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This is a summary of ring action from the second half of February 1934, covering a total of 74 bouts. A couple of notable debuts in the USA are covered in this report.

Feb. 16, 1934: “Friday night fights” goes “Down Under” once again, to Sydney, Australia. In the co-feature, 19-2 MW prospect, Aussie Fred Henneberry, faces veteran Teddy Yarosz in a non-title contest. Henneberry finds the rugged Yarosz to be an elusive target, as the American’s defenses effectively blunt the power of Henneberry throughout most of the fight. Yarosz goes on to take a UD 10 (97-95, 97-94, 97-94) to move to 21-5 (13) overall. For Henneberry, it is his second straight loss – following an unsuccessful challenge for the OPBF title – to drop him to 19-3 (10) overall. In the main event, reigning OPBF HW king Tom “the Hard Rock Down Under” Heeney faces King Levinsky, another American, in a non-title affair. Levinsky, following a recent run of good results, is looking to move up the HW rankings against Heeney, who has slowed a step but still packs a wallop. Heeney starts off as the aggressor, but he is nothing more than an inviting target for Levinsky, who lands repeatedly such that Heeney’s left eye is puffing up as early as round four. The swelling worsens as the bout progresses, and Levinsky coasts to a one-sided UD 10 (99-91 on all three cards), much to the chagrin of the Heeney supporters at ringside. Post-fight records are Levinsky, 22-3-1 (11); Heeney, 35-19-1 (12).

Feb. 17, 1934: The Sports Palace in Rome, Italy hosts the next fistic action, with a notable WBA title clash headlining the card. Only bout of note on the undercard leading up to the main event is between two unbeaten young BW prospects, Romania’s Aurel Toma and Mexico’s Raul Casanova. It’s an entertaining action bout that sees Toma battling a swollen left eye and Casanova struggling with a split lip in the early going. Then, in the fourth, Casanova decks Toma for the count of nine with a nice combination. A second KD follows in round eight, and the Mexican takes a lopsided UD 10 (100-89, 100-89, 99-90) to move to 11-0 (10); Toma’s first career setback leaves him at 11-1 (8). At the end of the evening, it is time for the main event, which matches a current WBA titleholder with an all-time great, as Barney Ross defends his WBA WW crown against Benny Leonard, former LW Champ who is entering the ring for his 95^th pro bout. After a long feeling-out process, both men feel comfortable trading blows, boxing from the outside. Ross gets off to a good start, taking the first two rounds, but the 38-year-old Leonard rebounds quickly with a strong third round, and he also has the edge in round four. Leonard continues to hold his own through the middle rounds, but in round eight he suffers a cut over his left eye that proves troublesome as the bout wears on. After ten, the unofficial card has it even at 95 apiece. Ross begins to press the action on the inside as the bout enters the later rounds. In round 12, the cut is reopened. Leonard stays outside but also tries to protect the cut, which is being targeted by Ross. Finally, in the 14^th, the cut is ripped open and, despite protests from Leonard’s corner, the ref consults with the ring doctor and then calls a halt. TKO 14 for Ross on the cuts stoppage. Ross keeps the WBA title belt and moves to 23-2-1 (8); Leonard is now 82-10-3 (42) after what could turn out to be his final WBA title contest.

Feb. 17, 1934: Back in the States for the next card, at New York City’s Madison Square Garden. One notable debut on the undercard, as promising LH Gus Lesnevich kicks his career off on the right foot when he flattens a TC with a KO 4 win to go 1-0 (1) after his initial pro outing. Also on the undecard is young Flyweight Istvan Enekes, a former Olympic Champ who takes on veteran Corporal Izzy Schwartz in a 10-round, non title bout. It is Enekes’ first bout at Prime, and he takes advantage of an early cut opened over Schwartz’s left eye in the initial round. The cut gradually worsens and leads to a stoppage midway through the bout. TKO 6 for Enekes to run his career totals to 18-2-1 (10). Schwartz is now 29-17-2 (7). After a couple of additional bouts, it is time for the main event. Another non-title bout, but it matches a former WBA HW Champ against an up-and-comer as Young Stribling is matched with Max Baer. Baer is looking to make a name for himself and also to move up the HW ranks. Early in round three, a Baer hook staggers Stribling and forces the ex-Champ to cover up. In the fourth round, Stribling misses with a left and leaves himself open for another Baer hook. Once again, Stribling covers up and manages to last the round. Baer gets careless in round five, though, and he walks into a Stribling cross and goes down briefly near the end of the round. The rest of the bout is fairly close, with Stribling landing enough punches to put some swelling under Baer’s left eye. Baer remains the aggressor to the end, but the decision goes to Stribling via a SD 10 (95-94, 95-96, 96-94) who moves to 46-8-2 (24) with the win. Tough loss for Baer, now 19-3 (18), who needs to find an easier opponent in order to crack the upper echelon in the HW ranks.

Feb. 23, 1934: Next Friday night card is at Atlantic City’s Convention Hall. On the undercard are two young MWs, with unbeaten Ken Overlin facing Eddie “Babe” Risko for a possible move into the top 20 spot in the MW rankings. Overlin suffers a cut over his left eye early in the bout, and the action is called to an early halt – a technical draw as the cut was ruled due to an accidental butt. Overlin is 20-0-1 (11) after the bout, Risko is 21-2-1 (10) as both men appear to have bright futures. The main event is for the USBA FW title, as Eddie Shea makes his first defense against a former WBA Champion, the higher ranked Louis Kaplan. It is Shea’s first bout at Post, as Kaplan has already reached Post. Things start badly for Shea, who suffers a cut over his right eye in the opening stanza. The cut reopens in round five and then again, in round nine, leading to a late stoppage. TKO 9 for Kaplan. Post-fight, Kaplan is 43-13-3 (11). Shea, whose one career title reign did not last long, ends the bout at 28-16-3 (15).

Feb. 24, 1934: Next card is at Earls Court in London. No titles at stake, and the fight card has a number of British fighters facing foreign opposition. In the main event, CBU and GBU FW Champion Al Foreman faces the highIy regarded Cuban. Kid Chocolate, the #2 ranked FW contender. Chocolate puts Foreman down in the opening round with a big hook; Foreman arises at the count of eight. Chocolate continues as the aggressor through the early and middle rounds, with Foreman just hoping to weather the storm. In round six, the Cuban takes a step back but still unloads with another strong shot to register the second KD of the fight. On wobbly legs, Foreman arises after hanging onto the ropes to assist him. Late in the bout, the Brit is cut under the left eye. The cut is not a relevant factor as Chocolate takes a lopsided UD 10 (97-91, 99-89, 99-89) to run his career totals to 24-3-5 (14). Foreman is now 32-20-1 (22).

Feb. 24, 1934: Final card of the month, at Detroit’s Briggs Stadium. It’s a packed card, headlined by a USBA WW title bout. First up is another significant pro debut on the undercard, as MW Tony Zale, the “Man of Steel,” makes quick work of his TC opponent, taking a TKO 2 to go 1-0 (1). Then, in the main event, Joe Dundee and Tommy Freeman are matched for the vacant USBA WW belt, previously held by Barney Ross who now reigns as the WBA Champion. Both men are still in their prime, and Freeman took a UD 10 win in a prior encounter back in 1931. Dundee has a slight edge in the early going, and as the bout wears on, Freeman becomes more and more aggressive. No cuts or knockdowns, as both fighers are unmarked. The UD 12 goes to Dundee (116-113, 117-112, 117-112). Post-fight career marks are 39-5-7 (13) for Dundee, 31-16-2 (13) for Freeman.