Barry Hugman's World Championship Boxing

10 May 1935. Tony Canzoneri w pts 15 Lou Ambers

Venue: Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, NYC, New York, USA. Recognition: World. Referee: Arthur Donovan.

Fight Summary: Contested to decide the title that was left vacant when Barney Ross gave it up rather than struggling to make the weight, Canzoneri (133) was returned as the winner on all three scorecards. The former champion put up another great display of guts and ability to turn back a younger man who had been an outstanding favourite to win. Floored twice in the third round and again in the 15th Ambers (133¾) received a boxing lesson from the two-fisted Canzoneri, who realised it was his last chance of the big time.

4 October 1935. Tony Canzoneri w pts 15 Al Roth

Venue: Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, NYC, New York, USA. Recognition: World. Referee: Arthur Donovan.

Fight Summary: In a bruising battle that saw neither man coming out of it unscathed, Roth (133½) fought on pluckily after being dropped in the third round and outclassed through to the tenth. Bravely, Roth staged a furious rally during the 12th, 13th and 14th sessions before Canzoneri (133½) took control again to land the unanimous decision. The verdict was never in doubt, the champion having too much of everything for the game Roth, who walked away without damaging his career.

Taking time out before coming back towards the end of January 1936, and with the NYSAC looking to find Canzoneri’s next title challenger, they set up two semi-final eliminators between Leonard Del Genio versus Wesley Ramey and Lou Ambers versus Pedro Montanez. Del Genio beat Ramey (w pts 10 at St Nicholas Arena, Manhattan, NYC on 30 March 1936), but as a stablemate of Canzoneri’s he decided not to push on, while Montanez pulled out. Before the elimination series took place Ramey was a big favourite to beat Del Genio, who had been the number two contender, and it was expected to be either him or Montanez who would be in the opposite corner to the champion. Ambers, having already been beaten by Canzoneri and Montanez was not a great draw, but the NYSAC and the champion had to stand on the result. With a 66-fight record, comprising 59 wins, five draws and two defeats, the aggressive Ambers was quietly confident despite losing to Canzoneri in their previous title fight.

3 September 1936. Lou Ambers w pts 15 Tony Canzoneri

Venue: Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, NYC, New York, USA. Recognition: World. Referee: Arthur Donovan.

Scorecards: 12-3, 9-6, 10-5.

Fight Summary: Gaining revenge for his previous defeat at the hands of Canzoneri (135) not only brought Ambers (134½) the title he cherished by a unanimous decision, but also showed up the fact that the once great champion was nearing the end of the road. In short, Canzoneri was a shadow of his former self, and when the challenger circled him to the right and jabbed him silly his only response was to throw punches that missed wildly. He also had points deducted for low blows. Both men finished the fight cut over their left eyes, testament to some of the punches that got through, but it was the youthful elusiveness of Ambers and his better work that won the day.

7 May 1937. Lou Ambers w pts 15 Tony Canzoneri

Venue: Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, NYC, New York, USA. Recognition: World. Referee: Arthur Donovan.

Scorecards: 12-2-1, 13-2, 15-0.

Fight Summary: Another hard struggle for supremacy, this being the third fight between the pair, saw Ambers (135) retain his title on all three scorecards regardless of not producing his best form. For Canzoneri (135), though, despite showing flashes of his former brilliance it was his last crack at the big time before retiring just over two years later. Although the scorecards showed Ambers winning most of the rounds, his better boxing certainly catching the eye, the decision was still greeted by boos and whistling.

23 September 1937. Lou Ambers w pts 15 Pedro Montanez

Venue: Polo Grounds, Manhattan, NYC, New York, USA. Recognition: World. Referee: John Marto.

Fight Summary: Satisfied in coasting to victory over the extremely disappointing Montanez (135), the clever Ambers (134½) was chided afterwards for not trying to take the challenger out, having boxed on the back foot all night to clock up the points. Ambers’ valid argument afterwards was why take risks if he did not have to. Unable to fathom Ambers out, which was somewhat surprising as he already held a win over the champion, Montanez was continuously warned for hitting and holding, the majority decision not being disputed.

Given six months leeway before having to make another defence, Ambers was hoping to get in two fights during 1938 before taking on Henry Armstrong, the featherweight champion. Then came the announcement that Armstrong would challenge Barney Ross for the welterweight title on 31 May 1938 at the MSG Bowl, Queens, NYC, with the winner to fight Ambers within 60 days. According to the agreements made between the three champions, if Ross won he would be defending the welter crown against Ambers, but if Armstrong were to be victorious it would be Ambers’ lightweight title only that would be at stake. Following his victory over Ross the match was made for 17 August 1938, with Armstrong bringing a record of 91 wins, 11 defeats and six draws into the ring on the night.

17 August 1938. Henry Armstrong w pts 15 Lou Ambers

Venue: Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, NYC, New York, USA. Recognition: World. Referee: Billy Cavanagh.

Scorecards: 8-6-1, 7-6-2, 7-8.

Fight Summary: Starting off at a whirlwind pace Armstrong (134) backed Ambers (134¼) against the ropes for most of the action, battering the body with great effect despite receiving three cautions for low blows, and had the champion down from a crunching right to the jaw in the fifth round and again in the sixth. That Ambers fought back gamely to give Armstrong more trouble than he had been forced to take on board previously was rewarded on one of the judges’ scorecards, his efforts being highlighted in the 13th session when he stormed into the challenger, whipping in savage blows to force his rival back. However, with the men tiring that was the final spell of mass excitement, both being glad to hear the final bell when it came. On winning, Armstrong possessed the proud record of becoming the only man in ring history to hold three world titles simultaneously, having become champion at 126, 147 and 135lbs in that order. Armstrong relinquished the featherweight title in November.

