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Storyline here was a continuation of the changing of the guard at the top of the division, with Jack Britton's continued dominance as WBC Champ along with the emergence of Packey McFarland and Waldemar Holberg as likely stars of the future, while the "Old Guard" (guys like Walcott and Gans) are reaching the twilight of their careers.

WBA Title Fights

Jack Britton CH (21-3) vs Johnny Summers #4 (27-8-2)

Britton travels to London to take on the CBU/GBU champ, Summers. The Boxing Marvel took charge early, as his accurate long range bombs caused swelling around the challenger's right eye as early as round 3. A ferocious uppercut by Summers rocked the champ in round 5, but Britton successfully covered up and stayed on his feet. Britton re-established control of the bout in rounds 6 and 7, using superior ring movement. Summers launched an assault in the 8th and 9th but Britton held him off and went on to dominate in a huge 10th round. In the late rounds Summers did not give up, nailing the champ with a strong uppercut in the 11th, but Britton came right back to open a cut over the challenger with another strong round in the 12th. Summers had run out of gas by the late rounds and Britton scored an easy win. No KDs. Britton by UD 15.

Jack Britton CH (22-3) vs Kyle Whitney #13 (17-3-1)

Britton dips down the ranks of challengers to take on Whitney, a deserving contender on the verge of reaching the top echelon of the division. First meeting of the two. After a close round one, Britton dominates from outside in round 2. Whitney counters by trying to work inside, but great defense by the Boxing Marvel prevents this. The champ's blows staggered Whitney in round 4, and he had a huge points lead already after the first five rounds. By the 7th the sting was already gone from Whitney's punches, and Britton coasted to another easy win in a bout with no knockdowns. Britton by UD 15.

Jack Britton CH (23-3) vs Young Peter Jackson #1 (45-9-2)

Britton defends against the top-ranked contender, Jackson, winner of his last four bouts, while the Champ was one a 7-bout win streak. Jackson's most recent loss was a TKO loss in his only prior bout with Britton.
Jackson charged out to try to work from the inside but ran into a strong Britton cross, round one clearly went the champ's way. Round 2 the tide shifted to the challenger who floored Britton with a strong shot. Jackson continued as the aggressor for the initial rounds, with Britton managing to avoid most of the heavy leather. The two went toe-to-toe for some good action in the 6th, and in round 8 it was Britton who sent Jackson to the canvas as well as causing some swelling about the challenger's left eye. The champ seemed to get stronger and stronger as the bout went on, but the veteran Jackson did not go away, rallying in the bout's final round to drop Britton for the second time as the champ got careless. That late effort secured a draw and possible rematch for the challenger. Britton is fortunate to retain his title by Majority Draw (139-143 for Jackson, 141-141, 141-141).

NABF: Mike "Twin" Sullivan tried to shake off several months of ring rust when he defended agains top prospect Packey McFarland, who came into the bout with an excellent 14-0-1 mark. The dangerous McFarland was the aggressor in the early rounds, fighting mostly on the inside but Sullivan used some slick defense to avoid any lasting damage. In round 8 McFarland launched a whirlwind attack which put the Twin on the canvas, and after that Sullivan tired noticeably, and a second KD in the 10th finished him. McFarland took the title by KO 10. Later in the year McFarland showed his mettle by defending against former World Champ Dixie Kid and Packey ended it early when the Kid got careless in round 2. This led to 2 KDs by McFarland in the round, the second of which was lights out for the Kid. McFarland by KO 2 to keep the NABF title and an unbeaten record.

USBA: Young Peter Jackson made two defenses during the year, first against Kid Graves where his vastly superior experience overwhelmed the young challenger, resulting in a TKO 6 win. Next up was veteran journeyman Dave Deshler, fighting in his first title bout of any kind, and once again it was an early exit as Jackson won by TKO 3 to set up the title clash with Britton.

CBU: Brit Johnny Summers defended once, versus TC Mark Ringell, registering a TKO 3 win in a one-sided bout.

GBU: Summers defended versus Young Joseph, earning a UD 12 win in a close, hard-fought bout with no KDs. Summers then vacated the crown in searh of bigger and better things and Joseph met Arthur Evernden for the vacant title. Joseph started well but the younger Evernden rallied to make it close. Joseph by MD 12.

