Subj: The WAWLI Papers No. 46
Date: 99-01-26 14:47:23 EST
From: Oldfallguy@aol.com
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The BAWLI Papers
(Boxing As We Liked It)
By J Michael Kenyon
Issue Number 46
Thursday, January 28, 1999
New York City, New York, US of A
_____________________________________
IN THIS ISSUE: FOURTH INSTALLMENT OF 'THE RECORD REVIEWED' -- LEO LOMSKI
______________________________________
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Readers are welcome to submit interesting and otherwise noteworthy articles
concerning professional boxing's long and storied past. The emphasis,
generally, should be on the foremost fighters, managers, trainers and
promoters, and events that otherwise were of some moment in the sport's
history. Either transmit the articles via e-mail or mail them to the editor at
the following addresses:
J Michael Kenyon (oldfallguy@aol.com)
244 Madison Avenue, Suite 145
New York City, New York 10016
__________________________________
ED. NOTE -- The BAWLI Papers herewith adds another chapter in the continuing
search for career details on fighters more or less forgotten with the passage
of time. Earlier, we looked at Tiger Jack Fox, George Godfrey and Charley
Burley. Today, in what is solely original research by the editor, we meet Leo
Lomski.)
LEO LOMSKI
Born (circa 1903), Died (circa 1990), Weight, 155-185 lbs., Height, 5 ft. 10
inches.
One of the more crowd-pleasing, two-fisted, give-no-quarter fighters in
boxing history, the "Aberdeen Assassin" probably had close to 125 fights over
a 14-year period in the 1920s and 1930s. One title shot, against Tommy
Loughran in the Garden at New York, saw Lomski deposit the champ on the canvas
in the first round before losing a close, 15-round decision. Chet McIntyre, an
old Northwest fight hand, got him started around the logging camps in Idaho.
Then Lomski and his family moved to Aberdeen, Wash., on the Pacific coast,
where he resided for the remainder of his life. A wild and colorful character,
he was idolized by Northwest fight fans, who have never seen his like, before
or since. Managed for years by Eddie Eicher, who handled a small, but classy,
stable out of the remote harbor town of Aberdeen. A stablemate, Frisco McGale,
later managed Eddie Cotton, who became the "uncrowned lightheavyweight
champion" out of Seattle under the tutelage of a subsequent manager, George
(Don't Worry, Doctor) Chemeres. Lomski, between minor scrapes with the law,
not to mention a series of unfortunate auto accidents, became a baseball
umpire in his late 30s and 40s, and is remembered for having decked more than
one irate batter with his club-like fists. One thing is certain: Lomski
deserves a place, however small, on history's list of formidable lightheavies.
(RECORD AS SHOWN BELOW: 111 fights, 76 victories, 31 by knockout, 24 losses --
5 by knockout, 11 draws)
(The following, sketchy record is probably shy 12-14 early fights, fought
under Chet McIntyre's direction in a variety of Idaho towns during 1923-24,
and most ending via a Lomski kayo)
1923
-- Billy Harms KO2
1924
Jan. 22 -- Billy Wright, Coeur D'Alene W15
Mar. 21 -- Billy Conley, Coeur D'Alene TKOby4
-- George McCormack W12
-- Mickey Rockson, Coeur D'Alene W15
-- Billy Conley W12
-- Eddie Richards, Aberdeen KO6
-- Jimmy Darcey, Aberdeen KO6
1925
Jan. 6 -- Mike O'Connor, Seattle W6
Jan. 13 -- Neil Campbell, Seattle W6
Jan. 22 -- Jimmy Moore, Tacoma W6
Feb. 5 -- Eddie Roberts, Tacoma W6
Feb. 10 -- Tillie Herman, Aberdeen W6
March 26 -- Red Uhlan, Tacoma W6