16 March 1939. Henry Armstrong w co 1 (15) Lew Feldman

Venue: Municipal Auditorium, St Louis, Missouri, USA. Recognition: World. Referee: Walter Heisner.

Fight Summary: Billed and reported as a fight that involved Armstrong’s light and welterweight titles, the champion started well with sharp left jabs before getting down to business to floor Feldman (134) for a count of ‘nine’ after less than two minutes of action. There was no coming back from that, and with Feldman back on his feet Armstrong (135) piled in with powerful rights and lefts to leave the former on the deck to be counted out with just 2.12 on the clock.

With a return agreement in place, Armstrong was contracted to defend the lightweight title against Lou Ambers. The former champion, Ambers, had won nine out of nine, beating top men such as Steve Halaiko, Tommy Cross, Frankie Wallace, Paul Junior (2) and Baby Arizmendi since his defeat at the hands of Armstrong, while the latter had defended his welterweight title seven times against the cream of the division.

22 August 1939. Lou Ambers w pts 15 Henry Armstrong

Venue: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NYC, New York, USA. Recognition: World. Referee: Arthur Donovan.

Scorecards: 8-7, 8-7, 11-3-1.

Fight Summary: With Armstrong (135) penalised five rounds for low blows, Ambers (134½) regained his title when given the unanimous decision. However, one should not take away from him the fact that he had fought a smart and tricky battle that at times saw the champion miss with punch after punch. While Armstrong was predictably all action, Ambers also fought savagely, even looking on occasion as though he might knock his man out. The only certain thing to come out of the fight was that neither man could take on board many more battles like that, especially Armstrong who appeared to be not the fighting man he once was.

Ambers forfeited NBA recognition on 25 March 1940 after he failed to sign for a defence against Davey Day. Day had outscored Sammy Angott over 12 rounds of an NBA eliminator at The Stadium, Chicago, Illinois on 8 December, but instead of taking him on Ambers was matched against the unranked Lew Jenkins, who had knocked out Tippy Larkin inside a round at Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, NYC on 8 March 1940 to win a NYSAC eliminator. The somewhat wild, heavy-handed Jenkins had participated in 63 contests, winning 44, drawing four and losing 15, but was not expected to worry Ambers unduly.

10 May 1940. Lew Jenkins w rsc 3 (15) Lou Ambers

Venue: Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, NYC, New York, USA. Recognition: NY/Lineal. Referee: Billy Cavanagh.

Fight Summary:  Unleashing non-stop aggression from the opening bell Jenkins (132) set out his stall with lefts and rights all crashing in on their target, the unfortunate Ambers (134½) being unable to avoid them. Knocked down twice, in the first and second rounds Ambers merely had time for defence, and in the third session Jenkins rushed out of his corner to quickly belt him through the ropes for yet another count. Getting up bleary-eyed the end was nigh for the champion. Put down again from a two-fisted barrage and taking a 'nine' count before rising, Ambers was being hit at will by Jenkins before the referee came to his rescue on the 1.29 mark.

22 November 1940. Lew Jenkins w rsc 2 (15) Pete Lello

Venue: Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, NYC, New York, USA. Recognition: NY/Lineal. Referee: Arthur Donovan.

Fight Summary:  Following a slow start by the champion’s standards, possibly because Lello had knocked him out inside seven rounds some 18 months earlier, the fight never took off until the second round. Put down four times from all manner of punches, Lello (131¾), on unsteady legs and seriously at risk, was rescued by the referee with 23 seconds of the session remaining as Jenkins (134½) was menacingly looking to take him out.

Jenkins’ next opponent would be the NBA champion, Sammy Angott. A solid all-round fighter who never knew when he was beaten, Angott had won the vacant NBA title when beating Davey Day, and was coming into the fight with 64 wins, five draws and 16 losses on his record.  

19 December 1941. Sammy Angott w pts 15 Lew Jenkins

Venue: Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, NYC, New York, USA. Recognition: World. Referee: Arthur Susskind.

Scorecards: 13-2, 13-2, 13-2.

Fight Summary: Having only won three of his last six non-title contests, Jenkins (133) was a huge disappointment as he went down tamely by a unanimous decision against the NBA champion, Angott (133½), who was scarcely any better in what was described as the division’s worst ever title fight by The Ring magazine. It appeared that Jenkins had made his mind up not to fight, for whatever reason, as he continuously went through a grab-and-hold routine. Meanwhile, Angott, who would earn the nickname of ‘The Clutch’, closed Jenkins down, making it difficult for him to get his punches off as he stayed at close quarters to work on the inside.

15 May 1942. Sammy Angott w pts 15 Allie Stolz

Venue: Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, NYC, New York, USA. Recognition: World. Referee: Frank Fullam.

Scorecards: 8-6, 8-6, 5-9.

Fight Summary: In a close fight according to the judges’ cards, the cagey Angott (134½) just about warranted the split decision over Stolz (133). This, despite Stolz landing the cleaner punches and scoring the only knockdown of the fight, a cracking right to the jaw that deposited the champion on his back for a 'nine' count in the third round. At the post mortem the insiders felt that had Stolz, who had two points deducted for low blows and paced himself poorly, been better advised the title was his for the taking.

