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WBA Title Fights: Harry Harris, despite reaching the Post-Prime of his career, still appears unbeatable, racking up two more title defense wins in 1907, a KO 12 of Digger Stanley and a KO 8 of Monte Attell. He now has defended a total of 17 times (including one draw) since taking the crown from Jimmy Barry in 1901, making him the longest reigning champ in any division heading into 1908.

NABF: Jimmy Barry, approaching retirement, defended the NABF crown one more time versus Morris Rauch (KO 6), then resigned the title. In the matchup for the vacant crown, Biz Mackey scored a UD 12 win over Phil McGovern.

USBA: Five USBA Title Bouts during the year. First, Al Delmont took the crown away from Philly McGovern with a WDQ in 11. He defended versus TC Carl DeWitt (TKO 3) and then nosed out McGovern with a SD 12 verdict. In his third defense, however, his luck ran out, as youngster Johnny Coulon turned the tables with a SD 12 win over Delmont. Coulon then ended the year on a winning note, a UD 12 defense of the title over veteran Frankie Neil.

CBU: Joe Bowker defended with two knockout wins over TC Stuart Markham (KO 8) and veteran Pedlar Palmer (KO 4).

GBU: A foul cost Bowker his GBU title, losing it in the 11th to TC Lee Ridley. Ridley defended once versus fellow TC Markham (winning with a TKO 9), but his fairy-tale ride came to an end when Digger Stanley outpointed him to put the crown back in the hands of real-life fighters.

EBU: This title was up for grabs when Owen Moran left to campaign as a FW. Digger Stanley annexed the vacant crown with a SD12 win over Pedlar Palmer.

Rankings (including Perf Pts and changes from last year):

Champ: Harry Harris 41-4-1 (28) 1164 pts NC
1. Al Delmont 22-5 (14) 689 pts up 3
2. Johnny Coulon 16-1 (12) 670 pts New
3. Biz Mackey 22-5-2 (8) 633 pts NC
4. Monte Attell 14-5-1 (9) 612 pts up 7
5. Hugh McGovern 20-7-1 (11) 492 pts up 4
6. Phil McGovern 24-11-2 (9) 473 pts up 2
7. Harry Forbes 26-16-4 (11) 419 pts down 2
8. Frankie Neil 20-11-1 (13) 397 pts up 5
9. Kid Murphy 16-5 (13) 392 pts up 1
10. Morris Rauch 22-17-2 (9) 383 pts down 3

Wow! All US fighters in the Top 10, in a division which has had a historically strong contingent from the UK in the past. Of course, Moran (#6 last year) left for greener pastures in the FW division, and Bowker (who was #2) really fouled up his rating (pardon the pun) with that DQ loss to TC Ridley. Digger Stanley, the EBU and GBU champ, is #11 with a 17-12-1 (6) mark and 318 pts followed by Lee Ridley, the top TC with a 10-10 (3) mark and 317 pts. Bowker, still CBU champ, slid all the way to 14th, with 287 pts and a 21-10-2 (14) record. The gap between the Champ and the top contender is greater here than in any other division, largely reflecting the fact that Harris has held the title for so long--and also that no clearcut challenger has emerged, although Coulon may be on his way. Harris and Rauch hit Post-Prime in 1907, and all the others are at Prime except for Coulon (still Pre-Prime until bout #20). Delmont recovered from his upset loss to Coulon with two wins to regain the #1 contender spot. Coulon's one loss was a UD 10 to Kid Murphy. One of the bigger upsets in 1907 was a UD 10 win by prospect Charles Goldman over Biz Mackey.

Frankie Conley (10-0, 9 KOs) and Goldman (8-0-1, 4 KOs) are the top prospects, aside from Coulon, who has already made his mark. New in 1907 was Joseph Biderburg aka Louisiana, who now sports a 2-0 mark. Frankie Burns and Philadelphia Pal Moore are set to enter the bantam ranks in 1908.

1907 marked the retirement year of one of the all-time greats in the division, Jimmy Barry, whose career marks were as follows:

1891-1907 55-4-3 (40) WBA Champ from 1897-1901