannot penetrate his defenses. A cut over the right eye of the South African challenger appears in round six and, when the cut is reopened in round eight, the ref calls an immediate halt to the festivities. TKO 8 for Farr on the cuts stoppage. Post-bout records are 40-12-1 (13) for Farr; 30-12-1 (17) for McCorkindale.

Nov. 27, 1937: Next card is at the UK in London. Two title bouts serve as co-main events, with Len Harvey facing Gustave Roth for the EBU LH title in the first co-feature. It is Harvey’s first defense of the EBU belt in almost two years and, in Roth, he faces a familiar foe, over whom he holds a 3-1 edge in prior meetings. This time, however, Roth takes advantage of the fact that Harvey is at Post-Prime career stage, building a solid points lead (59-56) by the halfway point of the 12-rounder. Harvey gets aggressive in the later rounds, but he is unable to close the gap completely. Roth goes on to regain the EBU title, taking a UD 12 (115-113, 116-112, 115-113) over the veteran Harvey. Post-fight records are 36-11-2 (12) for Roth, and 47-18-3 (19) for Harvey. In the main event, the WBA BW title is at stake, with Brit Johnny King defending the belt against challenger K. O. Morgan. The two have met twice before, with King taking a win and a draw in those prior encounters. The action heats up at the outset of round three, when King nails Morgan with an uppercut that causes Morgan to fall to the canvas after a delayed reaction, finally arising after a count of seven. By the end of the round, Morgan’s right eye begins to show signs of puffiness. Despite the knockdown, Morgan manages to keep the bout close, with the unofficial scorer seeing it even (48-all) after the first five rounds. King continued to apply pressure, assuming the role of aggressor through the middle rounds of the bout. In round eight, Morgan suffers a cut over his left eye, and in round nine, King nails the challenger with another uppercut, forcing Morgan to cover up. Despite this, the unofficial scorer still had the bout even (96-all) headed into the final five rounds. In round 11, the cut over Morgan’s eye is reopened and, a round later, King puts Morgan down for a second time, landing a big hook. King goes on to reclaim the WBA title, taking a UD 15 (144-139, 143-140, 144-139) after a game Morgan begain to tire down the stretch. The win lifts King to 43-5-1 (16) overall, while Morgan slips to 26-9-5 (16) after the loss.

Nov. 27, 1937: The month wraps up with a solid card at New York’s Yankee Stadium, with another WBA title bout to headline the agenda. The main support bout matches two top WWs, with Izzy Jannazzo facing veteran Joe Dundee in a rematch, with Jannazzo having won a previous bout earlier in the year. Jannazzo, now 21-2, has won his last two, with his only loss since hitting Prime having come in a DQ loss to Seargant Sammy Baker. Dundee, on the other hand, is on the downside of his career at Post-Prime. Early punches landed advantage to Jannazzo, who is active for the first half of the bout. In round five, Dundee suffers a bloody nose. In the second half of the bout, Dundee becomes more aggressive in an effort to close the gap. Jannazzo is comfortable staying on the outside. By round eight, there is puffiness forming under Dundee’s left eye; meanwhile, the cut over his other eye is reopened. Jannazzo takes advantage and goes on to a fairly lopsided UD 10 win (99-92, 98-92, 98-93). Post-bout, Jannazzo improves to 22-2 (13); Dundee ends the bout at 45-21-9 (13). In the feature, Holman Williams puts his WBA MW title on the line, facing ex-Champ Mickey Walker, who is looking for a last hurrah. Williams has won his last three, including the title, since his last loss on a DQ to Johnny Romero; a resurgent Walker has won five in a row to set up this, possibly, his final title shot. In round three, Walker moves inside to try to force the action, but all he winds up with for all his troubles is a rapidly swelling right eye. The jab proves to be an effective weapon for Williams, keeping Walker at a safe distance while inflicting some damage to the swollen eye. Walker becomes increasingly frustrated as the bout progresses, and by round five there is swelling around Walker’s other eye. He goes down from a Williams combination and is unable to beat the count. KO 5 for Williams. Post-fight records: Williams, 26-2 (18); Walker, 59-10-2 (43).

[JCWeb]

This is a summary of ring action from the first half of December 1937, covering a total of 40 bouts. One WBA title bout is included in this report.

Dec. 3, 1937: It’s a Friday night card card at Los Angeles to open the final month of 1937. the feature is the only bout of note, and it is a clash for the USBA FW title, with Frankie Covelli defending against a former WBA and USBA Champ, Battling Battalino. The two have met twice before, each winning once. Battalino bides his time in the early rounds, content to lay back on the outside, allowing Covelli to initiate most of the action. In round five, a straight right from Covelli stuns the ex-Champ. Battalino, true to his nickname, battles back and pulls ahead on points in the middle rounds. In round nine, Covelli staggers Battalino with a big hook, but once again the challenger is able to remain upright and cover up to avoid further damage. No cuts or knockdowns, and the bout goes to decision, with Battalino doing just enough to lift the title via a MD 12 (115-113. 114-114. 116-114). Battalino moves to 38-10 (13) with the win, while Covelli – who remains a dangerous FW contender - is 27-9-6 (7) after the loss.

Dec. 4, 1937: Next is a fairly thin card at the Stadium in Liverpool. No titles at stake, and one interesting bout, the main event, which matches top 10 LW Benny Bass against a much lower ranked Harry Mizler, the current GBU LW titleholder. Mizler becomes the early aggressor, moving inside in round three. In round five, Bass is cut over the right eye and Mizler, going for the upset, targets the cut, becoming more aggressive as the bout enters the later rounds. The cut is reopened in round eight, but otherwise Bass’ corner does a good job preventing further damage that might open the door to a possible TKO cuts stoppage. Despite being at Post-Prime, the wily veteran Bass does just enough to hold off Mizler and take a MD 10 (96-94, 95-95, 96-94), to the dismay of the pro-Mizler crowd cheering on the British Champion. Post-fight career totals: Bass, 48-22-5 (16); Mizler, 19-6-3 (5).

Dec. 4, 1937: Next action is back in the States at Atlantic City. Key matchup for the USBA HW title in the main event, but first up is a WW clash involving Andy Callahan and long-time beteran fringe contender Baby Joe Gans, who is at Post-Prime now but still a dangerous opponent. Callahan performs well, gradually pulling ahead in the middle rounds. By round seven, Gans is showing signs of wear and tear, with a mouse formed under his left eye; in round eight, Gans is cut over the right eye. Callahan goes on to record a MD 10 win (96-94, 95-95, 96-94) with scores being much closer than anticipated. Post-fight records: Callahan, 29-8-5 (10); Gans, 37-23-2 (14). Then, in the feature, it is a rematch as Art Lasky defends his USBA HW title against James Braddock, the “Cinderella Man” who turned in a UD 10 win over Lasky in an earlier meeting, back in 1934. It is only the second title shot for Braddock in his long career, and it is Lasky’s second defense of the USBA title. After an action-packed opening round, the two settle into predictable patterns, with Lasky being the aggressor, Braddock the counter-puncher. Lasky scores well with a big round three; Braddock bounces back with a strong showing in round four. The fans are on their feet for the toe-to-toe action in round five, when both men land some good shots. In round seven, Braddock moves inside and lands some shots, causing some swelling to appear under the left eye of Lasky. Lasky bounces back in round eight, stunning Braddock with a big uppercut. Braddock goes on the attack in round nine, leaving himself open for a cross from Lasky. Braddock goes down and cannot beat the count. KO 9 for Lasky, who retains the belt and runs his record to 24-5-2 (24) overall. Braddock is now 31-16-3 (6). Lasky is on a roll, with successive KO wins over Baer and Braddock, while Braddock, in his next outing in 1938, will hit Post-Prime career stage.

Dec. 10, 1937: Big Friday night card at Havana’s Gran Stadium, short on quantity (only four bouts) but high on quality, with a WBA title bout preceded by a non-title affair, both in the FW division. In the supporting bout, long-time top 10 FW Freddie Miller faces Enrique Chafferdet. Both are coming off recent losses to the two fighters appearing in the WBA title bout, with Miller losing to Baby Arizmendi in a NABF FW title clash, while Chafferdet lost to current titleholder Kid Chocolate but rebounded with a pair of wins over Andy Martin. Chafferdet is cut over his left eye in the opening round, but some good cornerwork means the cut is not a factor. Miller nurses a swollen right eye but is still able to see well enough to land some telling blows and build an early points edge. The bout goes the distance, with Miller coming away a UD 10 winner (96-94, 98-92, 96-94) to run his career record to 32-9-1 (14) compared to 32-15-7 (10) post-fight for Chafferdet. Then, in the main event, Cuban fan favorite Kid Chocolate defends the WBA FW title belt against NABF FW titleholder Baby Arizmendi, himself a former titleholder. The two have met twice before, with Chocolate taking a UD in 1936 in Mexico, after the two battled to a draw in their initial meeting, in Cuba, back in 1929. Chocolate, who was won seven in a row since his last loss (a DQ to Dave Crowley in 1935), starts well, seizing an early points edge. Arizmendi rebounds with a strong round three and moves inside to take the initiative in round four. Aggression pays off, with Arizmendi winning most of the inside exchanges and pulling ahead on points (49-47 after five) on the unofficial card. The two trade blows on the outside in round six, then Kid Chocolate presses the action on the inside in rounds seven and eight. After a big round for the Cuban Champion in the eighth, Arizmendi recovers quickly and takes round nine. Kid Chocolate throws caution to the wind, going for the KO in round 10, but Arizmendi’s defense remains solid, and he maintains a two-point edge (97-95) on the unofficial card. Round 12 to Arizmendi, but Chocolate rallies to take rounds 13 and 14. It all comes down to the final round, with the challenger battling back to neutralize the power of Kid Chocolate. The bout goes to the scorecards, and Arizmendi emerges as the new WBA FW Champion, via a MD 15 (145-143, 144-144, 145-144), with the final round furnishing the margin of victory. Good fight-of-the-year candidate because of its importance and closeness. Post-fight career records: 34-7-2 (10) for Arizmendi, 35-6-5 (10) for Chocolate. This may be the last hurrah at the highest levels for Kid Chocolate, who his Post-Prime in 1938.

Dec. 11, 1937: Next card is at the Toronto. No titles at stake, only one bout of interest on another abbreviated card (only five bouts). Long-time LW contender Joe Glick travels north of the border to face Canadian Dave Castilloux, who has recently hit Prime career stage and is looking to move up in the LW ranks. Castilloux, cheered on by the Canadian crowd, gets off to a good start and, by the end of round two, Glick’s face is showing the effects with some swelling noticeable around his left eye. Castilloux builds on this early success, building a solid points lead and remaining in control the rest of the way. The bout goes the full 10 and there is little doubt as Castilloux, in impressive form, takes a UD 10 (98-92, 98-92, 96-94) to the delight of the crowd. Castilloux, whose only career loss came at Pre-Prime, moves to 19-1-2 (7) with the win: Glick drops to 39-20-5 (13) with the loss.

Dec. 11, 1937: Next card is at the Coliseum Arena in New Orleans. A few more bouts fill the agenda, but again only one noteworthy matchup, which is the main event for the NABF MW title. This belt, which has been held for a long time by Freddie Steele, is once again up for grabs as Steele faces challenger Solly Krieger in the latter’s first title bout of any kind. Steele, entrenched as the heavy favorite, starts well, putting Krieger on the deck with a strong hook. After the knockdown, Krieger attempts to cover up but Steele’s killer instinct has kicked in and there is plenty of time in the round for him to follow up. Steele lands a left and then drills the hapless Krieger with a three-punch combo before ref Harry Ertle has seen enough and calls a halt to the one-sided affair. TKO 1 for Steele, who improves to 40-6-1 (28) and cements his status as #1 MW contender. Krieger slips to 29-12-1 (12) with the loss, and will probably half to rebuild his career with more bouts at the journeyman level before qualifying for another title shot.

[JCWeb]

Pleased to report that another year is in the books ...
This is a summary of ring action from the second half of December 1937, covering a total of 62 bouts, including one WBA HW title bout to wrap up the year’s action.

Dec. 17, 1937: Friday Night “Down Under” card at Sydney, Australian. Jues one bout of note, the feature matching two BW contenders from different continents in a non-title affair. Former WBA Champ Pablo Dano faces Brit Benny Sharkey in a 10-rounder. Dano takes charge early, sending Sharkey tumbling to the canvas in the opening round, connecting with a big cross. Sharkey struggles but is able to arise at the count of nine and manages to cover up to last the round. Dano continues to push his advantage, landing repeatedly such that Sharkey’s right eye begins to swell as the bout progresses into the middle rounds. Sharkey becomes more aggressive in the later rounds, but the Filipino’s defense holds firm, and Dano scores with a hook for a second KD in the final round en route to a UD 10 win (98-93 on all three cards) to improve to 32-9-5 (15) with the win, while Sharkey slumps to 29-12-2 (17) after the loss.

Dec. 18, 1937: Next up is a nice card at the Miami Stadium. First up, in the co-feature, veteran MW contender Vince Dundee faces 18-2 Fred Apostoli, who has just hit Prime career stage and is looking to rise in the MW ranks, taking advantage of the fact that Dundee is now at Post-Prime in his career. For the first four rounds, the veteran Dundee appears to have gained the upper hand. However, Dundee begins to tire as more rounds are ticked off. Finally, in round nine, Apostoli catches Dundee with a big shot, and the veteran takes a seat on the canvas for a nine-count. An uppercut to the head from Apostoli results in a second KD, and the bout is stopped before further damage can be down. TKO 9 for Apostoli, moving him to 19-2 (17). Dundee is 41-15-4 (17) after the loss. In the feature, the top two ranked BW contenders – LABF titleholder Panama Al Brown and Pete Sanstol – do battle, each with hopes of garnering a WBA title shot. It is the second meeting of the two, with Brown having won a UD back in 1933. Panama Al gets off to a strong start, taking round two but then Sanstol throws some heavy leather that results in some initial swelling under the left eye of Brown by the end of the fourth round. Undeterred, Brown unleashes a barrage of blows that put Sanstol down in round five. In the second half, Panama Al’s superior stamina factors in, with Sanstol gradually being worn down. Frustrated, Sanstol launches an all-out attack in round nine, only to walk into a Brown hook that puts him down for the second time. Solid UD 10 win for Brown (96-92, 95-92, 96-91) in what lived up to tis billing as a high quality, good action bout between two top contenders. Post-fight career totals: Brown, 54-10-1 (20); Sanstol, 34-10-3 (9).

Dec. 18, 1937: The fight crowd is buzzing at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, as Joe Louis is set to defend his WBA HW title in the main event. But, in two good supporting bouts, a NABF title is up for grabs as well as two top LH contenders. In the first of these co-features, Jimmy Adamick -- now ranked in the top 10 -- faces Al Gainer. Adamick drills Gainer with some good shots in the opening two rounds, and, as a result, traces of swelling are visible under Gainer’s right eye. Adamick pulls out to a solid points lead by the halfway point, but then he begins to tire. By round six, Adamick also begins to show signs of swelling under his right eye. Adamick has enough left to stage a late surge in the bout’s final round, which nets him a narrow UD 10 win (96-94, 96-94, 97-93) to improve to 23-3-1 (21) in what turns out to be his last bout at Prime (he hits Post-Prime career stage in 1938). Tough loss for Gainer, who slips to 21-6-1 (14). Next up is a NABF LW title bout, with Frankie Klick defending against LABF Champion and top LW contender Tony Chavez. Klick enters the bout having won his last two, while Chavez is coming off a WBA title loss to Tony Canzoneri that snapped a long winning streak. A determined Klick gradually builds a solid points lead, while Chavez is strangely ineffective. The LABF titleholder gets more aggressive in the later rounds, but to no avail. No cuts or knockdowns, and Klick walks away with a SD 12 win (114-115, 118-111, 116-112), with the 116-112 seeming about right. Post-fight career marks: Klick, 35-15-5 (13); Chavez, 23-5-1 (10). Then, in the main event, Joe Louis, “the Brown Bomber,” faces his British counterpart, Tommy Martin, “the British Brown Bomber,” in Louis’ sixth defense of the WBA HW title he won in 1936 from Max Schmeling. Martin, the British HW Champion, sports an impressive 22-2 record. Louis assumes an aggressive posture, but the Champ is called for a low blow in round one. In round two, Louis begins to land repeatedly, staggering Martin with a hook to the head. Louis moves inside in round three and continues to pile up the points. At the end of the fourth round, Martin surprises Louis, putting the “Brown Bomber” down for the first time in Louis’ career with a hook to the head. Joe arises at the count of four but is back in the groove in the toe-to-toe action in round five, taking the round. Then, in round six, Louis breaks down Martin’s defense, landing repeatedly with an uppercut, a two-punch combination, then a right hook to the head, before the ref steps in to save Martin from further punishment. The TKO 6 win pushes Louis’ record to 22-0 (20); Martin ends the bout at 22-3 (14). Having seen Louis go down for the first time, however, other top HW contenders are lining for a shot at Joe’s crown in 1938.

