My Universe

[JCWeb]

Titles and Title Bouts

WBA: The “Toy Bulldog,” Mickey Walker, continued his remarkable run with three more successful defenses – he has now won 20 WBA title bouts in a row, having won the title in April 1925. In 1930, he brushed aside the challenges of Vince Dundee (UD 15), Hein Domgorgen (UD 15) and the “Tacoma Assassin,” Freddie Steele (KO 14).

NABF: Three bouts for this title during the year. Vince Dundee defended twice, going the distance in downing Tiger Flowers (UD 12) and edging Jock Malone (SD 12) before falling short against Harry Ebbetts (UD 12).

USBA: Three title bouts, three new holders of this belt in 1930. First, Gorilla Jones took out Young Terry (TKO 5). Then, Tiger Flowers defeated Jones (MD 12) to lift the belt. Harry Ebbetts then successfully challenged Flowers, capturing the title (UD 12) before moving up to take the NABF title. Thus, this title is vacant heading into 1931.

CBU: One title defense and also a new Champion, as Billy Bird scored a shocking upset against Len Johnson (KO 7) to take the title.

GBU: Frank Moody, holder of this belt since 1928, finally made his first defense and lost to a hot young prospect, Jock McAvoy who iced Moody (KO 4) .

EBU: Len Johnson continued to retain this title, defending it once against Mario Bosisio (KO 5).

OPBF: The Filipino, Ceferino Garcia, continued his reign, making another successful defense against Aussie Alf Stewart (KO 8).

MW Division Profile

Total: 165 RL: 104 TC: 61

RL by Career Stage:
End - 8
Post - 20
Prime - 41
Pre - 28
Beginning - 4 (3 New)

Rated: 77
800+: 18
500+: 45
200+ : 73

Jan 1931 Rankings (Perf Points and Changes from Jan. 1930 in Parens):

Champ: Mickey Walker 45-1 (34) (1956) (NC)

1. Rene DeVos 45-11-2 (18) (1266) (+3)
2. Jock Malone 34-16-4 (13) (1124) (+1)
3. Ceferino Garcia 26-6 (20) (1089) (+13) (OPBF Champ)
4. Panama Joe Gans 53-14-3 (19) (1088) (-3)
5. Freddie Steele 21-1 (17) (1075) (+12)
6. Len Johnson 27-10-2 (16) (1037) (-4) (EBU Champ)
7. Bryan Downey 49-21-4 (21) (1035) (-2)
8. Hein Domgorgen 28-9-1 (14) (963) (+7)
9. Billy Bird 30-10-4 (14) (939) (+11) (CBU Champ)
10. Harry Ebbetts 18-6-4 (10) (928) (+39) (NABF Champ)

Others: 17. Jock McAvoy 17-0-3 (13) (800) (+9) (GBU Champ)

Top Ten: Everyone at Prime except Panama Joe (at Post) and Downey (at End). Walker has remained unbeaten since his only ring loss back in 1924, and since then he has won 22 in a row and piled up an all-time high Perf. Pts total, approaching the 2000 point barrier. Lots of turnover in the top 10 contender list from last year, as fully half were not in this position a year ago. The #1 contender is now Rene DeVos, the only man to defeat Walker; the “Little Fox” has fashioned a five-bout winning streak since losing the EBU title to Len Johnson in mid-1929; his recent TKO win over Billy Bird has placed him high on the short list of WBA title contenders. Malone bounced back from a SD loss to Vince Dundee with a UD 10 win over Downey to move up to #2. A KO over Panama Joe Gans enabled OPBF Champ Garcia to zoom up the rankings list, as he rides a four-bout winning streak into 1931. Gans slipped, winning only one of three (against a non-top tier fighter, Italian Mario Bosisio). Steele, a much heralded prospect, won his first 21 in a row before going into his first title bout against Walker, which was probably a step too far, too soon for him, career-wise. Johnson lost the GBU title but defended his EBU belt to remain a top contender. Downey finally began to show his age, dropping two in a row during the second half of the year. Domgorgen won two of three (over veteran Frankie Schoell and France’s Eduoard Tenet) but was another Walker victim when trying for the title. Bird rode a five-bout winning streak to the GBU title, then was stopped by DeVos in his most recent outing. Ebbetts makes his top 10 debut, having gone unbeaten in his last 10 (seven wins, three draws) since mid-1928, capturing two titles (USBA and NABF) during the year to emerge as a title threat.

Other Notables: Dethroned NABF Champ Vince Dundee slid three spots to #11; other top 10 dropouts from last year include Jack McVey (down 7, to #13), loser in his last five and now winless since August 1928; Young Terry (down 7, to #14), loser of three in a row; Frankie Schoell (-10, to #19), now at Post-Prime, loser of his last four now; and Tiger Flowers (-10, to #20), now at End career stage, now having lost four of his last five. McAvoy surprised everyone by capturing the GBU title, and he remains unbeaten, having fashioned a four-bout winning streak (including Billy Shade among his 1930 victims). Top newcomer in this year’s list is Chick Devlin, who has won his last seven. including two impressive recent wins over Harry “Harlem Thunderbolt” Smith and Billy Angelo; his 17-1 (9) career start is good for a #21 ranking. Further down the list are Aussie Ron Richards, still unbeaten at 15-0-2 (14), good for 36^th spot, and the aforementioned Smith, who is now 15-2 (12), having lost twice now, to Yarosz (in a rematch) as well as Devlin.

Prospects: As in the LH division, the prospects have been bumping into each year and spoiling some unbeaten slates. Solly Krieger (12-1, 9 KO) has split a pair with Ben Jeby (now #40, at 14-2-1, 9 KO). Teddy Yarosz (12-1, 9 KO) suffered his first loss to Harry Smith but rebounded to take a rematch. Tait Littman (10-2, 8 KO) has lost twice, to Smith and Canadian prospect Lou Brouillard. Brouillard lost a split duke to his countryman, Frank Battaglia, who is still unbeaten (11-0, 9 KO). Swede Berglund (10-0-1, 5 KO); Al Trulmans (10-0, 7 KO); Barney Keiswetter (10-0, 3 KO); Eddie “Babe” Risko (9-0, 4 KO); Jupp Besselman (8-0, 7 KO) remain unbeaten. Off to good starts, all against TC opposition, are Antonio Fernandez (7-0, 3 KO); Ambrose Palmer (7-0, 6 KO); Oddone Piazza (7-0, 5 KO); Arthur “Ginger” Sadd (7-0, 4 KO); Young Stuhley (7-0, 6 KO); Allen Matthews (6-0, 6 KO) and Fred Henneberry (3-0, 2 KO).

Retirements:

Bob Sage (USA) 1921-30 20-18-5 (11) No Titles Highest Rank:41
Sailor Billy Vincent (USA) 1919-30 24-17-2 (10) No Titles Highest Rank: 36
Italian Joe Gans (USA) 1911-30 33-29-8 (16) No Titles Highest Rank: 19
Gordon McKay (USA) 1917-30 27-22-1 (14) NABF, USBA Champ Highest Rank: 4
Jeff Smith (USA) 1910-30 47-25-6 (19) WBA Champ 1918, 1922 Highest Rank: 1 (also at LH)
Dave Rosenberg (USA) 1919-30 24-17-6 (7) No Titles Highest Rank: 40
Augie Ratner (USA) 1915-30 33-25-8 (15) No Titles Highest Rank: 13

Looking Ahead: There has been talk of Walker moving up to challenge for the LH title, which could lead to a free-for-all at the top echelons of the division. Despite his one loss in his title try, Freddie Steele seems a potential future Champion. Rene DeVos, the only man to defeat Walker, is still itching for another WBA title try after losing to the “Toy Bulldog” five years ago. Filipino Ceferino Garcia seems poised to remain a force in the division for several years to come. Unbeaten prospects like Jock McAvoy, Ron Richards and Frank Battaglia are looking to make their mark on the division in 1931 and future years. Three newcomers to the division in 1931, but two of them – Ken Overlin and German Erich Seelig – are worth watching.

[JCWeb]

Titles and Title Bouts

WBA: Four title bouts during the year, producing two new Champions. Jimmy McLarnin, the "Baby Faced Assassin,” defended against Lope Tenorio (UD 15) but then suffered a narrow defeat in a stunning upset loss to Irineo Flores (MD 15). Flores defended the belt once, against Jack Sparr (KO 14) before losing to Young Corbett III (UD 15) who began his second reign as WBA WW king.

NABF: Only one matchup for this title belt in 1930. Joe Dundee defended and lost to Jack Sparr in a shocking one-round stoppage (KO 1). Sparr did not defend during the year, but he faces a mandatory defense in early 1931.

USBA: The belt was declared vacant after Jack Sparr moved up and successfully challenged for the NABF title. Jackie Fields took the vacant title in a matchup with Sergeant Sammy Baker (UD 12). Fields defended once, versus Tommy Freeman (SD 12).

CBU: Bermondsey Billy Wells, who has dominated this title over the past decade, retained the belt in two 1930 outings: a UD 12 win over aging vet Ted Kid Lewis, followed by a late stoppage of Jack Carroll (TKO 11).

GBU: Age finally caught up with Ted Kid Lewis, who lost the title to the younger Jack Hood (UD 12).

EBU: Bermondsey Billy Wells began the year with this belt, but lost it to the Swiss, Cleto Locatelli (UD 12). Locatelli then defended once against the newly-crowned GBU king, Jack Hood (UD 12).

OPBF: No title defenses as Lope Tenorio keeps the belt into 1931.

WW Division Profile

Total: 117 RL: 77 TC: 40

RL by Career Stage:
End - 2
Post - 16
Prime - 37
Pre - 15
Beginning - 7 (5 New)

Rated: 59
800+: 15
500+: 32
200+ : 53

Jan 1931 Rankings (Perf Points and Changes from Jan. 1930 in Parens):

Champ: Young Corbett III 33-7-3 (12) (1370) (+3)

1. Benny Leonard 77-4-2 (41) (1543) (NC)
2. Jimmy McLarnin 29-4 (19) (1204) (-2)
3. Irineo Flores 32-12-2 (18) (1199) (+5)
4. Joe Dundee 33-10-5 (12) (1144) (-2)
5. Cleto Locatelli 22-3-1 (8) (1088) (+13) (EBU Champ)
6. Jack Sparr 33-15-1 (19) (1085) (NC) (NABF Champ)
7. Jackie Fields 22-0-1 (12) (989) (+7) (USBA Champ)
8. Young Jack Thompson 28-7-4 (17) (969) (-3)
9. Manuel Quintero 23-4-4 (11) (951) (+6)
10. Bermondsey Billy Wells 48-14-3 (17) (946) (-6) (CBU Champ)

Others: 13. Lope Tenorio 24-8-5 (7) (820) (-2) (OPBF Champ)
18. Jack Hood 21-5-4 (7) (694) (-1) (GBU Champ)

Top Ten: Everyone still at Prime except for Sparr who is at Post. Corbett, although rated almost 200 points below Leonard, is the new Champion. Corbett won all three of his 1930 encounters, besting Quintero and Pete Latzo before capturing the title. Leonard continues to rack up the wins, taking UD wins from Thompson, McLarnin and retiring Packey McFarland after settling for a draw with Wells early in the year. McLarnin went 2-2 for the year, besting Tenorio in a title clash and taking a rematch in a less than stellar year. Flores won and lost the WBA belt, having a three-bout win streak snapped in his title loss to Corbett. Dundee had a lackluster year going with two losses and a draw but rebounded with a pair of SD wins over Thompson and Wells. Locatelli impressed in a UD 10 win over Dundee sandwiched between his EBU title bout wins, recovering from a poor start to the year when he dropped a split duke to Tommy Freeman. Sparr had just two bouts – one where he captured the NABF crown in an impressive one-round KO, another where he was a late-round KO victim to Flores. Fields remained unbeaten, moving into the top 10 by capturing and defending the vacant USBA belt, but also taking a UD from Tenorio in Manila; he has now won 11 bouts in a row. Thompson struggled, his only win coming in a UD over the new British Champ, Jack Hood. Quintero moved into the elite group with a TKO over an aging Packey McFarland, then solidified his position with a pair of UD wins over Latzo and Indrisano. Wells slipped to #10, suffering a SD 10 loss to Dundee in addition to the EBU title bout loss to Locatelli.

