[Rocco Del Sesto]

01/11/67 Wednesday
New York, NY, USA
Frank Josephs – LHW (6-4-1) vs. Standford Bulla – LHW (12-17-0)

Frank Josephs - USA Rating 2
Light Heavyweight 1961-67

7 wins / 4 losses / 1 draw / 3 KO

Hometown: Harlem, NY

Rating by: Rocco Del Sesto

Fought twice in 1961 winning a 4 round decision against a Willie Lee(10-22-1,5) and then lost a 4 round decision to Charley Leslie(6-3-0,2). Frank did not fight again then till October 1965. From 65 to 67 he fought Standford Bulla 3 times winning twice, including FranK's last career fight on Jan. 11th 1967. He lost by 4th round TKO to Angel Oquendo(28-19-1,6).


Stanford Bulla - USA Rating 1
Light Heavyweight 1953-1970
14 wins / 27 losses / 0 draw / 5 KO

Hometown: New York, NY

Rating by: Rocco Del Sesto

Bulla fought from 1953 to 1954 compiling a 3-9-0 record then was out of the ring until November 1961 for one fight, a 4th round KO loss to Emile Griffith and then was inactive again until March 1964 from then on fighting on a fairly regular basis through to 1970. The rest of Bulla's career saw him meeting 2 other fighters thus far in the game, all of them in the late stages of his career. He fought Hal Carroll 3 times, loosing all 3 times. He also lost a 4th round KO to Jose Luis Garcia.

Some other noteable record opponents Bulla did fight included a win and loss against WW-Joe Fusco(21-13-1,9) a loss against MW-Ray Drake(21-7-1,4), a loss to MW-Tony Baldoni(22-10-1,11), loss to LHW-Angel Oquendo(28-19-1,6), and a loss to LHW-Eddie Avoth(44-9-0,20).

The fight....
Nothing much exciting or worthwhile to hilite this fight. A couple of New York city club fighters matching up here for this one. For Josephs this fight turned out to be his last. The only thing worth noting I guess with him is he fought Bulla 3 times, loosing the first time but beating him the other two times including this fight in Jan. 1967 in which Josephs scored a 6th round knockout of Bulla. Bulla on the other hand had a fairly active career at least, fighting a couple name boxers. Bulla’s coming off a 4 round decision loss in his last fight in October 1966 against a Roger Russell (12-18-2).
In our replay, a scheduled 6 rounder, Josephs comes out swinging but missing allowing Bulla to win the first round on all three judges cards. The action over the next couple of rounds is rather slow and indecisive with the judges pretty split over who’s controlling the fight. Judge one scores rounds 2 and 3 to Josephs while judge 3 scores the rounds to Bulla. Judge two scores round 2 to Josephs but gives 3 to Bulla. Rounds 4 and 5 though all go to Josephs giving him a slight lead. The 6th round Bulla comes out fast and lands a strong jab but he fails to follow up strong with that. Josephs punches are missing and Bulla had a chance here that he could have maybe pulled this fight out in his favor. Josephs then scores with a hook that stuns Bulla and Josephs continues to press the action then to make some connections late in the round. All three judges end up scoring that round even and ends the fight with Josephs edging out Bulla with a split decision win, 57-58, 58-57, 59-56.