Subj: The BAWLI Papers No. 76
Date: 99-04-06 22:46:01 EDT
From: oldfallguy@home.com (J Michael Kenyon)
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The BAWLI Papers
(Boxing As We Liked It)
Edited by J Michael Kenyon
Issue Number 76
Wednesday, April 7, 1999
New York City, New York, US of A
___________________________
IN THIS ISSUE: DEMPSEY-WILLS EYED FOR HUGE, 110,000-SEAT STADIUM IN NEW YORK
_____________________________
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__________________________________
TUNNEY RETAINS TITLE IN 15-ROUNDER
(Associated Press, December 8, 1924)
NEW ORLEANS, La. -- Gene Tunney of New York, American lightheavyweight
champion, had all the better of his fifteen-round no-decision match here
tonight with Jeff Smith of Bayonne, N.J.
For the first time in his career, extending over fourteen years of fighting
in nearly every country on the globe, Smith was knocked down when he sank to
the canvas in the twelfth round before wicked left punches to the ribs.
Smith weighed 166 1/2 pounds and Tunney 175.
Smith was careful in the first round. He walked in on Tunney and landed a
left hook to the body and brought a cheer from the crowd when he smashed a
hard left to the champion's head.
In the third round Smith sped up and Tunney, welcoming the open fighting,
landed a hard right to Smith's head. Smith started the fourth by socking
hard left hooks to the body and head, but was forced to cover quickly.
In the sixth Smith delivered several rights to the body without return.
Tunney, however, badly outpointed Smith at long range. Just before the round
ended Smith smashed a terrific right to the head.
__________________________
WALKER EASY WINNER FROM MALONE
(Associated Press, December 8, 1924)
MILWAUKEE, Wis. -- Mickey Walker, world's welterweight champion, defeated
Jock Malone of St. Paul in a ten-round no-decision boxing contest here
tonight, winning nine out of ten rounds, according to the majority of
newspapermen at ringside.
The welter title holder conceded six pounds to his St. Paul foe and outboxed
and outslugged him from the start. The fourth round was Malone's best. He
exchanged punches to the head in a thrilling toe-to-toe rally in the center
of the ring, turning Mickey halfway around with a short right cross.
Walker set a furious pace in the eighth and ninth rounds, hooking lefts to
the body that slowed up Malone.
Malone tried desperately but his punches lacked force. Walker won the tenth
round, although Malone fought back desperately.
________________________
TEX RICKARD, YANKEE STADIUM PAIRED
(New York World, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 1924)
By Hype Igoe
Tex Rickard's decision, or rather invitation, to take over the Yankee
Stadium for boxing next summer will no doubt increase the intensity of the
rivalry between the Tall Texan and Jimmy Johnston.
Jimmy seemed to have the ball clubs all wrapped up and in his lap until the
story broke that Jake Ruppert, owner of the Yankees, had sent for Tex and
asked him to replace Johnston as matchmaker and fistic manager of the big
ball park for the next open-air season.
Jimmy had complete possession of both the Yankee and Giants' parks last
summer, but the Milk Fund show was about the only big thing Jimmy turned in.
If Rupper has actually sent for Rickard, then it is as plain as the nose on
your face that Colonel Jake didn't like Jimmy's way of doing things. No
doubt Johnston still will be matchmaker for the Polo Grounds and Charley
Stoneham. I hope so. That will leave one powerful faction in the field in
opposition to Rickard and, for the sake of competition alone, it will be
better for boxing. It will keep both men on their managerial toes and each
will be striving to out-do the other in landing the plums of fistiana.
Johnston bit off more than he could chew in trying to handle both parks.
There had been wild talk of Rickard's monopoly, but it actually existed when
Johnston landed both parks. he found himself driving two white elephants
without a circus to go with them. He kept Rickard out of New York last
summer but did nothing big himself, though he had the same opportunities to
land big "shots" that Rickard had. With Rickard holding down the Yankee
Stadium and Johnston the Polo Grounds this coming summer the fans are going
to decide for themselves which of the two men is entitled to wear the high
hat of ringmaster. It's a showdown.
_______________________
WORK ON NEW BOWL TO BEGIN
(New York Times, January 5, 1925)
Plans for extensive sports promotion in the huge stadium he plans for Long
Island City are expected to be disclosed this afternoon by Promoter Charles
L. Henderson of Brooklyn, on the occasion of breaking ground for the imposin
g structure, which when completed will be known as Henderson's Stadium. The
ground-breaking ceremonies are scheduled to take place at 3 o'clock on the
site of the proposed arena, North James Street and Van Alst Avenue, just
north of the Queensboro Bridge Plaza. The arena will accommodate 100,000
persons and be available for all forms of sport, particularly boxing,
according to Henderson's plans.