Other Notables: Dropping out of the top 10 from last year were Packey McFarland (retired, after 20 straight years among the top 10 WWs, going back to 1911); Willie Harmon (-7, to #15, after losses to lower-ranked fighters like Levine and Indrisano); and Pete Latzo (-7, to #17, loser of all three 1930 contests and now saddled with a five-bout losing streak). Tommy Freeman just missed the top 10 at #11 after wins over Locatelli and Baby Joe Gans set him up for the losing USBA title challenge; all three of his 1930 bouts were split verdicts. Johnny Indrisano moved up with a win over Willie Harmon but lost his top 10 status when Quintero defeated him, so he ends up at #12. Tenorio won only one of four during the year, and this against JWW Pinkey Mitchell who was fighting out of his weight class. The GBU crown did not sit well with Hood, who only managed a draw against two defeats in three bouts since winning it. Top newcomer to the rankings this year is Paul Junior, who at 14-0-1 (10), is ranked #26 but thus far has not been seriously tested. Marty Goldman, despite his first career setback against the German, Gustav Eder, rebounded with wins over Harry Baron and Macario Flores to end up at #29 with a 14-1-1 (10) mark.

Prospects: The aforementioned Eder has run off an impressive 13-bout winning streak to start his career; his record now stands at 13-0 (7). Kiwi Ted Morgan remains unbeaten at 12-0 (6). Losses to Goldman and Frankie Britt left Harry Baron at 11-2 (7). Latvian Eddie Ran checks in at 9-2-1 (4), going 4-0 for the year against TC opposition after an early loss to Eder and a TC. Britt improved to 9-1-1 (5) after his defeat of Baron. Andy Callahan (10-0-1, 6 KO); Cocoa Kid (10-0, 7 KO); Barney Ross (10-0, 6 KO); and Steve Halaiko (10-0, 3 KO) remained unbeaten. Holland’s Bep Van Klaveren suffered a DQ loss to a TC to fall to 9-1 (7). Wether Arcelli is off to a perfect 6-0 (4) career start. Kid Azteca and Chuck Woods won their respective debut bouts to go 1-0.

Retirements: 1930 was the end of the line of an illustrious 24-year career for Packey McFarland, who never quite managed to reach the ultimate step of becoming the WBA WW Champion despite numerous years as a top contender. He is among six retirees, including another all-time great, Ted Kid Lewis, who did become WBA Champ at the peak of a successful 22-year career, along with Tommy Robson, who somehow did manage to have a brief reign at the top whereas McFarland always came up short despite a brilliant career.

Tommy Robson (USA) 1914-30 37-24-2 (19) WBA Champ 1921 Highest Rank: 2
Archie Walker (USA) 1921-30 23-14-1 (7) No Titles Highest Rank: 35 (also at LW)
Ted Kid Lewis (UK) 1909-30 52-23-4 (22) WBA Champ 1915-16, 1921-22, 1923-26
Phinney Boyle (USA) 1913-30 37-31-4 (9) No Titles Highest Rank: 23
Packey McFarland (USA) 1907-30 71-16-5 (31) NABF Champ Highest Rank: 1
Paul Demsky (AUS) 1919-30 23-19-2 (16) OPBF Champ Highest Rank: 10

Looking Ahead: Corbett is the Champ although many regard Leonard and McLarnin as the class of the division right now. Jackie Fields has impressed thus far, having been brought along carefully – is there a WBA title bout in the near future? Among the prospects, Eder is prepared to move into the rankings this year, and Barney Ross has all the markings of a future star. Of the five newcomers set to debut in 1931, Fritzie Zivic and Italian Michele Palermo appear to have the most potential.

[JCWeb]

Titles and Title Bouts

WBA: Berg brushed aside the challenges of Mushy Callahan (TKO 5) and Johnny Jadick (UD 15) to bring his number of successful title defenses to six.

USBA: Aging vet and ex-WBA Champ Pinkey Mitchell held the belt coming into the year, but he lost in the only title matchup during the year to Mickey Cohen (UD 12), who now holds the belt going into 1931.

These are the only two titles active for this division.

JWW Division Profile

Total: 16 RL: 8 TC: 8

RL by Career Stage:
End - 1
Post - 0
Prime - 6
Pre - 1
Beginning - 0 (0 New)

Rated: 8
800+: 1
500+: 3
200+ : 7

Jan 1931 Rankings (Perf Points and Changes from Jan. 1930 in Parens):

Champ: Jack Kid Berg 26-1-2 (13) (1176) (NC)

1. Battling Shaw 16-1-1 (9) (592) (new)
2. Mushy Callahan 22-8 (8) (554) (+1)
3. Harry Wallach 19-10-1 (10) (459) (+1)
4. Mickey Cohen 16-10 (9) (340) (+3) (USBA Champ)
5. Pinkey Mitchell 33-17-4 (14) (339) (-4)
6. Johnny Jadick 23-12-1 (7) (314) (-1)
7. Spug Myers 24-24-4 (9) (22) (-1)

Top Ten: Berg continued to dominate, and the competition got easier as his chief rival, Canzoneri, #2 ranked last year, decided to try his luck in the LW ranks and ex-Champ Pinkey Mitchell just got older. Heading into 1931, Mitchell is at End career stage, everyone else is at Prime except Shaw who is going to be at Pre for two more bouts. Berg won all three of his 1930 encounters, stepping up to WW once to defeat Alf Mancini (UD 10) in addition to the two successful JWW defenses. Shaw had a good year, defeating two JWWs (Wallach and Myers), both via UD 10s, and managing a draw with WW prospect Marty Goldman. Callahan surprised many by taking a SD 10 from Canzoneri, perhaps hastening the latter’s decision to drop down to LW. He also impressed with a late season UD 10 over veteran WW Morrie Schlaifer after being stopped in his title try versus Berg. Wallach recorded two UD wins over Jadick and WW Jack Zivic before the loss to Shaw. Cohen became the USBA Champ by dethroning Mitchell after having won just one of five prior bouts, hence his low ranking. Mitchell has now dropped four in a row and is no longer a factor in the title picture. Jadick took a SD 10 from rising WW prospect Andy DiVodi, but he has lost his last two to sink back after three wins in early 1930 seemed to augur better things. Myers has now lost five of his last six, the only bright spot being a MD win over WW Macario Flores, reversing an earlier loss. The overall numbers in the division shrunk as Basil Galiano retired, and Tony Canzoneri moved to LW.

Retirements: 1930 marked the first retirement in the short history of this decision, as Basil Galiano (who twice briefly held the USBA title) hung up the gloves, ending with an overall minus career record (more losses than wins).

Basil Galiano (USA) 1919-30 23-24-2 (5) USBA Champ Highest Rank: 2

Looking Ahead: The future for this division right now is very bleak, as Canzoneri elected to drop down to compete as a LW and, once Mitchell retires, if Jack Kid Berg elects to do the same as Canzoneri, the division will practically be on life-support with no big names left and nothing of note in the immediate future. Shaw, by default, is the top contender right now but, he too has been taking on WWs due to the paucity of credible competition left right now. Look for this division to fold its tent and be disbanded some time in the next year or two.

[kenyan_cheena]

That's an amazing career Walker's had there. Winning twenty straight title fights is fantastic.

[JCWeb]

KC, Walker's actually won 22 in a row, after first going 23-0 at the outset of his career before suffering his one and only loss.

I just went back and checked on that loss, and you have to go all the way back to post #555 of this thread (almost 300 posts back now) to find it. It was in 1924, and the loss was a TKO loss in a World title fight (to Rene DeVos) as a result of an injured hand, i.e., a freak injury -- he didn't actually LOSE that fight in the conventional sense.

So, as you suggest, an amazing record, the standout of this Uni thus far (although guys like Loughran and Benny Leonard have done fairly well also).

[kenyan_cheena]

Originally Posted by JCWeb

KC, Walker's actually won 22 in a row, after first going 23-0 at the outset of his career before suffering his one and only loss.

I just went back and checked on that loss, and you have to go all the way back to post #555 of this thread (almost 300 posts back now) to find it. It was in 1924, and the loss was a TKO loss in a World title fight (to Rene DeVos) as a result of an injured hand, i.e., a freak injury -- he didn't actually LOSE that fight in the conventional sense.

So, as you suggest, an amazing record, the standout of this Uni thus far (although guys like Loughran and Benny Leonard have done fairly well also).

I think with the way the game is it would be almost impossible to get a fighter through his career undefeated, even if he was fighting tomato cans the whole time. There would probably be one or two freak results in there.

[kenyan_cheena]

Congrats on joining the 30,000 views club, JC! Fantastic achievement, and a rare one in this forum.

[JCWeb]

KC, thanks, hadn't even been tracking the view numbers. Now that means I am still about 8600 views behind your Universe!

Back to the business at hand, which is the year-end LW report for 1930.

Titles and Title Bouts

WBA: Billy Petrolle retained the title he won in 1929 with four successful defenses: Benny Valgar (UD 15), Lew Tendler (UTD 7), Jimmy Goodrich (DQ9, and then TKO 10) were his victims.

NABF: Sammy Mandell began the year with the belt, defended twice against Ray Miller (UD 12) and Billy Wallace (SD 12). However, his reign ended when Tony Canzoneri took the belt via a UD 12.

USBA: This belt changed hands twice during the year, in three title bouts. Maxie Strub dethroned Jimmy Goodrich (DQ 6) and then defended once, in a rematch (D 12). Then, while Goodrich went on to challenge for the WBA title, Al Gordon dispatched Strub (TKO 9) to take the belt.

CBU: No defenses in 1930 from Aussie Billy Grime, who retained the title.

GBU: Harry Mason defended once during the year, turning aside the challenge of George Rose (SD 12).

EBU: The “French Flash,” Benny Valgar, kept the belt with a win over GBU Champ, Mason (UD 12).