EBU: Jimmy Gardner of Ireland, the only EBU WW champ since the belt was first awarded in 1906, made three defenses in 1910. First up was Evernden, the hard-hitting Brit whom Gardner dominated for a UD 12, aided by an early KD. Then it was the Dane, Dick Nelson, who hoped for better than in his TKO 7 loss in 1906 but again it was Gardner who dominated, reigning blow after blow for an 8th round stoppage. Finally, a younger Dane, Waldemar Holberg, was Gardner's next challenger, and surprisingly the more experienced Gardner tired early in a tight bout that Holberg won with a strong final round. Waldemar Holberg becomes the new EBU champion by MD 12 (115-113, 114-114, 115-113).


Jan. 1911 Rankings (Perf Pts and changes from 1910 in parens):

Champ: Jack Britton 23-3-1 (12) (1045) (NC)
1. Young Peter Jackson 45-9-3 (32) (927) (+1)
2. Packey McFarland 17-0-1 (13) (908) (new)
3. Dixie Kid 35-10-2 (16) (857) (+1)
4. Mike Sullivan 29-11-3 (16) (784) (-3)
5. Willie Lewis 28-13 (17) (778) (+3)
6. Waldemar Holberg 15-1 (9) (757) (new)
7. Johnny Summers 28-11-2 (14) (719) (-4)
8. Honey Mellody 28-10-1 (9) (708) (+4)
9. Dick Nelson 23-8-1 (17) (675) (+1)
10. Joe Walcott 62-21-2 (21) (659) (-4)

Comments: Everyone in this group is at Prime except newcomers McFarland and Holberg (both at Pre) and aging vet Walcott (at Post-Prime). Britton is on an 8-bout unbeaten streak, Jackson on a 5-bout unbeaten streak, and negotiations are underway for a title rematch. Top prospects McFarland and Holberg registered huge breakthroughs, each winning a lesser title before hitting the Prime career stage. McFarland has won 6 in a row and Holberg 5, the Dane's only loss coming by way of a DQ against fellow Dane, Dick Nelson. Mellody moved back into the Top 10 with wins over Gardner, Connolly and Queenan. Dropping out of the list from Jan. 1910 were Rube Ferns (former #5), who retired; Joe Gans (former #9), who lost three more in succession to drop all the way to #16 -- Gans has now lost 6 in a row and it has been two years since his last win in Jan. 1910; and dethroned EBU champ Gardner (former #7) who dropped to 11th after losses to Holberg and Mellody. New GBU champ Young Joseph is nowhere near the top group, rated #24 with a record of 27-11-1 (12) and 282 pp. No tomato cans have good enough records to be ranked at this time.

Prospects: Doesn't look like any will break out in 1911 the way McFarland and Holberg did in 1910. Tommy Howell had won his first 10 against TCs but then loss to his first "real" opponent, veteran journeyman Cy Flynn. Eddie Shevlin is 9-0 (6) and Brit Matt Wells is 8-0 (1), all versus TCs. Johnny Alberts and Willie Schaeffer fought to a draw after defeating all their TC opponents, Alberts is now 8-0-1 (7) and Schaffer, 6-0-1 (5). Ted Kid Lewis is off to a fine start, 5-0 (2), including a win over Sid Burns. Frenchman Albert Badoud is also unbeaten, at 5-0 (3)

Looking Ahead: McFarland and Holberg should continue to surge toward the top, possibly toward an eventual title clash with Britton, who still seems to be the dominant force despite a slight stumble in his last title bout. Fading vets like Gans, Mysterious Billy Smith and Walcott look like their best days are well behind them. It will be awhile before the younger prospects like Wells, Kid Lewis and Badoud will be contending for titles, and this time there will be only one new addition to the division slated for 1911-- Art Magirl. Still, it's a fairly deep and talented division, as judged by the closeness of the rankings and the high number of 500+ rated guys (see stats below).

Division Profile: 84 total, 40 RL and 44 TCs.
RL by Career Stage: End: 2 (Gans, MB Smith), Post (Walcott, Matty Matthews), Prime-20, Pre-13, Beginner-3 (1 new)
Rated: 28
800+: 4
500+: 17
200+: 27

Retirements: 2 in 1910. Career stats for both:

Rube Ferns (USA) 1896-1910 41-20 (30) WBA Champ
Perry Queenan (USA) 1899-1910 27-23-2 (4) USBA Champ