Following the breaking of ground Henderson plans to make an important
announcement when officials and spectators are assembled in the Long Island
City Chamber of Commerce Building. This announcement is understood to
involve a proposed world's heavyweight bout between Champion Jack Dempsey
and Harry Wills, negotiations for which were started by henderson during the
last visit of the champion and his manager, Jack Kearns, to this city. On
the occasion, however, Kearns announced that he had come to no definite
agreement with Henderson or any other promoter, adding that he would be open
for bids from all promoters when the time was opportune for the proposed
match.
______________________
BENNY LEONARD COLLAPSES ON STAGE
(New York Times, Monday, Jan. 5, 1925)
Benny Leonard, the world's lightweight champion, collapsed in the middle of
his act at B.F. Keith's Alhambra Theatre, 125th Street and Seventh Avenue,
yesterday afternoon. His case was diagnosed as an acute attack of the grippe
and it was said that he would be confined to his home, 740 West End Avenue,
for at least a week.
His temperature was 103 plus.
The champion, shortly before it was his time to go on with his act, informed
a few of his friends that he was ill. His physician, Dr. Sol Rottenberg, was
called and, though he advised Leonard to leave the theatre at once, the
champion insisted on going on with the act.
While in the middle of one of his boxing numbers he grew weak and left the
stage. In the wings friendly hands reached him before he dropped to the
floor. He received first-aid treatment in one of the dressing rooms and then
was taken to his home.
Few in the audience realized that the champion was ill. Many were of the
impression that his act was a brief one but the patrons were informed as to
the cause of the curtailment of the act.
At the Leonard home last night it was said that the champion was resting
quietly. His physician, when reached at a late hour last night, said there
was no occasion for concern over the champion's condition at present and
that unless complications developed he would be at work in a week. It was
explained that the real extent of the champion's illness would not be known
until today, when he will be subject to a thorough examination.
Leonard was twenty-eight years old last April. He started boxing when he was
sixteen. He won the lightweight championship from Freddy Welsh here in 1917
and has defended it successfully since. He has met the leading men in three
divisions during that time and has earned the name of being one of the
greatest fighters that ever won the lightweight title. He fought
featherweights, lightweights and welterweights, knocking out Johnny Kilbane,
then the featherweight champion, just a few months after he won the
135-pound title, and later defeating Jack Britton, when the latter was the
welterweight champion. He fought the best men in his division and was known
as a fighting champion int he days when there was more activity in his
division.
Leonard has earned more money in the ring than any other lightweight. He
drew a purse of more than $350,000 in the first Tendler fight, and more than
$400,000 for the second Tendler bout. He also passed the $100,000 mark in a
number of other battles.
Leonard has fought only a few times during the last two years, his two
important engagements being with Lew Tendler, one in Boyle's Thirty Actres
in August of 1922 and the second in the Yankee Stadium in July of 1923. He
was scheduled to meet Mickey Walker for the welterweight championship last
summer but he injured his thumb in training and was forced to cancel the
bout.
Leonard started his present vaudeville engagement at Keith's Hippodrome Dec.
8; played there for two weeks, then played a week's engagement at the Royal
Theatre in the Bronx. He was scheduled to leave today for a week's
engagement in Providence, R.I. The champion has been engaged in theatrical
work for more than two years and has divided his time between musical
comedy, vaudeville and motion pictures.
______________________
LEONARD SAID RESTING EASILY
(New York Times, January 6, 1925)
Benny Leonard, world's lightweight champion, who collapsed in the midst of
his vaudeville act last Sunday afternoon, yesterday was reported resting
comfortably and out of danger of serious illness unless unexpected
complications set in. Leonard is convalescing at his home on West End
Avenue, where he was taken following his collapse.
Dr. Sol Rottenberg, the champion's family physician, diagnosed Leonard's
illness as a tough of tonsilitis and a severe attack of the grippe, but
declared that there was no occasion for alarm and added that he expected
Leonard to be up and about within a few days and ready to leave the house
within ten days.
Dr. Rottenberg said the application of ice compacts yesterday morning had
relieved the abnormal temperature which Leonard had when he was stricken,
but stated that the champion's temperature in the afternoon rose again to
104. At Leonard's home it was said the champion complained of pains in his
throat and severe pains in the body. Dr. Rottenberg said he would recommend
that Leonard take a rest of several days upon his recovery because of the
fact that the champion is run down.
________________________
DEMPSEY DUE FOR TITLE GO IN NEW BOWL?
(New York Times, January 6, 1925)
That Jack Dempsey, world's heavyweight champion, will defend his title in
the proposed Henderson Stadium in Long Island City next summer was the broad
intimation made yesterday by Dan McKetrick, vice president and matchmaker
for Henderson's Stadium, Inc., the operating name of the proposed Queensboro
plant, who declared that he spoke also as Eastern representative of Jack
Kearns, manager of the titleholder.