LW Division Profile

Total: 128 RL: 77 TC: 51

RL by Career Stage:
End - 6
Post - 15
Prime - 34
Pre - 15
Beginning - 7 (6 New)

Rated: 59
800+: 17
500+: 33
200+ : 53

Jan 1931 Rankings (Perf Points and Changes from Jan. 1930 in Parens):

Champ: Billy Petrolle 34-3-2 (19) (1525) (NC)

1. Ray Miller 30-6 (14) (1297) (+2)
2. Luis Vicentini 33-7 (13) (1284) (-1)
3. Sammy Fuller 28-4 (8) (1055) (+6)
4. Jimmy Goodrich 41-14-2 (10) (1019) (-2)
5. Tony Canzoneri 22-4-1 (12) (989) (new) (NABF Champ)
6. Sammy Mandell 33-13 (9) (988) (+2)
7. Stanislaus Loayza 23-10-3 (10) (957) (NC)8. Ever Hammer 44-20-5 (18) (954) (-4)
9. Al Gordon 27-9-5 (9) (940) (+10) (USBA Champ)
10. Maxie Strub 22-4-2 (9) (939) (NC)

Others: 11. Benny Valgar 41-5-3 (13) (883) (NC) (EBU Champ)
26. Billy Grime 24-15-2 (14) (579) (NC) (CBU Champ)
36. Harry Mason 28-14-2 (4) (473) (NC) (GBU Champ)

Top Ten: Petrolle, the “Fargo Express,” proved to be a durable Champion and has now won his last 10 in a row, going back to mid-1928. Miller, the last man to defeat Petrolle, recovered from an early season title loss to Mandell with successive wins over Vicentini (MD 10), Fuller (UD 10) and Hammer (TKO 9) to move up to the #1 contender spot. Vicentini was active during the year, winning four of five, losing only to Miller but impressing with wins over Mandell (UD), Hammer (UD) and Cuban Emory Cabana (who became an early KO victim). Fuller posted a pair of UD wins over Hammer and Johnny Kaiser before losing to Miller. Goodrich – who, along with Hammer, are the only two top 10 guys past their Prime, both at Post – was winless in 1930 with a draw and three losses, all in title bouts (but two of the losses were due to excessive fouling). Canzoneri moved down from JWW and threatened to take the division by storm, winning three in a row against Tommy O’Brien, Kaiser and then Mandell for the NABF title, after going three rounds for a technical draw in his first outing at LW against O’Brien. Mandell had an up-and-down year, going 2-2 but ending on a down note by losing his NABF title belt to Canzoneri. Loayza split two UD bouts during the year, losing to Kaiser but defeating CBU Champ Grime. Hammer continued a downward slide by losing four of five. Gordon leapt into the top 10 by TKOing Strub for the USBA belt, this coming after successive UD wins over Jack Silver, Andy Chaney and Cuddy DeMarco. Strub remains in the top 10 despite the loss, which halted a four-bout unbeaten streak.

Other Notables: The “French Flash,” Benny Valgar, has struggled to regain his top form after his shocking WBA title win over Benny Leonard three years ago; he has dominated European competition but not fared nearly as well against US-based opposition; in 1930 he only managed a draw with Frankie Klick and lost in his effort to regain the WBA title from a dominant Petrolle. Sid Barbarian stepped up from JLW and impressed with a TKO over veteran Lew Tendler to end up in #12 spot. Dropping out of the top 10 from last year were Tommy O’Brien (down 8 to #13 after losing to Canzoneri) and Tendler (also down 8, to #14, losing two in a row after a win over Grime had topped out a four-bout winning streak). Grime (the CBU Champ) and Mason (the GBU titleholder) struggled when going beyond those limits and thus did not advance in this year’s rankings. Roger Bernard won four of five during the year to move to 20-2 (12), good for 16^th overall, but he has yet to be tested against top-level opposition. Emory Cabana had an impressive six-bout win streak halted when he was stopped by Vicentini; he ends the year at 24-8-4 (11), good for the #17 spot. The top newcomer to the rankings this year is unbeaten Justo Suarez, as the Argentinian has fashioned an impressive 16-0 (13) career start, good for 19^th spot. Among the other newcomers, Ah Wing Lee rebounded from an early season defeat at the hands of Lew Feldman to reel off four straight wins, ending up at #29 with a 16-2 (10) mark, while Canadian Billy Townsend, a UD loser to Lee in his last outing, was headed in the other direction as that and an earlier loss to Al Singer dropped him all the way down to 14-5 (10) and a lowly #43 spot for his initial appearance in the year-end list.

Prospects: Eddie Cool is now 12-1 (5), coming off his first career loss (to Chino Alvarez) with a MD 10 over Joe Ghnouly. The aforementioned Alvarez remained unbeaten, with a perfect 12-0 (9) career start, with the TKO win over Cool his most impressive result thus far. Carlo Orlandi spoiled his perfect record with a DQ loss to Sailor Friedman in his most recent outing; he is now 11-1 (7). The loss to Cool left Ghnouly at 10-1 (4). Still on the right track, albeit against TC competition, are Wesley Ramey (10-0, 6 KO); Tony Morgano (10-0, 5 KO); Tony Falco (9-0-1, 4 KO); Bobby Pacho (9-0, 7 KO); Herb Bishop (6-0, 2 KO); Aldo Spoldi (6-0, 2 KO). Brit George Daly won his debut and is now 1-0 (1).

Retirements: Three retirements in this division (counting Archie Walker, who had moved up to WW).

Archie Walker (USA) 1921-30 23-14-1 (7) No Titles Highest Rank: 29 (also at WW)
Andy Chaney (USA) 1915-30 38-19-2 (12) NABF, USBA Champ Highest Rank: 1
Jimmy Dundee (USA) 1915-30 32-23-4 (11) USBA Champ Highest Rank: 2

Looking Ahead: The “Fargo Express” began to open some daylight between himself and the other fighters in the division in 1930, but there are still quite a few guys in prime shape looking to contend for the title: Miller, Vicentini and Canzoneri all appear to be legitimate threats. Fuller has yet to prove himself in a big money fight, while Mandell is looking to rebound from a subpar 1930. The future appears to look bright with Gordon, Strub, Bernard, Cabana and Suarez all looking to move up in 1931. Also encouraging is the fact that a reasonably strong crop of newcomers will be entering the division in 1931, including Puerto Rican Pedro Montanez, and American fighters Johnny Bellus, Davey Day and Al Roth.

[JCWeb]

Titles and Title Bouts

WBA: Three title bouts yielded three new Champions. First, Sid Terris dethroned Jimmy Dundee, the aging long-time Champion who had recaptured the belt in late 1929 (UD 15). Then< Frankie Klick defeated Terris (another UD 15). Finally, it was Mike Ballerino taking the title from Klick (TKO 14).

USBA: Benny Bass began the year with this title, defending it versus Ballerino (UD 12). Then, Tod Morgan captured the belt by defeating Bass (UD 12).

JLW Division Profile

Total: 16 RL: 10 TC: 6

RL by Career Stage:
End - 1
Post - 3
Prime - 6
Pre - 0
Beginning - 0 (0 New)

Rated: 10
800+: 4
500+: 8
200+ : 9

Jan 1931 Rankings (Perf Points and Changes from Jan. 1930 in Parens):

Champ: Mike Ballerino 25-13-4 (7) (684) (+6)

1. Tod Morgan 31-7-3 (11) (1153) (+1) (USBA Champ)
2. Benny Bass 36-10-3 (13) (1053) (-1)
3. Sid Terris 25-9-3 (7) (874) (new)
4. Johnny Dundee 54-23-3 (15) (851) (-42)
5. Jack Bernstein 28-17-2 (6) (717) (-1)
6. Frankie Klick 21-7-2 (10) (683) (+1)
7. Eddie Wagner 38-23-1 (17) (598) (-4)
8. Leslie Wildcat Carter 19-4-1 (9) (487) (+1)
9. Pete Nebo 14-6 (8) (91) (+1)

Top Ten: Ballerino, loser of two bouts early in the year (including a SD to Klick, whom he later defeated for the WBA crown), downed two LWs (Ernie Rice and Joey Goodman) en route to winning his third in a row (over Klick) to take the title, despite the fact that five guys in the division have higher PP numbers. Morgan had a strong year, downing LW Billy Wallace and Wagner (both Uds) before defeating Bass for the USBA title, which extended his winning streak to four. Bass dabbled in the LW weight class, taking a SD over Hammer, and he rebounded from his loss to Morgan with a TKO over the division’s patron, Dundee. Terris is contemplating a return to the LW class, but he impressed with a UD 10 over Wagner after losing the title to Klick. Dundee, the Scotch Wop, neared retirement, but was still active, with a win over LW Jack Silver his only good result in five outings. Despite UD wins over Wildcat Carter and Wagner, Bernstein dropped a spot in the rankings. The title loss to Ballerino snapped a six-bout unbeaten streak for Klick, who had impressed when he battled EBU LW king Benny Valgar to a draw after registering four straight wins. Wagner slid even further and is mired in the throes of a SEVEN-bout losing streak. Carter scored four wins against lowly-rated LWs, but lost to Bernsetin. Nebo wrapped up the Pre-Prime stage of his career by going 2-2 against LWs, but the two wins came against TCs so he still has a lot to prove.

Retirement: Steve Sullivan, who moved up to JLW after starting out in the FW division, retired.

Steve Sullivan (USA) 1911-30 36-29-7 (7) WBA Champ 1926 (also at FW) Highest Rank: 1

Looking Ahead: Still a very thin division, and also close to the situation as with the other junior division, JWW, just a few retirements and a switch up or down of a few key players away from extinction. However, for 1931, Ballerino appears to be on thin ice as Champion as long as guys with higher rating point totals like Morgan and Bass are still around. However, with Terris, Bernstein and Wagner at Post, and Dundee at End, the long-term prospects are poor. Plus, there are no newcomers in 1931 or in the foreseeable future.

[Ric915]

As always awesome stuff JC

[JCWeb]

Titles and Title Bouts

WBA: Chick Suggs took the title from his rival, Louis Kaplan (KO 12), then defended twice, against Johnny Cuthbert (UD 15) and edging Kaplan (SD 15) in a rematch.

NABF: Four title bouts, and reigning Champ Mike Dundee defended against Jose Lombardo (UD 12), Bobby Garcia (UD 12) and Andy Martin (UD 12) but then was dethroned by Babe Herman (KO 9) who captured the belt.

USBA: This title had been vacated by Suggs who took the WBA title. Dick “Honeyboy” Finnegan defeated Carl Duane (UD 12) for the vacant belt. Finnegan then defended against Danny Kramer (UD 12).

CBU: Johnny Cuthbert retained the title, making a single defense during the year, against Leo Roy (TKO 7).

GBU: Al Foreman retained the title in a bout against Nel Tarleton (D 12).

EBU: Commonwealth titleholder Cuthbert successfully challenged for this title, dethroning Dom Volante (UD 12) and defended once, stopping Andre Routis (TKO 6).

OPBF: Filipino Johnny Hill retained the title, fending off the challenge of Young Nationalista (UD 12).

FW Division Profile

Total: 119 RL: 76 TC: 43

RL by Career Stage:
End - 6
Post - 15
Prime - 36
Pre - 12
Beginning - 7 (4 New)

Rated: 61
800+: 9
500+: 33
200+ : 51

Jan 1931 Rankings (Perf Points and Changes from Jan. 1930 in Parens):

Champ: Chick Suggs 38-10-4 (12) (1330) (+1)

1. Louis Kaplan 37-9-1 (10) (1055) (-1)
2.Dick Finnegan 30-11 (9) (988) (+4) (USBA Champ)
3.Andy Martin 27-7-1 (9) (902) (+4)
4.Johnny Cuthbert 27-16-1 (10) (893) (+8) (CBU, EBU Champ)
5.Johnny Hill 26-8-2 (6) (891) (+11) (OPBF Champ)
6.Knud Larsen 27-9-3 (13) (875) (+2)
7.Dom Volante 23-8-2 (15) (864) (-4)
8. Jose Lombardo 28-12-3 (17) (833) (-6)
9. Babe Herman 29-16-4 (13) (785) (+17) (NABF Champ)
10. Mike Dundee 40-15-3 (20) (784) (-6)

Others: 12. Al Foreman 25-14-1 (21) (729) (-7) (GBU Champ)

Top Ten: Three of the above (Finnegan, Hill and Dundee) will be at Post-Prime in 1931, while everyone else remains at Prime. Suggs recaptured the WBA crown and now has fashioned an eight-bout winning streak. Kaplan went 2-2 for the year, losing twice to Suggs while defeating lower-rated fighters like Blitman and Sarron. Finnegan won all three of his 1930 bouts, impressing with a TKO over Lombardo, while going 2-0 in US title tilts. Martin has now won five of his last six, starting the year off well with TKOs over Roy and Shea, losing to Dundee, then eeking out a SD win over Lombardo to finish off the year on the right note. Cuthbert has now won four of his last five, all bouts being title affairs. Hill has a busy year, the high point being a UD win over Dundee, the low point a DQ loss to veteran Leo Roy. Larsen improved his standing by reversing an earlier loss with a KO over Volante, then following up with a SD win over Routis. Volante slid down the list with the title loss to Cuthbert and the KO defeat by Larsen, but he rebounded with a UD win over Shea. Lombardo lost all three of his 1930 contests and is now in the throes of a four-bout losing streak. Herman leaped up the rankings by going unbeaten during the year (four wins, one draw), topped by the title win over Dundee. Dundee had won five in a row but had his title aspirations derailed by successive losses to Hill and then Herman, which cost him the NABF title.

