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1926 FW Title Bouts

WBA

Young Johnny Brown CH (22-3-1) vs Andre Routis #2 (25-6-2)

Rematch of the prior year's title clash between these two that ended in a SD 15 for Brown. Routis has captured the EBU title in the meantime.

Good start for the challenger, who takes the opening round. Both work outside in round two, and it's a better round for the Champ, who starts to get off the mark. Brown then moves inside for round three, which sees alot of action and is a very close round. More of the same in round four, another close round, good action as Routis tries to force the action on the inside. Both work inside in round five, another close round, and the unofficial scorer has a narrow lead (48-47) for the Champ at this point. Round six, Routis dominates as Brown in unsuccessful in establishing contol on the inside. After a forgettable round seven, both step up the pace in round eight, and Brown puts the challenger down for a 9-count with a strong combination. Routis recovers, managing to keep the bout although the Champion has built a points lead (97-93 on the unofficial card) heading into the later rounds. Routis is the aggressor in rounds 11 and 12, but he gets careless and runs into a Brown cross, forcing him to cover up to survive in round 12. Brown's right eye starts swelling in round 12, and Routis finishes strongly to make it reasonably close. In the end, the mid-fight knockdown makes the difference as Brown retains the title via a UD 15 (143-139, 142-141, 142-140).

Young Johnny Brown CH (23-3-1) vs Carl Duane #12 (20-5)

Brown accepts the challenge of "the Bronx Express," as other higher rated contenders are unavailable. First meeting of the two.

Strong start by the challenger, Duane, who takes the opening round. Duane surprises the Champ, scoring a KD and putting Brown down for a 6-count in round two. Duane moves inside in round three, and both men have their moments in a good action round that is essentially even. Brown moves inside in round four, nailing Duane with a big shot that puts the challenger on the deck (briefly). Some good toe-to-toe action in round five which sees Brown pull ahead on points later in the round. The unofficial scorer has it even (47-all) after five. Duane bounces back with a strong surge in the sixth, and Brown is nursing a split lip. Duane maintains the upper hand in an another action-packed round, round seven, and the cut lip is still bleeding which spells trouble for the Champ. Brown tries pressing the action in round eight, but to no avail as it's another even round. Brown takes round nine but Duane battles back to take the tenth and pull ahead (96-93) on the unofficial card with five rounds left. Duane fights more cautiously in the later rounds, managing to maintain his lead as the Champ eventually tires. Duane's solid performance enables him to topple the Champ and take the title via a UD 15 (144-138, 143-140, 142-141).

Carl Duane CH (21-5) vs Chick Suggs # 5 (25-8-3)

First meeting, as the ex-Champ Suggs gets another title shot despite only two wins in his last four outings since losing the title to Louis Kaplan in late 1924.

The "Bronx Express" gets off to a strong start, taking the opening round. Second round sees both men work outside, and it's another strong round for the Champ. Suggs battles on the inside in round three, and he performs well. Duane tries to work inside in round four, this time it is another good round for the challenger. The inside battle in round five sees Suggs put the Champ on the deck with a big cross, putting the challenger out in front (49-45) on the unofficial scorecard. Duane battles a swollen right eye starting in round six, limiting his effectiveness. Suggs has the edge in both rounds six and seven, but rounds eight and nine are even. Duane, feeling the title belt slipping away, becomes aggressive in round ten but falls short as he can only pepper the challenger with his jab. Suggs takes a fairly solid lead (97-92 on the unofficial card) into the final five rounds. Duane suffers a cut over his right eye in round 12, and two rounds later the cut becomes too severe to allow him to continue. Suggs regains the title via a TKO 14 (cuts stoppage)

Chick Suggs CH (26-8-3) vs Benny Bass #2 (26-4-2)

Suggs takes on the current NABF Champion, the higher rated Bass. Bass owns a win and a draw in two prior bouts, both of which went the distance.

Not much action in the first two rounds. Suggs shifts to the inside, taking a slight lead after a close round. The challenger, "Little Fish" Bass fights inside in round four but struggles with his timing. Not much to choose between the two in round five, but Bass' left eye starts to puff up. The unofficial ringside observer has the bout dead even (48-48) at this point. After a close round six, Suggs pulls ahead as Bass cannot connect while fighting inside in round seven. Bass keeps battling, taking round eight as the Champ's right eye starts to puff up a bit. The bout swings back to Suggs in the following two rounds, and he holds a narrow lead (96-95) according to the unofficial scorecard. Bass continues his aggressive approach, but he cannot break down Suggs' defenses in rounds 11 and 12. The swelling around Bass' eye worsens, and he is vulnerable to some strong counterpunching from Suggs that puts the challenger on the deck in round 14. The late KD removes any doubt as Suggs posts a solid UD 15 win. (147-138, 147-138, 146-139)

NABF: Bass starts the year with the belt, defending it first versus the veteran Bud Ridley, "the Little Dempsey," in a bout that comes to a premature ending when Bass is called for a blatant foul that gives the belt to Ridley via a DQ 6. A rematch is ordered, and this time Bass puts Ridley on the canvas with a hook early on, then coasts to a UD 12 win. Eddie O'Keefe is next to challenge for the belt, but Bass takes control early, scoring an eighth-round knockdown, setting the stage for another UD 12 win.

USBA: Ex-Champ Louis Kaplan and Mike Dundee are matched for the belt vacated by Ridley after his DQ win for the NABF title. Kaplan is at the top of his form, seizing control until the ref steps in to save Dundee from further punishment. Kaplan via TKO 5. Kaplan also gradually wears down the next challenger, Danny Kaplan. Another TKO stoppage, this time in round eight. Kaplan then takes on Bobby Garcia, who tries to make the most of his first title try, suffering a cut eye but managing to last the distance. Kaplan keeps the title, though, winning a comfortable UD 12.

CBU: Leo Roy makes his first defense in over a year, taking on ex-Champ Young Johnny Brown. Roy surprises everyone by knocking Brown to the canvas in the opening round, but the tables are turned quickly as Brown battles back with a dominant effort in round three, forcing the ref to step in as Roy is literally out on his feet. Brown by TKO 3 to take the belt.

GBU: Al Foreman accepts a challenge from the youthful Dom Volante, who appears overmatched as Foreman decks him with a big hook, following up with a second KD late in the opening round. However, the second round sees a total reversal of form as Volante catches Foreman totally off-guard and pummels away at the Champ until the ref calls a halt. Volante by TKO 2 to take the belt.

EBU: Routis defends versus his countryman, Eugene Criqui, surviving a tough patch in round nine when he was decked by a Criqui hook and, in a weird finish, retaining the bout via a DQ in round 12 when Criqui is called for a blatant low blow. Talks for a rematch fall through and Routis accepts the challenge from the new GBU titleholder, Dom Volante, outboxing the heavy-hitting Brit from the opening round and hanging on for a UD 12 win.

OPBF: Elino Flores accepted the challenge of his countryman, Johnny Datto, who put forth a solid effort and, proving that the third time is a charm, won the belt via a UD 12 in his third try. Datto then took on the veteran Aussie Jimmy Hill, battling back after a slow start but tiring in the later rounds. UD 12 to Hill, the new Champion. Then, in a battle of the two "Hills," the younger Hill (the Filipino challenger, Johnny Hill) was the victor as the veteran Aussie was cut early then counted out a couple of rounds later. KO 5 for the new Champion, Johnny Hill of the Philippines.