Angott relinquished the world title on 14 November when retiring (later rescinded) due to an injured hand. Further to that, the next time my version of the 'world' title became available was when the NYSAC and Pennsylvania supported a match for the title between Beau Jack and Bob Montgomery. Having won the NYSAC version of the title when knocking out Tippy Larkin in the third round on 18 December 1942, the all-action Jack had participated in 62 bouts, winning 53, drawing two and losing six, while beating men such as Al Roth, Bobby Poison Ivy, Chester Rico, Terry Young, Allie Stolz, Tippy Larkin, Fritzie Zivic (2) and Henry Armstrong since starting out in 1939. In what would be his first defence, he would be meeting the hard-hitting Montgomery who had taken part in 59 contests, winning 50, drawing three and losing six. Montgomery, who would come to be known as ‘The Bobcat’, had beaten Norman Quarles, Julie Kogon (2), Lew Jenkins, Slugger White, Davey Day, Jimmy Garrison, Joey Peralta, Bobby Ruffin, Maxie Shapiro, Chester Rico and Lulu Costantino on his march up the ratings.

21 May 1943. Bob Montgomery w pts 15 Beau Jack

Venue: Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, NYC, New York, USA. Recognition: NY/Pennsylvania. Referee: Arthur Donovan.

Scorecards: 9-6, 10-5, 10-3-2.

Fight Summary: Badly wobbled and almost out of the fight after being hit by several crunching right-hand uppercuts in the first session, Montgomery (134) came through the crisis well. Although Jack (135) continued to press, by the 11th he was almost out of gas, his left eye cut and having just been dropped by a peach of a left hook. Regardless, Jack somehow managed to keep going to the final bell to lose the unanimous decision. It had been an uphill struggle for Jack from the sixth, the round from which Montgomery had virtually assumed control, his two-fisted attacks carrying the champion before him.

Despite losing to Bobby Ruffin, after beating Maxie Starr and Johnny Hutchinson the top-ranked Jack was already lined up to meet Montgomery, rated as number two, in a return match. Since their previous fight, Montgomery had won four non-title bouts, which included wins over Fritzie Zivic and Petey Scalzo.

19 November 1943. Beau Jack w pts 15 Bob Montgomery

Venue: Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, NYC, New York, USA. Recognition: NY/Pennsylvania. Referee: Arthur Susskind.

Scorecards: 10-4-1, 10-5, 7-6-2.

Fight Summary: Few would have given Jack (132¾) a chance after their first fight, but he surprised Montgomery (133¾) by a change of tactics that was based on speed and use of the bolo punch (named after the knife action for cutting down vegetation in the Philippines and could. be termed as a wide, swinging uppercut). Both men gave it everything they had, and although the action was devoid of any science it was hugely entertaining with first one then the other looking to end the fight early as both connected with big punches. Ultimately, it was Jack who carried off the unanimous decision and the title, having managed to keep up the electric pace before tiring and happy to hear the final bell.

With a return contract in place, Jack and Montgomery would meet for the third time. Since their previous go neither man had laid up and rested, Jack drawing with Sammy Angott and beating Lulu Costantino and Maxie Berger, while Montgomery had defeated Joey Peralta and Ike Williams before losing to Al Bummy Davis.

3 March 1944. Bob Montgomery w pts 15 Beau Jack

Venue: Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, NYC, New York, USA. Recognition: NY/Pennsylvania. Referee: Arthur Susskind.

Scorecards: 8-6-1, 8-6-1, 7-8.

Fight Summary: Being beaten in a round by Al Bummy Davis just two weeks earlier was hardly the right preparation for Montgomery (135) to regain the titles from Jack (134), but regain them he did when taking the split decision at the end of 15 hard-fought rounds. Anything but a thriller this time round, with far too much clutching, it came down to Jack’s quantity as opposed to Montgomery’s quality and power in deciding as to who won. Following two more non-title bouts, including a defeat by Jack (l pts 10 at Madison Square Garden on 4 August), Montgomery was called up by the US Army before being discharged as a corporal early in 1946. Although ‘The Bobcat’ had a few fights during this period, with managerial problems and the need to be properly prepared he would not be ready to defend the title until June 1946.

28 June 1946. Bob Montgomery w co 13 (15) Allie Stolz

Venue: Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, NYC, New York, USA. Recognition: NY/Pennsylvania. Referee: Ruby Goldstein.

Fight Summary: Despite Stolz (132½) showing great skill, especially in slipping punches, he lacked the durability required to survive the heavy blows being tossed by the champion and took counts in the second and fifth sessions. After Montgomery (134¾) had points deducted for two low blows in the sixth, Stolz showed great heart and no little ability to get into the 11th round where he took two early counts. With the crowd right behind him, Stolz, making punches miss by inches, somehow made it to the bell. It could not last. Having been dumped again in the 12th, Stolz gamely proceeded to the 13th before he was counted out with six seconds of the round remaining following a tremendous right to the jaw.

26 November 1946. Bob Montgomery w co 8 (15) Wesley Mouzon

Venue: Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Recognition: NY/Pennsylvania. Referee: Charley Daggert.

Fight Summary: After being knocked out inside two rounds by the 19-year-old Mouzon (132¾) in a non-title fight three months earlier the champion had plenty to prove, and this time he warmed up in the dressing room for fear of being taken out early. Setting a blistering pace, Mouzon took the first three rounds with solid jabs and hooks before Montgomery (135) began to see the fruits of his relentless work on the body in the fourth. Subsequently, with ‘The Bobcat’ bobbing and weaving his way to close quarters Mouzon’s fate was sealed, the infighting ultimately deciding the result. In the eighth, having crowded the lanky Mouzon into a corner and ripped in heavy blows to the body Montgomery shifted his attack upstairs. The contest was ended when a series of lefts and rights followed by a left hook saw Mouzon hanging across the bottom rope before being counted out at 2.18 of the session.

