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1912 BW Title Bouts

Harry Harris CH (49-9-1) vs Frankie Burns #15 (14-5-1)

Burns' first title shot, and it is -- surprisingly --for the WBA crowd. Big age difference here, Burns is 23 and Harris is 40. Good chance for Burns given that Harris is aging and Burns has just hit Prime career stage.

Burns takes it to the Champ by working the inside early. Harris is on the defensive throughout the early rounds. Burns scores well to take round 4. Round five, Harris counters with a big hook that staggers the challenger. The bout is close going into round 6 as Harris tries to get more aggressive, with Burns content to exchange blows on the outside. Even round. Round 7, Burns comes on strong, forcing Harris to the ropes, and the champ barely hangs on. Another big hook scores for Harris in round 10, but such isolated shots can't make up for the fact that Burns is pulling ahead on the scorecards. Burns sews it up by putting Harris on the deck twice in the 13th en route to a comfortable UD 15 win to take the title, making it five new BW champs in the last five WBA title bouts. This looks like Harris' swansong, at least at the World class level. Burns by UD 15 (148-136, 148-135, 146-137).

Frankie Burns CH (15-5-1) vs Charles Goldman #7 (16-8-2)

Not the toughest possible challenger for Burns in his first defense, but Goldman is the new NABF champ. Burns won prior meeting, UD 10 in 1911.

Action is slow to develop in first few rounds. Burns starts connecting from the outside in round 3, causing some swelling to develop around Goldman's right eye. Burns then works inside to do more damage. Goldman, trailing, tries to work inside himself in round 6, but Burns holds him off. Burns re-establishes control from the inside in the 7th, scoring well as Goldman is forced to give ground. Burns goes on the build up a points lead, and Goldman tires noticeably as the bout heads into the later rounds. Burns tries hard for the KO in the 12th, but a game Goldman hangs on. The outcome, though, was never in doubt. Burns by UD 15 (147-138, 143-142, 146-139).

Frankie Burns CH (16-5-1) vs Johnny Coulon #1 (29-3-1)

First meeting of the two -- Coulon, the ex-Champ, is a slight favorite, being more highly rated (perf pts wise) and going unbeaten (4 wins and a draw) sincer losing the WBA belt to Phila Pal Moore in late 1910.

Both men are content to stay on the outside for the first few rounds. It's a strong round 3 for Coulon, a portent of things to come, and Burns is carrying his hands low as a result. In the 5th, Burns changes tactics and tries to work inside, and wins the round -- causing some swelling just outside the right eye of the challenger. Coulon, who is fighting a more defensive bout, dominates the middle rounds. Burns steps up the attack to score well on the inside again in round 9, but by now his corner is concerned with some swelling about the left eye caused by Coulon's blows. Burns goes for the KO in round 10 but Coulon dominates the round. Coulon then puts Burns on the canvas in the 11th and hangs on to regain his World title by a wide margin. Coulon by UD 15.

NABF: Frankie Conley starts off 1912 as the champ and defends versus Young Oliver, who despite not having 20 bouts, is actually rated at Post-Prime given 1912 was his retirement year (my info has his career a short one, from 1910-12). Anyway, a cut above the right eye of Oliver eventually spells his doom, and it's a TKO 10 (cuts) win for Conley. Frankie then takes on Charles Goldman, seeking to avenge an earlier loss in 1908. Once again, Goldman proves a rough customer, and this time it is Conley who is cut early and loses on a stoppage. Goldman by TKO 6 (cut) -- tough break for Conley who was holding his own on the scorecards. Goldman then defends versus ex-WBA champ Phila Pal Moore, who establishes his jab early and goes on to take the belt in a punishing bout. Moore by UD 12 (116-112, 117-111, 116-112).

USBA: Coulon defends versus Phila Pal Moore, in another bout ended in a cuts stoppage, this time in favor of Coulon, via TKO 11. Then it was a surprisingly tough time with Monte Attell, Abe's younger brother, where Coulon took a MD 12 verdict (116-112, 114-114, 116-112). Coulon vacated the belt after becoming WBA champ. Late in the year it was Conley matched with unbeaten newcomer "Kid" Williams for the vacant title. The bout was close throughout, no KDs but lots of good action. Williams annexed the crown and stayed unbeaten with a razor-thin SD 12 win (118-111, 113-115, 115-114).

CBU/GBU: One unification bout, once again it was those long-term rivals from the UK, Joe Bowker and Digger Stanley. Bowker got off to a good start, Stanley could not get on track, and finally a shot to the head by Bowker ends it in the 10th. Bowker by KO 10 to take both belts.

EBU: Stanley defends against Frenchman Charles Ledoux, the first EBU title action for the BWs in three years. Ledoux is the aggressor from the start, and Stanley has no answer as he's leveled by a vicious hook midway through round 4 and then goes down two more times before the ref calls a halt. Ledoux by TKO 4.