Dec. 24, 1937: Christmas Eve card at New York’s Madison Square Garden. Two bouts of note top the agenda, including a USBA title tilt. Preceding this is a 10-round co-feature pairing one-time WBA MW Champ Ken Overlin against the “Man of Steel,” now 18-2, Tony Zale, who is making his first start at Prime career stage. Overlin gets on top in the scoring with a big round four, but Zale is able to close the gap, dominating the action in rounds six and seven. Zale picks up the pace and becomes the aggressor in the later rounds and, in the end, is rewarded by the judges with a MD 10 victory (97-93, 95-95, 97-93) to run his career record to 19-2 (15) and move into the top 10 in the MW ranks as a result. The loss, only his third, leaves Overlin at 31-3-4 (12). In the main event, Henry “Homicide Hank” Armstrong, unable to arrange a WBA title matchup at either LW or WW, elects to defend his USBA WW title against a long-time contender and former WBA Champion, Young Corbett III. Corbett has impressed recently, reeling off three straight wins. After an indifferent start, Armstrong comes out on top in the inside exchanges in round five, and Corbett shows traces of swelling around his right eye as a result. However, the unofficial scorer has Corbett up by three (59-56) at the bout’s midway point. Armstrong continues to apply pressure, while Corbett fights most of the bout on the outside. Armstrong connects with an overhand right in round nine, and Corbett goes down and out. KO 9 for Armstrong, who emerges from the bout with an impressive 26-2-2 (21) career total. Corbett, now 52-14-5 (12), will hit Post-Prime starting with his next bout.

Dec. 26, 1937: It’s Boxing Day in the UK, and time for a traditional menu of fistic action in the nation's capital, this time at the Olympia. No title bouts, but in the main event, long-time LH Champ Tommy Loughran, continuing to campaign as a HW, faces Jack Peterson, who until recently had held the GBU HW title belt. In the opening stanza, Peterson stuns Loughran with a big hook that forces the veteran to cover up. Loughran recovers between rounds and bounces back to take round two. After another big round in the fourth, Loughran settles into a familiar pattern, scoring well from the outside and carrying a large points lead into the second half of the bout. Peterson tires badly and offers little in the way of opposition, hampered by a swollen right eye in the last two rounds. UD 10 for Loughran (98-93, 99-92, 97-93) is accepted by Peterson and the UK fight fans on hand for this encounter. Post-fight career marks: Loughran, 60-10-4 (20); Peterson, 25-8 (17); both were at Post-Prime for this encounter.

Dec. 31, 1937: The year wraps up with a New Year’s Eve card on the French Riviera at the Palais des Sports in Cannes. The only bout of note is the main event, for the EBU MW title, with Jock McAvoy making his fifth defense of that belt – which he won in 1935 – facing French challenger Eduoard Tenet. It’s the first meeting of the two, and Tenet is hoping to regain the tile, which he held briefly in 1934-35. McAvoy proves to be the more accurate of the two in the early round, gaining a slight points edge. In round five, Tenet suffers a nick under his right eye. McAvoy, up by a point on the unofficial card (58-57) at the midway point, targets the cut. Rounds seven and eight see a resurgent Tenet battle back to tighten up the match. By the end of the ninth round, a trace of swelling appears under the right eye of the Champ – credit Tenet for inflicting some punishment. The shift in the momentum to the challenger forces McAvoy to become more aggressive as the rounds tick off. However, he is unable to make an impression on a determined Tenet, who goes on to lift the belt via a UD 12 (116-112, 119-109, 115-113), although the 10-point margin seemed way too much (probably a pro-French judge influenced by the pro-Tenet crowd). With the win, Tenet improves to 37-19-7 (9); McAvoy slips to 30-11-4 (21) with the loss, but he still retains the GBU MW title headed into 1938.

Year-end reports to follow in the coming days.

[JCWeb]

Starting with the HW division ...

HW Title Bouts

WBA: Joe Louis began the year with the WBA title and defended three times, turning aside challenges from Tommy Loughan (TKO 10), Larry Gains (TKO 2) and Tommy Martin (TKO 6).

NABF: Elmer Ray began 1937 with this belt, defended once versus Art Lasky (TKO 5) but then was dethroned by Max Baer (KO 5).

USBA: Art Lasky retained this title for another year, with successful defenses versus Max Baer (KO 2) and James Braddock (KO 9).

CBU: Tommy Farr regained this title from Don McCorkindale (UD 12) and then defended it in a rematch with McCorkindale (TKO 8).

GBU: This belt also changed hands, as Tommy Martin dethroned Jack Peterson (KO 7).

EBU: Another new Champion was crowned, as Andre Lenglet took the title from Tommy Farr (DQ 10).

OPBF: With no title defenses since 1934, this title has remained dormant and was declared vacant with the retirement of Tom Heeney.

LABF: Two more title bouts produced two more Champions. First, Eduardo Primo defeated defending titleholder Jose Domingo Carattoli (UD 12). Then, Jimmy Mendes defeated Primo (TKO 9) to hold the belt going into 1938.

HW Division Profile

Total: 190 RL: 110 TC: 80

RL by Career Stage:
End - 14
Post - 19
Prime - 51
Pre - 18
Beginning - 8 (6 New)

Rated: 88
800+: 20
500+: 46
200+ : 77

Jan 1938 Rankings (Perf Points and Changes from Jan. 1937 in Parens):

Champ: Joe Louis 22- 0 (20) (1649) (NC)
1. Max Schmeling 44-4-1 (31) (1528) (NC)
2. Tommy Loughran 60-10-4 (20) (1370) (+1)
3. Larry Gains 43-12 (24) (1333) (+3)
4. Jersey Joe Walcott 31-4 (20) (1275) (+3)
5. Joe Banovic 35-13-2 (10) (1201) (+3)
6. Max Baer 26-10 (25) (1168) (+3) (NABF)
7. Elmer Ray 37-8 (24) (1167) (-5)
8. Tommy Farr 40-12-1 (15) (1035) (-4) (CBU)
9. Don McCorkindale 30-12-1 (17) (1034) (-4)
10. Roscoe Toles 24-4-3 (6) (1018) (+3)

Others: 11. Tommy Martin 22-3 (14) (997) (+9) (GBU)
12. Art Lasky 24-5-2 (24) (963) (+6) (USBA)
13. Andre Lenglet 20-2 (10) (956) (+29) (EBU)
14. Jimmy Mendes 31-9-4 (25) (915) (+7) (LABF)

Comments: Of those listed, only Loughran and now Lenglet are at Post-Prime career stage headed into 1938; everyone else still at Prime. Louis continued to impress by defending three times, all wins coming inside the distance. Schmeling remains the #1 contender, having gone 3-0 during the year, with an impressive stoppage of Martin, along with a pair of UD wins over Toles and LH Champ Rosenbloom. Despite hitting Post-Prime, Loughran continued to reamin a top HW contender, with three wins (over Charles, Jack Peterson and an aging Tom Heeney) to go with the title setback. Gains went 2-1 for the year, with stoppage wins over Walcott and Braddock to go with the title loss to Louis. Jersey Joe rebounded from the TKO loss to Gains with a pair of UD wins over McCorkindale and Germany’s Walter Neusel. Banovic registered two wins and a draw. But both wins came against Neusel (one a SD), and the draw was against the lightly regarded Johnny Risko. A resurgent Max Baer recovered from his shock TKO loss to Lasky with KO wins over Braddock and Ray, but he was a UD victim when he faced Toles. Ray had a seve-bout winning streak halted by the loss to Baer; he won all three of his prior 1937 outings via TKO – McCorkindale and Lasky among his victims. Tommy Farr hit a plateau, only going 2-2, suffering a stoppage loss to Toles, then going 2-1 in title bouts. Despite going 0-4 in four 1937 outings, McCorkindale remained in the top 10. Toles ended the year at #10 after an active year (five bouts) that saw two wins (a UD over Baer and a TKO of Farr), two losses (to Schmeling and Tommy Martin) and a draw (with Lee Ramage) added to his slate. Neusel was the one casualty from last year’s top 10, dropping six spots to #16 after a four-bout loss tailspin. New GBU Champ Martin suffered TKO losses to the top guys (Louis and Schmeling) but moved up the ranks with impressive wins over Charles, Peterson and Toles (the latter a UD). KO specialist Lasky went 2-1 for the year, all in title bouts. Lenglet rode a seven-bout winning streak to his current position at #13 and as EBU titleholder. Jimmy Mendes has won his last six, including a UD over long-time top contender Paulino Uzcudun. Jimmy Braddock’s career stalled after being handed three straight defeats – all by stoppages – at the hands of Baer, Gains and Lasky; he ends 1937 at #18, with a 31-16-3 (6) career mark at this stage. Top newcomers (and still unbeaten) at Max Marek, ranked #23, now 16-0 (13), with a TKO win over Lou Nova; and #27 Abe Simon, off to a 17-0 (15) start, with Steve Hamas among his KO victims. One spot lower and still hoping for a title run is Primo Carnera, now 26-8-3 (20), who drew with Sharkey but stopped Galento and Santo to go 2-0-2 in what is probably his best year thus far. Finally, German Erwin Klein, off to a 15-0 (9) career start, debuts in the rankings at #41. With only one win (a UD over fellow German Ernst Guhring) versus non-TC opposition, Klein has yet to be seriously tested.

Prospects: No one prospect tearing through the ranks the way Joe Louis was a couple of years back. Junior Munsell, now 12-2 (10), suffered recent losses to Buddy Baer (via TKO) and Gus Dorazio (a UD). Argentina’s Jorge Brescia, who also lost to Dorazio, bounced back with a UD win over Rex Romus to end the year at 12-1 (1). Lou Nova, a TKO loser to Marek, finished off most of the rest of his opponents inside the distance, including a TKO over Eddie Blunt, to end the year at 11-1 (10). Romus recovered from the loss to Bresica with a UD over Ernst Guhring to improve to 11-1 (5). Bob Nestell, a Nova TKO victim earlier in the year, continued to pad his record with TC wins to end the year at 8-1 (6). Still feasting off TC opposition are Lem Franklin, 6-0 (4); Ernie Woodman, 5-0 (4); Tony Musto, 5-0 (0); Chuck Crowell, 4-0 (2); Bill Poland, 3-0 (1).

Retirements: Eight left the ranks during 1937, including two former WBA Champions.

Lou Barba (USA) 1926-37 24-23-2 (9) No Titles Highest Rank: 47
Vittorio Campolo (ITA) 1925-37 26-18-1 (17) No Titles Highest Rank: 39
Tom Heeney (NZL) 1920-37 38-25-1 (14) OPBF Champ Highest Rank: 6
Tuffy Griffith (USA) 1925-37 30-15-3 (8) WBA Champion 1931-32
Young Stribling (USA) 1921-37 51-14-2 (25) WBA Champion 1926, 1927, 1929-31
Frankie Wine (USA) 1925-37 31-15-1 (14) No Titles Highest Rank: 55
Harold Mays (USA) 1924-37 26-20-4 (11) No Titles Highest Rank: 51
Steve Hamas (USA 1930-37 20-8-2 (14) No Titles Highest Rank: 27

Looking Ahead: As noted before, Louis seems set for a long title reign, just as in real-life – but upsets have certainly been known to occur in the history of this Uni. Schmeling is positioning himself for a title rematch with Louis or, as a fall back, an EBU title bout as it appears that Lenglet’s grip on that belt is very tenous indeed. Of course, the likes of Walcott, Baer, Ray and Lasky will also be in with a puncher’s chance as well, should they be rewarded with a WBA title shot.

[JCWeb]

LH Title Bouts

WBA: Maxie Rosenbloom captured the title from John Henry Lewis (TKO 8) and then defended it twice, defeating Len Harvey (UD 15) and then Lewis in a rematch (also UD 15).

NABF: Rosenbloom began 1937 with this belt, but relinquished it after winning the WBA title. In a matchup for the vacant belt, Bob Olin defeated Battling Bozo (MD 12). Olin then defended twice, turning aside challenges from Fred Lenhart (MD 12) and Jack Gibbons (UD 12) but then was dethroned by John Henry Lewis (KO 11).

USBA: Battling Bozo started the year with this belt, but he lost it to Tiger Jack Fox (KO 5). Fox went on to make two successful defenses versus Jimmy Adamick (TKO 3) and Tony Shucco (UD 12).

CBU: Only one title bout, and it produced a new Champion as Charley Belanger regained the title from Len Harvey (UD 12).

GBU: Harvey retained this belt but no title bouts since 1934.

EBU: Gustave Roth dethroned Harvey (UD 12) to regain this title.

OPBF: Not active for this division.

LABF: Not active for this division.

LH Division Profile

Total: 117 RL: 70 TC: 47

RL by Career Stage:
End - 13
Post - 18
Prime - 20
Pre - 16
Beginning - 3 (1 New)

Rated: 51
800+: 16
500+: 28
200+ : 42

Jan 1938 Rankings (Perf Points and Changes from Jan. 1937 in Parens):

Champ: Maxie Rosenbloom 43-12-6 (18) (1527) (+1)
1. Tiger Jack Fox 40-6 (29) (1279) (+3) (USBA)
2. John Henry Lewis 22-4-2 (18) (1251) (-2) (NABF)
3. Charley Belanger 38-17 (12) (1212) (NC) (CBU)
4. Bob Olin 30-10-3 (10) (1149) (+7)
5. Jimmy Adamick 23-3-1 (21) (1057) (+3)
6. Gus Lesnevich 22-1-1 (14) (1033) (+9)
7. Gustav Roth 36-11-2 (12) (1033) (-2) (EBU)
8. Tony Shucco 27-10 (10) (1031) (-2)
9. Joe Knight 30-8-3 (17) (984) (-2)
10. Battling Bozo 32-11-3 (12) (938) (-8)

Others: 14. Len Harvey 47-18-3 (19) (831) (-5) (GBU)

Comments: Of those listed, Adamick and Knight are set to join Bozo and Harvey at Post in 1938; others still at Prime. Rosenbloom claimed the WBA belt and is set to return to LH after his one foray into the HW ranks led to a one-sided defeat to the German, Max Schmeling. Fox went 3-0 for the year, all in title bouts, and is once again the #1 contender. Lewis, who lost the WBA title to Rosenblooom and the rematch as well, went 1-2 in 1937, all in title bouts, but still holds down the #2 contender spot and the NABF title. Belanger took a split duke from Roth and then snagged the CBU title, making it 3-0 for the year to move up the rankings. Olin was 3-1 for the year, all in NABF title fights. Adamick burst into the top 10 with a KO win over Roth, then had a TKO loss in his one title try, but bounced back with a UD over Al Gainer to end up the year at 2-1. Lesnevich moved up as well, with a SD and a draw with Knight, a KO over Jimmy Slattery and a UD against Pal Silvers to end the year with an unbeaten (three wins, one draw) campaign. Roth slipped a bit with the losses to Adamick and Belanger, but managed to redeem himself by taking the EBU belt from Harvey. Shucco impressed with a TKO win over Ray Actis but fell short when challenging for Fox’s USBA title. Knight had an active year, ending up with two draws, a loss and a draw, with his best effort being a stoppage of Slattery. Bozo went 0-3 for the year and barely managed to remain in the top 10. Slattery finished just outside the top 10, dropping one spot from the prior year, with 1937 wins over Young Firpo and Gainer offset by losses to Knight and Lesnevich. Along with Harvey, Slattery was the other top 10 dropout from last year. Next at #12 is Pal Silvers, who fashioned a three-bout winning streak (including a SD over Bozo) that was snapped by a late-season loss to Lesnevich that knocked him out of a year-end top 10 spot. #13 Fred Lenhart earned a NABF title shot with KO wins over Ray Actis and Jack Gibbons but fell short against Olin in the title clash. Top newcomer to the list and still undefeated is Billy Conn, who racked up impressive wins over veterans like Stillman, Firpo and Berlenbach in addition to besting fellow prospects Bettina, Balsamo and Christoforidis to end the year at 16-0-2 (10), good enough for the #15 spot. One spot below at #16 is Austria’s Heinz Lazek, who won all five of his 1937 bouts, including stoppages of Danny Devlin and Dave Maier in his last two. Melio Bettina ended up ranked #20, with a 16-1-1 (9) career mark thus far, the only loss to Conn but with a SD over Christoforidis in his most recent outing. Harry Balsamo, who also dropped a UD to Conn, ended up the year at 14-2-1 (12), good for #31, his best win a recent KO over Italian journeyman Rinaldo Palmucci. Christoforidis, who struggled with losses to Conn, Bettina and Adolf Heuser (the latter two via a SD) wound up one spot lower, checking in with a 15-3 (11) career start.

Prospects: Jimmy Webb, now 13-1 (8) is one bout away from being ranked; he was unbeaten at 12-0 before suffering his first loss to Young Joe Louis (a UD) before bouncing back with a pair of recent UD wins over Dave Clark and veteran Leo Lomski. Young Joe Louis emerged from the year at 11-2 (6), having dropped a UD to Archie Moore after starting off his career with a DQ loss to a TC. Archie Moore, at 11-0 (10) and Eddie Booker, at 12-0 (9), remain the class of the young LH crop, having mown down all TC opposition; Booker also holds a STD win over Clark. Herbie Katz checks in at 10-0-1 (7); all of his bouts have been with TCs thus far. Joe DeGroot (10-0, 5); Freddie Mills (9-0, 9); Lloyd Marshall (8-0, 8) are off to solid career starts, albeit it through feasting on the weak TC opposition.

Retirements: Six LHs hung up the gloves during the year..