Montgomery’s next defence would be against the NBA champion, Ike Williams, in a fight where the winner would receive world-wide recognition as world champion. The speedy, hard-hitting Williams had become the NBA champion when beating Juan Zurita on 18 April 1945 and had gone on to make successful defences against Enrique Bolanos and Ronnie James. Having also beaten the likes of Willie Roache, Gene Burton (2), Bill Speary, Jimmy Hatcher (2), Joey Peralta, Slugger White, Sammy Angott (2), Cleo Shans, Julie Kogon, Freddie Dawson, Lulu Costantino, Dave Castilloux, Willie Joyce, Maxie Berger Nick Moran, Johnny Bratton, Eddie Giosa (2), Bobby Ruffin and Tippy Larkin, in 97 contests Williams had won 83, drawn four and lost ten. He was also looking to avenge a 12-round non-title kayo loss at the hands of Montgomery on 25 January 1944.

4 August 1947. Ike Williams w co 6 (15) Bob Montgomery

Venue: Municipal Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Recognition: World. Referee: Charley Daggert.

Fight Summary: Looking to unify the championship, the NBA champion, Williams (133¾), cut over the left eye in the second, had the better of all the rounds leading up to the finish as he jabbed the crouching Montgomery (133¾) with regularity. While Montgomery, who was recognised as the title holder in New York and Pennsylvania, concentrated on the midsection, Williams gave a master class of box-fighting against a highly dangerous opponent. Halfway through the sixth Williams picked up the fight with a vengeance when dropping Montgomery for ‘nine’ with a sledge-hammer right, it being a miracle that the latter was still in the contest. Back on his feet but unable to defend himself properly, Montgomery was subjected to all manner of blows before sinking to the canvas where he was counted out in the act of rising on the 2.37 mark.

25 May 1948. Ike Williams w pts 15 Enrique Bolanos

Venue: Wrigley Field, Los Angeles, California, USA. Recognition: World. Referee: Charles Randolph.

Scorecards: 88½-76½, 85½-79½, 82-83.

Fight Summary: Stalking Bolanos (134) throughout, the champion, who was looking to repeat an earlier victory over his rival, found him more durable than before. Although Williams (135) outfought Bolanos over the opening four rounds the man from Los Angeles came back with solid hooks to head and body to win four of the next five sessions prior to the battle taking a decided turn in the former’s favour in the tenth. From here to the final bell Williams made all the running despite desperate resistance from Bolanos. Almost knocked out in the 13th, and cut over the left eye in the 14th, Bolanos never gave up hope of winning before going down on a split decision.

12 July 1948. Ike Williams w rsc 6 (15) Beau Jack

Venue: Shibe Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Recognition: World. Referee: Charley Daggert.

Fight Summary: Defending the title for the second time in a year, Williams (134) allowed Jack (134) to make all the early running while being content to counter and look for openings. Towards the end of the fifth Williams caught Jack with a tremendous left hook. With Jack disorientated, Williams punched away freely until the latter, on regaining his senses, fought back furiously. Coming out for the sixth with a view to finishing Jack off Williams let go another vicious left hook to the jaw before raining in a hail of blows without return, and with just 33 seconds on the clock the referee made a timely stoppage in order to rescue a badly beaten fighter. The film of this fight shows that Williams twice beckoned the referee in before the decision was eventually made as Jack was beginning to slip towards the canvas.

23 September 1948. Ike Williams w co 10 (15) Jesse Flores

Venue: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NYC, New York, USA. Recognition: World. Referee: Mark Conn.

Fight Summary: Despite being rated the number two challenger for the title with just three losses in 50 contests, Flores (134¾) was unable to offer much of a threat to Williams (134¾), being content to box on the back foot. Finally catching up with his rival Williams dropped him twice in the fifth and eighth rounds before Flores, trying to avoid the punches coming his way, took a count of ‘three’ after slipping over in the ninth. In the tenth it was all over at 2.04 of the session after the elusive Flores was felled by a right to the jaw and counted out after being set up with jabs and a tremendous left hook to the body.

21 July 1949. Ike Williams w rsc 4 (15) Enrique Bolanos

Venue: Wrigley Field, Los Angeles, California, USA. Recognition: World. Referee: Jack Dempsey.

Fight Summary: Taking on Williams (135) for the third time having gone close previously, as early as the opening session it could be clearly seen that the champion intended to finish the job quickly. Although badly hurt in the second and third rounds, Bolanos (133), his left eye swollen, still kept giving it his best shot. However, his punches had no effect whatsoever on Williams until crashing rights to the jaw and left hooks to head and body in the fourth dropped him in a dazed state. Having got up at ‘eight’ Bolanos was quickly set about by Williams, who hammered in lefts and rights, and at 2.40 the referee rescued him immediately prior to his corner throwing in the towel.

5 December 1949. Ike Williams w pts 15 Freddie Dawson

Venue: Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Recognition: World. Referee: Charley Daggert.

Scorecards: 8-7, 8-7, 9-6.