Apr. 9 -- Charles Bulger, Yakima, Wash., KO3
-- Billy Gardeau, Aberdeen, Wash. W6
May 8 -- Pep Webster, Olympia, KO5
May 13 -- Frankie Murphy, Aberdeen W6
May 28 -- Gordon McKay, Aberdeen W6
June 16 -- Dago Joe Gans, Seattle W6
July 21 -- Bob Sage, Alan, Ida. W6
Aug. 25 -- Bert Colima, Seattle, KO2
Oct. 30 -- Eddie Roberts, Hollywood TKO5
Dec. 1 -- Ted Moore, Vernon W10
Dec. 11 -- Mickey Rockson, Hollywood W10
1926
Jan. 19 -- Ray Pelkey, Oakland KO7
Jan. 29 -- Joe Roche, San Francisco L10
Mar. 17 -- Red Uhlan, Aberdeen W6
June 15 -- Jock Malone, Seattle W6
July 4 -- Buck Holley, Aberdeen W6
July 27 -- Jock Malone, Seattle L6
Aug. 10 -- Mickey Rockson, Portland TKO7
Sept. 14 -- Joe Roche, San Francisco, KO4
Oct. 18 -- Cowboy Jack Willis, Vernon W10
Dec. 7 -- Harry Dillon, Portland KO7
1927
Jan. 1 -- Joe Anderson, Portland L10
Jan. 22 -- Tiger Flowers, Los Angeles W10
Mar. 9 -- Frank Monahan, Aberdeen W6
Mar. 29 -- Joe Anderson, Los Angeles W10
June 16 -- Harold Mays, New York W10
June 21 -- Maxie Rosenbloom, New York W12
July 11 -- Willie Walker, New York TKO3
Aug. 10 -- Ray Pelkey, Aberdeen W6
Aug. 23 -- Fred Lenhart, Alan KO2
Sept. 6 -- Ernie Owens, Los Angeles D10
Sept. 21 -- Jack Lee, Alan KO7
1928
Jan. 6 -- Tommy Loughran, New York L15
Feb. 3 -- Mike McTigue, New York W10
Feb. 20 -- Jimmy Francis, Philadelphia TKO3
Mar. 30 -- Joe Sekyra, New York W10
June 13 -- Pete Latzo, New York LF6
Aug. 10 -- Georgie Smith, Newark KO4
Aug. 24 -- Maxie Rosenbloom, Long Branch D10
Sept. 7 -- Pete Latzo, Detroit W10
1929
Jan. 18 -- James J. Braddock, New York W10
Mar. 18 -- Maxie Rosenbloom, Philadelphia L10
June 17 -- Matt Adgie, Philadelphia W10
Aug. 19 -- Mickey Walker, Philadelphia L10
Oct. 1 -- Cowboy Jack Willis, Seattle W6
Nov. 15 -- Charley Belanger, Detroit L10
Nov. 29 -- Charley Belanger, Detroit W10
1930
Jan. 3 -- Maxie Rosenbloom, New York L10
Jan. 17 -- James J. Braddock, Chicago W10
Feb. 14 -- Mickey Walker, Detroit L10
May 16 -- Wesley Ketchell, Seattle D6
May 29 -- Fred Lenhart, Portland D10
June 20 -- Armand Emanuel, San Francisco D10
July 16 -- Harry Dillon, Tacoma KO4
Aug. 3 -- Fred Lenhart, Spokane D10
Aug. 21 -- Maxie Rosenbloom, Aberdeen D8
Sept. 11 -- King Levinsky, Chicago KOby5
Nov. 4 -- Jack Silver, Seattle TKO6
Nov. 25 -- Fred Lenhart, Portland L10
Dec. 16 -- Young Firpo, Portland KO2
1931
Jan. 20 -- Charley Belanger, Portland W10
Feb. 10 -- George Manley, Portland D10
Mar. 3 -- George Manley, Portland L10
May 6 -- Maxie Rosenbloom, Portland L10
Sept. 20 -- Dave McRae, Kelso, Wash., KO2
Oct. 14 -- George Rickard, Tacoma D6
Oct. 20 -- Jack Sekyra, Chehalis Wash. KO2
Oct. 27 -- Les Kennedy, Portland W10
Nov. 7 -- Steve Mullin, Victoria B.C. KO5
Dec. 22 -- Denny Lenhart, Portland KO5
1932
Jan. 1 -- George Rickard, Aberdeen KO4
Jan. 12 -- Frank Sawyer, Portland W6
Jan. 25 -- Hans Birkie, Oakland KOby9
Mar. 30 -- Toby Christenson, Vancouver Wash. D10
Apr. 7 -- Jimmy Byrne, Marshfield Ore. W6
Apr. 13 -- Bearcat Baker, Seattle W6
May 19 -- George Gilstrap, Spokane L6
May 31 -- Jim Anderson, Yakima KO2
July 15 -- Young Firpo, Portland L6
July 20 -- Jack McCarthy, Medford KO4
Aug. 23 -- George Manley, Denver L10
Sept. 15 -- Denny Lenhart, Victoria TKO7
Oct. 1 -- Ben Shaves, Victoria, KO3
1933
Jan. 2 -- Young Firpo, Portland L10
Apr. 4 -- Frank Van Hee, Portland KOby3
1936
May 18 -- George Vallas, Chicago W5
May 25 -- Eddie Boyle, Chicago W8
June 8 -- Adolph Wiater, Chicago TKO3
July 4 -- Ford Smith, Red Lodge Mont. D10
July 13 -- Eddie Boyle, Chicago W8
July 20 -- Pet Silvers, Chicago L8