Jimmy Hanna (USA) 1923-37 20-22-1 (13) No Titles Highest Rank: 33
George Manley (USA) 1921-37 33-25 (16) USBA Champ Highest Rank: 1
George Nichols (USA) 1921-37 31-23-9 (9) No Titles Highest Rank: 14
Paul Berlenbach (USA) 1923-37 33-20-2 (24) USBA Champ Highest Rank: 6
Osk Till (USA) 1924-37 34-22-2 (15) No Titles Highest Rank: 29
Willard Dix (USA) 1924-37 24-19-2 (16) No Titles Highest Rank: 35

Looking Ahead: Rosenbloom, Tiger Jack Fox and Lewis are the class of this division right now, and it can be expected that they might trade the title back and forth among them. Belanger and Olin are a cut below, but could possibly contend on a given night. Billy Conn and Gus Lesnevich can be expected to step up and become future titleholders, joining the ranks of the elite LHs, which seem to be in for a period of quality among current and future prospects, which guys like Archie Moore, Eddie Booker and Lloyd Marshall waiting in the wings. Not much on the horizon in the way of newcomers for 1938, however, as Jack Coggins is slated to be the only new addition in the coming year.

[JCWeb]

MW Title Bouts

WBA: Ken Overlin started the year with the belt, defended once versus Ron Richards (UD 15), but then was dethroned by Holman Williams (TKO 13). Williams then went on to retain the title in his first defense, knocking out ex-Champ Mickey Walker (KO 5).

NABF: Three more successful defenses for Freddie Steele, who continued a deep run with this belt. His 1937 victims: Lou Brouillard (UD 12), Teddy Yarosz (UTD 12) and Solly Krieger (TKO 1).

USBA: Holman Williams began 1937 with this belt and, after defending once, versus Young Terry (KO 5), he vacated the title after moving up to win the WBA title. Tait Littman defeated Gorilla Jones (DQ 10) for the vacant belt.

CBU: Two title bouts, and the belt changed hands twice. Ron Richards defeated Frank Battaglia (TKO 1) to win the title, then Lou Brouillard defeated Richards (UD 12) to hold the title headed into 1938.

GBU: Jack McAvoy retained the title, but he has made no defenses since 1935.

EBU: McAvoy also begain the year with this title, and defended it versus challenges from Erich Seeling (UD 12) and Marcel Thil (KO 5). But, in December, Eduoard Tenet took the title from McAvouy (UD 12).

OPBF: Ambrose Palmer defended the title once, defeated Fred Henneberry (UD 12).

LABF: Antonio Fernandez challenged and defeated Kid Tunero (TKO 12) to win this title.

MW Division Profile

Total: 139 RL: 78 TC: 61

RL by Career Stage:
End - 4
Post - 21
Prime - 34
Pre - 11
Beginning - 8 (5 New)

Rated: 63
800+: 25
500+: 41
200+ : 61

Jan 1938 Rankings (Perf Points and Changes from Jan. 1937 in Parens):

Champ: Holman Williams 26-2 (18) (1338) (+4)
1. Freddie Steele 40-6-1 (26) (1454) (NC) (NABF)
2. Mickey Walker 59-10-2 (43) (1164) (+1)
3. Ambrose Palmer 30-10-1 (17) (1143) (+5) (OPBF)
4. Johnny Romero 34-11 (21) (1135) (+1)
5. Lou Brouillard 28-8-2 (13) (1107) (+6) (CBU)
6. Tony Zale 19-2 (15) (1063) (+19)
7. Ken Overlih 31-3-4 (12) (1062) (-7)
8. Teddy Yarosz 30-10-2 (11) (1007) (-1)
9. Ron Richards 31-9-2 (23) (997) (NC)
10. Jack McVey 43-24-2 (21) (978) (NC)

Others: 11. Edouard Tenet 37-19-7 (9) (969) (+18) (EBU)
12. Jock McAvoy 30-11-4 (21) (968) (NC) (GBU)
14. Tait Littman 28-8-2 (18) (915) (+2) (USBA)
24. Antonio Fernandez 25-10-2 (12) (+11) (LABF)

Comments: Of those listed, three – Walker, Palmer and Littman – will be at Post, one (McVey) is at End, the rest still at Prime headed into 1938 action. Williams was 4-0 for the year, all in title bouts, but #1 contender, veteran Freddie Steele, has a higher PP total, having racked up three straight wins after falling short in his WBA title try when Overlin held the WBA belt. Walker finished the year with two wins, a draw and a loss in the title bout. The wins came at the expense of Vince Dundee (a MD) and Gorilla Jones (a SD). Aussie Ambrose Palmer captured the OPBF title, then took a UD over Ara, a MD versus Fernandez, but was held to a draw by Kid Tunero. Romero only fought twice in 1937, finishing Vince Dundee inside the first round but losing a UD to Overlin. Brouillard, who was 3-1 for the year, went 1-1 in title bouts, plus KO wins versus Eddie Risko and McVey. Zale shot into the top 10 with a MD over ex-Champ Overlin, having bounced back with three straight wins after suffering his second career loss to Solly Krieger. Overlin dropped after losing the title and to Zale, his only success the UD win over Romero. Yarosz, now entrenched as top 10 contender, defeated Krieger (UD) but progress was slowed by losses to Vince Dundee and Steele (for the NABF belt). Ron Richards, the second Aussie in the top 10, suffered two losses in title bouts but a UD 10 win over Young Terry kept him among the top contenders. Rounding out the top 10 is aging veteran Jack McVey, who went 2-2 for the year, beating Battaglia (UD) and Krieger (KO) but suffering a TKO loss to Brouillard in his most recent outing. The new EBU Champion, Tenet, went 4-1 for the year, his only loss coming in a UD to Marcel Cerdan. McAvoy was 2-1 for the 1937 campaign, all in CBU title bouts. Littman took the USBA belt via a DQ; his only other 1937 bout was a UD loss to Young Stuhley. Fernandez, the new LABF Champion, had a loss to Palmer before besting Tunero for the belt later in the year. Checking in at #13 is Solly Krieger, who was very active during the year, appearing in six bouts, winning three, impressing with a SD win over Vince Dundee and a TKO over Zale. Unbeaten prospect Marcel Cerdan, the “Casablanca Clouter,” battled to a draw with Walker and added wins over Tenet (UD), Len Johnson and Tozzo (both KO wins) to end the year at 18-0-1 (15), good for 16^th spot. One spot below, now 19-2, is Freddie Apostoli, who went 4-0 for the year, KO-ing Jeby and Hostak, and decisioning Vince Dundee and Zachow. Having a bad year and dropping out of the top 10 were Vince Dundee, down 16 spots to #18, losing his last three after early season wins over Thil and Yarosz; and Kid Tunero, who slid 13 spots to #19, , who was winless during the year, losing the LABF title, managing only a draw with Palmer. Top newcomer to the rankings is Aaron Wade, still unbeaten at 17-0 (11), good for 34^th spot,with wins over Glen Lee (TKO), Willie Feldman and Zachow (the latter both UD wins). Wicky Harkins, #45, now 13-2 (7); and Ossie Stewart, #46, now 12-2-2 (11), barely make the top 50.

Prospects: Coley Welch and Ralph DeJohn have compiled identical 10-0-1 records, Welch with eight KO wins compared to six for DeJohn. DeJohn added a UD win over Eddie Peirce to his other wins over TC opposition; Welch was held to a draw by Young Firpo when stepping up to take on RL opposition. Top prospect is Charley Burley, a perfect 9-0 (9) after his first nine outings. Others who remain unbeaten after facing TC opposition include Steve Mamakos, 6-0 (4); George Henry, 4-0 (1); George Abrams, 3-0 (1); Dick Turpin, 2-0 (1).

Retirements: Seven retirements from the MW ranks in 1937.

Billy Bird (UK) 1920-37 36-24-5 (10) CBU Champ Highest Rank: 9
Harry Smith (USA) 1928-37 26-13-1 (16) No Titles Highest Rank: 11
Len Johnson (UK) 1921-37 32-25-4 (17) CBU, EBU, GBU Champ Highest Rank: 2
Enzo Fiermonte (ITA) 1925-37 31-17-2 (11) EBU Champ Highest Rank: 1
Allentown Joe Gans (USA) 1918-37 43-24-3 (23) No Titles Highest Rank: 12
Chick Devlin (USA) 1927-37 22-17-3 (6) No Titles Highest Rank: 19
Paul Pirrone (USA) 1928-37 20-12-3 (14) No Titles Highest Rank: 40

Looking Ahead: Freddie Steele, the #1 contender once again but now with a higher PP total, is still hopeful of breaking through and capturing the WBA MW title. Mickey Walker, after a final valiant effort, appears to be done. Younger guys like Zale, Cerdan, Apostoli and eventually Burley are in position to challenge in the future, filling the gaps as older fighters retire. Billy Soose will lead the five newcomers to the ranks in 1938.

[JCWeb]

WW Title Bouts

WBA: Three title bouts producing three new Champions. First, Jack Carroll dethroned Ruby Goldstein (TKO 8), then Cleto Locatelli defeated Carroll (SD 15). Finally, Vittorio Venturi ousted Locatelli (MD 15).

NABF: The NABF title began the year as vacant, after Ruby Goldstein had moved up to claim the WBA belt. In a matchup for the vacant belt, Eddie Dolan and Fritzie Zivic battled to a draw (D 12). A new title bout was ordered, and this time it was King Tut who captured the title, defeating Baby Joe Gans (UD 12). Andy Callahan then downed Tut (SD 12) to claim the belt, and Callahan defended it once, against Wildcat O’Connor (UD 12). Finally, in the fifth title bout of the year, Barney Ross defeated Callahan (UD 12) to hold the title into 1938.

USBA: Eddie Dolan began the year with this title, and successfully defended it by defeating Paul Junior (UD 12). Then, Henry Armstrong moved up in weight class and took the title from Dolan (UD 12). Later in the year, Armstrong turned aside the challenge of Young Corbett III (KO 9) to carry the belt into the new year.

CBU: No title defenses, and the belt remains with Jack Carroll. (Carroll was not forced to vacate the title during his brief reign as WBA Champion.)

GBU: Ernie Roderick retains this title, but he has made no defenses since 1935.

EBU: Cleto Locatelli started 1937 with this title, and retained it in a challenge from Bep Van Klaveren (D 12). Locatelli then vacated the title after winning the WBA belt. In a matchup for the vacant title, Vittorio Venturi defeated Saviero Turiello (UD 12). Headed into 1938, the title was vacant once again after Venturi captured the WBA title.

OPBF: Jack Carroll defended the title, defeating Irineo Flores (UD 12) but then vacated it after winning the WBA title. Irineo Flores defeated Jack McNamee for the vacant belt (TKO 4) and then defeated Carroll (TKO 9) who attempted to regain the title.

LABF: Cocoa Kid retained this title for another year, but made no defenses during 1937.

WW Division Profile

Total: 121 RL: 80 TC: 41

RL by Career Stage:
End - 7
Post - 20
Prime - 31
Pre - 16
Beginning - 6 (5 New)

Rated: 61
800+: 22
500+: 41
200+ : 57

Jan 1938 Rankings (Perf Points and Changes from Jan. 1937 in Parens):

Champ: Vittorio Venturi 41-12-7 (11) (1175) (+20)
1. Cocoa Kid 31-4-2 (11) (1452) (+7) (LABF)
2. Jimmy McLarnin 49-8-1 (24) (1451) (-1)
3. Barney Ross 32-7-2 (11) (1386) (-1) (NABF)
4. Ruby Goldstein 39-11-4 (24) (1305) (-4)
5. Henry Armstrong 26-2-2 (21) (1303) (new) (USBA)
6. Young Corbett III 52-14-5 (12) (1276) (NC)
7. Eddie Dolan 24-9-3 (9) (1215) (-2)
8. Cleto Locatelli 35-11-4 (11) (1174) (-5)
9. Irineo Flores 46-22-2 (23) (1088) (+3) (OPBF)
10. Jack Carroll 38-17-5 (14) (1087) (-3) (CBU)

Others: 21. Ernie Roderick 18-7-3 (6) (822) (+19) (GBU)

Comments: Of those listed, no fewer than six (McLarnin, Ross, Goldstein, Corbett, Flores and Carroll) will be at Pre-Prime for 1938; the rest will still be at Prime. Venturi became the unlikely Champion, dethroning Locatelli, despite having a lower PP total than the top seven contenders. The Italian rebounded after an early season loss to German Gustav Eder, reeling off three straight wins,a UD over the lowly-ranked Michele Palermo followed by the EBU and WBA title wins. Kid, who has the highest PP total, has won his last eight, an winning streak that goes back two and a half years to mid-1935; in 1937, he impressed with wins over Ross (MD), Fritzie Zivic (UD) and McLarnin (another MD). McLarnin went 2-2 for the year, the two losses coming to Kid and Locatelli, with wins versus Flores (UD) and Wildcat O’Connor (TKO). Ross suffered the early season loss to Kid but rebounded with a KO of Armstrong and a UD over Callahan. Goldstein recovered from his WBA title loss to manage a draw with Eder. Armstrong moved up from LW to win two USBA WW title bouts after being handed his first KO loss by Ross. Corbett recorded three straight UD wins over Zivic, Vaccarelli and Callahan, but then was stopped by Armstrong in the USBA title clash. Dolan had four 1937 outings, drawing with Locatelli and then recording a win, a draw and a loss in three title bouts. Locatelli managed a UD over McLarnin and managed to capture the WBA title before the surprising loss to Venturi; he ended the year with two wins, two draws and the one loss. Flores went 2-1 in OPBF title bouts, then loss a non-title bout decision to McLarnin. Carroll dropped to the #10 spot after going 2-2 for the year, all in title bouts. Just missing out on the top 10 is Andy Callahan, who had a busy 1937, going 3-2 in five outings, 2-1 in title contests, with a UD loss to Corbett and a MD over Baby Joe Gans to complete his 1937 campaign. German Gustave Eder got back on track, ending the year at #12 with a UD over Venturi and a DQ win over Bep Van Klaveren; he also managed a draw with ex-Champ Goldstein. King Tut dropped four spots to #14, after going 2-2 for the year, including a UD loss to Fritzie Zivic. Izzy Jannazzo, now 22-2 (13), reeled off four wins to go with a DQ loss, including a UD over aging veteran Joe Dundee. Dundee slid 14 spots to #18, losing all three of his 1937 bouts. Roderick, despite no title bouts, improved his position with wins over Baby Joe Gans (TKO) and Chuck Woods (SD). Jimmy Garrison suffered his first career setback to end the year at #23, ending his Pre-Prime career at 19-1 (2),the one loss coming at the hands of Jannazzo. The biggest casualty from last year’s top 10 was Baby Joe Gans, who fell 20 spots all the way to #29, after going 0-4 for the year. Only two newcomers to thr ranks: Georgie Crouch, now 13-2 (10), at #45, with wins over Marty Goldman (UD) and Clyde Hull (TKO), coupled with his first losses to Tippy Larkin (a MD) and fellow prospect Alan Westbury (a UD); and Canada’s Maxie Berger, #50 with a 13-2 (4) record, his progress halted by a DQ loss to Leonard Del Genio.

Prospects: Aussie Alan Westbury won four more bouts during the year to push his career totals to 13-1 (7), including a pair of UD wins over Andre Jesserun plus a UD over Crouch in his most recent outing; the only loss was earlier, in an eight-rounder, to Jesserun. Tommy Cross struggled once beyond the comfortable confines of TC opposition, dropping a TKO to Del Genio, checking in at 11-2-1 (4). Jesserun’s only losses were to Westbury, leaving him at 11-2 (6). Ralph “the Ripper” Zannelli topped off a 12-0 career start with a UD win over Harry Baron, but then suffered a TKO loss to JWW Tippy Larkin. Larkin ended the year with a perfect 12-0 (9), his two non-TC victims were Zannelli and Crouch. Mike Kaplan ended the year at 10-1 (3), unbeaten for the year after an early career blemish, a TKO loss to Tony Marteliano. Canadian Sammy Luftspring maintained a perfect 10-0 (10) career record, all versus TC opposition. Other WW prospects and their records at this point: Sten Suvio, 9-0 (7); Tony Marteliano, 8-1 (4); Flashy Sebastian, 8-1 (3); Jackie Wilson, 8-0 (8); Omar Kouidri, 6-0 (3); Johnny Barbara, 5-0 (1); and Vic Dellicurti, 4-0 (3).

Retirements: Six WWs hung up the gloves in 1937.

Canada Lee (USA) 1926-37 28-21-1 (13) No Titles Highest Rank: 24
Clyde Hull (USA) 1925-37 25-20-2 (17) No Titles Highest Rank: 42
Manuel Quintero (CUB) 1924-37 32-18-7 (13) No Titles Highest Rank: 9
Jackie Fields (USA) 1925-37 31-10-5 (15) NABF, USBA Champ Highest Rank: 7
Marty Goldman (USA) 1928-37 19-13-6 (11) No Titles Highest Rank: 29
Pete Latzo (USA) 1919-37 41-26-5 (13) NABF, USBA Champ Highest Rank: 3

Add to this list two retirements from the now defunct JWW ranks.