Fight Summary: Boxing cautiously for the opening six rounds, with the challenger making a difficult target for Williams (135) when the pair came to close quarters there was far too much mauling and holding. However, in the seventh at least Dawson (134) began to throw a few more punches, especially the left jab, but all the aggression was still with the champion. Although Dawson had the better of it in the eighth, after he picked up a deep gash on the left cheekbone when heads came together the ninth session, it reverted into a mauling affair. The final third of the contest, apart from the 14th, saw Dawson edging it as the jaded Williams tired, but failing to put in sufficient work needed to take the decision he really had only himself to blame.

Come the end of March 1951, Frankie Palermo, Williams’ manager, informed the NBA that his fighter would be defending against Jimmy Carter in May, whereupon the Association suspended the champion for employing elusive tactics in electing to fight a man whom they failed to recognise as a worthy challenger. On 23 May, the Californian Boxing Commission also suspended Williams who was scheduled to defend against Aragon on 19 June, for going through with the Carter fight ahead of meeting the latter. Despite losing two of his last three Carter had a record of 51 wins, seven draws and 11 defeats, beating men of the calibre of Phil Burton, Archie Whitewater, Mario Trigo, Wallace Bud Smith and Percy Bassett, and drawing with Sandy Saddler.

25 May 1951. Jimmy Carter w rsc 14 (15) Ike Williams

Venue: Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, NYC, New York, USA. Recognition:  NY/Lineal. Referee: Petey Scalzo.

Fight Summary: Fighting above expectation, and in what was a huge shock to the public, the unfancied Carter (133) blasted Williams (135) to defeat at 2.49 of the 14th round when the referee decided that the latter was in no condition to defend himself properly. The fight had proceeded with a lack of incident for the opening four rounds before Carter put Williams down for ‘five’ with a long right hand to the head. He was then dropped again in the fifth by heavy rights to the head. Thereafter, Williams was a beaten man, and although he was put down again in the tenth he somehow stumbled along to the 14th when the fight eventually came to an end after he had arisen, almost senseless, from another bad knockdown. Announced as being 135lbs, Williams had been unable to make that weight at the 2pm weigh-in, leaving the NYSAC to exercise its discretion in letting the fight go ahead. Having had to remove 20lbs fairly quickly left Williams in a weakened state, which would go some way to explaining his lacklustre performance, and after losing his next two contests, to Don Williams and Gil Turner, his career was all but over at the highest level. Following the result the NBA quickly gave Carter their blessing when recognising him as champion on 4 July after he had agreed to defend against a top-three opponent.

14 November 1951. Jimmy Carter w pts 15 Art Aragon

Venue: Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, USA. Recognition: World. Referee: Mushy Callahan.

Scorecards: 88-77, 88-77, 88½-76½.

Fight Summary: The challenger made a reasonable start, but by the fourth round Carter (134¼) had begun to put his punches together better prior to having his rival over with a left hook in the sixth. Although coming back strongly from the knockdown Aragon (134¼) was eventually drawn in to close-quarter action where he was second best, and in a torrid 12th session he was forced to defend himself against a torrent of blows until Carter temporarily tired and the pace dropped. At that point, with Aragon, the Californian ‘Golden Boy’, having very little left the 13th saw him take another battering, his head being rocked back and forth before he managed to struggle through to the final bell to hear the unanimous verdict go against him. Both men finished with facial damage, Aragon being cut over the right eye with his left eye almost closed, while Carter carried a cut left eye from the sixth round.

1 April 1952. Jimmy Carter w pts 15 Lauro Salas

Venue: Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, USA. Recognition: World. Referee: Abe Roth.

Scorecards: 87-78, 84½-80½, 86½-81½.

Fight Summary: Returning to California for another defence of his title, Carter (134) began slowly before jolting Salas (131) with short uppercuts and hooks in the third round, only to be forced to ship some solid rights to the head in the fourth. After having some further success in the fifth, Salas was given a lesson in the following seven sessions as Carter ripped into him with stiff, jolting jabs and belting left hooks and uppercuts. Despite all of that Salas began to come back in the 13th, and in the 15th he became a fighting demon when smashing Carter to the deck for ‘three’ with a heavy right and punching it out with the champion until the final bell. While Salas made a big play of it at the finish, the unanimous decision in Carter’s favour would have come as no surprise to those who understood the art of judging.

Having given Carter a run for his money in his previous contest, Salas was given another crack at the champion. Ranked at number six in The Ring magazine ratings, Salas was a fighter with limitless energy who seemed to get stronger the longer a fight went on. Despite losing 24 times in 83 contests, he had wins over top men such as Bobby Dykes, Buddy Jacklich, Manuel Ortiz (2), Jock Leslie (2), Dave Gallardo, Rudy Garcia, Carlos Chavez, Fabela Chavez and Jackie Blair.

14 May 1952. Lauro Salas w pts 15 Jimmy Carter

Venue: Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, USA. Recognition: World. Referee: Frankie Van.

Scorecards: 84-81, 83½-81½, 82-83.

Fight Summary: Just six weeks later Carter (134) again defended his title against Salas (131) in California, but this time came away minus his crown. Attacking strongly from the start, Salas had a big second round when staggering the champion with heavy rights to the head before the two of them went toe-to-toe right up to the 11th when the Mexican got his second wind. The last four sessions saw Salas, cut over the left eye in the ninth, swinging away almost non-stop as Carter, who had been the more cautious of the pair, tried desperately to match him punch for punch without too much success. The real turning point came after Carter’s left eye went in the 13th and a cracking overarm right buckled his legs in the 14th, leaving him with too much to do in the last round.