Other Notables: Foreman, the GBU Champ, was inactive for much of the year, suffering a disappointing UD loss to Petey Sarron and then barely managing to keep his title in a drawn bout with Nel Tarleton. Andre Routis (-5 to #14) and Danny Kramer (-5 to #15) had “down” years and hence slid out of the top ten. Pete DeGrasse wrapped up his Pre-Prime career stage with seven straight wins, including Uds over veteran Carl Duane and Cuban hot prospect Filio Julian Echevarria to end the year at 18-2 (5), good for 16^th place. Cuban Kid Chocolate, the top newcomer to the ranks at #18, remained unbeaten at 15-0-1 (13) with impressive wins over Freddie Miller (UD 10), Ansel Bell (UD 10) and Santiago Zorilla (KO 9). Miller, 15-1 (9), recovered from that loss to Kid Chocolate with three straight wins, including a UD 10 over the highly regarded Chalky Wright to finish at #20. Wright, 15-1 (10) debuts three spots lower, at #23.

Prospects: Continuing to show improvement were Jackie Wilson, at 11-1 (3), who graduated from TC opposition with a UD win over Brit Dave Crowley. Crowley ends the year at 12-1 (7), bouncing back from the loss with a UD win over Varias Milling. Feasting on TC opposition (and keeping clean slates) were Frankie Covelli (10-0, 7 KO) and Claude Varner (10-0, 7 KO). Vittorio Tamagnini swept all his 1930 bouts despite an early loss and ends the year at 8-1 (5). Petey Hayes (4-0, 1); Miki Gelb (4-0, 0) and Georgie Hansford (3-0, 1) got their careers off on the right foot.

Retirements:

Steve Sullivan (USA) 1911-30 36-29-7 (7) WBA Champ 1918 Highest Rank: 4 (also at JLW)
Willie Ames (USA) 1914-30 23-29-7 (7) No Titles Highest Rank: 16

Looking Ahead: Suggs is back on top, but there are many credible challengers: Kaplan, Finnegan, Cuthbert and Johnny Hill, plus the new NABF Champion, Babe Herman. The prospects from the past few years – guys like Pete DeGrasse, Kid Chocolate and Freddie Miller – are starting to mature and will soon be pressing for top 10 status. Top newcomer for 1931 is the all-time great, “Homicide Hank,” Henry Armstrong. He and three others – including Aussie Merv Blandon – are set to join the ranks.

[JCWeb]

Titles and Title Bouts

WBA: Panama Al Brown began the year with the title, and he defended it twice, against Harold Smith (UD 15) and Bud Taylor (UD 15). Then, his three-year reign at the top was halted by Kid Francis on a late stoppage (TKO 13). Francis then defended against Eddie Martin with the same outcome (TKO 13 for Francis).

NABF: Howard Mayberry, titleholder since 1927, remained active during 1930 with three title defenses: Archie Bell (UD 12), Happy Atherton (UD 12) and, in a rematch, Archie Bell (UD 12) were his victims.

USBA: Eddie “Cannonball” Martin made two defenses of the title he won in 1929. In both bouts, he came out on top: Dynamite Murphy (UD 12) and Harold Smith (UD 12) were his opponents.

CBU: Vic Foley began the year with the title, but he was dethroned by Nipper Pat Daly (TKO 5). Daly then went on to defend twice, downing Bobby Leitham (UD 12) and NABF Champ Mayberry UD 12).

GBU: Johnny King took the title from Johnny Brown (TKO 8) in a May 1930 encounter.

EBU: The defense against Brown also enabled King to keep this belt, which was on the line int that same bout.

OPBF: Age finally caught up with veteran Pete Sarmiento, as he came out on the short end of a UD 12 against Speedy Dado, who becomes the new OPBF BW Champ.

BW Division Profile

Total: 92 RL: 55 TC: 37

RL by Career Stage:
End - 6
Post - 14
Prime - 20
Pre - 13
Beginning - 2 (1 New)

Rated: 40
800+: 13
500+: 27
200+ : 38

Jan 1931 Rankings (Perf Points and Changes from Jan. 1930 in Parens):

Champ: Kid Francis 23-7-2 (16) (1226) (+12)

1. Bud Taylor 32-11 (10) (1274) (NC)
2.Panama Al Brown 35-4 (14) (1171) (-2)
3.Charley Phil Rosenberg 31-7-3 (12) (1096) (NC)
4.Bushy Graham 28-12 (10) (1085) (-2)
5.Nipper Pat Daly 26-10-2 (12) (1047) (+5) (CBU Champ)
6.Eddie Martin 30-11-3 (15) (1027) (NC) (USBA Champ)
7.Howard Mayberry 31-11-2 (14) (1004) (+1) (NABF Champ)
8. Archie Bell 27-6-2 (7) (1003) (-4)
9. Johnny King 21-2 (12) (903) (+8) (EBU, GBU Champ)
10. Harold Smith 30-12-4 (14) (858) (-1)

Others: 17. Speedy Dado 17-7 (11) (685) (+10) (OPBF Champ)

Top Ten: It’s an aging group at the top, with four (Taylor, Rosenberg, Daly and Mayberry) at Post, while Smith is at End career stage; the rest are at Prime. Kid Francis recovered from an early season loss to Sarmiento with an upset win over Panama Al Brown, followed by a successful title defense. Taylor, who hits Post-Prime in 1931, wrapped up the year with wins over Graham (TKO 7) and Smith (UD 10) after falling short in his title effort against Panama Al. Brown had a 14-bout winning streak stopped with the title loss, and he is still considering his options for next year’s campaign. Rosenberg remained a top contender with wins over Foley (MD 10) and Goldstein (UD 10) after struggling to a draw with Dixie LaHood. Graham went 2-2 for the year, losing to the lower-ranked Bell (UD 10) while not getting a desired title shot. Nipper Pat Daly had a strong year, capturing the CBU crown and defending it twice. Eddie “Cannonball” Martin retained the USBA title but lost his title contest with Francis, while he scored a UD 10 over Teddy Baldock. Mayberry had two wins, one loss and a draw in four title bouts, managing to retain the NABF belt heading into 1931. Bell had an active year, winning three of five, registering a pair of UD wins over Graham and Memphis Pal Moore, and a MD versus Vic Foley. King reached the top 10 with four straight wins, two against OPBF Champ Dado and one against his predecessor, ex-WBA Champ Sarmiento. Smith rounds out the top 10, despite winning just one of three, when he scraped out a SD 10 over long-time top BW Memphis Pal Moore.

Other Notables: Candian Vic Foley slid out of the top 10, dropping four spots to #11 after losing three in a row; he recovered with a UD over LaHood late in the year. Filipino Pablo Dano wrapped up the Pre-Prime stage of his career with an unbeaten 18-0-2 (13) ledger, good for 12^th in the rankings. Pete Sanstol is now 20-2 (8), good for the #16 spot, despite his chances of a top 10 spot being at least temporarily derailed by a loss to Bobby Green. Dado, the OPBF Champion, would have been ranked higher except for the two losses to King. Pete Sarmiento slid 13 spots, all the way down to #18, losing his last three after an early season UD 10 win against Francis, who later in the year took the WBA title. Canada’s Bobby Leitham is the top newcomer to the rankings list, at #25, with a 17-2-1 (8) record, his first two losses coming at the hands of Daly and Dynamite Murphy. Frenchman Gustave Humery (14-1-1, 14 KO) debuts at #28, dropping a UD to Joey Scalfaro for his first loss; the one draw (against Packey O’Gatty) came in his most recent outing.

Prospects: Brit Benny Sharkey (13-0, 12 KO) has maintained an unbeaten slate, wrapping up a dozen TC wins with a MD 10 over veteran Johnny Brown. K. O. Morgan (13-0, 11) also remained unbeaten, taking a SD 10 from Lew Farber while feasting on TC opposition; Farber finished the year at 12-1 (11). Three Filipino boxers mixed it up, with Young Tommy (8-0, 7) maintaining an unbeaten record, while Little Pancho (10-1-1, 7) and Chris Pineda (8-1-1, 4) each suffered losses – Pancho to Pineda, and Pineda to Tommy. Other unbeaten prospects include Spaniard Baltazar Sangchili (8-0, 7) and Americans Tony Marino (6-0, 5), John Yasui (6-0, 2), and Henry Moreno (6-0, 1). Puerto Rican Sixto Escobar checks in at 5-0, with 4 KO. Canto Robleto had to recover from an early loss to a TC to end up at 4-1 (3). Mickey Cohen got off to a 3-0 (1) career start.

Retirement: Only one fighter hung up the gloves in this division in 1930.

Ad Rubidoux (USA) 1919-30 28-20-3 (18) No Titles Highest Rank: 11

Looking Ahead: The title picture is now a bit clouded, but Panama Al seems a favorite should he manage to secure a rematch with Francis. Johnny King, Pablo Dano, Pete Sanstol, Speedy Dado, Alf Pattenden, Bobby Leitham and Gustave Humery will all be looking for opportunities to move up the ranks as many of the older guys in the division are set to retire or fade into the background. Hot prospects like Benny Sharkey, Baltazar Sangchili, Young Tommy and Sixto Escobar are still a year or two away. Jo Teiken, the first Korean fighter in the Universe, is the only newcomer slated to join the ranks in 1931.

[JCWeb]

Titles and Title Bouts

WBA: Frankie Genaro began the year with the title and defended against arch-rival Fidel LaBarba. LaBarba defeated Genaro (UD 15) to capture the belt and then defended it against EBU Champ Johnny Vacca (SD 15). Then, Newsboy Brown upset LaBarba (SD 15) and took the title.

NABF: LaBarba began the year with this belt but relinquished it when he won the WBA title. The vacant crown went to Emil Paluso who emerged victorious in a bout with Corporal Izzy Schwartz (UD 12). The bout changed hands once more later in the year, when Midget Wolgast dethroned Schwartz (UD 12).

USBA: Newsboy Brown defended this title once, besting Pinkey Silverberg (UD 12). Brown then vacated this title after successfully challenging for the WBA title.

CBU: Jackie Brown defended once during 1930, defeating Canadian Albert Belanger (SD 12).

GBU: Brown also began the year with this title, but was stopped by Johnny Hill (TKO 5). Hill goes into 1931 as the titleholder of this belt.

EBU: Kid Socks started the year with this belt, but Johnny Vacca took the title from him (UD 12). Vacca defended once, downing Harry Stein (SD 12).