Harry Wallach (USA) 1924-37 26-26-2 (13) USBA Champ Highest Rank: 3
Spug Myers (USA) 1919-37 37-30-5 (19) USBA Champ Highest Rank: 1

Looking Ahead: Lots of volatility at the top of the division, and no one excepts Venturi to break through with a long title reign. Henry Armstrong, should he be able to land a title shot, appears to have the best chance of keeping the crown for an extended period of time, but right now Armstrong seems determined to win as many titles in as many divisions as possible. With over half the top 10 past their prime, look for a major changing of the guard at the upper echelons of the WW ranks over the next few years. Marty Servo appears to be the best of a solid crop of newcomers being added to the WW ranks in 1938.

[JCWeb]

LW Title Bouts

WBA: Tony Canzoneri continued his reign as WBA Champion, making three more defenses in 1937, defeating Jack Portney (UD 15), Tony Chavez (UD 15) and Jack Kid Berg (TKO 15).

NABF: The NABF title began the year in the hands of Jack Portney. Portney then defended and lost the title belt to Frankie Klick (UD 12). Klick then turned aside a challenge from Tony Chavez (SD 12) and thus carries the title belt into the new year.

USBA: Henry Armstrong moved up from FW to claim this belt, dethroning Lew Kirsch (UD 12). However, later in the year, with Armstrong focusing on the WW division, where he won the WW belt, the USBA stripped Armstrong of the title, implementing a rule that the same boxer could not hold simultaneous USBA titles in two different weight classes at the same time. Thus, the belt is vacant headed into 1938.

CBU: Billy Townsend began the year with this title, but he lost it to Laurie Stevens (TKO 5). To date, Stevens had made one successful defense, versus Jack Kid Berg (D 12), and he carries the belt into 1938.

GBU: Harry Mizler took the title from Harry Mason (UD 12) and then defeated Mason in a rematch (also UD 12).

EBU: Jack Kid Berg dropped down from JWW and successfully challenged Aldo Spoldi to capture this title (UD 12). He won a return match versus Spoldi (UD 12) and retained the belt into 1938.

OPBF: Inactive for this division.

LABF: The LABF broadened its horizon to include Hispanic-American fighters, and two crashed through to claim titles in this division. First was Chino Alvarez, who dethroned Emory Cabana (UD 12). Then, Tony Chavez ousted Alvarez (UD 12) and then defended once, versus ex-Champ Cabana (UD 12).

LW Division Profile

Total: 142 RL: 89 TC: 53

RL by Career Stage:
End - 9
Post - 24
Prime - 32
Pre - 10
Beginning - 14 (6 New)

Rated: 66
800+: 24
500+: 40
200+ : 61

Jan 1938 Rankings (Perf Points and Changes from Jan. 1937 in Parens):

Champ: Tony Canzoneri 45-4-3 (17) (2019) (NC)
1. Cecil Payne 38-9-4 (8) (1119) (+3)
2. Frankie Klick 35-15-5 (13) (1098) (+13) (NABF)
3. Tony Chavez 23-5-1 (10) (1097) (NC) (LABF)
4. Lou Ambers 24-1 (17) (1089) (+16)
5. Tod Morgan 48-16-5 (13) (1088) (+2)
6. Jack Kid Berg 35-13-5 (14) (1086) (new) (EBU)
7. Benny Bass 48-22-5 (16) (1083) (+5)
8. Wesley Ramey 26-7-5 (10) (1079) (+9)
9. Aldo Spoldi 29-5-3 (13) (1065) (-4)
10. Ray Miller 42-15-2 (19) (1055) (-4)

Others: 22. Laurie Stevens 19-3-1 (14) (803) (+2) (CBU)
29. Harry Mizler 19-6-3 (5) (622) (+14) (GBU)

Comments: All at Prime except for Payne, Morgan, Bass and Miller, who will be at Post starting 1938. Canzoneri continued rolling along, with three more wins to extend his unbeaten string to eight years (almost), crossing the 2000 Perf Point total as well. Big gap to #1 contender Payne, who went 1-1 for the year, bouncing back with a UD win over Lew Kirsch after an early season loss to Sammy Fuller. New NABF Champ Frankie Klick moved up after an early year loss to Ambers, defeating Suarez and then two title bout wins over Portney and Chavez. Chavez went 2-2 for the year, all in title bouts. Ambers leapt into the top five, riding a five-bout winning streak including going 4-0 for the year, with TKO wins over Klick and Morgan, and a pair of UD wins versus Justo Suarez and Chino Alvarez; his only career loss thus far was via TKO to Stevens in 1936. Long-time JLW Champion Tod Morgan was active, making five appearances during 1938, suffering a TKO loss to Ambers in his most recent outing, after wins over Fuller (TKO) and Bass (SD), plus a pair of draws with Miller and Cabana. New to the rankings was long-time JWW Champ Jack Kid Berg, who also had five 1937 bouts, four for titles, plus a UD over Portney, ending up 3-1-1 for the year. Bass had a 3-1 1937 campaign, his only loss coming via a SD to Morgan; he recorded stoppage wins over Miller and Loayza, but struggled to a MD win over Mizler. Ramey had a perfect 4-0 mark after losing three in a row in 1936, regaining top 10 status with recent wins over Glick (SD) and Kirsch (UD). Spoldi suffered two losses in EBU title bouts, but managed three non-title wins over Mizler (UD), Loayza (MD) and Stevens (TKO) that enabled him to maintain a top 10 ranking. Rounding out the top 10 is Ray Miller, who rebounded with a KO win over Roger Bernard to salvage a difficult year. Lots of turnover, with five dropouts from the 1937 list: Sammy Fuller, down 1 to #11, who was 21- for the year but slipped with a recent TKO loss to Morgan; Jack Portney, -10 to #12, who lost all three of his 1937 bouts; , going 3-2 in five outings, 2-1 in title contests; Justo Suarez, -6 to #14, who had only one win (over Canadian Billy Townsend) versus two losses (to Ambers and Klick) during the year; Emory Cabana, former LABF titleholder who dropped all of 15 spots to #16, with three losses and a draw during 1937; and Stanislaus Loayza, down nine spots to #18 after going 0-3 for the year. Chino Alvarez ended the year at #13, dropping a decision to Ambers after an earlier KO win over Cabana. Canadian Dave Castilloux, now 19-1-2 (7), checks in at #15, with wins over Townsend and Glick and a draw with Bernard among his quality results. Stevens, the CUB titleholder, had an eight-bout winning streak snapped by a draw with Berg for the title, followed by a TKO loss to Spoldi. Mizler had an active year, a total of five bouts, going 3-2; the two losses were a UD to Spoldi and a MD loss to Bass. Top newcomers to the list, after Berg at the #6 spot, are Bernie Friedkin, whose 15-0-1 (9) career start landed him at #28 (including wins over Pacho and Nebo, the one draw coming against Sammy Angott); and Angott, at #46 with a 12-2-1 (8) mark, who took a TKO over Goodman after earlier career losses to Jenkins and Quarles stalled his progress.

Prospects: The “Sweetwater Swatter,” Lew Jenkins, tops the list of prospects once again, having added wins over Joe Guerrero (KO) and Joey Fontana (UD) to end the year at 14-0 (11). Fontana’s two career losses to Jenkins and Friedkin (a TKO) left him at 10-2-1 (4). Pete Lello remained a perfect 12-0 (12), all versus TCs, while Brit Eric Boon, now 12-0 (11), boasted a TKO win over the Dane, Hirsch Demsitz. Luther White, now 11-1 (7), suffered his first career setback, a UD loss to Juan Zurita. The rest of the group of prospects has, with a few blemishes, built records based on weak TC opposition: i.e., George Zengaras, 10-0-1 (6); Billy Marquart, 7-1 (3); James Tygh, 6-0-1 (5); George Cisneros, 4-0 (3); George Latka, 4-0 (3); Willie Joyce, 3-0 (2); Julie Kogon, 3-0 (1); Al Davis, 2-0 (2); Lenny Mancini, 1-0-1 – tough start for the original “Boom Boom” – and, Allie Stolz, 1-0 (1).

Retirements: Only two retirements from the LW ranks, but they include a former Champion.

Benny Valgar (FRA) 1916-37 49-27-4 (13) WBA Champion 1927-28
Joey Goodman (USA) 1925-37 26-19-8 (4) No Titles Highest Rank: 43

Looking Ahead: A big gap between Canzoneri and everyone else, but the big question is whether Canzoneri will seek out more competition, in the form of a big money match with Hank Armstrong. Ambers appears to be the best of the new arrivals, look for his connections to seek a title shot some time in the near future. Bob Montgomery tops a solid crop of six newcomers to the division for 1938.

[JCWeb]

FW Title Bouts

WBA: Henry Armstrong, who began the year with the title, was forced to vacate after moving up to try his luck at higher weight classes. In a match for the vacant title, Kid Chocolate defeated Petey Sarron (UD 15). Chocolate defended once, versus Chalky Wright (TKO 9), but then lost the title to Baby Arizmendi (MD 15).

NABF: Baby Arizmendi started the year with this title and made three successful defenses: Petey Hayes (UD 12), Frankie Covelli (UD 12) and Freddie Miller (MD 12). Arizmendi then relinquished the belt after winning the WBA title.

USBA: Three title bouts and the belt changed hands three times. First, Petey Sarron dethroned Mike Belloise (UD 12). Then, Frankie Covelli ousted Sarron (SD 12). Finally, Battling Battalino took the title from Covelli (MD 12).

CBU: One title defense, with Pete DeGrasse retained the belt, stopping Johnny McGrory (TKO 4).

GBU: Dave Crowley took the title from Jim Kelly (TKO 8), regaining the belt.

EBU: Maurice Holtzer began the year with the EBU title, and he defended twice, beating Dave Crowley (TKO 10) and Nel Tarleton (UD 12).

OPBF: First title action in three years, and Tsuneo Horiguchi took the title from Merv Blandon (TKO 10).

LABF: Kid Chocolate vacated this title after winning the WBA belt. Baby Arizmendi won the vacant belt, defeating Filio Julian Echevarria (DQ 7). With Arizmendi moving up to take the WBA title, this title is vacant once again.

FW Division Profile

Total: 113 RL: 69 TC: 44

RL by Career Stage:
End - 9
Post - 11
Prime - 32
Pre - 10
Beginning - 7 (4 New)

Rated: 56
800+: 11
500+: 31
200+ : 54

Jan 1938 Rankings (Perf Points and Changes from Jan. 1937 in Parens):

Champ: Baby Arizmendi 34-7-2 (10) (1254) (+3)
1. Kid Chocolate 35-6-5 (16) (1178) (NC)
2. Battling Battalino 38-10 (13) (1091) (+6) (USBA)
3. Maurice Holtzer 37-14-3 (13) (1086) (+8) (EBU)
4. Pete DeGrasse 33-13-2 (9) (1060) (-2) (CBU)
5. Freddie Miller 32-9-1 (14) (1004) (+4)
6. Frankie Covelli 27-9-6 (7) (953) (+1)
7. Chalky Wright 28-9-4 (14) (951) (-2)
8. Filio Julian Echevarria 29-11-4 (12) (939) (-2)
9. Petey Sarron 32-15-6 (8) (924) (+1)
10. Jimmy Perrin 19-3-1 (8) (806) (+8)

Others: 13. Tsuneo Horiguchi 20-2 (14) (758) (+15) (OPBF)
16. Dave Crowley 24-16-1 (13) (731) (+5) (GBU)

Comments: All at Prime except for Kid Chocolate, who will hit Post with his next bout in 1938. Arizmendi moved up to claim the title, and he went 5-0 for the year, all in title bouts, running his winning streak (going back to 1936) to seven. Chocolate had a seven-bout winning streak snapped with the title loss to Arizmendi; he ended his 1937 campaign at 3-1, also all in title bouts. Battalino went 3-0 for the year, stopping Perrin (TKO) and decisioning Tarleton, in addition to his USBA title win. Holtzer has now won his last five, winning all four of his 1937 outings, which included a DQ over DeGrasse and a SD versus Echevarria in addition to his EBU title defenses. DeGrasse was 2-1 for the year, struggling to a SD over Everett Rightmire after suffering the loss to Holtzer. Miller went 3-1 in his 1937 campaign, with the only loss coming in the title bout with Arizmendi; his best wins were a SD over Mike Belloise and a UD over Enrique Chafferdet, two fringe contenders. Covelli lost both title bouts, going 2-2 for the year, but he did manage a UD win over veteran Andy Martin. Chalky Wright made just two 1937 appearances, taking a UTD over the lightly-regarded Ginger Foran but faltering in his WBA title shot. Echevarria suffered a DQ loss to Arizmendi but had wins over Chick Suggs (UD) and Simon Chavez (SD) before ending the year with a narrow loss to Holtzer. Sarron was also 2-2 in 1937, going 1-2 in title bouts but rebounding with a UD over Perrin. Perrin moved into the top 10 with a UD win over Belloise, going 3-2 for the year (losses to Battalino and Sarron, a pair of UD wins over Leo Rodak and Tommy Paul. Dropping out of the top group from last year were Henry Armstrong, who move up to pursue titles in other weight classes, and the aforementioned Tommy Paul, who dropped 10 spots to #14, after losses to Simon Chavez (SD) and newly-crowned OPBF kingpin, Horiguchi (UD). Chavez just missed the top group, ending the year at #11 after wins over Suggs (via a DQ) and Paul. Horiguchi won all four of his 1937 encounters and is now riding a six-bout win streak, with the title win and the UD over Paul following early season success in the form of KO wins over Al Reid and Filipine veteran Ignacio Fernandez. Crowley moved up by virtue of his successful re-capture of the GBU title, in addition to a TKO over Ginger Foran in a non-title affair. Top newcomer to the list is #21 Tony Dupre, now 16-1-2 (11), who suffered his first career loss to Harold “Snooks” Lacey but impressed with a UD win over Henry Falegano and stoppages of ex-Champ Jose Lombardo and fellow prospect Frank Parkes. Parkes, who had reeled off 17 straight wins before his first career loss to Dupre, ended up at #26, with an excellent 17-1 (12) career start; his non-TC wins came versus aging British veterans Seamon Tommy Watson and Al Foreman. Lacey slipped to #39 after suffering a UD loss to Joey Archibald but recovered somewhat with a SD win over Canadian Jack Armstrong; his year-end career mark is 13-1-2 (1).

Prospects: Still unbeaten, with 13 KO wins in 13 starts, is Harold Hoshino, who is yet to be tested beyond the friendly waters of TC opposition. Johnny Marceline, who suffered his initial loss – a SD at the hands of Canada’s Jack Armstrong – checks in at 11-1 (4). Others have been feasting off TC oppostion, namely, Petey Scalzo, 9-0 (7); Eddie Miller, 9-0 (6); and Jackie Callura, 7-0 (4). Getting off to a good start in their careers are Albert Mancini, 4-0 (3); Sal Bartolo, 4-0 (1); and Richie Lemos, 3-0 (2).

Retirements: Four FW retirements during the year, including a former WBA Champion.

Henry Falegano (USA) 1922-37 33-23-2 (12) No Titles Highest Rank: 32
Al Foreman (UK) 1920-37 36-28-2 (25) CBU, GBU, EBU Champion Highest Rank: 5
Jose Lombadro (PAN) 1921-37 36-22-7 (22) WBA Champion 1929 Highest Rank: 2
Ignacio Fernandez (PHI) 1925-37 32-17-5 (14) OPBF Champion Highest Rank: 18

Looking Ahead: Armstrong’s move up in weight opened up opportunities, with Latin fighters like Arizmendi and Chocolate leading the way. With Kid Chocolate hitting Post-Prime in 1938, it remains to be seen if any strong contenders to Arizmendi’s WBA title will emerge. Perrin, who moved into the top 10, seemed to struggle when matched with the division’s elite. As the PP numbers indicate, this division seems a little thin in terms of top talent. New OPBF Champ Horiguchi seems set to crack the top 10. Among the prospects, Hoshino – who has yet to be tested – may be best. None of the four newcomers to the FW ranks in 1928 can be expected to emerge, as the highest rated among them is only a “5.”

[JCWeb]

BW Title Bouts

WBA: Midget Wolgast moved up from Flyweight and successfully challenged for the BW title, dethroning Pete Sanstol (UD 15). Johnny King challenged Wolgast and regained the title (TKO 13) then defended once, besting K. O. Morgan (KO 15).

NABF: Horace Gwynner kept the belt for another year but did not make any defenses. He will face a mandatory defense requirement early in 1938.

USBA: Lew Farber captured the title from Archie Bell (UD 12), then defended it against Pete Sanstol (D 12).

CBU: Horace Gwynne began the year with this title and defended once, beating Benny Sharkey (UD 12).

GBU: No title bouts. Johnny King vacated the title after re-capturing the WBA title. The belt remains vacant heading into 1938.

EBU: Dick Corbett began the year with this belt, but lost it to Baltazar Sangchili (UD 12). Sangchili’s first defense was a successful one, as he defeated Aurel Toma (UD 12).

OPBF: Little Pancho took this title from Young Tommy (UD 12), and he retained it with a stoppage of Chris Pineda (TKO 9).

LABF: Panama Al Brown captured this title from Sixto Escobar (DQ 10) and then won a rematch with Escobar (KO 12).