15 October 1952. Jimmy Carter w pts 15 Lauro Salas

Venue: The Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, USA. Recognition: World. Referee: Frank Gilmer.

Scorecards: 81-69, 84-66, 82-68.

Fight Summary: In recapturing the title from Salas (132) five months after losing it Carter (135) showed that he had learned the lessons of the previous fights. Setting up a rapid pace from the opening bell while maintaining his supremacy throughout he carried off all but three of the 15 rounds. Despite being hit often, Salas, badly cut over the right eye, never wavered in his efforts to retain the title, often changing his stance in an effort to confuse Carter. When Salas swarmed all over Carter in the 11th and 12th, having paced himself well the latter soon got back to stabbing the left hand into his rival’s face and controlling the rest of the action.

24 April 1953. Jimmy Carter w rsc 4 (15) Tommy Collins

Venue: The Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Recognition: World. Referee: Tommy Rawson.

Fight Summary: Following two rounds of skilful boxing it was ominous that Carter (134¼) was merely sizing up Collins (133¾), and in the third when he began to blast home punches from both hands to head and body the latter was sent crashing seven times in all before being allowed to answer the bell to start the fourth in a helpless state. With his left eye badly damaged and hardly able to stand, Collins bravely stepped up to the plate until having been relentlessly chopped down a further three more times the referee brought the fight to a halt on the 2.28 mark. He was already counting over Collins for the tenth time when the latter’s seconds jumped into the ring, it being their action that caused the count to stop when it did.

12 June 1953. Jimmy Carter w rsc 13 (15) George Araujo

Venue: Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, NYC, New York, USA. Recognition: World. Referee: Al Berl.

Fight Summary: Although most of the early rounds belonged to Araujo (132½) by virtue of jabs and combinations delivered at lightning pace, once Carter (135) decided that he had stalked the challenger methodically for long enough and began to open up it was clear that 15 rounds would not be required. By the sixth Araujo was being slowed down by solid jabs and blows to the body as Carter, cut over the right eye, picked up the pace. And in the ninth he had no option but to stand his ground more, being twice dropped for his pains. Having been almost knocked out Araujo somehow managed make it to the tenth before hopping his way out of danger for the next three sessions, but in the 13th after going punch for punch with Carter he was dropped by a cracking right counter to the head. From the moment Araujo hit the deck it was obvious that he would not make it, the referee wisely calling it off at 2.16 of the round to allow him immediate medical treatment.

11 November 1953. Jimmy Carter w co 5 (15) Armand Savoie

Venue: The Forum, Montreal, Canada. Recognition: World. Referee: Tom Sullivan.

Fight Summary: Faster than the champion in the first round Savoie (134) was also on the offensive in the second with left hooks and rights to head and body before the champion got going in the fourth. In what was a session full of furious exchanges, both Carter (133½) and Savoie were cut over their left eyes with the former getting on top prior to the bell. Barely wasting a moment in the fifth Carter took the fight to Savoie, and after a burst of body punches he feinted the Canadian on to a cracking right to the jaw that culminated in the latter crashing to the floor to be counted out after just 59 seconds.

Carter’s next defence would be against Paddy DeMarco, a veteran with 80 contests under his belt since turning pro in 1945. However, he had won only five of his last 12 fights. With many thinking that his best days were behind him, a ten-round points win over Ralph Dupas at the Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans, Louisiana on 2 January 1954 projected him from ninth to fourth in The Ring magazine ratings. Known as ‘The Billygoat’ because of his tear-in, head-down style, DeMarco had beaten Terry Young (2), Humberto Sierra (2), Billy Graham, Teddy Davis, Eddie Giosa, Arthur King, Sandy Saddler (2), Enrique Bolanos, Eddie Chavez, Johnny Gonsalves, Henry Davis (2) and Savoie.

5 March 1954. Paddy DeMarco w pts 15 Jimmy Carter

Venue: Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, NYC, New York, USA. Recognition: World. Referee: Ruby Goldstein.

Scorecards: 7-5-3, 9-5-1, 9-6.

Fight Summary: Bustling around from the first to last bell, DeMarco (135), playing on the champion’s lack of aggression, was able to get under the left lead to bang away with both hands to the body throughout. Strangely, Carter (135), who used his right sparingly, seemed to have no answer to DeMarco’s constant attacks, especially after he suffered a badly gashed left eye in the sixth. It was noticeable that when Carter occasionally cut loose in the last third of the fight he seemed to have no effect on DeMarco, and although he picked up a few rounds on the cards his attacks quickly petered out. The final session saw both men go head-to-head as Carter desperately tried to pull the fight out of the fire, but as the 15th ended it was DeMarco who had the champion covering up in his own corner surely realising his title had gone. With a 90-day return contract in place, Carter would get the opportunity to regain his title.

17 November 1954. Jimmy Carter w rsc 15 (15) Paddy DeMarco

Venue: Cow Palace, Daly City, California, USA. Recognition: World. Referee: Ray Flores.

Fight Summary: Yet again Carter (135) confounded his critics when he regained the championship to become the first man to hold the same title three times. Although DeMarco (134½) made a good start, being in front after four rounds, when Carter started to connect with several heavy rights in the fifth the champion’s left eye was cut. The next two or three rounds were relatively even, but in the ninth a left to the jaw put DeMarco down for ‘five’. Back on his feet there seemed to be little snap left in DeMarco's punches. It was now all Carter, who this time around was concentrating on the body, and while DeMarco gave it everything he had by the end of the 11th the writing was on the wall. By the 13th the champion was taking a real pounding, and in the 14th he was dropped again by a cracking left hook to the jaw only to be saved by the bell. After staggering out for the 15th DeMarco was rescued on the 14-second mark when the referee, having seen enough, called a halt.