OPBF: This belt was declared vacant upon the retirement of Pancho Villa, who had held it since 1926.

FLY Division Profile

Total: 61 RL: 35 TC: 26

RL by Career Stage:
End - 2
Post - 8
Prime - 17
Pre - 4
Beginning - 4 (3 New)

Rated: 26
800+: 4
500+: 11
200+ : 25

Jan 1931 Rankings (Perf Points and Changes from Jan. 1930 in Parens):

Champ: Newboy Brown 33-6-2 (10) (988) (+2)

1. Frankie Genaro 36-10 (17) (1137) (-1)
2.Fidel LaBarba 24-3-1 (9) (987) (NC)
3.Johnny Vacca 24-3 (11) (883) (NC) (EBU Champ)
4.Midget Wolgast 22-4 (12) (717) (+8) (NABF Champ)
5.Emil Paluso 25-12-1 (7) (716) (NC)
6.Black Bill 24-11-5 (9) (655) (+2)
7.Izzy Schwartz 24-11-1 (5) (642) (+4)
8. Jackie Brown 19-4-1 (6) (602) (-2) (CBU Champ)
9. Elky Clark 30-12-1 (15) (510) (+1)
10. Johnny McCoy 34-25-2 (17) (505) (+4)

Others: 15. Johnny Hill 18-8 (12) (420) (NC) (GBU Champ)

Top Ten: Four of the top 10 at Post in 1931 (Vacca, Black Bill, Clark and McCoy); everyone else at Prime. Newboy Brown recovered from an early season loss to the other Brown, Jackie, and captured the WBA title – in spite of the fact he does not have the highest PP rating. That belongs to ex-Champ Genaro, who recovered from his title loss with wins over Bradley (UD 10) and McCoy (SD 10) and has now won six of his last seven. LaBarba had a five-bout win streak snapped with the surprising title loss to Brown. Vacca, the “Midget Organ Grinder,” ground out two EBU title wins to fashion a nine-bout winning streak before suffering the SD title bout loss to Newsboy. Wolgast had an active year, starting with a TKO loss to aging vet Johnny Buff before recovering with four straight wins, his victims including Hill (TKO 8), McCoy (UD) and Bradley (another UD) prior to capturing the NABF belt. Paluso split four bouts in an up-and-down year, and perhaps his best result – in a non-title affair – was taking a UD over Pancho Villa in the latter’s final bout. Cuban Black Bill prevailed in two of his three 1930 bouts, scraping past Villa (SD 10) and Elky Clark (MD 10) but being stopped by Bradley (TKO 5). Schwartz has now won four of his last five, including a pair of UD wins over Perfetti and Buff, but fell short in his one title effort. Brit Jackie Brown started off the year with a UD 10 upset win over Newsboy Brown, but failed to follow up, dropping in the ranks after his loss to Hill. Veteran Elky Clark’s career is in a nosedive, as he has now lost five of his last six, his one 1930 win coming against BW Willie LaMorte. McCoy went 2-2 for the year, which was good enough to secure a top 10 spot, based on recent wins over Perfetti (TKO 7) and Pladner (UD 10).

Other Notables: Ruby “Dark Cloud” Bradley just missed the top 10 after an inconsistent season; he stopped Black Bill (TKO 5) and decisioned Perfetti (UD 10) but stumbled against Genaro and Wolgast (both via UD) and suffered a TKO loss to the lower-rated Albert Belanger. Belanger, winner of six of his last seven, is now #13 with a 22-7-1 (10) record. Frenchman Emile Pladner won four of five 19230 bouts to end up the year at #14. GBU Champ Hill failed to follow up on his upset win over Jackie Brown, and he remains mired at #15 after a UD loss to Pladner. Top newcomer – in fact, the only newcomer -- to the list this year is Frenchman Valentin Angelmann, who debuts at #17; his 15-2-1 (11) career start includes two recent wins (a UD over Alex Burlie and a DQ win over Harry Stein) after an early season loss to veteran Pinkey Silverberg. Top 10 dropouts from last year include Villa (who retired) and Lew Perfetti, who slid a dozen spots from #7 down to #19 after a miserable season where he was 0-4 in four outings.

Prospects: Brit Mickey McGuire (now 12-0, 5 KO) kept winning (all versus TCs), as did Tunisian Young Perez, who checks in at 9-0 (5). Hungarian Istvan Enekes got off to a good start before suffering a DQ loss to a TC in his most recent bout; he now stands at 4-1 (2). Off to a good start at 3-0 (0 KO) is Spaniard Fortunato Ortega.

Retirements: Three retired in 1930, including all-time great Pancho Villa.

Young Zulu Kid (USA) 1912-30 36-25-5 (14) NABF Champ Highest Rank: 1
Pancho Villa (PHI) 1919-30 34-13-3 (14) WBA Champ 1921, 1922-25
Johnny Buff (USA) 1919-30 29-19-4 (11) NABF, USBA Champ Highest Rank: 2

Looking Ahead: Newsboy Brown moved up to take the title at a time when it appeared as if Genaro and LaBarba were going to swap it back and forth as if it were their personal property. Vacca appears to be the top European contender, although Pladner and Angelmann are still developing. Prospects McGuire, Perez and Enekes are continuing to improve. Brit Benny Lynch and Filipino Small Montana are the top newcomers to enter the Fly ranks in 1931.

[JCWeb]

Now, on to the always interesting year-end Pound-For-Pound Top 10 list:

Ranking by Perf Points (changes from year-end 1929 PFP List in Parens):

1. Mickey Walker, MW (WBA Champ), 1956 (NC)
2. Tommy Loughran, LH (WBA Champ), 1936 (NC)
3. Young Stribling, HW (WBA Champ), 1776 (NC)
4. Benny Leonard, WW (no title), 1543 (+3)
5. Billy Petrolle, LW (WBA Champ), 1525 (+3)
6. Jack Sharkey, HW (USBA Champ), 1388 (new)
7. Larry Gains, HW (CBU Champ), 1387 (-2)
8. Young Corbett III, WW (WBA Champ), 1370 (new)
9. Chick Suggs, FW (WBA Champ), 1330 (new)
10. George Godfrey, HW (no title), 1322 (new)

Dropped out from last year:

Panama Al Brown, BW (was #4)
Jimmy McLarnin, WW (was #6)
Joe Dundee, WW (was #9)
Harry Wills, HW (was #10)

Comments: Walker is now in the Perf Point stratosphere, riding an all-time high toward the unthinkable 2000 barrier. This is his eighth consecutive year on the list, his third straight at #1. Loughran makes the list for the fifth straight year, and it's year #4 for the HW Champ, Stribling. Benny Leonard remains the senior member, having made the list a total of 14 times now. Sharkey and Godfrey return to the list after a brief absence, meaning Corbett and Suggs are the only true newcomers. Note four of the top 10 PFP guys are HWs, probably an artifact of the fact there are more HWs in the Uni than any other division.

[JCWeb]

And here's a list of all titleholders in the Uni heading into 1931. Numbers in parens represent the month the title was won, second number is number of successful defenses thus far.

HW

WBA: Young Stribling (Sep. 1929) (5)
NABF: Jack Gross (Nov. 1930) (0)
USBA: Jack Sharkey (Aug. 1930) (0)
CBU: Larry Gains (Jun. 1929) (2)
GBU: Don Shortland (Sep. 1930) (0)
EBU: Otto Von Porat (May 1930) (2)
OPBF: George Thompson (Sep. 1929) (1)

LH

WBA: Tommy Loughran (Aug. 1926) (17)
NABF: Lou Scozza (Dec. 1930) (0)
USBA: Vacant (Scozza was Champ)
CBU: Len Harvey (Apr. 1924) (8)
GBU: Gypsy Daniels (Dec. 1927) (2)
EBU: Len Harvey (Oct. 1925) (3)

MW

WBA: Mickey Walker (Apr. 1925) (19)
NABF: Harry Ebbetts (Dec. 1930) (0)
USBA: Vacant (Ebbetts was Champ)
CBU: Billy Bird (Jun. 1930) (0)
GBU: Frank Moody (Jul. 1928) (1)
EBU: Len Johnson (May 1928) (4)
OPBF: Ceferino Garcia (Jul. 1927) (4)

WW

WBA: Young Corbett III (Nov. 1930) (0)
NABF: Jack Sparr (Feb. 1930) (0)
USBA: Jackie Fields (Mar. 1930) (1)
CBU: Bermondsey Billy Wells (Aug. 1929) (2)
GBU: Jack Hood (Jan. 1930) (0)
EBU: Cleto Locatelli (Jun. 1930) (1)
OPBF: Lope Tenorio (Sep. 1929) (0)

JWW

WBA: Jack Kid Berg (Jan. 1928) (6)
USBA: Mickey Cohen (Aug. 1930) (0)

LW

WBA: Billy Petrolle (Sep. 1929) (5)
NABF: Tony Canzoneri (Dec. 1930) (0)
USBA: Al Gordon (Nov. 1930) (0)
CBU: Billy Grime (Nov. 1929) (0)
GBU: Harry Mason (Apr. 1929) (1)
EBU: Benny Valgar (Jun. 1928) (2)

JLW

WBA: Mike Ballerino (Dec. 1930) (0)
USBA: Tod Morgan (Sep. 1930) (0)

FW

WBA: Chick Suggs (Feb. 1930) (2)
NABF: Babe Herman (Dec. 1930) (0)
USBA: Dick Finnegan (Mar. 1930) (1)
CBU: Johnny Cuthbert (Feb. 1928) (5)
GBU: Al Foreman (Feb. 1929) (1)
EBU: Johnny Cuthbert (Jan. 1930) (1)
OPBF: Johnny Hill (Jul. 1929) (1)

BW

WBA: Kid Francis (Jul. 1930) (1)
NABF: Howard Mayberry (Mar. 1927) (9)
USBA: Eddie Martin (Dec. 1929) (2)
CBU: Nipper Pat Daly (Jan. 1930) (2)
GBU: Johnny King (May 1930) (0)
EBU: Johnny King (Jul. 1929) (1)
OPBF: Speedy Dado (Apr. 1930) (0)

FLY

WBA: Newsboy Brown (Oct. 1930) (0)
NABF: Midget Wolgast (Nov. 1930) (0)
USBA: Vacant (Newsboy Brown was Champ)
CBU: Jackie Brown (Feb. 1929) (2)
GBU: Johnny Hill (Sep. 1930) (0)
EBU: Johnny Vacca (May 1930) (1)
OPBF: Vacant (Pancho Villa retired)

Comment: Over half (33 of 58) of the active titles changed hands during 1930. Len Harvey (who has held the CBU LH title since 1924) has the longest reign of all current titleholders, but WBA MW Champ Mickey Walker has had the most successful title defenses, and he will be going for #20 his next time out.

1931 action will commence after another short break.

[JCWeb]

1931 action is now underway, here's the highlights from the first part of January ...

Jan. 2, 1931: It’s the traditional first Friday night fight card of the new year at the Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo. Featured is a NABF title clash between Midget Wolgast and one of his predecessors, the Cuban Black Bill. The Cuban, battling both age and a hostile crowd, struggles from the start, suffering from a rapidly swelling left eye as early as round one. He never recovers, and another solid effort from Wolgast enables him to keep the belt with a UD 12 (118-110, 119-109, 117-112). The win moves Wolgast to 23-4 (12) while Black Bill, now at Post-Prime, is 24-12-5 (9) post-fight.