BW Division Profile

Total: 83 RL: 46 TC: 37

RL by Career Stage:
End - 5
Post - 7
Prime - 26
Pre - 6
Beginning - 2 (1 New)

Rated: 38
800+: 16
500+: 29
200+ : 37

Jan 1938 Rankings (Perf Points and Changes from Jan. 1937 in Parens):

Champ: Johnny King 43-5-1 (16) (1494) (+1)
1. Panama Al Brown 54-10-1 (20) (1492) (+1) (LABF)
2. Pete Sanstol 34-10-3 (9) (1322) (-2)
3.Speedy Dado 33-14-2 (14) (1295) (NC)
4. Sixto Escobar 26-6-1 (10) (1050) (+2)
5. Pablo Dano 32-9-5 (15) (1010) (NC)
6. Little Pancho 29-7-5 (8) (966) (+12) (OPBF)
7. Young Tommy 30-7-1 (13) (961) (+1)
8. Lew Farber 28-7-4 (12) (928) (+9) (USBA)
9. K. O. Morgan 26-9-5 (16) (921) (+2)
10. Raul Casanova 22-3-1 (14) (915) (+2)

Others: 12. Horace Gwynne 22-3 (13) (906) (-5) (NABF, CBU)
13. Baltazar Sangchili 31-8 (18) (874) (+8) (EBU)

Comments: All at Prime except for Young Tommy and Farber, both of whom will be at Post in 1938. King regained the WBA crown, recovering from an early season loss to Brown with a MD 10 win over Morgan, followed by two title bout wins, including a rematch with Morgan, to go 3-1 for his 1937 campaign. Brown, who has not lost in over three years, won all five of his 1937 outings, extending his unbeaten streak to 13 (12 wins and one draw); he defended the LABF belt in addition to UD wins over King, Dano, Sanstol and a UTD over Bobby Green, solidifying his position as #1 contender and, with King holding the belt, as the uncrowned Champion. Sanstol retains a high ranking despite losing the title and losing to Brown; his best result was a MD over aging ex-contender Bobby Leitham. Dado had a busy year, starting with a UD loss to Wolgast but then reeling off wins over Leitham and Young Tommy (both UD), Dano (TKO) and then Farber (UTD). Escobar made minimal progress, beating other Latino boxers like Casanova (MD) and Espinosa (UD) but coming in second best to Panama Al. Dano managed to retain his spot despite losses to Brown and Dado, with a UD win over Benny Sharkey. Pancho went 3-0 for the year, with UD wins over Teiken and Tommy, plus a TKO versus Chris Pineda; he has fashioned an impressive six-bout winning streak to move into the top 10. Tommy had an active year, going 3-2 overall, dropping a UD to Dado in addition to the OPBF title loss, but compensated with wins over lower-ranked fighters like an aging Archie Bell (UD) plus recent UD wins over Jo Teicken and Aussie Mickey Miller. Farber supplemented his two USBA title defenses with a UD win over ex-Champ Kid Francis, but further progress was halted when he lost a UTD to Dado. Morgan regain a top 10 spot despite two losses to King, with two wins over lower ranked guys (Francis and Tony Marino). Casanova became the first Mexican fighter to reach the top 10 in any division with wins over Miller and Leitham plus a draw with Espinosa and a close loss (via MD) to Escobar. Just missing the top group was an impressive Lou Salica, who went 4-0 for the year, improving to 22-3 (9), his best result coming in the form of a UD win over Horace Gwynne in a non-title bout. Gwynne, who retains both the NABF and CBU titles, had an indifferent year, dropping a decision to Salica after just one other bout (a CBU title defense). Sangchili, on the other hand, went 4-0 in 1937 to extend his winning streak to five with two title bout wins and a pair of UD wins over Italian fighters Francis and Bondavalli. Top 10 dropouts included Benny Sharkey, down nine spots to #14, with only one win during the year against the lightly-regarded Joseph Decico; ex-Champ Francis, down 7 to #16 after a 1-3 year (only win a KO over Bondavalli); and Archie Bell, -3 to #17 after a forgettable 0-3 record during the year. Only one newcomer to the ratings list: Horace Mann, now 14-0-1, who debuts at #24 with a draw versus Bondavalli in his most recent outing the only blemish after reeling off 14 straight wins (1937 non-TC victims included fringe contenders Georgie Pace, Ernie Maurer, Dynamite Murphy and fellow prospect Hermann Remscheid).

Prospects: Remscheid spoiled an unbeaten career start with recent losses to Mann (TKO) and Huerta Evans (UD) dropping him to 10-2-1 (6) overall. Tommy Forte, now 9-0 (7), has thrived against a steady diet of TC opposition. Ritchie Tanner recovered from an early setback to check in at 8-1 (6), all versus TC opposition. Still unbeaten are David Kui Kong Young, now a perfect 5-0 (5); ditto for Tony Olivera, 5-0 (5); and Benny Goldberg, 1-0 (1).

Retirements: Two retirements from the BW ranks during 1937.

Vic Foley (CAN) 1922-37 40-24-3 (10) CBU Champion Highest Rank: 6
John Yasui (USA) 1929-37 17-17-2 (11) No Titles Highest Rank: 36

Looking Ahead: With Midget Wolgast declining to persue the BW ranks, it looks like the key title bout that everyone is anticipating would be between two-time Champ King and ex-Champ Panama Al Brown, who has put together an impressive unbeaten streak but still awaits a WBA title shot. Filipino and Latino boxers are prominent among the ranks of top contenders, with guys like Escobar, Dano, Pancho and Casanova moving up the ranks. Lou Salica seems destined to also join the top 10 this year, as a changing of the guard and aging results in a turnover, with guys like Kid Francis, Bobby Green, and now Tommy and Farber fade away. Despite dropping out of the top group, Canada’s Horace Gwynne remains a top contender, as does the Spaniard, Baltazar Sangchili. No emerging contenders among the prospects, except perhaps Kui Kong Young and the only new addition in 1938, Manuel Ortiz.

[JCWeb]

FLY Title Bouts

WBA: No defenses in 1937 by Champion Midget Wolgast, who tried his luck in the BW division, where he briefly held the WBA title. He has stated his intentions to return to FLY, and therefore he retains the title headed into 1938.

NABF: Frankie Genaro retained this belt for another year but did not make any defenses. He will face a mandatory defense requirement early in 1938.

USBA: Ruby Bradley kept the belt and made one defense, versus Pinky Silverberg (TKO 4).

CBU: Jackie Brown retained this belt, but no defenses in 1937.

GBU: This belt, which had been also held by Brown, was vacated. Benny Lynch captured the vacant title by defeating Jimmy Gill (UD 12). He then defended successfully, stopping Tut Whalley (KO 3).

EBU: Unlike the other belts, this one saw three title bouts. Jackie Brown carried the title into the year and defended versus Eugene Huat (UD 12). Then, Istvan Enekes challenged and regained the title from Brown (SD 12), and later in the year, Enekes successfully defended the title, versus Benny Lynch (SD 12).

OPBF: No defenses, with Small Montana holding this belt for another year.

LABF: Inactive in this division.

FLY Division Profile

Total: 64 RL: 38 TC: 26

RL by Career Stage:
End - 4
Post - 7
Prime - 16
Pre - 7
Beginning - 4 (3 New)

Rated: 29
800+: 5
500+: 16
200+ : 29

Jan 1938 Rankings (Perf Points and Changes from Jan. 1937 in Parens):

Champ: Midget Wolgast 43-5-1 (18) (1457) (NC)
1. Istvan Enekes 29-4-1 (10) (1070) (NC) (EBU)
2. Jackie Brown 32-13-3 (11) (846) (+2) (CBU)
3. Frankie Genaro 47-17-6 (18) (845) (-1) (NABF)
4. Benny Lynch 26-6 (16) (838) (+2) (GBU)
5. Fortunato Ortega 22-5-4 (12) (767) (+2)
6. Ernst Weiss 20-3-1 (7) (752) (+6)
7. Ruby Bradley 33-16-7 (8) (746) (-4) (USBA)
8. Small Montana 20-6-3 (8) (718) (+7) (OPBF)
9. Fidel LaBarba 42-13-1 (10) (717) (-1)
10. Peter Kane 16-0 (10) (714) (new)

Comments: Lynch and Bradley join Genaro at Post in 1938, while LaBarba has hit End career stage, with Kane still at Pre – and the others are still at Prime. Wolgast absented himself from the division to take a foray into the BW ranks, where he went 2-1, having a 13-bout winning streak snapped with a TKO loss for the WBA BW title, and now he returns to Flyweight having managed to keep the WBA title even though inactive for a year. Enekes, who went 3-0 for the year, is now the #1 contender, registering a UD over Bradley in addition to the two EBU title wins. Brown had an up-and-down year, going 2-2, 1-1 in title bouts. He then suffered a TKO loss to Ortega before ending the year with a MD over Genaro to boost his stock in the rankings. Genaro also had a mixed year, with a win, a draw and a loss. The win was a MD over Ortega, the draw with Montana, then the loss to Brown. Lynch was 2-1, all in title bouts. Ortega bounced back from the MD loss to Genaro with a TKO over Brown, then battled to a draw with Bradley. Weiss zoomed up the list with a UD over Pladner, followed by a SD win versus Bradley. Then, he dropped a MD to Angelmann, but recovered with a SD over Huat. Bradley defended his USBA title but then went into a tailspin, losng to Weiss (SD), Enekes (UD) before the draw with Ortega that salvaged a subpar season. Montana scored two wins and a draw, drawing with Genaro and stopping an aging LaBarba via a KO. LaBarba had an active year, with five bouts, four wins over lower ranked guys like Stein, Young Perez and Anselm (all UD) and a TKO over Kid Socks, before the loss to Montana. Top newcomer Kane debuts at #10, having reeled off a UD over Newsboy Brown, a UTD versus Silverberg, a one-round KO over Paluso, topped off by a SD over Perez to elevate him to top 10 status. Ending up just one spot short was Jimmy Gill, whose best outing was a SD over Valentin Angelmann, who ends the year a spot lower at #12. Dropping out of the top 10 were Eugene Huat, down three to #13; Young Perez, 0-3 for the year and down nine to #14; and Harry Stein, dropping eight spots to #17 after going 1-3 in his 1937 campaign. Two other newcomers made it to the top 20: Rinty Monaghan, who dropped a decision to Joe Curran, registered UD wins over Urbinati and Anselm to end up at 16-2 (11), good for 18^th spot; and Enrico Urbinati, who ended the year at 13-2-1 (7), with an impressive KO over Paluso but lost to Monaghan.

Prospects: Englishman Pat Palmer suffered his first career losses, to Mickey McGuire and Urbinati, ending the year at 12-2 (9). A dozen TC victories and a UD over Pinky Silverberg left Jackie Jurich off to an impressive 13-0 (12) career start. Others have kept clean slates, albeit against easy TC opposition, are Little Dado, now 10-0 (8); Raoul DeGrysse, 5-0 (2); and Hans Schiffers, 3-0 (1).

Retirements: Three Flyweights hung up the gloves in 1937.

Phil Tobias (USA) 1926-37 21-18-1 (8) No Titles Highest Rank: 18
Emil Paluso (USA) 1922-37 34-28-3 (8) NABF Champ Highest Rank: 5
Kid Socks (UK) 1922-37 36-27-3 (9) CBU, GBU and EBU Champ Highest Rank: 5

Looking Ahead: Not a great year for the division, with Wolgast stepping up to BW and only six title bouts total across all the various title belts. Hopefully things will liven up in 1938 with an anticipated title matchup between Wolgast and Enekes, the top contender who has issed a long-standing challenge for the belt. Otherwise, with long-time contenders like Genaro, Bradley and LaBarba showing signs of aging, it appears to be time for changing of the guard among the top 10 contenders. Jurich and Little Dado appear to have the ability to crack this group, and two British fighters, Teddy Gardner and Jackie Paterson, head the group of newcomers to the Fly ranks for 1938.

[JCWeb]

1937 YEAR-END POUND-FOR-POUND RATINGS
(changes from last year in Parens)

1. Tony Canzoneri, LW (WBA Champion), 2019 (NC)
2. Joe Louis, HW (WBA Champion), 1649 (+1)
3. Max Schmeling, HW, 1528 (new)*
4. Maxie Rosenbloom, LH (WBA Champion), 1527 (+1)
5. Johnny King, BW (WBA Champion), 1494 (+3)
6. Panama Al Brown, BW (LABF Champion), 1492 (new)*
7. Midget Wolgast, FLY (WBA Champion), 1457 (-3)
8. Freddie Steele, MW (NABF Champion), 1454 (new)*
9. Cocoa Kid, WW (LABF Champion), 1452 (new)
10. Jimmy McLarnin, WW, 1451 (-8)

Dropouts from 1936:
Ruby Goldstein, WW (was #6)
Barney Ross, WW (was #7)
Pete Sanstol, BW (was #9)
Cleto Locatelli, WW (was #10)

* - Prior years in PFP top 10: Schmeling (1932-35); Brown (1928-29); Steele (1934)

Year-End Awards

Fighter of the Year: Tony Canzoneri, LW
Fight of Year: Baby Arizmendi MD 15 Kid Chocolate, WBA FW title bout, December 1937 (see Post #1162 for details)
Newcomer of the Year: Tony Zale, MW
Upset of the Year: Vittorio Venturi MD 15 Cleto Locatelli, WBA WW title bout, December 1937

Comments: Canzoneri wins fighter of the year for a second time after having compiled the longest consecutive unbeaten streak and having passed the 2000 Perf Pt total; he has also been among the top 10 PFP rankings for the longest consecutive period of time (going back six years) although Panama Al Brown (returning to the list for the first time since 1929) and Jimmy McLarnin (who initially appeared in the list in 1929) have been there longer.

[JCWeb]

ROLL OF CHAMPIONS

HW

WBA: Joe Louis (Apr. 1936) (6)
NABF: Max Baer (Nov. 1937) (0)
USBA: Art Lasky (Dec. 1936) (2)
CBU: Tommy Farr (Jan. 1937) (1)
GBU: Tommy Martin (Aug. 1936) (0)
EBU: Andre Lenglet (Jul. 1937) (0)
OPBF: Vacant
LABF: Jimmy Mendes (Nov. 1937) (0)

LH

WBA: Maxie Rosenbloom (Jan. 1937) (2)
NABF: John Henry Lewis (Nov. 1937) (0)
USBA: Tiger Jack Fox (Apr. 1937) (2)
CBU: Charley Belanger (Aug. 1937) (0)
GBU: Len Harvey (Jun. 1934) (0)
EBU: Gustave Roth (Nov. 1937) (0)

MW

WBA: Holman Williams (Jun. 1937) (1)
NABF: Freddie Steele (Jan. 1932) (17)
USBA: Tait Littman (Jul. 1937) (0)
CBU: Lou Brouillard (Nov. 1937) (0)
GBU: Jock McAvoy (Oct. 1930) (7)
EBU: Edouard Tenet (Dec. 1937) (0)
OPBF: Ambrose Palmer (Jun. 1934) (3)
LABF: Antonio Fernandez (Jun. 1937) (0)

WW

WBA: Vittorio Venturi (Nov. 1937) (0)
NABF: Barney Ross (Aug. 1937) (0)
USBA: Henry Armstrong (Oct. 1937) (1)
CBU: Jack Carroll (Nov. 1935) (1)
GBU: Ernie Roderick (May 1935) (0)
EBU: Vacant
OPBF: Irineo Flores (May 1937) (1)
LABF: Cocoa Kid (May 1935) (3)

LW

WBA: Tony Canzoneri (Mar. 1932) (21)
NABF: Frankie Klick (Oct. 1937) (1)
USBA: Vacant
CBU: Laurie Stevens (Jun. 1937) (1)
GBU: Harry Mizler (Feb. 1937) (1)
EBU: Jack Kid Berg (Jan. 1937) (1)
LABF: Tony Chavez (Mar. 1937) (1)

FW

WBA: Baby Arizmendi (Dec. 1937) (0)
NABF: Vacant
USBA: Battling Battalino (Dec. 1937) (0)
CBU: Pete DeGrasse (Jul. 1936) (2)
GBU: Dave Crowley (Aug. 1937) (0)
EBU: Maurice Holtzer (May 1936) (3)
OPBF: Tsuneo Horiguchi (Jul. 1937) (0)
LABF: Vacant

BW

WBA: Johnny King (Jun. 1937) (1)
NABF: Horace Gwynne (Jul. 1936) (0)
USBA: Lew Farber (May 1937) (1)
CBU: Horace Gwynne (Apr. 1936) (1)
GBU: Vacant
EBU: Baltazar Sangchili (Jun. 1937) (1)
OPBF: Little Pancho (Apr. 1937) (1)
LABF: Panama Al Brown (Nov. 1936) (1)

FLY

WBA: Midget Wolgast (May 1931) (16)
NABF: Frankie Genaro (Dec. 1934) (2)
USBA: Ruby Bradley (Jul. 1935) (2)
CBU: Jackie Brown (Sep. 1934) (0)
GBU: Benny Lynch (Apr. 1937) (1)
EBU: Istvan Enekes (Apr. 1937) (1)
OPBF: Small Montana (Jan. 1935) (1)

NOTE: Number of successful title defenses in parens.