Taking in three non-title bouts against Bobby Woods, Tony DeMarco and Orlando Zulueta, the last of which he lost, Carter immediately offered his victor a shot at the crown on 9 July 1955. Unfortunately for Zulueta, six days later Carter withdrew his offer after an announcement was made that he would be fighting Wallace Bud Smith on 1 June, which was eventually pushed on. Smith, who was rated at number four in The Ring magazine, having turned pro in 1948 after representing America in the Olympic Games, had won 29 and drawn six of 48 bouts, with many of his 13 losses coming against heavier men. Among those who had tasted defeat against Smith were Tommy Campbell, Teddy Davis, Frank Flannery, Zulueta (2), Johnny Williams, Arthur King and Arthur Persley.

29 June 1955. Wallace Bud Smith w pts 15 Jimmy Carter

Venue: The Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Recognition: World. Referee: Mel Manning.

Scorecards: 147-140, 145-144, 143-144.

Fight Summary: A four-to-one underdog, Smith (134) relentlessly hunted down the champion from the opening bell and despite losing several of the earlier rounds came on strongly to hand Carter (134¼) what was probably his worst ever beating. With Carter’s ripping body attacks versus Smith’s slashing left hooks being the order of the day the last three rounds would decide the winner, and it was then that the latter came through stronger to take the decision. In what was a bloody affair, regardless of a lack of knockdowns, at the final bell Carter required 15 stitches, nine over his left eye and six over the right, while Smith needed three on his left optic.

19 October 1955. Wallace Bud Smith w pts 15 Jimmy Carter

Venue: The Gardens, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. Recognition: World. Referee: Tony Warndorf.

Scorecards: 145-143, 143-139, 143-139.

Fight Summary: Getting off to a flying start Smith (135) was determined to keep his nose in front of the man he took the title from, the contest developing into a bruising affair after Carter (135) was cut over the right eye in the third. The fight followed a similar pattern to their previous epic, with Smith whacking away with the left hook while Carter concentrated on working well at close quarters. In both the ninth and 13th rounds Carter had Smith going from his vaunted right hand, but somehow the latter weathered the storms until they died down to come back strongly in the remaining two sessions to retain his title.

Following three consecutive defeats in 1956 by Larry Boardman, Tony DeMarco and Joe Brown (l pts 10 at the Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas on 2 May), Smith would next defend his title against the latter who at the time of his victory was unrated. Brown had been a pro since 1941, having started his career with a first-round kayo defeat, and had finally got his opportunity after 109 contests, comprising 77 wins, ten draws, 19 defeats, one no contest and two contests where the results were unknown and were possibly no-decision affairs. A crafty, stand-up boxer with an excellent jab and stiff punching power, Brown had been in and out of the rankings down the years, beating top men such as Carter, Melvin Bartholomew (2), Danny Webb, Arthur King, Arthur Persley (2), Luther Rawlings, Danny Womber, Jack Hassen, Baby Ortiz, Teddy Davis, Lester Felton, Virgil Akins (2), Tommy Campbell, Isaac Logart and Federico Plummer, and despite losing 19 contests he had proved to have staying power.

24 August 1956. Joe Brown w pts 15 Wallace Bud Smith

Venue: Municipal Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Recognition: World. Referee: Ronald Brown.

Scorecards: 9-3-3, 12-3, 6-7-2.

Fight Summary: Although many thought that the 31-year-old Brown, or ‘Old Bones’ as he was known, was past his best even though he had previously defeated the champion on points in a non-title bout, he could not be ignored any more. It was all Brown (133) in the early rounds, despite breaking his right hand in the second, as he jabbed his way into a clear lead, and it was not until the 12th that Smith (134½) showed when a belated rally pushed the challenger back for a couple of sessions. Unfortunately for Smith it was this new-found aggression that ultimately let him down as he walked on to Brown’s two-fisted counters, taking counts of ‘seven’ and ‘nine’ in the 14th. Saved by the bell after the second knockdown the unsteady Smith somehow managed to make it to the end of the fight, hanging on desperately at every opportunity if only to preserve some pride. The fight was expertly summed up by Nat Fleischer of The Ring magazine, who said: “Although Smith never let up in his efforts to catch Brown, he was baffled by the latter’s backward movements, his bobbing and weaving and straight lefts to the face and failed to land effectively”. Fleischer, reacting to those who thought that Smith should have retained his title on aggression alone, was correct in his assertion that scoring punches win fights not anything else.

13 February 1957. Joe Brown w rsc 10 (15) Wallace Bud Smith

Venue: Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami, Florida, USA. Recognition: World. Referee: Jimmy Pearless.

Fight Summary: Dancing in and out and scoring at will with both hands, especially with the left jab, Brown (134¾) gave his challenger a boxing lesson throughout, his supremacy being so great that one official failed to give Smith (134) a round. Although Smith was the aggressor he ran into cul-de-sacs, and when he really opened up in a bid to save the fight, in the eighth, he came off worse, thereafter taking a lot of punishment. By now outclassed, Smith, his left eye almost closed, cut on the right eye and bleeding badly from the mouth, was allowed to start the tenth after being punished in the ninth. But he was soon put under siege by a rampant Brown. Having slipped over and seemingly unable to stem the flow of punches being tossed at him Smith was pulled out of the fight by the referee following the bell to end the tenth.

