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Before moving on to the WW division, one addition to the prior MW report: the highest rated TCs were two Brits, Arthur Nyland (CBU champ) at #13 with a 14-14-5 mark, 256 pts and Quinton Wade (GCU champ) at #14 with a 7-4-5 record and 155 pts.

WW WBA Title Fights:

Joe Gans CH (56-5) vs Honey Mellody #4 (23-7)

Gans got the better of it in the early rounds, forcing Mellody to become more aggressive as the bout wore on. Honey's efforts were thwarted by some slick defense from the champ, and although Mellody landed a few good shots, particularly in the 11th, the "Old Master" was not seriously threatened. Gans by UD 15.

Joe Gans CH (57-5) vs Dixie Kid #2 (29-7-1)

Third meeting, this one being the rubber match as each had won one previously. First rounds saw a feeling-out process. Kid was initially more defensive, with Gans landing most of the early blows. There was some sizzling action in Rd 6 as both men whaled away from the inside. Gans, with the edge in endurance, seemed to have the upper hand heading into the later rounds. In Round 11, Kid took charge, winning a huge round to close the gap. Round 12 saw Gans open a cut over the the challenger's right eye. Still, Kid kept coming. Kid won a very close and controversial decision in a big surprise: 143-141, 142-142, 144-140. Kid by MD 15.

Dixie Kid CH (30-7-1) vs Young Peter Jackson #1 (41-7-2)

Kid squared off against the top challenger, NABF champ and former WBA title-holder, Young Peter Jackson, who had bested the Kid in both prior contests. Kid was in trouble right away when Jackson opened a cut over his right eye in round 1. Jackson dominated on the inside in Rd2, and re-opened the cut in Rd. 3. Kid stepped up the attack to try to keep the title from slipping away. Jackson was not content to sit on the lead, mixing it up with a strong round 6, which saw the cut on Kid re-opened. Then Kid launched an all-out attack to take round 7, when Jackson was forced to a more defensive posture. Kid was winning round 9 (having opened a cut on Jackson) when Jackson dropped him with an overhand right. Both were exhausted heading into the final rounds. Kid managed to re-open the cut over Jackson's eye in Round 10, and despite a protest from Jackson's corner, ref Art Donovan stopped the bout. A glance at the scorecards showed the challenger had a large lead on all three cards at the time of the stoppage. Kid by TKO 10 on cuts.

NABF: Young Peter Jackson look impressive, defending with two stoppage wins over Mike "Twin" Sullivan (KO 11) and Mysterious Billy Smith (TKO 6).

USBA: Honey Mellody downed Jack Britton (SD 12) to take the crown vacated by Dixie Kid when he took the WBA title.

CBU: One defense, as Mysterious Billy Smith disposed of British TC Mark Ringell (KO 8).

GBU: Young Joseph also defended once, beating up on the aforementioned Ringell (TKO 2).

EBU: Three defenses by Irishman Jimmy Gardner, over Ringell (KO 3), Johnny Summers (SD 12) and versus Young Joseph (12-round draw to keep title).

Jan 1909 Rankings (perf pts and changes from prior year in parens)

Champ Dixie Kid 31-7-1 (14) (963) (up 2)
1. Joe Gans 59-6 (35) (985) (down 1)
2. Young Peter Jackson 41-8-2 (28) (877) (down 1)
3. Jimmy Gardner 24-5-2 (12) (806) (up 4)
4. Honey Mellody 24-8 (8) (756) (up 1)
5. Young Joseph 23-6-1 (11) (741) (up 3)
6. Joe Walcott 57-17-2 (21) (740) (down 3)
7. Mike Sullivan 25-10-1 (13) (645) (down 1)
8. Jack Britton 16-3 (10) (586) (up 2)
9. Mys. Billy Smith 52-19 (37) (574) (up 2)
10. Jack Goodman 19-12-2 (4) (571) (up 7)

All are at Prime except for Gans who reaches Post in 1909 (retirement year), Walcott (reached Post level based on retirement points below 30), Mysterious Billy (same) and Britton (one more bout gets him to Prime). As in some other divisions, the top-rated boxer is not the World Champ. Gans came back after his Title loss to the Kid with wins over Walcott and Britton. Gardner has fought his last 5 bouts without a loss (the only blemish being the draw with Young Joseph). Mellody scraped by with two SD wins. Young Joseph scored a SD 10 win over Walcott, who suffered three losses in a row to drop in the standings. Britton lost 2 SDs to Gans and Mellody but still is improving. Mysterious Billy moved up, but seems to be hanging on now. Goodman recovered from a loss to Kyle Whitney with wins over Summers and ex-champ Rube Ferns to become a surprise addition to the Top 10.

Dropping out of the Top 10 were Willie Lewis, was #9 now down to #12 after four successive losses and Summers, who plummeted all the way from #4 to #16 with four losses in a row. Top rated TC was none other than British boxer Mark Ringell, who checks in at #24 with a 9-7 mark, 73 perf pts. Still a strong division overall, with 14 boxers with 500 pp or more. One boxer whom I expected alot more from is Harry Lewis, mired in 23rd spot wiht just 128 pp and a 15-7-3 (7) mark.

Prospects in the WW division are also a-plenty. Packey McFarland is probably the top one right now, with a 10-0 (8) mark, featuring wins over Kyle Whitney and Jimmy Clabby. Also at 10-0 with 6 KOs is Kid Graves, who topped Dave Deshler and a string of TCs. Last year's top prospect, Kyle Whitney, had run his record to 15-0 before two tough losses to McFarland and Dick Nelson dropped him down the list to #14. Jimmy Clabby at 9-1 (3) was also among McFarland's victims. Arthur Evernden (7-0), Mike Glover (6-0) and Dane Waldemar Holberg (4-0) have thus far fought nothing but tomato cans. Leading the class of 1909 are two Brits who held the WW crown in real life, Ted Kid Lewis and Matt Wells.

No retirements in the WW ranks in 1908, although former WW great Tommy Ryan (discussed in the MW report) did call it quits. Rube Ferns is one former champ who has reached the End stage and probably will be next to hang up the gloves.