Comments: Wolgast has the longest title reign as WBA Champion, but Canzoneri has the greatest number of defenses among current Champions. NABF MW Champion Freddie Steele and his GBU counterpart, Jock McAvoy, have been the only others to hold the same title for five years or more. Again, alot of turnover during the year, with the majority of titles changing hands in all divisions except Fly -- a total of 33 new titleholders (or 61%) compared to the prior year.

[JCWeb]

Pleased to report that fistic action for 1938 is underway!

Here is a summary of ring action from the first half of January 1938, covering a total of 53 bouts, including one WBA title bout.

Jan. 7, 1938: The year commences with a Friday night card at Buffalo. In the co-feature, two top 10 LHs square off as Gus Lesnevich faces former USBA LH Champion Battling Bozo. The future looks bright for Lesnevich while Bozo, now at Post-Prime, is on the downside of his career arc. Lesnevich moves inside to establish control in round three. He pulls ahead to a slight points lead and nurses his advantage throughout the rest of the bout. No cuts or knockdowns as Lesnevich takes a UD 10 (96-94, 97-93, 97-93) in a rather solid but unspectacular fashion. Post-fight records: 23-1-1 (14) for Lesnevich; 32-12-3 (12) for Bozo. In the main event, the USBA LW title vacated by Henry Armstrong is on the line, with Lou Ambers facing Wesley Ramey for the vacant belt. Halfway through the opening round, Ambers puts Ramey down with a big cross. In the second round, more trouble for Ramey in the form of a cut over his right eye. Despite the cut being re-opened twice, Ramey is able to last to the end, but Ambers manages to convert the early KD into a UD 12 win (115-113 on all cards) to win his first title of any kind. Post-fight, Ambers moves to 25-1 (17), making him a top contender for the WBA title; the loss drops Ramey to 26-8-5 (10) overall.

Jan. 8, 1938: To Europe for a card headlined by two EBU title bouts at the Sports Palace in Rome, Italy. In the first of these, the EBU BW title is on the line with the Spaniard, Baltazar Sangchili, making his third defense of that belt, facing ex-WBA Champ Kid Francis, whom Sangchili defeated in his run-up to the title in 1937. Early aggression by Sangchili pays off as he puts Francis on the defensive, landing repeatedly. By the end of round three, Francis is suffering from the effects of a rapidly swelling right eye. Francis looks to be a shadow of his former self and is unable to mount a rally or overcome Sangchili’s early lead. Dominant display by the Spaniard, who pitches a shutout in taking a UD 12 without losing a single round (120-108 on all three cards). Post-fight, Sangchili improves to 32-8 (18), including wins in his last six bouts. Francis, nearing the end of his long career, slips to 34-22-4 (20) with the loss. In the second co-feature, veteran HW Primo Carnera finally gets his first title shot, taking on Andre Lenglet for the latter’s EBU HW title. Carnera looks sharp early while Lenglet, now at Post-Prime, looks a bit sluggish, enabling the Italian fan favorite to dominate the action, building an early lead. In round six, Carnera puts Lenglet down for an eight-count with a big cross. A second KD follows a round later, as an overhand right finds the target. Lenglet arises at the count of seven, but Carnera’s killer instinct kicks in, and he is felled by a short, clean hook for knockdown three, and this time the Frenchman cannot beat the count. KO 8 for Carnera, who finally succeeds at capturing a title. Post-fight career totals: Carnera, 27-8-3 (21); Lenglet, 20-3 (10).

Jan. 8, 1938: An abbreviated card but a good crowd on hand for the headliner at the Stadium in Liverpool, to watch GBU FW Champ Dave Crowley challenge Maurice Holtzer for Holtzer’s EBU FW title belt. Holtzer, who has won his last five, pulls ahead when he drops Crowley with a cross to the head in round three. Crowley arises after taking an eight-count, and he manages to battle back and last the distance against the accomplished Frenchman. Holtzer manages to retain the belt via a MD 12 (115-113, 114-114, 117-110), with the two-point round based on the knockdown making the difference. Holtzer improves to 38-14-3 (13) with the win. Game effort from Crowley, who drops to 24-17-1 (13) with the loss.


Jan. 14, 1938: Next up is a card in the States at Miami. Featured is a USBA MW title clash, preceded by a HW bout between Roscoe Toles and “the Cleveland Rubber Man,” Johnny Risko. In a matchup of two boxers, Toles pulls ahead in a close match with a big round six. Risko gets more aggressive and rallies with a strong outing in round seven. The bout goes down to the wire and Toles takes the last two rounds to secure a UD 10 win (97-95, 96-95, 96-95) to run his career record to 25-4-3 (6) compared to a post-bout career mark of 37-16-5 (7) for Risko. In the main event, Tait Littman puts his USBA MW title on the line, facing challenger Johnny “Bandit” Romero. Romero takes advantage of the fact that Littman is at Post-Prime, catching his opponent with a big shot that puts Littman on the deck for a seven-count in the opening round, with Littman being saved by the bell. The end comes a couple of rounds later, as Romero puts together a series of damaging punches, causing both of Littman’s eyes to swell from the two-fisted attack. Eventually, the ref steps in to save Littman from further punishment, without much protest from Littman’s corner. TKO 3 for Romero, who becomes the new USBA MW Champion. Post-fight career marks: Romero, 35-11 (22); Littman, 28-9-2 (18).

Jan. 15, 1938: Big card at the Forum in Montreal. The co-feature matches the undefeated hot MW prospect, Marcel Cerdan, the “Casablanca Clouter,” with top 10 ranked Teddy Yarosz. Cerdan, the more aggressive of the two, takes charge with a big round two, and manages to retain a points lead until the seventh round, when he puts Yarosz down with a big shot and follows up by dominating the action until the ref steps in to save Yarosz from further punishment. The TKO 7 win means Cerdan wraps up the pre-Prime stage of his career with an excellent 19-01 (6) mark. Yarosz ends the bout at 30-11-2 (11). Then, in the feature, Canadian fan favorite Pete DeGrasse puts his Commonwealth FW title on the line, facing Merv “Darky” Blandon in his third title defense. DeGrasse completely outclasses his Aussie challenger, and by the halfway point, the challenger is suffering from a rapidly swelling left eye and a cut over his right eye. Blandon begins to tire early and is no match from the Canadian, who coasts to a UD 12 victory (120-108, 118-110, 120-108) in dominant fashion. Post-bout marks: DeGrasse, 34-13-2 (9); Blandon, 20-11 (15).

Jan. 15, 1938: Big card at Detroit’s Briggs Stadium, with a well-supported WBA title bout headlining the agenda. First, on the undercard, it is unbeaten young MW Charley Burley stepping up to face a TC in his first 10-round bout of his fledgling career. Burley takes one round to get comfortable, then goes to work in round two, landing repeatedly until the ref calls a halt. TKO 2 for Burley, running his record to a perfect 10-0 (10) – perhaps he will next step up the level of competition and face some non-TC opposition. Further along in the card, two unbeaten LH prospects face each other as Archie Moore takes on Eddie Booker. Moore looks sharp early, taking the opening round, but Booker rebounds and takes round two. In round three, Moore moves inside but leaves himself open for a wild, overhand right that finds the target for Booker. Archie drops like he has been shot and does not beat the count. KO 3 for Booker which has to be regarded as a mild upset. Career marks for the two thus far: Booker, 13-0 (10); Moore, 11-1 (10). In the co-feature, two top 20 WWs face each other, as ex-USBA titleholder Andy Callahan faces tough Fritzie Zivic, who is still looking for his first title belt. The action heats up at the end of the third round, when Callahan floors Zivic with a big shot; Fritzie bounces up at the count of three but is saved from further punishment by the bell. Round four, more trouble for Fritzie who suffers a split lip. Undeterred, Zivic bounces back to do some damage in round five, as a trace of swelling as well as a cut both appear under the right eye of Callahan. From here on, Callahan adopts a more cautions approach, allowing Zivic more freedom. No more knockdowns, although the two stage an all-out war in a busy round eight. The bout goes the distance, with the result – a majority draw (95-95, 95-95, 96-94 Callahan) a reasonable result. As a result, Callahan is 29-8-6 (10), compared to 22-5-3 (13) for Zivic. In the feature, Maxie Rosenbloom (still smarting over his loss to ex-WBA HW Champ Max Schmeling) returns to LH to defend his WBA LH title, facing CBU LH Champ Charley Belanger. The two met twice before, both in 1931, with Belanger taking a DQ win before being knocked out by Maxie in the rematch. This time, with a WBA title at stake, both men seem well prepared. Maxie starts well, and by the end of round two, there is a trace of swelling under the left eye of the challenger. Some good toe-to-toe action in round five sees both men landing some good shots, with some swelling beginning to appear under the right eye of the Champ. Nonetheless, the unofficial scorer has Rosenbloom well ahead (49-46) at this point. Rounds six and seven see Belanger get more aggressive, moving inside and scoring well. In round 10, Belanger’s aggression seems to pay off as Maxie is cut over the right eye. Belanger targets the cut but Rosenbloom is able to catch him with a hook to the head that puts the challenger down for a nine-count in round 11. From here on, Belanger’s confidence begins to wane, and Rosenbloom punctuates his late dominance with a second knockdown in round 15 en route to a solid UD 15 victory (148-136, 148-136, 148-137) in a bout that seemed closer than the final cards would indicate. With his third defense of his WBA title, Rosenbloom improves to 44-12-6 (18). The veteran Belanger, who dips to 38-18 (17) with the loss, still has the CBU title to fall back on.

[JCWeb]

This is a summary of ring action from the second half of January 1938, covering a total of 51 bouts, including one WBA title bout.

Jan. 21, 1938: To the Far East for the next fistic action, this time at Manila’s Rizal Arena. Topping the card is an OPBF title clash, preceded by a non-title affair matching current OPBF BW Champion Little Pancho against Brit Dick Corbett, a former triple titleholder. First meeting of the two, both of whom are content to peck away on the inside. It turns out to be a boring bout, no cuts or knockdowns, with Little Pancho doing just enough to take a UD 10 win (96-94 on all three cards). Post-fight records: 30-7-5 (8) for Pancho; 32-16 (11) for Corbett. The main event has ex-Champ Ceferino Garcia challenging Ambrose Palmer for the latter’s OPBF MW title. Three prior meetings, all won by Palmer inside the distance (most recent in 1935), but Garcia has hope, as he is in front of a hometown crowd plus the fact that Palmer is now at Post-Prime career stage. Garcia proceeds to pile up a huge points landed advantage in the first half of the bout, and he adapts a more defensive posture as the bout heads into the later rounds, sitting on his lead. In round 10, an over-aggressive Palmer gets clocked by a hook to the head from Garcia, forcing the Aussie to cover up. Palmer begins to suffer from swelling under his right eye and is unable to mount an effective comeback. UD 12 for Garcia (120-108, 119-109, 116-112) to recapture the belt he held from 1927 through 1932, Garcia moves to 35-18-2 (22) with the win; Palmer drops to 30-11-1 (17) with the loss.

Jan. 22, 1938: To Europe for a card at Gothenburg, Sweden. An EBU title bout is preceded by a co-feature matching two top 10 LWs: Italian Aldo Spoldi and American Ray Miller. Spoldi and Miller have met twice before, each winning once, but this time Miller is at Post, making the Italian a solid favorite. Miller is successful staying outside, landing enough punches to take round two. In the third round, Spoldi moves inside with good results. Then, in round four, Miller connects with a solid hook, stunning Spoldi who covers up and also protects a trace of swelling around his left eye. Spoldi rallies with a strong showing in rounds five and six to pile up a punches landed advantage, but Miller comes back to take rounds seven and eight. Spoldi picks up the pace, becoming the aggressor in the later rounds of the bout. In the end, it’s a draw (95-93 Miller, 95-93 Spoldi, 94-all), representative of the closeness of the bout. Post-fight career records: Spoldi, 29-5-4 (13); Miller, 42-15-3 (19). In the feature, Gustave Roth, now in his second stint as EBU LH Champion, puts that title on the line, facing Heinz Lazek; it is Lazek’s first title shot of any kind. Lazek starts well, with a stellar performance in the opening round, landing some heavy leather such that a touch of swelling begins to appear under the left eye of Roth. The two appear to be evenly matched through the rest of the first half of the bout, which sees Roth holding a slight punches landed edge. Lazek pushes forward, taking on the role of aggressor in the later rounds of the bout. Solid defense from Roth appears to be enough to retain the title, but, in the edge, the judges seem to reward Lazek’s aggressiveness, and the challenger lifts the belt by the narrowes of margins. Final count shows a SD 12 for Lazek (114-115, 115-114, 115-114), who improves to 26-3 (20) with the win; Roth slips to 36-12-2 (12) with the loss.

Jan. 22, 1938: Cow Palace in San Francisco is the scene for the next fight card. Two NABF title bouts top the agenda, with fan favorite Max Baer as the feature attraction. In the first co-feature, veteran Fly Frankie Genaro defends his NABF Flyweight title against Ruby “Dark Cloud” Bradley, the reigning USBA Fly titleholder. Three prior meetings have resulted in two wins and a draw for Genaro; however, this time around, both men are at Post-Prime career stage. Early edge for Genaro, who is making his first title defense in over a year. Bradley tries to battle back, becoming more aggressive in the later rounds. In round nine, Bradley suffers a cut over his right eye. The cut is closed up between rounds but, when it is reopened two rounds later, the blood flows freely, initiating an early end. TKO 11 for Genaro on the cuts stoppage, moving Frankie to 48-17-6 (19) overall, while Bradley ends the bout at 33-17-7 (8). Then, in the second co-feature, Max Baer puts his NABF HW title on the line, facing a stiff challenge from Jimmy Mendes; it is the first meeting of these two sluggers, who have combined for 50 knockouts (25 apiece) up to this point. Baer looks sharp early, and he connects with enough blows to cause some noticeable swelling under the right eye of Mendes by the end of the second round. Round three, Baer moves inside to pick up the pace, and then in the fourth Mendes walks into a Baer cross and goes down, arising at the count of three. Max takes charges, following up with a devastating hook to score a second KD later in the round. With time remaining, Max is unable to finish Mendes, who lasts the round. Then, in a surprising reversal, it is Baer who gets careless in round five, as Mendes delivers a sharp combination that puts Baer down and out. KO 5 for Mendes, who lifts the belt. Post-fight career marks: 32-9-4 (26) for Mendes; 26-11 (25) for Baer, who once again must go back to the drawing board for what seems like the umpteenth time.

Jan. 28, 1938: Next is a big LABF-sponsored card, this time at the Nueva Circus in Caracas, Venezuela, which features two LABF title bouts to headline the agenda. The first of these is for the LABF FW title, recently vacated by Baby Arizmendi who moves up to capture the WBA title. The protagonists are Cuban Filio Julian Echevarria and Venezuelan Simon Chavez, who is in his first title bout of any kind. In their one prior meeting, Echevarria took a UD 10. Here, the Cuban repeats his early performance, compiling an early punches landed lead and gradually wearing Chavez down to take a one-sided UD 12 (119-109, 118-110, 119-109) to take the title, raising his career mark to 30-11-4 (12). Chavez, who is looking forward to more opportunities in the future, ends the bout at 23-7-2 (5). The other LABF title bout is a rematch, as Chilean Antonio Fernandez defends his LABF MW title against former Champ Kid Tunero, whom he previously defeated for the belt. This is the third meeting of the two, who are knotted 1-1 in prior matchups. After a strong showing in the early going, Tunero pulls ahead at the halfway point (58-57 on the unofficial card). Then, in round seven, Tunero is cut over his right eye. Fernandez, forced to battle from behind, is unable to make an impression on the Cuban challenger, who goes on to a solid UD 12 victory (117-114, 118-113, 118-114) to recapture the LABF MW title. Post-fight records: Tunero, 28-7-5 (8); Fernandez, 25-11-2 (12).

Jan. 29, 1938: Back to the UK for another good card, this time at the Olympia in London. Two title bouts top the agenda. In the first co-feature, Len Harvey defends a long-dormant GBU LH title, taking on Ben Valentine. It is the first defense of this belt since 1934, almost 3 ½ years, due to a paucity of qualified British LHs. Harvey pulls ahead to a large early lead, and in the fifth round, he puts Valentine on the deck with an overhand right. The challenger arises at a count of seven, and by the end of the round, he is battling a rapidly swelling left eye. The bout goes to decision without further incident, and a solid performance by Harvey enables him to retain the belt via a UD 12 (117-111, 117-110, 118-109) to improve his career stats to 48-18-3 (19). Valentine, who has one more bout before hitting Prime, is 14-4-1 (9) after the loss. Wrapping up the card is a Commonwealth HW title bout, with Tommy Farr facing challenger Larry Gains for that belt. The two met once before, back in 1931, with Farr taking a UD on Gains’ home turf. Here, a big shot from Gains puts Farr on his seat in the opening round. Farr recovers, and goes on to take round two. Gains moves inside, assuming the role of aggressor in round three. In round five, Gains rocks Farr with a big uppercut; in the same round, however, Gains suffers a split lip. Gains becomes more and more aggressive in the later rounds, but it takes a late surge from Farr – winning the last three rounds – to escape with a SD 12 (114-113, 113-114, 114-113) to keep the belt by the narrowest of margins. Post-bout marks: Farr, 41-12-1 (15); Gains, 43-13 (21).