Jan. 3, 1931: Next fight card is in back in the UK at the Stadium in Liverpool. Main event (for the Commonwealth BW title) is preceded by a couple of preliminary bouts featuring some hot young prospects. Unbeaten BW Benny Sharkey takes on Frenchman Gustave Humery, whom he battered around the ring, finishing with an 8-round KO to push his career totals to 14-0 (13) while Humery slips to 14-2-1 (14). Then British MW king Jock McAvoy faced down the challenge of Germany’s Ernst Grimm, whom the “Rochdale Thunderbolt” found a tough nut to crack. Despite registering a 9^th-round knockdown, McAvoy only managed a majority draw but remained unbeaten at 17-0-4 (13); the more experienced Grimm emerged with a 28-14-4 (14) career count. Then, the main event has Nipper Pat Daly defending the Commonwealth BW crown against Alf Pattenden. A tight defensive struggle is broken open in round eight when Pattenden, battling a cut eye, lands a sharp combination that causes Daly to take a trip to the canvas. Nipper Pat is also cut over the eye, then Pattenden scores a second KD in the final round, seemingly enough to take the belt. But, when the judges’ cards are read – no, Daly keeps the title by the skin of his teeth with a majority draw (113-113, 113-113, 111-115 for Pattenden). Pattenden’s corner protests, but to no avail. Post-fight records: Daly, 26-10-3 (12); Pattenden, 18-4-2 (14).

Jan. 3, 1931: It’s back to the States for the next card, in Miami. The “Fargo Express,” Billy Petrolle, makes the sixth defense of his WBA LW title in the main event, taking on #2 contender Ray Miller. It shapes up to be a difficult matchup, given that Miller has handed Petrolle two of his three previous losses, and also that Miller holds a 2-1 career edge over the Champ. Petrolle takes an aggressive posture into the early and middle rounds of the bout, and it pays off. In round eight, a cut is opened on Miller’s forehead. A round later, Petrolle decks his opponent with a well-timed cross. Then, in round 11, a wild overhand right connects for a second KD. Miller takes another trip to the canvas later in that same round, but he manages to regain his footing and last the round. The result is a foregone conclusion, a UD 15 win for Petrolle (145-139, 145-138, 143-139) to move the Champ to 35-3-2 (19) overall. The loss drops Miller to 30-7 (14).

Jan. 9, 1931: More Friday night fight action, this time at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. It’s kind of light card, headlined by a NABF HW title clash between Jack Gross, making his first defense, and the higher-rated Tuffy Griffith. The action heats up early in round two when Griffith nails Gross with a wicked cross to the head that puts the Champion down. He arises, but later in the round he walks into a Griffith hook for knockdown #2. Then, in the following round, Gross sustains a cut over the right eye. Then, a surprising turn of events in round four, as Gross breaks through and stuns Griffith with a big shot. He then rains blow after unanswered blow to the head of the challenger. The ref steps in to call a halt. TKO 4 for Gross, who keeps the belt. Post-fight records: Gross, 21-3 (11); Griffith, 22-4-1 (14).

Jan. 10, 1931: The action heads West for a big fight card at the Olympic Auditiorium in Los Angeles. Two main events, one for a WBA title, but first is a bout for the vacant USBA Flyweight title. This belt was recently vacated by newly-crowned WBA Champ Newsboy Brown. His predecessor, fan favorite Fidel LaBarba, is in action against Corporal Izzy Schwartz; it is LaBarba’s first ring action since losing a controversial split decision to Brown. In round three, there’s a sudden spurt of blood coming from a nasty cut over the bridge of LaBarba’s nose. Despite some good corner work, the cut is sliced open again in round five and, after consultation, with the ring doctor, the ref calls a halt. Schwartz is declared a winner via TKO 5, and LaBarba’s fans go home unhappy. The win moves Schwartz to 25-11-1 (6) while LaBarba dips to 24-4-1 (9) overall. Then, it’s time for the main event, with Chick Suggs defending his WBA FW crown for the third time against USBA Champ Dick “Honeyboy” Finnegan. The early action favors the Champ, Suggs, who holds a MD win over Finnegan in an earlier tilt. Midway through round seven, Suggs puts Finnegan down, and Suggs follows up with an overhand right that finds the target for a second KD later that same round. Somehow, Honeyboy regains his feet and his bearings, and he manages to last the bout but is never a threat to lift the title. Suggs takes a solid UD 15 (144-140, 146-138, 149-135) to move to 39-10-4 (12) overall, compared to a post-fight mark of 30-12 (9) for Finnegan.

Jan. 16, 1931: It’s “Down Under” for the popular Friday nights series, returning to Sydney Stadium in Australia. The main event has Commonwealth HW Champ Larry Gains defending against popular Aussie HW George Cook; tonight Gains battles a hostile crowd as well as Cook. Unperturbed, he rocks Cook with a sharp combination near the end of round three; the effects of that blow also sees Cook's left eye beginning to puff up. Cook recovers, but in round five, Gains forces him to cover up when he nails the Aussie with an uppercut. Then, later in the round, the Canadian delivers the coup-de-grace when a combination connects and puts Cook down and out. The TKO 5 win moves Gains to 29-6 (18); Cook sinks to 37-20-3 (17) with the loss.

[JCWeb]

Back after a bit of a delay with the key results from the second half of January, 1931 ...

Jan. 17, 1931: No titles at stake, but a solid fight card at the Sports Palace in Rome, Italy that is headlined by two co-main events. In one, two top 10 HWs tangle as former EBU HW Champ takes on the aging veteran, former WBA kingpin Harry Wills. After a slow start, Spalla gradually builds a points lead, to the delight of his hometown fans. He scores big in round six, bloodying Wills’ nose. Wills goes down when clocked by a big shot from the Italian in round seven. Wills covers up and survives the round despite taking a nine-count. A round later, however, the cut becomes too much of an issue, and the ref steps in to call a halt. TKO 8 win for Spalla, moving him to 33-12-2 (23) overall. For Wills, it’s the end of the road as he decides to hang up the gloves after a stellar career, totaling 21 seasons and career totals of 62-14-1 (47). Then, the second co-feature and final bout of the evening has two top MWs, with Rene DeVos, the “Little Fox,” taking on OPBF Champ Ceferino Garcia with a rumored World title shot at stake. Garcia looks strong in the early rounds, causing DeVos’ left eye to swell, as well as opening a gash over his right eye. Garcia sends DeVos to the canvas in round six, but can’t follow up. Three rounds later is another big KD for the Filipino, and a groggy DeVos arises as the count reaches nine. Garcia works his way in behind a strong jab, but he cannot finish DeVos. The bout goes the distance, but Garcia takes a lopsided UD 10 (99-89,98-90, 98-90). The win moves him to 27-6 (20) while DeVos ends up at 45-12-2 (18).

Jan. 23, 1931: Friday night fight card at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. A twin bill of USBA title bouts headline the card, but first up in a main support is the swansong for all-time great, Pittsburgh’s own “Human Windmill,” Harry Greb. He takes on fellow LH Tiger Jack Payne and, while age has diminished his skills, he puts in a creditable effort, going the distance although the MD 10 goes to Payne. Post-fight, Payne moves to 21-6 (9) while Greb wraps up a lengthy 19-year career with a 51-17-4 (27) record. After a fine ovation for Greb, it’s time for the first of the USBA title fights, this one for the vacant MW crown. Young Terry takes on Ace Hudkins. Hudkins comes out firing and puts Terry down for a five-count in the opening stanza with a nice, short clean combination. Hudkins continues to be the aggressor until a cut over his right eye in round four slows his progress. Meanwhile, Terry is battling a rapidly swelling left eye. Hudkins lands a big shot for a second KD in round seven, and he connects with an uppercut for another KD later in the round. In round 10, the bout turns again, as Terry connects with a hook to the head, and Hudkins now is battling a second cut, this one over the left eye. Hudkins struggles to hang on, surviving until the final round. Then the cut is sliced open, and despite protests from Hudkins’ corner – the ref waves the bout off. Young Terry takes the title via a controversial TKO 12 (cuts stoppage). He moves to 23-5-3 (10) with the victory, while Hudkins slumps to 29-10-2 (15). Even after all this excitement, there is the main event as unbeaten WW Jackie Fields puts his USBA title belt on the line, facing Baby Joe Gans. The action is slow to develop, but Fields sets shop outside, gradually gaining confidence as he works his way inside. Then, in round six, he traps Gans against the ropes and pummels him until the ref is forced to call a halt. Little protest from the corner on this one, which goes down as a TKO 6 win for Fields. Post-fight records: Fields, 23-0-1 (13); Gans, 27-11 (13).

Jan. 24, 1931: It’s back to the UK and the venerable old Olympia arena for a card that whets the fight fans’ appetites for some top-flight HW action. A fan favorite, the “Gorgeous Gael,” Jack Doyle is on the undercard, taking on Belgian Pierre Charles. Doyle seems ready to pounce on his opponent after landing a big hook in round seven when he gets careless, falling victim to a Charles uppercut that puts him down and out. KO 7 win for Charles. The main support bout pairs ex-WBA Champ Gene Tunney with one of the top European HWs, Paulino Uzcudan. The “Basque Woodchopper” lands at will, outpacing the “Fighting Marine” in the early action. However, Tunney lands some effective counters, and Uzcudan’s left eye starts to puff up after the first five or six rounds. In round eight, Uzcudan plants a straight right that forces Tunney to cover up. The Spaniard rallies in the late rounds, and this time it is Tunney who is bothered by a swollen right eye. Uzcudan hangs on for a narrow MD 10 win (96-95, 95-95, 97-94) and moves to 29-5-1 (12) as a result; Tunney, who is in the twilight of his career, is now 46-14-3 (26). Then, it’s on to the main event, as Don Shortland makes his first defense of his GBU title won last year, taking on Tommy Farr, the “Tonypandy Terror,” whom he TKO’d in a 1928 encounter. This time, it is Farr who takes charge from the beginning, and the Welshman dominates the action from start to finish. Shortland suffers a badly swollen left eye but manages to remain on his feet for the entire bout. Farr takes a one-sided UD 12 (120-108, 119-109, 119-109) to capture the title belt. Post-fight, Farr is now 23-3 (12); Shortland, now at Post-Prime, is 19-5 (5).

Jan. 24, 1931: Next card is at Havana’s Gran Stadium. No titles at stake, but a couple of interesting co-main events to headline an impressive card. In one, two top Hispanic LWs -- #2 rated Luis Vicentini and his Chilean countryman, Stanislaus Loayza, do battle in a rematch of an earlier bout that was a UD 10 win for Vicentini. Vicentini makes a strong start and appears to have matters well in hand, when Loayza’s right eye begins to swell by the end of round one. The tables are turned quickly, however, when Loayza unloads a barrage of blows to put Vicentini on the deck in the third. Things get worse for Vicentini in round seven when he sustains a cut over his left eye, and his right eye also begins to swell. The bout goes down to the wire, and it goes as a SD 10 win for Loayza (95-96, 95-94, 96-93). Post-fight, Loayza moves to 33-8 (13) while Vicentini dips to 24-10-3 (10). Final bout on the card has former WBA WW king Jimmy “Baby Face” McLarnin matched up against local favorite, Cuban slugger Miguel Quintero. Quintero tries to work his way inside but finds his efforts thwarted at every turn. McLarnin rains repeated blows to cause both the Cuban’s eyes to start swelling as early as round four, and the rest of the bout is a cakewalk for the former Champion as Quintero has his resistance gradually worn down. Good effort for McLarnin, whose handlers are looking to arrange a title shot later in the year. UD 10 for McLarnin (97-93 on all three cards). Post-fight records: McLarnin, 30-4 (19); Quintero, 23-5-4 (11).