This statement of McKetrick's was made at a dinner at the Queensboro Chamber
of Commerce, following the breaking of ground for the proposed arena on the
north side of the Queensboro Bridge Plaza. It was supplemented later by a
telegram made public by Charles L. Henderson, president of the Stadium
organization, who announced that the message, a confirmation from Kearns of
a telephone talk McKetrick said he had with the champion's manager, arrived
too late to be read to the guests at the dinner.
"Kearns communicated with me at 6 o'clock this morning over the
long-distance telephone from Los Angeles," said McKetrick. "On the strength
of our conversation I am in a position to deny emphatically reports that
Dempsey will fight Tom Gibbons in the Yankee Stadium in the spring and Harry
Wills in Jersey City in the fall. Kearns told me that he has received no
offers for these matches and that he is not tied up with any promoter.
Dempsey will fight in New York next summer. You know my connections and you
can draw your own conclusions."
The telegram, which Henderson said he received from Kearns, read:
"Now that they are breaking ground for Charles Henderson's new arena wish if
possible the champion could be there to lay the cornerstone. But in my
opinion the boxing fans will have a chance to see the champion lay out a few
opponents in the same arena. As stated on the phone this morning, Dempsey is
not signed with any opponent or promoter, as the papers have been quoting,
and expect to do some business with Mr. Henderson next summer."
Promoter Henderson went through the formality of technically breaking ground
for the arena by actually turning over a shovelful of snow while a crowd of
fifty-five Queensboro officials, members of the Chamber of Commerce, boxing
officials and enthusiasts and newspaper men looked on while a graflex
clicked. The site of the arena, on the territory bounded by North Jane
Street, Wilbur Avenue, Van Alst Avenue and the Boulevard, was covered deep
in snow, and Henderson used a long-handled snow shovel for the occasion as
McKetrick, at his side, looked on. In the gathering which watched the
ceremony were Chairman George E. Brower of the State Athletic Commission,
Deputy Eddie Curry, Stuart Hirschman, owner of the property on which the
proposed arena is to be constructed; Judge W. Bernard Vause, Alderman Samuel
Burden, Professor William H. Yates of Manhattan College, and John H. McCooey
Jr., son of the Democratic leader of Kings County.
Plans for the proposed stadium provide for an arena with a capacity of
110,000, to occupy a plot 600 feet by 720 feet, located on the north side of
the Queensboro extension of the B.M.T., which is elevated at that point. The
location is about twelve minutes from Times Square, and is available by
three rapid transit lines from Manhattan, as well as surface lines which
pass the arena site. In capacity the proposed arena will exceed that of Tex
Rickard's arena in Jersey City by 20,000, and the ground it is to be located
upon exceeds that of Rickard's plant by 120 feet.
Promoter Henderson disclosed yesterday that the arena undertaking now is a
tentative proposition, providing for a wooden structure for the first two
years of its existence, with the likelihood that this plant will be replaced
by a concrete stadium, possibly enclosed, at the end of two years. Work on
the proposed arena is scheduled to begin in March when the task of leveling
the site will be started. It is expected to have the arena completed by
Decoration Day, Henderson said. When the plan is available for use it is
planned to promote boxing and wrestling matches, college football,
basketball and various other sports, Henderson announced.
Chairman Brower commended Henderson for his initiative and referred to the
promoter as the right man in the right place in undertaking the venture. "In
advocating the stadium and wishing Mr. Henderson every success I speak on
behalf of the manhood of America," said Chairman Brower. "I am glad to hear
that the Stadium is proposed for all sports, not for any one sport alone,
for I regard sports as beneficial to the country. Anybody who supports and
encourages athletics is doing a public service. It has been said that the
battle of Waterloo was won on the field of Eton. I think it is safe to say
that the great World War was won on the college athletic fields and in our
various centres of recreation. Any stadium where sport is encouraged,
therefore, is to be advocated and granted, the support it deserves."
Judge Vause and John McCooey in addresses congratulated Henderson and wished
the promoter success.
_______________________
BOYD DECISIONS MIMS IN TV BATTLE
(Associated Press, Wed., April 18, 1956)
Lanky Bobby Boyd of Chicago, second-ranked middleweight, tonight defeated
Holly Mims of Washington, D.C., with a split 10-round decision that was
thunderously booed by the Chicago Stadium crowd.
It was a sloppy scrap with much of the action along the ropes.
The rangy Boyd, nabbing his 10th straight victory, knocked down his stubby
opponent for a mandatory eight count with a short right in the sixth round.
But aside from this, the two battlers were tied up in knots most of the time
and referee Bernard Weissman constantly had to separate them.
The holding, pushing brawl was scored in favor of Mims, 93-90, by Judge John
Bray under the Illinois maximum 10-points-per-round system. Judge Spike
McAdams gave it to Boyd, 98-90, and Weissman favored Boyd, 97-92.
______________________
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Subject: The BAWLI Papers No. 76
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