Jan. 29, 1938: Final card of the month is in New York City, at Madison Square Garden. A trio of key bouts top the card, including a WBA title bout. The first of two main support bouts matches unbeaten LH Billy Conn (now ranked in the top 20) with veteran Lou Scozza. Conn is content to set up shop on the outside, while Scozza takes a more aggressive approach. Conn pulls ahead in the early going and then unleashes a devastating cross in round five that forces Scozza to cover up. Later on, Scozza begins to tire and feels the effects from a swollen left eye. In round nine, the bout comes to an early end after Scozza lands a blow but then suffers a severe hand injury that forces him to retire – the bout goes into the books as a TKO 9 for Conn. The win pushes Conn’s career totals to 17-0-2 (11). For Scozza, it is the end of the line, his career totals ending up at 37-17-1 (28), although he was a shadow of his former self in the match with Conn. Then, in the second main support, the NABF WW title is on the line as Barney Ross defends that belt against challenger Eddie Dolan. First meeting of the two, and it will be Ross’s first outing since hitting Post-Prime career stage, as he faces a former USBA WW Champ in Dolan. Dolan takes charge in the early going while Ross begins to land some blows in round four. Ross mixes up his attack, while Dolan elects to stay mainly on the outside. “Irish Red” proves to be a tough opponent for Ross, who picks up the pace as the bout enters the later stages. In the end, Ross does just enough to keep the title, taking the last round and escaping with a majority draw (113-113, 112-114 for Dolan, 113-113). Post-bout records: 32-7-3 (11) for Ross; 24-4-4 (9) for Dolan. In the feature, Tony Canzoneri makes his 22^nd defense of his WBA LW title, facing Cecil Payne, the “Kaintuck Colonel,” the #1 ranked contender, with the two having met once before – back in 1932 – when Canzoneri took a UD 15 win. A solid start from Canzoneri, and the “Roman Warrior” has the early lead, repeatedly beating Payne to the punch while exhibiting superior boxing and defensive skills. By the end of round five, Canzoneri has landed enough leather to cause swelling under the right eye of Payne. In round six, Payne rallies with his best round of the fight thus far. After this, though, Canzoneri regains control, building a huge points lead. By round nine, Payne is suffering from the effects of swelling under his other eye. Another typical workman-like performance from Canzoneri, who takes a lopsided UD 15 (148-137, 146-139, 148-139) to run his career record to 46-4-3 (17). Payne dips to 38-10-4 (8) with the loss.

[JCWeb]

Hmmn, something seems to have gone amiss, as the first half of Feb. reports has gone missing. Sorry about that ...
This is a summary of ring action from the second half of February 1938, covering a total of 58 bouts. Two WBA title bouts are included.

Feb. 18, 1938: Friday night fights “Down Under” in Sydney, Australia. Featured in the main event is former WBA WW Champ and still CBU WW titleholder Jack Carroll. The Aussie veteran faces King Tut in a 10-round, non-title affair. First meeting of the two. Tut comes out swinging, hurting Carroll with a hard left in the opening round. By round five, Carroll has recoverd, and he lands enough leather to cause Tut to suffer from a swollen and cut right eye. Carroll, despite being at Post-Prime for the first time, battles from behind, spurred on by the Aussie crowd. However, it is not to be as Tut takes a close but UD 10 (96-94, 98-92, 97-93) to improve his career record to 31-14-4 (19). The loss drops Carroll to 38-18-5 (14).

Feb. 19, 1938: Big card at London’s Harringay Arena, with the lure of a WBA title bout bringing in a huge crowd. Two solid co-feature bouts serve as the main supports. In the first of these, top five BW Speedy Dado faces Brit Tom Smith in a non-title bout. Many think Smith, who is not in the top 20, may be overmatched against the Filipino, a top five BW who once held the WBA title. Dado dominates the action in round five, when he puts Smith down with a barrage of blows. Both men are content to stay outside in the second half of the bout, and Smith begins to battle his way into it in round eight, when he staggers Dado with a strong shot. Not much action in the last two rounds, and the result – a MD 10 for Dado (95-94, 95-95, 96-93) is credit to Smith for making it a close fight. Post-fight career records: Dado, 34-14-2 (14); Smith, 17-3-4 (10) – the win his Dado’s fifth in succession. In the co-feature, two Brits do battle as GBU Flyweight Chanp Benny Lynch takes on challenger Joe Curran. Despite having hit Post-Prime career stage, Lynch is able to build on an early points lead and then coasts to a comfortable UD 12 win (116-112, 115-113, 117-111) to improve his career record to 27-6 (16). Curran ends up at 17-9-2 (7) after the loss. In the main event, it is the long-awaited matchup between Midget Wolgast and Istvan Enekes for Wolgast’s WBA Flyweight title belt. After a year at BW, Wolgast drops down to Flyweight, making his first title defense in well over a year, taking on Enekes, the long-time EBU Fly Champion, who is carrying a four-bout winning streak into the bout. Early edge to Wolgast, who seems determined to retain his title. The toe-to-toe action in round five favors the Hungarian. Enekes does well to keep the bout reasonably close, despite an inability to penetrate Wolgast’s solid defense. The unofficial scorer has it even (95-all) headed into the final rounds. Enekes, the more aggressive in the later rounds, has his efforts thwarted by the long-time Champion. Good effort by both men, and the bout goes the distance, with Wolgast taking a UD 15 (145-142, 145-140, 145-141) to retain the title and run his career record to 44-5-1 (18). Enekes, now 29-5-1 (10), remains the top-ranked contender, although Wolgast once again has no peer in the Flyweight ranks.

Feb. 19, 1938: Next card is back in the States at New Orleans. Not much of interest save for the main event, which sees Henry “Homicide Hank” Armstrong back in action, defending his USBA WW title for the second time, facing challenger Izzy Jannazzo in Jannazzo’s first title try. Armstrong gets off to a surprisingly sluggish start, allowing Jannazzo a chance to mount a successful challenge. Starting in the second half of the bout, Armstrong began to pick up the pace and also find the range on more of his punches. Armstrong then reverted to remaining on the outside for the last two rounds, doing enough to retain the belt via a UD 12 (116-111, 115-112, 114-113). “Homicide Hank” must now wait for a shot at either the WBA WW title or a big-money matchup with Canzoneri for the WBA LW belt. Post-fight career marks: 27-2-2 (21) for Armstrong; 22-3 (13) for Jannazzo.

Feb. 25, 1938: Next up is a Friday night card at Panama City. One bout of interest is the main event, with crowd favorite Panama Al Brown putting his LABF BW title on the line, facing Mexican challenger Raul Casanova. Panama Al suffers a split lip in the opening round, and then takes a couple of rounds to settle in, taking charge in round four, when a trace of swelling begins to appear under the left eye of the challenger. Later in the match, with Brown holding a large punches landed advantage, Casanova switches tactics and tries to become more aggressive. However, Panama Al’s defense holds up and he goes on to retain the LABF title with a solid UD 12 win (116-111 on all three cards) to move to 55-10-1 (20) overall. With his second successful defense, Brown is angling for a WBA title shot soon. Casanova, who is still hoping to move up the ranks, ends the bout at 22-4-1 (14).

Feb. 26, 1938: The lure of a WBA title bout draws a large crowd to the Polo Grounds in New York City, with a WBA title bout headlining the action. MWs are featured, both in the title contest but in the co-feature, which pairs up-and-comer Freddie Apostoli with veteran Young Terry. After just three rounds, Terry is already taking a beating, suffering from a rapidly swelling right eye. By the midway point, Terry has picked up the pace, gotten more aggressive, and caused a trace of swelling to appear under the right eye of Apostoli. Then, in round seven, Apostoli lands a big shot that puts Terry down for a six-count. After this, Apostoli coasts to a lopsided UD 10 (99-90 on all three cards) to run his record to 20-2 (17), while Terry drops to 33-18-4 (10). In the main event, Freddie Steele gets his fifth crack at the WBA MW title, as Holman Williams defends the belt he won in June of 1937 for the second time. Steele seems prepared for a maximum effort, and he connects with enough punches to cause a trace of swelling to appear under the left eye of the Champion by the end of the opening round. Steele continues to press his advantage and, after five rounds, the unofficial ringside scorer has him up by a count of 49-46. Nonetheless, Williams is able to keep the gap close in the punches landed category, stepping up the pace in rounds eight and nine. Steele backs up, exhibiting some solid defense, and expands his lead to a 99-91 count, again according to the unofficial scorer. In round 12, though, a new challenge emerges as a cut appears over the right eye of Steele, and the cut is reopened a round later. Williams, encouraged, responds with a big round 14 in an effort to keep the title. The cut over Steele’s eye is reopened once more in the final round, but the challenger manages to last until the final bell. The scorecards are read, and there is a new WBA MW Champion – Freddie Steele wins a solid UD 15 (147-138, 146-142, 146-139) to improve to 416-6-1 (28), while Williams is 26-3 (12) after his title reign ends.

Feb. 26, 1938: To the West Coast for the final card of the month, at Los Angeles’ Olympic Auditorium. Twin title bouts headline the agenda. In the first co-feature, Lew Farber, now at Post-Prime, faces challenger Georgie Pace for Farber’s USBA BW title. Farber gets off to a slow start, allowing Pace to pull ahead in the early going. Pace remains the more active of the two into the middle rounds, before Farber gradually becomes more aggressive in the later rounds of the fight. However, a comeback is not in the cards and the title changes hands, as Pace lifts the belt by taking a UD 12 (116-112 on all three cards). Post-fight records: Pace, 19-4-1 (16); Farber, 28-8-4 (12). Second title bout is for the NABF FW title, vacated for the second time by Baby Arizmendi who moved up to win the WBA title. Contending for the title are Kid Chocolate, who lost the WBA title to Arizmendi, and veteran Freddie Miller. What should on paper seem like an easy win for Chocolate is complicated by the fact that the Cuban has recently hit Post-Prime career stage. The two have met four times, splitting those prior meetings evenly, two wins apiece. Early edge goes to Miller, who readily takes advantage of the fact that the “Cuban Bon Bon” is a step or two slower. Chocolate rallies by taking round three, fighting on the inside where he is more comfortable than Miller. However, in the toe-to-toe action in round five, Miller rocks the Cuban ex-Champ with a big uppercut, forcing Kid Chocolate to cover up. Further, by this point both eyes are beginning to puff up for the Kid – a bad sign. Miller takes a healthy points edge into the later rounds. Late surge from Kid Chocolate is not enough, as Miller takes a close but unanimous UD 12 (115-112, 115-112, 114-113) to capture the vacant belt. Post-bout records: 33-9-1 (14) for Miller; 35-7-5 (16) for Kid Chocolate.

[JCWeb]

Here's a partial report (mostly bare bones without much details) for the missing half of February 1938.

Feb. 4 - Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City
Main Event: LH - Pal Silvers UD 10 Fred Lenhart

Feb. 5 - Sportpalast, Berlin, Ger.
Main Event - WW Bep Van Klaveren TKO 11 Gustav Eder (Van Klaveren captures EBU WW title vacated by Vittorio Venturi, now WBA Champ)
Co-Feature: HW Jersey Joe Walcott SD 10 Max Schmeling (an upset, particularly as ex-Champ Schmeling was fighting in front of hometown fans; result will have Walcott clamoring for WBA title shot
Support: MW - Hein Domgorgen KO 8 Ron Richards

Feb. 5 - Boston Garden, USA
Main Event - LW Sammy Fuller KO 5 Jack Portney

Feb. 11 - Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto
Main Event - LW Frankie Klick D 12 Dave Castilloux (for Klick's NABF LW title; Klick retains title with draw)
Co-Feature - MW Tony Zale UD 10 Lou Brouillard

Feb. 12 - Liverpool, UK
Main Event - WW Cocoa Kid SD 10 Ernie Roderick (Kid, LABF WW Champ, is now #1 ranked WW contender)
Co-Feature - FLY - Jimmy Gill MD 10 Ernst Weiss (seems to have been a "hometown" decision favoring the British fighter in this one)

Feb. 12 - Chicago
Main Event - FW Battling Battalino UD 12 Petey Sarron (Battalino retains his USBA FW title belt)

[JCWeb]

This is a summary of ring action from the first half of March 1938, covering a total of 57 bouts. One WBA title bout is included.

Mar. 4, 1938: The month kicks off with a Friday night at the Forum in Montreal. The main event is a NABF title bout, preceded by a non-title match involving two ranked FWs, with Canadian fighters being featured in both bouts. In the co-feature, reigning NABF FW Champ Pete DeGrasse, still ranked #5 among FW contenders, faces Simon Chavez, a recent LABF title contender. The bout devolves into a tough defensive struggle, with Chavez coming out with a surprising UD 10 (98-91, 96-95, 96-94). Post-bout records: Chavez, 24-7-2 (5); DeGrasse, 34-14-2 (9). Then, in the main event, the NABF BW title is on the line, with Horace Gwynne the Champion defending against challenger, ex-WBA Champ Pete Sanstol. It’s “Lefty” Gwynne, the Canadian, against the “Baby Cyclone” in a rematch of a 1936 WBA title bout that ended in a UD 15 win for Sanstol. Prototypical boxer vs slugger matchup, with Sanstol as the boxer versus Gwynne as the slugger. Gwynne has the upper hand in the earlier rounds, with Sanstol suffering from a cut and swollen left eye by the end of round four. As the bout heads into the later rounds, Sanstol becomes more aggressive, landing a few good shots but unable to put Gwynne down. The two battle to a standstill, and the bout ends in a draw (115-113 Gwynne, 114-114, 114-114) so Gwynne retains the title, leaving his career stats at 22-3-1 (13) after the bout. Sanstol ends the bout at 34-10-4 (9).

Mar. 5, 1938: Next card is in Europe, at the Amor Bahn in Munich. One bout of note, with the EBU LH title up for grabs, as Heinz Lazek (who just captured the belt in January) making his first defense, against ex-Champ Len Harvey. Action heats up in the opening round, when Lazek stuns Harvey with a straight right, following up with a cross. Harvey, trapped in a corner, manages to cover up and last the round. By the end of round two, there is a touch of swelling under the left eye of Harvey. Not much happens until round seven and, again, Lazek staggers Harvey with a straight right. As a result, Lazek takes a large points lead into the later rounds, when he eases up and settles for a SD12 win (114-113, 112-115, 116-112), surprisingly close given that Lazek managed to land the more telling blows. At any rate, Lazek retains the belt and pushes his career mark to 27-3 (20), while the veteran Harvey ends up at 48-19-3 (29).

Mar. 5, 1938: Top HW talents are on display as Chicago’s Comiskey Park is the venue for the first 1938 title defense by unbeaten HW Champ Joe Louis. The title bout is amply supported, with the co-feature being a non-title HW encounter pitting Elmer Ray against King Levinsky. Ray is claiming that Louis is avoiding him – despite the fact that Ray’ was flattened by Max Baer in his last outing. Ray holds a prior TKO win over Levinsky, and this time he takes it easy, waiting until the middle rounds to apply some pressure and pull ahead on points. Levinsky begins to close the gap by taking a close round seven. No telling blows until the final round, when Ray connects with a straight right that stuns Levinsky, and “Kid Violent” goes on to take a UD 10 (97-93, 97-94, 97-93) to re-establish his credentials as a top HW contender. Post-fight career marks: 38-8 (21) for Ray; 27-12-1 (13) for Levinsky. Then, in the main event, Joe Louis faces USBA HW Art Lasky for Louis’ WBA HW title. It’s a battle of two sluggers who have produced 44 knockdowns in 46 career wins. After a big opening round, late in round two Louis delivers a big shot that puts Lasky down. He is saved by the bell, but has to be helped by his handlers back to his corner. In round three, Louis connects with a hook, then an uppercut, and finally Lasky goes down again, from an overhand right that puts Lasky down and out. KO 3 for Louis, and the win is his seventh title defense, all inside the distance, to run Joe’s career stats to 23-0 (21). Lasky, who has his USBA title to fall back on, ends the bout at 24-6-2 (24).

Mar. 11, 1938: Next up is a Friday night card at Havana’s Gran Stadium. LABF is sponsoring the card, with the LABF LW title bout serving as the main event. Main support also matches two LWs, as veteran Ray Miller squares off against Chino Alvarez in the co-feature. First meeting of the two, and Alvarez pulls ahead with a big round two, before moving inside to do more damage in the third. Once Alvarez builds a solid points lead, it appears that Miller lacks the firepower to mount a comeback. Thus, Alvarez walks away a UD 10 winner (99-92, 98-93, 99-92) to run his career totals to 31-7-3 (19). Miller, now at Post-Prime, ends the bout at 42-16-3 (19), and will drop out of the top 10 LW rankings. In the main event, Tony Chavez puts his LABF LW title on the line, facing the challenge of veteran Justo Suarez. The bout does not last long, as Chavez puts Suarez down with a big shot in the opening round. After taking an eight count, Suarez arises and attempts to cover up, but Chavez’s killer instinct kicks in and, after landing some more shots, the ref steps in to save Suarez from further punishment. TKO 1 for Chavez, who once again is the #1 LW challenger. Post-fight career records: Chavez, 24-5-1 (11); Suarez, 29-12-1 (17).