19 June 1957. Joe Brown w rsc 15 (15) Orlando Zulueta

Venue: The Coliseum, Denver, Colorado, USA. Recognition: World. Referee: Ray Keech.

Fight Summary: Making his second defence, Brown (134¼) began to take over from the halfway stage when his punches seemed to have more effect on the clever Zulueta (133¾) than before. Prior to then the contest had been fairly level, with the Cuban possibly ahead, but by the end of the 11th Brown, carrying a cut over the left eye, had pulled away. The 12th round saw Zulueta taking a bit of a hiding as Brown cut loose with both hands, and in the 13th a cracking right hook to the head dropped the challenger for ‘nine’. Although Zulueta somehow survived the 14th, with Brown again on the rampage in the final session he was put down for ‘eight’. Having got up glassy-eyed, the referee rescued Zulueta with just 21 seconds remaining.

4 December 1957. Joe Brown w rsc 11 (15) Joey Lopes

Venue: The Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, USA. Recognition: World. Referee: Joey White.

Fight Summary: Until the end of the sixth round the contest had been an interesting one without really igniting, with Brown (133½) boxing well on the back foot and content to peck away with the left jab while the challenger looked to get his punches off. That all changed in the seventh when Brown sped out of his corner to floor Lopes (133½), now carrying cuts over both eyes, with a cracking right to the jaw. Although the Portuguese-born Lopes was up at ‘four’ and immediately back into the fight his blows appeared to lack any real force, and by the end of the tenth he was being battered with lefts and rights to the head. So bewildered was Lopes that he actually sat down in Brown’s corner at the bell. Lopes should have been retired at that point, but having been allowed to come out for the 11th he was soon in trouble again. And after being put down twice with heavy rights and not fighting back the referee came to his rescue on the 1.50 mark.

7 May 1958. Joe Brown w rsc 8 (15) Ralph Dupas

Venue: Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, USA. Recognition: World. Referee: Jimmy Webb.

Fight Summary: It is interesting to note that because both Brown (134) and his ‘white’ challenger hailed from New Orleans, due to the inter-racial law within Louisiana at the time the fight had to be contested in another State. Taking up the offensive from the start while maintaining an excellent defence, by the fourth round Brown got his right hand going and from there on there was only one man in it as Dupas (134) began to wilt. By the seventh the clever Dupas appeared ready to be taken, and in the eighth Brown really opened up with both hands before letting go a terrific right to the jaw which dropped the challenger heavily. Although Dupas was counted out by the ‘counter’, the referee had actually stopped the count at ‘nine’ because Brown had failed to go to a neutral corner, and with the dazed fighter back on his feet he allowed the action to continue. Not requiring too much initiative Brown immediately went to work to drop Dupas for two further counts, both of ‘eight’, first with a left hook and then with a two-handed assault, before the referee decided that, at 2.21, the latter had taken enough punishment for one night.

23 July 1958. Joe Brown w pts 15 Kenny Lane

Venue: Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, USA. Recognition: World. Referee: Ernie Taylor.

Scorecards: 143-142, 144-143, 145-141.

Fight Summary: Confusing the champion with his awkward southpaw style, Lane (134¼) made Brown (134¼) work hard and allowed him no openings for the right hand in what became a hard, tactical battle. Although significantly outreached, Lane was quick to counter with the right, but in the tenth the contest turned as the former, cut over right eye in the ninth, was forced to take a variety of blows as he came under a heavy attack. That was undoubtedly Brown’s best round despite Lane remaining upright and continuing to fight back. Cut over the left eye in the 14th, Brown put in a grandstand finish in the final session to carry off the decision in what had been a tough one.

11 February 1959. Joe Brown w pts 15 Johnny Busso

Venue: Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, USA. Recognition: World. Referee: Jimmy Webb.

Scorecards: 148-131, 147-138, 149-140.

Fight Summary: Having gained a non-title win over the champion the previous November Busso (135)

was expected to go close, but this time around he was well beaten. Quickly getting on top, Brown (134) outboxed his rival for long periods, and in the ninth put him down for ‘five’ with a left-right to the head doing the damage. Although game, Busso failed to pace himself over the distance, finishing the contest badly marked up, while Brown took few chances as he scored effectively throughout.

3 June 1959. Joe Brown w rsc 8 (15) Paolo Rosi

Venue: Uline Arena, Washington DC, USA. Recognition: World. Referee: Charley Reynolds.

Fight Summary: With Rosi (134) forcing the action in virtually every round the champion was content to box on the back foot for long periods, using countering lefts and rights, but he was caught far too often for a man with his ability. In the third, Rosi was hurt by a crashing right to the head and was cut over the left eye as Brown (132) upped his work-rate. While Rosi seemed unperturbed, Brown was content to circle away, sending in the occasional heavy right to the head as the former pursued him while hooking with both hands. The eighth saw Brown finally take the fight to Rosi, a right cross severely gashing the latter over the eye, and with the champion punching away throughout the session to worsen the injuries it was apparent that the fight was almost over. It therefore came as no surprise during the interval when Rosi was pulled out on the advice of the ringside doctors.

Rated number three in the world by The Ring magazine, Dave Charnley, the British and British Empire champion, would be Brown’s next opponent. Charnley had won 33 from 39 contests, having beaten Johnny Gonsalves, Don Jordan, Joey Lopes and Willie Toweel.

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