Aug. 6 -- Jack Petric, Dallas W10
Sept. 22 -- King Levinsky, Portland L10
Oct. 9 -- Mickey Dugan, Chicago KO4
Nov. 13 -- Pretty Ferrar, Rockford W10
Nov. 20 -- Tommy Gibson, Rockford KO4
Dec. 4 -- Lee Ramage, San Diego KOby6
Career Notes:
Jan. 22, 1924 -- Wright fight, billed as "Leo Lumpsky" from Mullan, Ida.
Mar. 21, 1924 -- Conley fight, suffers first loss, via TKO, to a man who would
fight a no-decison 12-rounder with Young Stribling in Youngstown, Ohio seven
weeks later
Feb. 5, 1925 -- Roberts fight, billed as "Leo Lumski"
Sept. 22, 1925 -- Wrigley Field date with Colima put off after protest by
neighborhood residents
Oct. 20, 1925 -- Scheduled fight with Bert Colima at Vernon postponed due to
Colima's hand problems
Dec. 11, 1925 -- Rockson fight, Lomski down in second and ninth rounds,
rallies to win decision
June 15, 1926 -- Malone fight, Lomski wins Coast middleweight title
recognition before 5,000 in the ballpark, largest Seattle fight crowd to that
date
Sept. 14, 1926 -- Roche fight, Lomski avenges earlier loss at Recreation
ballpark, defends Coast middleweight title before 8,000
Jan. 22, 1927 -- Flowers fight, Lomski's first fight with a former champion
(Flowers had lost middleweight crown to Mickey Walker the previous month); he
will, between now and May 5, 1931, fight current or former champs 13 times,
going the distance in every one, and ending with a 5-6-2 record
Sept. 6, 1927 -- Owens fight, Lomski's first as a lightheavyweight,
controversial draw is decision
Nov. 18, 1927 -- Lomski cancels fight with Homer Robertson at Boston due to
"bad stomach"
Jan. 6, 1928 -- Loughran fight, said to be Lomski's fifth career loss; Lomski
has champion on floor in first round before losing the decision
Feb. 3, 1928 -- McTigue fight, easy decision for Lomski in Madison Square
Garden, 12,000 pay $40,158
Mar. 16, 1928 -- Jimmy Slattery refuses to sign for Lomski fight this day in
Madison Square Garden
Mar. 30, 1928 -- Sekyra fight, Lomski gets an easy win before 12,508 (who paid
$49,782) in Madison Square Garden
June 13, 1928 -- Latzo fight, 18,000 hiss and boo Lomski at Ebbets Field,
figuring he took "coward's way out" by losing on foul, costs him July 4 Ebbets
date with Mickey Walker
Jan. 18, 1929 -- Braddock fight, lures 18,000 (and $62,540) to Madison Square
Garden, Arthur Donovan ref, Tex Rickard raises Lomski hand in victory
June 17, 1929 -- Adgie fight, viewed by 20,000 in Philadelphia Municipal
Stadium
Oct. 30, 1929 -- Tacoma fight with Kayo White postponed when Lomski complains
of "bad hand," yet he recovers to take Nov. 15 fight in Detroit with George
Courtney
Nov. 15, 1929 -- Charley Belanger is substitute for Courtney, wins a decision
and then loses rematch to Lomski two weeks later
Jan. 3, 1930 -- Rosenbloom fight, Lomski was 6-to-5 favorite at ringside, lost
all ten rounds in front of 8,586 who paid $26,288
Jan. 17, 1930 Braddock fight, Lomski down twice, judges split, originally
called a draw, crowd booed five minutes, referee later said he "erred" on
original scorecard, decision reversed to Lomski's favor Jan. 28, 1930 by
Illinos State Athletic Commission; promoter Jack Dempsey said he lost $11,000
when sub-zero weather kept crowd down to 5,432, who paid $15,939
May 16, 1930 Ketchell fight, Lomski down for eight-count in first, a six-count
in the third, lost a tooth, eye closed, but rallied to gain controversial
draw; later claimed he was hampered by a broken thumb suffered in Mickey
Walker fight
June 20, 1930 -- Emanuel fight, Lomski laid up nearly three months with an eye