Mar. 12, 1938: Back to the UK for a card at the Stadium in Liverpool. Mostly British fighters on the agenda, and only one bout of note – the main event, which sees Jackie Brown making the first defense of the Commonwealth Flyweight title in over three years. His opponent is Tiny Bostock, appearing in a title bout for the first time despite a less than stellar start to his career. Brown seems to have the early edge, but the bout comes to a premature end early in round six, the Champ lands a hard shot but comes away with an injured right hand. Brown is forced to retire, so it goes down as a TKO 6 for Bostock, who improves to 19-7 (7) and becomes the new CBU Flyweight Champion. Brown, now 32-14-3 (11), is looking for a rematch in the future.

Mar. 12, 1938: Philadelphia is the scene of the next fistic action. No titles at stake, and featured are two top10 HWs, as veteran Tommy Loughran faces Joe Banovic. One prior meeting saw a MD 12 win for Banovic in a USBA title clash. This time, a sluggish looking Loughran struggles against a heavier opponent and also the effects of aging, having hit Post-Prime career stage, all to the advantage of Banovic, who is the more aggressive of the two. Banovic builds an early lead, then hangs on to take a UD 10 (97-93, 97-93, 98-92), repeating his earlier result versus Loughran. Post-bout records: 36-13-2 (10) for Banovic; 60-11-4 (20) for Loughran.

[JCWeb]

This is a summary of ring action from the second half of March 1938, covering a total of 58 bouts. One WBA title bout is included.

Mar. 18, 1938: Next is a Friday night card at Manila’s Rizal Arena. Main event is an OPBF title contest, supported by a non-title bout involving two ranked FWs, with newly-crowned LABF FW Champ Filio Julian Echevarria taking on his OPBF counterpart, Tsuneo Horiguchi from Japan. Just a minute into the bout, Horiguchi lands a hard shot off the top of Echevarria’s head, but the Cuban covers up, lasts the round, and bounces back quickly, landing some good shots in rounds two and three. In round four, Echevarria begins to show signs of swelling under his left eye. The bout remains close at the halfway point. In rounds seven and eight, Echevarria becomes more aggressive. Horiguchi is forced to deal with a cut over his right eye, opened up in the seventh round. The bout goes the distance, with Echevarria making a late surge to take the final round and a UD 10 (98-93, 96-95, 96-95) to win a spirited contest. Post-fight records: Echevarria, 31-11-4 (12); Horiguchi, 20-3 (14). Then, in the main event, the OPBF BW title is on the line, with two familiar foes vying for the belt: defending Champ Little Pancho and challenger Young Tommy. It is the fourth meeting of the two, with Pancho holding a 2-1 edge in prior encounters. Pancho, who has won his last seven bouts, looks sharp early and builds an early lead. Tommy, trailing, is forced to go on the offensive in the second half of the bout. Pancho’s defense remains solid, and the bout goes to decision. In a mild surprise, Pancho wins the nod from two of the three judges, but the third calls it even, so it goes down as a MD 12 win for Pancho (116-112, 114-114, 117-111) who retains the title, improving to 31-7-5 (8) overall, putting him in position to offer a challenge to WBA titleholder Johnny King. Tommy, on the other hand, slips to 30-8-1 (13) with the loss.

Mar. 19, 1938: Next card is in Europe, at Palais des Sports in Cannes, France. One notable bout, the main event, which marks the return to competition of former WBA WW Champ Cleto Locatelli, in his first bout since losing the title, facing OPBF WW Champion Irineo Flores. Flores, despite being at Post-Prime career stage, is primed to do battle with the Swiss ex-Champ. Rough start for Locatelli, who suffers a cut over his right eye in the second round. Then, in round three, the Swiss begins to suffer the effects from some swelling under his left eye. In round six, the cut over Locatelli’s eye is reopened, and Flores targets the cut as his best chance to win the fight. Events prove this decision correct; after the cut is reopened a second time in round nine, the bleeding becomes too severe to allow the bout to continue. The bout goes in the scorecards as a TKO 9 win for Flores on the cuts stoppage. Flores, who will be at End career stage in his next outing, nevertheless moves to 47-27-2 (24) with the surprise win, while Locatelli, now mired in a career slump, is 35-12-4 (11) after another setback.

Mar. 19, 1938: A pair of LH bouts headline an exciting card at Pittsburgh’s Forbes Field. In the first co-feature, recently dethroned NABF LH Champ Bob Olin faces Jimmy Adamick. Olin gets off to a solid start and gradually builds an early points lead. This forces Adamick, now at Post-Prime career stage, to become more aggressive in the later rounds. By the end, Adamick ends up with a swollen right eye for all his troubles, and finds himself on the short end of a UD 10 verdict for Olin (98-92, 96-94, 96-94), who is rewarded by the judges for a workman-like performance. Post-bout records: Olin, 31-10-3 (10); Adamick, 23-4-1 (21). In the second co-feature, hometown favorite Billy Conn, the “Pittsburgh Kid,” puts his unbeaten record on the line against ex-USBA LH Champ Battling Bozo. Bozo proves to be a formidable opponent for Conn, who is wrapping up the pre-Prime stage of his career in this, his 20^th career start. Bozo gets off to a good start and moves inside in round three, while Conn is content to stay on the outside, relying on his boxing and defensive skills. With Bozo building a points lead, Conn is forced to go on the offensive in the later rounds, but his effort falls just short. Bozo takes a UD 10 (96-95, 97-93, 97-93) and improves to 33-12-3 (12). Conn’s first career setback leads him at 17-1-2 (11).

Mar. 25, 1938: Friday night card at a rarely used venue, Rand Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa. No titles at stake. Featured in the main event in South Africa’s only titleholder, CBU LW Champ Laurie Stevens, who is looking to move up the LW rankings by taking on a veteran of the ring wars, former JLW WBA Champ Tod Morgan who is currently in the top 10 of the LW rankings. First meeting of the two. In the first round, Stevens rocks Morgan with a cross to the head, dropping the ex-Champ for a nine-count. Stevens continues to carry the fight to Morgan, causing some swelling to appear around Morgan’s right eye by the end of round five. The end comes a few rounds later, when Stevens drops Morgan for a second time with a powerful hook. This time Morgan cannot beat the count, and it goes into the books as a KO 7 for Stevens. Post-fight career records: Stevens, 20-3-1 (15); Morgan, 48-17-5 (13). Impressive win for the South African that puts him in the picture as a serious LW contender.

Mar. 26, 1938: Big card at the UK that features a WBA title bout. As a preliminary, the co-feature matches GBU MW Champ Jock McAvoy with his OPBF counterpart, Ceferino Garcia, who has put together a five-bout winning streak (four wins, one draw) in an effort to position himself for a shot at the MW title – his one chance coming in a 1931 loss to long-time Champ Mickey Walker. The early rounds favor the Filipino, with Garcia landing enough leather to cause some swelling under the left eye of McAvoy by the end of round three. McAvoy recovers, landing a big shot in the fifth round that causes Garcia to cover up. McAvoy is unable to follow up, and in the later rounds Garcia picks up the tempo. A hard hook from McAvoy puts Garcia down in round eight, but it is not enough as Garcia holds on for a close but UD 10 win (96-94, 96-94, 97-93) after rallying to take the final two rounds. The win boosts Garcia’s career stats to 36-18-2 (22); McAvoy ends up at 30-12-4 (21). Next up is the WBA WW title bout, with Vittorio Venturi facing Barney Ross, the current NABF WW titleholder. Ross, who held the WBA title back in 1933-34, is looking to regain it but struggling with the fact that he has just hit Post-Prime career stage. After a close opening round, the exchange of blows from the outside in round two favors the Italian, Venturi. Ventrui moves inside and takes round three, but midway through the fourth round he suffers a cut over his left eye. Nevertheless, the Champ’s punches continue to find the range and, by the end of round five, a touch of swelling has appeared under the right eye of the challenger. Venturi continues to pile up points as the bout heads into the middle rounds; Ross, trailing, begins to pick up the pace. The cut over Venturi’s eye is reopened in round eight, but some good cornerwork prevents further damage. Ross, who is gradually worn down as the bout progresses, suffers from a cut under his swollen right eye to add to his woes in round 12. The bout goes to decision, and it is a surprisingly one-sided UD 15 for Venturi (149-136, 147-139, 149-137). Solid performance from Venturi, whom many thought would not be up to the task of defending his title against an accomplished fighter such as Ross. Post-fight marks are 42-12-7 (11) for Venturi, 32-8-3 (11) for Ross.

Mar. 26, 1938: The month wraps with a solid card at Madison Square Garden in New York City. No titles on the line, but some interesting bouts nonetheless. On the undercard, unbeaten MW prospect Charley Burley punishes a TC opponent, taking a TKO 3 win to improve to 12-0 (11) overall. Then, unbeaten HW Max Marek pushes his record to 18-0 (14) with a solid UD 10 win over Lee Savold. Then, talented LH prospect Eddie Booker improves to 15-0 (12) with a TKO 5 stoppage of aging vet Roy Wallace. The co-feature, matching WWs Eddie Dolan and Wildcat O’Connor, is next. O’Connor, who won a prior bout via a UD when both were at Pre-Prime back in 1933, takes charge when he decks Dolan with a big shot in round five. He follows up with a second KD and then finishes off his opponent with a third KD in the same round, leading to an immediate stoppage – TKO 5 for O’Connor, moving Wildcat to 26-9 (20). Dolan ends the bout at 24-5-4 (9). Finally, the feature bout matches Roscoe Toles with a fan favorite, “the Cinderella Man,” James Braddock. Toles takes an early points lead, while Braddock is largely ineffective as he tries to carry the action to Toles on the inside. Solid defense from Toles, and midway through the bout Braddock begins to suffer from a rapidly swelling left eye. With Braddock tiring badly in the later rounds, Toles goes on to claim a UD 10 victory (96-94, 98-92, 97-93). Post-bout records: 26-4-3 (6) for Toles; 31-17-3 (6) for Braddock.

[JCWeb]

This is a summary of ring action from the first half of April 1938, covering a total of 46 bouts. One WBA title bout is included.

Apr. 1, 1938: The month kicks off with a Friday night card at Atlantic City. The main event has John Henry Lewis defending his NABF LH title against a rapidly emerging LH contender, the once-beaten Gus Lesnevich who has rapidly moved into a top 10 contender position. Early edge to Lewis, who moves inside to apply more pressure. Lesnevich builds an early lead in punches landed, but Lewis’ blows seem to have more sting. In round five, Lewis connects with a big uppercut, and Lesnevich topples to the canvas, arising at a count of seven. Lewis exhibits greater stamina, and in round 10 he again rocks Lesnevich with an uppercut, and this time Gus remains upright and covers up to last the round. The bout goes the distance, with Lewis retaining the title via a solid UD 12 (116-112, 116-112, 117-111) to run his career record to 23-4-2 (18). For Lesnevich, it is just his second career loss (his first at Prime), leaving him at 23-2-1 (14).

Apr. 2, 1938: Next card is at the UK at the Stadium in Liverpool. Topping a rather slim card is a GBU title contest, preceding by a co-feature matching reigning GBU FW Champion Dave Crowley with top 10 FW contender Chalky Wright. Crowley does well in the early rounds, landing enough leather to cause a trace of swelling to appear under the right eye of Wright by the end of the third round. However, in round four, Wright puts Crowley down with a strong combination; the bell sounding at the count of five enables the British Champ to continue. Wright gradually pulls ahead on points, but in round nine, he gets careless and is dropped by Crowley for a three-count. At one KD apiece, Crowley hopes to benefit from some hometown judging after the final bell, but it is not to be – the UD 10 nod goes to Wright by a fairly comfortable margin (97-92, 96-93, 97-93). Post-bout career marks: Wright, 29-9-4 (14); Crowley, 24-18-1 (13). Then, in the main event, Ernie Roderick makes the first defense of the GBU WW title he won almost three years earlier and, lacking other credible challengers, he faces an aging Jack Hood, the former Champion whom he defeated for the belt. Not much resistance from Hood as Roderick builds an early lead and coasts to victory against an opponent who is nearing the end of this career. Roderick retains the title via a UD 12 (117-112, 117-112, 118-110) with the five-point scoreline being fairly generous to Hood. The win lifts Roderick to 19-8-3 (6); the loss drops Hood to 28-19-8 (10).

Apr. 8, 1938: Next card, another light one, takes place in Vancouver’s Exhibition Gardens. No titles, and the main event matches two veteran WWs, both at Post-Prime, with Jimmy McLarnin facing Young Corbett III. In younger days, McLarnin twice managed a pair of UD 15 wins over Corbett in WBA title bouts, in 1931 and 1935, and he hopes to repeat these earlier triumphs. McLarnin is on top early, with a punches landed edge as well as showing greater aggressiveness. Nonetheless, midway through the bout, the unofficial scorer has Corbett ahead by a narrow 48-47 margin. Then, in round eight, a short hook to the midsection from McLarnin puts Corbett down for a count of four. In round nine, McLarnin suffers a cut and bloody nose, but it has little effect as the bout goes the distance. McLarnin emerges the victor with a narrow UD 10 (96-94, 96-95, 96-94) to repeat his early two wins, moving to 50-8-1 (24) overall. Corbett, now 52-15-5 (12) with the loss, is still ranked among the top 10 WWs.

Apr. 9, 1938: To Europe for a big card in Rome, headlined by a WBA title bout. The main event is amply supported by an EBU title clash, but first is a 10-round non-title affair matching two top 10 LWs – Benny Bass, a former USBA LW titleholder, and Aldo Spoldi, a former EBU LW Champ. Spoldi starts strongly and, by the end of round three, there is noticeable swelling under the right eye of Bass. Spoldi follows up with a big round in round four, then goes on to build a points lead as Bass struggles the rest of the way. Spoldi takes a solid UD 10 (98-92, 97-93, 98-92) and runs his career totals to 30-5-4 (13); Bass, now at Post-Prime, drops to 48-23-5 (16). In the co-feature, Primo Carnera makes the first defense of the EBU HW title he won earlier in the year. The challenger is German Walter Neusel. Both men start cautiously, but in round three Carnera moves inside and backs up Neusel. However, the awkward Carnera gets careless, leaving himself open for a Neusel combination to the head and body that puts the “Ambling Alp” on the deck for a count of four. Carnera bounces back quickly, stunning Neusel with a hard cross in round four. After the inside exchanges in round five, there is a trace of swelling under the left eye of Carnera. Neusel continues to impress, downing Carnera with a cross to the head right before the bell sounds to end round seven. More trouble for Carnera in round eight, with Neusel landing a big uppercut that causes the ref to step in and save the defenseless Carnera from further punishment. Neusel is declared the winner via a TKO 8, and he captures the EBU HW belt and improves to 23-7-2 (17) overall; the loss drops Carnera to 27-9-3 (21). Finally, the WBA BW title is on the line as Johnny King faces challenger Baltazar Sangchili, the current EBU BW Champion. King holds a prior UD 12 win when the two met for the EBU title back in 1933, and he looks to repeat his earlier success. Solid start from Sangchili, who boxes well from the outside, winning the opening three rounds. The Spanish challenger holds a 50-47 edge in points after the first third of the bout, according to the unofficial ringside observer. King begins to change things by putting the challenger on the deck with a big hook in round six. Sangchili continues to battle, and by round eight, a mouse appears under the right eye of the Champ. King takes rounds nine and ten to pull ahead, 96-95, on the unofficial card. More damage is done by King in round 11, causing some swelling to appear under the right eye of the challenger. Then, in round 12, King begins to land blow after blow, until the ref steps in to save the game challenger from further punishment. An impressive TKO 12 win for King in a hard-fought defense of his WBA title. Post-fight career records: King, 44-5-1 (17); Sangchili, 32-9 (18). With another successful title defense, King is still being urged to arrange a bout with the #1 contender, Panama Al Brown. Whether that bout will come about later in 1938 remains to be seen.

Apr. 9, 1938: Next card is back in the States at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles. Featured on the card are FWs, as Freddie Miller defends his NABF FW title against first-time title challenger Jimmy Perrin. Miller starts landing right away, and by the end of the opening round there is already a mouse forming under the left eye of Perrin. Miller continues with a strong outside attack, leaving Perrin few opportunities to counter. Perrin is gradually worn down and lacks the stamina and firepower to recover from an early points deficit. In fact, he does not even make it to the end as the ref calls a halt with 12 seconds left in the final round. TKO 12 to Miller who was well ahead on all three cards anyway. With the win, Miller improves to 34-9-1 (15) overall and cements his status as #1 FW contender. Perrin slips to 20-4-1 (8) after the loss.

Apr. 15, 1938: Next is a Friday night card at Miami. One bout of note, and it is the main event, for the USBA BW title, recently won and currently held by Georgie Pace. His challenger is the higher-ranked and more experienced K. O. Morgan. In the opening round, Pace rocks Morgan with a three-punch combination. Pace continues to build an early points lead. Morgan begins to become more aggressive, challenging Pace in the middle rounds. By round seven, there is noticeable swelling under the left eye of Pace. With the roles reversed, Pace decides to become more aggressive in the later rounds in an effort to keep the title belt. In round 11, he manages to put Morgan on the deck with a barrage of blows. Morgan arises at the count of eight, and he battles all the way through to the end. The UD 12 goes to Morgan (114-113, 114-113, 115-112) as the one KD was not enough to overcome Morgan’s dominance in the middle rounds. Post-bout records: 27-9-5 (16) for Morgan, the new Champion; 19-5-1 (16) for Pace.