Jan. 30, 1931: Friday night fight action in Europe, up to the Ullevi Stadium in Stockholm. Headlining the card are some top European fighters. In the co-main event, German MW Hein Domgorgen is matched with his American counterpart, Jimmy Finley. Domgorgen is on top early, and by round three, Finley is feeling the effects with a rapidly swelling left eye. Domgorgen then suffers a cut over his left eye in round four. However, he manages to drop Finley with a nice combination to the head and body. Midway through the bout, Domgorgen – who is receiving as well as dishing out the punishment – suffers from a swollen left eye as well. Nonetheless, he manages to put Finley on the deck a second time with a nice uppercut. The swelling below Finley’s eye gradually worsens, and it leads to a late stoppage. It goes into the books as a TKO 10 for Domgorgen, and there is little protest from Finley’s corner. The win moves the German to 29-9-1 (15) while Finley drops to 27-14-1 (21) overall. Then, it’s time for the main event, and it features the popular German HW Max Schmeling in a rematch against the man who handed him his first career loss, Dutchman Jack DeMave. Schmeling is on his best form tonight, and DeMave is on the defensive from the outset. The bout lasts into the fifth when DeMave finally goes down in a blizzard of blows from Schmeling; he does not beat the count. KO 5 for Schmeling to move Max to 23-3 (18) overall, compared to a post-fight mark of 24-7-2 (12) for DeMave. Schmeling’s fans are clamoring for a EBU title shot soon.

Jan. 31, 1931: Next on the agenda is an abbreviated fight card in Manila, Philippines, featuring OPBF WW Champ Lope Tenorio in a non-title fight against none other than the great Benny Leonard. A big crowd turns out at Rizal Arena to witness this one, and Leonard is all business as he sets up shop on the outside. The pro-Tenorio crowd roars after Tenorio tags Leonard with a good shot in round four that causes blood to spurt from a split lip. Tenorio remains the aggressor but, other than one surge in the fourth, he cannot penetrate Leonard’s impressive defense. The bout goes the distance and it’s a UD 10 for Leonard (99-91, 98-94, 99-92). Benny moves to 78-4-2 (41) with the win, while Tenorio dips to 24-9-5 (7).

Jan. 31, 1931: One more fight card to wrap up the first month of 1931, and it’s a big card at New York’s Madison Square Garden with some double-barrel title bout action to headline the card. First up, on the undercard, it’s the highly touted young WW prospect Barney Ross taking on another unbeaten prospect, Andy Callahan. After a couple of close opening rounds, Ross displays his superior boxing skills to pile up an unassailable points lead, coasting to a UD 10 decision (100-92, 100-92, 99-93) in a very impressive display. Barney is now 11-0 (6) while the initial loss drops Callahan to 10-1-1 (6). The co-feature is for the USBA LH belt vacated by Lou Scozza, and the two pugilists matched up for this title are Young Firpo and hard-hitting Paul Berlenbach. Berlenbach, known as the “Astoria Assassin” for his knockout prowess, puts Firpo on the canvas early in round three and, once his killer instinct kicks in, only the ref is able to save Young Firpo from further damage. The TKO 3 lifts Berlenbach to 25-7 (19 by KO) and puts him in title contention, while Firpo slips to 19-6-3 (14). Finally, it’s on to the long-awaited main event, as fan favorite “Slapsie Maxie” Rosenbloom challenges for the WBA LH crown long held by Tommy Loughran. After two earlier losses in title shots against the slick boxing Loughran, Maxie is hoping that the third time is a charm. Midway through the bout, Loughran appears to be gaining the upper hand as a mouse forms under Rosenbloom’s right eye. Maxie rallies with a strong effort in rounds nine and 10. Loughran, aware that his long title reign may be up for grabs, appears to be pressing a bit too hard in the later rounds, instead of coasting to the usual easy win. The Champ battles back with a strong 12^th round, and Rosenbloom’s other eye starts to show signs of swelling. But, in a game effort, Maxie continues to the press the Champion until the final bell. The crowd is breathless as the scorecards are read: 143-143, 144-141 for Rosenbloom, and finally … 143-142 for Loughran, a draw! The Champ barely retains his title after 12 straight wins. Post-fight records: Loughran, 43-4-3 (17); Rosenbloom, 24-6-5 (10). A rematch? Or, possibly as has been much speculated in recent months, Loughran is ready to move up to the HW ranks, having successfully fended off just about all major contenders in the LH division.

[JCWeb]

Moving on to the first half of February, 1931 ...

Feb. 6, 1931: Friday night fight card at Boston Garden. No titles at stake, but a solid card nonetheless. Feature bout has a top-rated JLW, Tod Morgan, paired against top 10 LW Sammy Fuller, in a 10-rounder. Fuller is still trying to rid himself of the “can’t win the big one” tag. Action is slow to develop, and nothing significant occurs until a cut is opened over the left eye of Fuller in round five. Fuller, however, is ahead of points, as he is the more accurate puncher. However, when the cut is reopened and appears to worsen in round seven, the ref calls an immediate halt – so it goes as a TKO 7 for Morgan, despite the fact that Fuller had a slight lead on all three cards. Post-fight, Morgan moves to 32-7-1 (12) while Fuller ends the bout at 28-5 (8).

Feb. 7, 1931: Back to the UK for another Saturday afternoon fight card at the Stadium in Liverpool. No titles at stake, and the main event pairs GBU FW Champ Al Foreman with his OPBF counterpart, Johnny Hill. A top 10 spot awaits the winner. Foreman has trouble with the Filipino, and by the end of round three, his left eye shows signs of swelling. Foreman continues to battle, and midway through the bout, Hill’s right eye starts to puff up. More leather is thrown, and by round six Foreman’s other eye starts to swell. Foreman goes on the offensive in round seven, decking Hill with an overhand right that lands flush. A round later, an increasingly frustrated Hill is called for a blatant foul and the DQ win goes to Foreman. Post-fight records: Foreman, 26-14-1 (21); Hill, 26-9-2 (6).

Feb. 7, 1931: Next fight action is back in the USA at the Miami Stadium. Several Cuban and Hispanic fighters on the agenda. No titles at stake, but two unbeaten prospects are on the card. First up is Argentinian LW Justo Suarez, who battles Cuban veteran Emory Cabana, pulling ahead with a strong round five and riding it to a MD 10 win (98-93, 95-95, 97-93) that lifts Suarez to 18-0 (13). Then, in the main event, Tiger Jack Fox puts his unbeaten record on the line against former NABF LH Champ Roleaux Saguero, another popular Cuban fighter. Saguero has come to fight, landing a big right flush on the chin on Fox in the third round, forcing him to cover up. A determined Fox bounces back in the very next round, hurting Saguero and trapping the Cuban against the ropes. He lands blow after unanswered blow until the ref decides to call a halt. TKO 4 for Fox, lifting him to 19-0 (15) while Saguero – now past his Prime – drops to 29-13-2 (27).

Feb. 13, 1931: Next Friday night card is at the Forum in Montreal. As usual, several French-Canadian fighters on the bill, topped by the headliner, as young FW Pete DeGrasse at 1902 steps up to challenge Babe Herman for the NABF crown, in Herman’s first defense of the belt he won in late 1930. The two boxers take a cautious approach in the bout’s early going. The Champ gradually gains the upper hand around the midway point. The struggle intensifies as DeGrasse becomes more aggressive in the later rounds, but Herman hangs on to post a UD 12 win (116-113, 117-112, 115-114) and retain the belt. Post-fight records: Herman, 30-16-4 (13); DeGrasse, 19-3 (5).

Feb. 14, 1931: It’s back to Europe for a card at the Amor Bahn in Munich. No titles at stake, but the headliner pits WBA JWW Champ Jack Kid Berg against the EBU WW Champ, Cleto Locatelli, in a 10-round, non-title affair, as Berg finds a decided lack of suitable opponents right now in the JWW ranks. The “Whitechapel Whirlwind” finds his Swiss opponent to be a tough nut to crack, and the bout is relatively close through the first six rounds. Starting in round seven, Locatelli is bothered by a rapidly swelling left eye. Berg comes on strong in the later rounds to erase all doubt, sealing a UD 10 (96-93 on all three cards) to move to 27-1-2 (13) post-fight, compared to 22-4-1 (8) for Locatelli.

Feb. 14, 1931: Next on the agenda is a solid fight card at Kiel Auditorium in St. Louis. Fighting on the undercard is a fan favorite, the “Cinderella Man,” hard-luck HW Jimmy Braddock. His opponent, Johnny “Schoolboy” Grosso, is on the downside of his career, and Braddock takes advantage, gradually gaining the upper hand in his slow, plodding style. By the end of round seven, Grosso’s right eye has begun to swell. Braddock goes on to record a solid UD 10 win (100-91 on all three cards) for his sixth win in his last eight outings, good enough to move him to 19-4-2 (6) overall while Grosso dips to 19-9-1 (12). Then, in the main event, highly ranked HW George Godfrey, in his first bout since his TKO loss in the WBA title bout with Young Stribling in 1930, faces a top 20 HW in Joe Banovic. It’s a good test for Godfrey, who asserts himself with a big hook that sends Banovic back on his heels in round two. In the fifth round, Godfrey manages to hurt Banovic with a well-timed uppercut, but again Banovic stays on his feet and survives the round. A round later, Banovic is once again staggered by a hook to the head, but he remains upright. After this round, Banovic’s right eye starts to swell up. Godfrey finally is able to put his opponent down in the final round when he connects with a big hook. Banovic arises at the count of six, but by this time all the fight has gone out of him. Godfrey takes a UD 10 (97-92, 98-92, 98-91) to move to 41-10-1 (29) overall, while Banovic dips to 19-4 (7).

[JCWeb]

Wrapping up Feb. 1931 with a summary of the key action ...

Feb. 20, 1931: Friday night fights “Down Under” at Sydney Stadium in Aussie-land. Main event has former WBA WW Champ Irineo Flores, who briefly held the title in 1930, on the comeback trail against Aussie Jack Carroll. Carroll is ranked just outside the top 20, far below Flores who is a heavy favorite in this one. Flores looks sharp early, putting Carroll down in round two with a devastating uppercut to the head. Carroll lasts the round but suffers a cut over his left eye. In round seven, Flores staggers Carroll and causes the Aussie fighter’s left eye to swell up. Carroll’s eye worsens in the later rounds, while Flores is cut over his right eye. The cuts turn out not to be big factors in the outcome, which is a lopsided UD 10 win for the Filipino (99-91, 99-91, 98-92). Post-fight, Flores moves to 33-12-2 (18) while Carroll ends the bout at 23-10-2 (12).

Feb. 21, 1931: More fight action in the States at the Coliseum Arena in New Orleans. Headliner is a NABF title bout, but one of the main supports features two top LH prospects, unbeaten Battling Bozo (16-0) and Joe Knight who has lost just once in 18 prior outings. Knight seizes the upper hand in round four, staggering Bozo with a right cross that results in a rapidly swelling left eye as well. Bozo tries to battle back but is caught by a big shot that puts him down and out a few rounds later. Knight takes a KO 7 win, the biggest of his career thus far. Post-fight, Knight is 16-1-1 (10) while the loss leaves Bozo at 16-1 (8). The featured bout also is in the LH division, as Lou Scozza makes his first defense of the NABF title won just two months previously, taking on ex-Champ Jimmy Slattery. The challenger gets off to a good start, but Scozza gets on track when he staggers Slattery with a three-punch combo in round three. The see-saw battle takes another turn in round seven when Slattery comes through with a good round, and Scozza’s corner and the Champ are forced to deal with a rapidly swelling right eye. In round eight, however, Scozza picks off a jab and nails Slattery with a good shot that puts the challenger down for an eight-count. Not to be deterred, a determined Slattery battles through the adversity to nail Scozza with a combination to even the knockdown count in round 11. Scozza arises, and the bout goes the distance with the outcome far from certain. When the scorecards are read, Scozza escapes with a majority draw (115-111 Slattery, 113-113, 113-113) to retain the title. Fans are already clamoring for a rematch later in 1931. Post-fight records: Scozza, 28-2-1 (21); Slattery, 29-10-2 (11).