injury
Sept. 11, 1930 Levinsky fight, first time Lomski kayoed, was down six times in
first round, three times in second round, three times in fifth round; Billy
Petrolle won a decision from Tony Canzeroni in the main event -- 13,260 pay
$46,000 to see the fights
Nov. 2, 1930 -- Before Silvers fight, Lomski tells Seattle Times: "I've got
five years a main eventer ahead of me." Claims to have earned $250,000 in
ring; two nights later, Lomski's punches are said to "lack old steam"
Feb. 10, 1931 -- Manley fight, Lomski's left eye closed last half of the fight
Mar. 3, 1931 -- Manley fight, Lomski's left eye closed, again, from third
round on
Mar. 31, 1931 -- Lomski exhibition with Max Baer in Portland postponed due to
former's flu; April 7 re-match doesn't come off, either
June 19, 1931 -- Lomski suffers cracked ribs and cut left wrist in auto crash
near Woodland, Wash.
Sept. 7, 1931 -- Lomski scheduled for Jack Dempsey exhibition in Reno, but
sees him Sept. 2 in Aberdeen exhibition and ducks out, claiming not to be in
condition at 199 pounds
Jan. 12, 1932 -- Sawyer fight, Lomski down early, gets up off canvas to win a
decision
Jan. 25, 1932 -- Birkie fight, Lomski is down three times in first four rounds
before losing by TKO in ninth
Apr. 13, 1932 -- Baker fight, split-decision win booed loudly by Ice Arena
crowd, Lomski described as a bit flabby in the waist, puffy in the face
May 19, 1932 -- Gilstrap fight, six-round decision loss to "an inexperienced
young lumberjack" booed loudly
May 31, 1932 -- Anderson fight, both fighters are knocked down in the first
round before Lomski scores kayo win in second
July 20, 1932 McCarthy fight, Lomski down in each of the first three rounds,
scored knockout win in fourth
Oct. 1, 1932 -- Shaves fight, before which Lomski is referred to as "the
former Aberdeen Assassin"
Apr. 4, 1933 -- Van Hee fight, Lomski down in first and second, before a left
hook to the heart had him out several minutes "knocked colder than a
mackerel"; after this debacle, Lomski retires, citing never-ending problems
with his hands (the bane of all hard punchers)
June 8, 1936 -- Wiater fight, first man who ever went to a 10-round decision
with Joe Louis (1934) is stopped by Lomski, 186 1/2
July 1936 -- Bobby Evans, Lomski manager during comeback, nixes Milwaukee date
with lightheavyweight champ John Henry Lewis
July 20, 1936 -- Silvers fight, Lomski down in first round en route to
decision loss
Dec. 1936 -- Ramage fight, a battler to the end, Lomski claimed he got up in
time to beat the count but referee disagreed
_____________________________
MAT MATCH SET FOR GODFREY
(Portland Oregonian, Monday, Sept. 19, 1938)
George Godfrey, Negro, whose huge figure was a threat for years in the
heavyweight boxing ring, and who just returned from three years of wrestling
in South America, arrived in Portland today to become a late entry in the
international wrestling tournament.
Godfrey will wrestle his first tournament exhibition Tuesday night when he
goes up against the Purple Shadow, California mystery man, who is already a
two-time winner in the tournament. The huge Negro weighs 285 pounds and stands
6 feet, 3 inches tall.
The reopening of the tournament tomorrow marks the half-way point, with two
weeks to go, as the final is scheduled for Friday night, September 30. With
the exception of Godfrey, who arrives today, Sandor Szabo, and Ivan Rasputin,
due later, there will be no new entries.
________________________
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