Feb. 21, 1931: Next fight action is at the Olympia Stadium in Panama City. In the main event, ex-WBA Champ Panama Al Brown takes a step on the comeback trail, facing Canadian Howard Mayberry for the latter’s NABF BW title belt. Brown has three prior career wins over the Mayberry and is looking to add the NABF belt to his laurels. Panama Al is the aggressor early in the bout, and he starts well, putting Mayberry on the defensive. In round four, a huge gash opens over Mayberry’s left eye, and the blood trickles down his face. The ref steps in and orders an immediate stoppage. It’s a TKO 4 for Panama Al Brown, who captures the NABF title and moves to 36-4 (15) overall, while Mayberry drops to 31-13-2 (14). Mayberry, who held the NABF title from 1927 to 1931, is now at Post-Prime so his title reign may be over for good.

Feb. 27, 1931: Next Friday night card is at the Palais des Sports in Cannes, France. On the undercard are two unbeaten young HW prospects, as Primo Carnera faces in toughest test yet in Ralph Ficucello. The “Ambling Alp” seems to have matters well in hand when he staggers his opponent with a straight right in the opening round. However, things begin to turn around when Ficucello is able to dig a short hook to the midsection of Carnera in the fourth round, stunning the Italian. More trouble is to come in the next round when a strong shot sends Carnera to the canvas. Urged on by his corner, “Da Preem” tries to mix it up in the following round, but he just leaves himself open as Ficucello fights off the ropes, nailing Carnera with a perfect cross for his second KD. Later in the round, the ref steps in to save an exhausted Carnera from further punishment. The TKO 6 win moves Ficucello to 13-0 (12) while Carnera, at 11-1-1 (10), must reassess his career path after his first loss. Then, in the main event, EBU Champion Otto Von Porat takes on Lanky Ralph Smith, a former NABF titleholder who is at the Post-Prime of his career but still a dangerous opponent. Smith shows he has come to fight when he puts Von Porat down with a flash knockdown in round one. Not much action until round four, when a solid uppercut from Smith stuns the EBU Champ. A round later, blood begins to spurt from Von Porat’s nose – a bad cut has surfaced that will prove difficult for his corner to control. Smith takes advantage to put the Norwegian down for the second time with a strong shot. Von Porat quickly recovers, and a round later he finds the target and puts Smith on the deck for an eight count. Good action bout that lasts the distance. Most of the crowd seems to think Von Porat has done enough to claim the decision, but it goes against him – a MD 10 win for Smith (94-93, 94-94, 95-93) to the surprise of many observers. Post-fight records: Smith, 23-10-2 (8); Von Porat, 19-4-1 (11).

Feb. 28, 1931: It’s back to the UK for a packed card at the Earls Court in London. Two title bouts, one for a WBA belt, headline the agenda. The co-feature has two British BWs battling for the GBU BW crown. Johnny King, who also holds the EBU title, defends against ex-Champ, the aging vet, Johnny Brown. King takes charge early, putting Brown down in a barrage of blows in round two. Brown’s right eye starts to puff up as a result of the accumulated blows, and a round later his other eye also begins to swell. In round five, King traps Brown and staggers him with a devastating hook. That sets up the knockout blow – a big uppercut – and Brown is finished, down and out. KO 5 for King, who moves to 22-2 (13) with the win. It turns out to be Brown’s final adieu to the fistic scene, and he winds up at 26-14-3 (18). Then, it is time for the main event – MW king Mickey Walker makes his 20^th defense of the WBA title against EBU Champ Len Johnson. It’s the third meeting of the two, as Walker holds two stoppage in wins back in 1926 and 1929 but both those bouts were in the States – this time Johnson in on home turf. Walker gets off to a strong start, decking Johnson with a devastating hook to the head in the opening stanza. In round five, Walker unleashes a wild overhand right and Johnson tastes the canvas for the second time. Walker has a huge points lead by now, so he coasts through the middle rounds. A desperate Johnson leaves himself open for some strong shots in the later rounds, and in round 11 “the Toy Bulldog” catches the Brit with a nice uppercut for the third KD of the bout. Two more knockdowns follow in round 12, as a tired Johnson arises slowly after the fifth KD, from another Walker uppercut, so this time the ref has seen enough. TKO 12 for Walker, who has not lost in almost seven years. His excellent career total now stands at 46-1 (35), while Johnson is 27-11-2 (16).

Feb. 28, 1931: February’s final card is at the Cow Palace in San Francisco. A WBA title is on the line, but first is the main support bout where highly regarded MW prospect Harry “the Harlem Thunderbolt” Smith gets his career back on track after two straight losses with a first round blowout over veteran Oakland Jimmy Duffy. The KO 1 lifts Smith to 16-2 (13). The WBA title at stake is the initial defense by Flyweight Champ Newsboy Brown, and his opponent – EBU Champ Johnny Vacca, the “Midget Organ Grinder,” has hit the post-Prime stage of his career. Nonetheless, Vacca gets off early and often, piling up a points edge in the early rounds. However, Newsboy mounts a strong rally to take control in the middle rounds. It turns out to be a good matchup, but a bit of a lackluster affair with the lack of any knockdowns or near-KDs, plus neither man is unmarked. It goes the distance and, in the end, Newsboy Brown does enough to merit a UD 15 nod from the judges (145-140, 144-141, 146-139) to move to 34-6-2 (10) overall, while Vacca slips to 24-4 (11).

[JCWeb]

Fistic highlights from the first half of March, 1931 -- exciting young HW Max Baer is back in action, and two WBA title bouts, each of which results in a new Champion being crowned ...

Mar. 6, 1931: March 1931 commences with a Friday night card at the Stadium in Liverpool. No titles at stake, and only one noteworthy bout which is the feature matchup pitting former WBA FW Champion Louis Kaplan against ex-EBU Dom Volante, a fan favorite here in Liverpool. Urged on by the hometown crowd, Volante starts well, feinting with the right and then nailing Kaplan with a left hook to the body that causes the former Champ to wince and cover up. By the end of the round, he is suffering from some swelling under his right eye as well. Midway through the bout, Kaplan begins to settle in, and by round six, Volante is dealing with some swelling around his left eye. However, Volante re-establishes control when he staggers Kaplan with a big uppercut. The bout goes the distance but all three judges give the UD 10 nod to Volante (97-94, 98-93, 97-93). Post-fight, Volante moves to 24-8-2 (13) while Kaplan slips to 37-10-1 (10).

Mar. 7, 1931: More fight action, this time back in the States, at Miami Stadium. The main event has the WBA JLW crown at stake, with Mike Ballerino facing an accomplished challenger in Benny Bass. A determined Bass starts strongly, ripping open a cut over the right eye of the Champ in round two. The cut continues to be an issue throughout the fight, as it is reopened in round five and again in round eight. Then, to add to Ballerino’s troubles, his other eye begins to swell up. The end comes in round 10 when the cut is reopened and becomes too severe to allow the bout to continue. Despite protests, the ref calls a halt and declares Bass the victor. TKO 10 (cuts stoppage) means Bass is the new WBA JLW king. Post-fight records: Bass, 37-10-3 (4); Ballerino, 25-14-4 (7).

Mar. 7, 1931: The scene shifts to the Exhibition Gardens in Vancouver. It’s a light card, and the feature bout has ex-WBA Champ Jimmy “Baby Face” McLarnin continuing on the comeback trail as he challenges veteran Jack Sparr for the latter’s NABF title belt. Buoyed by the support of a hometown crowd, McLarnin takes the initiative in round three, ripping open a severe cut over Sparr’s left eye. Sparr’s other eye begins to puff up as well, and in round five McLarnin puts him on the deck with a strong shot, following up with a second KD later in the same round. Sparr’s other eye starts swelling up in round six, and the end appears near. A round later, with McLarnin landing blow after unanswered blow, the ref calls a halt. It goes down as a TKO 7 for McLarnin with little protest from Sparr’s corner. The win brings the NABF title and moves McLarnin to 31-4 (20) overall, while Sparr (now at Post-Prime) drops to 33-16-1 (19).

Mar. 13, 1931: Next Friday night card is at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. The main event is for the USBA LW title, as Al Gordon defends the belt against the challenge of former JLW Champ Sid Barbarian. Barbarian has struggled, however, since moving up to LW. He is the aggressor in the early rounds while taking on Gordon, who settles into the boxer/counterpuncher role this bout. Gordon puts in a strong performance, and an increasingly frustrated Barbarian becomes more and more desperate as the bout wears on. Gordon goes on to take a fairly easy UD 12 verdict (118-110 on all three cards) to keep the belt and move to 28-9-5 (9) overall, while Barbarian (now at Post-Prime) is 32-14-2 (16).

Mar. 14, 1931: It’s back to the European continent and specifically the Palazzo del Sport in Rome, Italy. A good card featuring several crowd favorites, headlined by Kid Francis, who is making the second defense of his WBA BW title, taking on the challenge of young, unbeaten Filipino Pablo Dano. Many observers think young Dano may be over his head in this title matchup at such an early stage of his career, but he gets off to a solid start, keeping pace with the Champ through the early rounds. By the end of round nine, it is Francis who is battling a rapidly swelling right eye. Francis continues to press forward, but he gets careless and is floored by a left hook from Dano in the 13^th. The bout goes the distance, and when the cards are read, it’s a changing of the guard as the judges favor the challenger. Dano takes a solid UD 15 (146-139, 145-140, 146-138) and keeps his unbeaten records intact at 20-0-2 (14) while Francis, post-fight, is 23-8-2 (16).

Mar. 14, 1931: Next card is at the Dodge Arena in Phoenix. Main support features unbeaten HW prospect Max Baer, who is in his second scheduled 10-rounder and his first bout against a RL opponent, aging vet Bill Hartwell. Turns out Hartwell is no match for the aggressive Baer, who rips open a gash over Hartwell’s right eye in the opening round. The cut becomes a problem for Hartwell’s corner which is never able to staunch the bleeding. Baer goes on the offensive in round three, causing Hartwell’s other eye to swell up and finally convincing the ref to call a halt due to the cut. TKO 3 to Baer on the cuts stoppage. He moves to 11-0 (10) overall. Then, the main event features a USBA JWW title bout, with Mickey Cohen defending this belt against the challenge of Harry Wallach. The two appear to be evenly matched on paper, having split two earlier 10-round decisions. Wallach gets off to a strong start, and by the end of round three, Cohen is battling with a rapidly swelling right eye. The Champ battles back to stabilize the situation in the middle rounds. In round 10, Wallach’s right eye begins to puff up as well. More action in the final rounds, as a vicious hook from Wallach puts Cohen on the canvas in round 11. Cohen battles back, staggering the challenger with a short hook to the midsection, and this strong showing in the final round is just enough for Cohen to salvage a draw (114-113 Cohen, 113-113, 113-114 Wallach) and keep the belt. He moves to 16-10-1 (9) overall, while Wallach slips to 19-10-2 (10).