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JCWeb · 03-23-2007, 11:00 PM

Starting the year-end review for 1917 with the HW division.

WBA Title Bouts

Sam McVey CH (45-10-2) vs Harry Wills #4 (25-2-1)

First meeting of the two. Wills, "the Black Panther," has not lost since his TKO blowout at the hands of Sam Langford, including at KO 7 of Jess Willard and a draw with former Champ Tommy Burns. McVey has won 10 in succession since his last loss in September 1913, over 3 1/2 years ago.

Not much action in the initial rounds. Wills starts to establish control on the inside in round three, but McVey comes on strong at the end of the round. McVey moves inside in round four, and there is puffiness around the left eye of the challenger. The Black Panther comes back to take round five by a narrow margin, and at this point our ringside observer has it even, 48-48. Round six is a good action round, with McVey on the winning end of most exchanges. Then, in dramatic toe-to-toe action in round seven, Harry Wills catches McVey with a strong combination, putting the champ on the canvas and following up with a vicious hook to send McVey to the deck for a second time. McVey is unable to regroup and finally the ref stops the contest. Harry Wills is the new WBA Champion by TKO in the 7th.

Harry Wills CH (26-2-1) vs Sam Langford #1 (58-8-1)

Wills makes his first defense against the Boston Tar Baby, the former WBA Champion, who handed him his last loss by a TKO in round one in December 1915.

Wills is off to a tremendous start, dominating the early action. By the end of the second, Langford is bothered by some swelling near his right eye. Langford is forced to cover up after a strong round four for Wills. Langford gradually becomes the aggressor, but he is caught by a short uppercut and floored briefly by the Champ in round 6. Langford perseveres, and by the end of the 7th, the Champ is exhibiting signs of swelling around his left eye. Wills is constantly put on the defensive, but holds off a strong rally by Langford to keep the belt. Wills by UD 15 (143-140, 144-139, 143-140).

NABF: Aging veteran Jack Johnson starts the year as the Champ but is easily dethroned by Langford, who scores two knockdowns en route to a comfortable UD 12 victory. Then Langford quickly disposes of "Fireman Jim" Flynn in a mismatch, winning by TKO at 2:59 of the initial round. Finally, he manages to overcome Canadian veteran Tommy Burns in a matchup for both the NABF and CBU belt, dominating the action with three KDs of Burns for another UD 12 win.

USBA: Wills began 1917 with the belt and defended it once, versus Jess Willard, dropping Willard once in the fourth before finishing him with a KO in round 7. Then, Wills vacated the belt which was picked up by Jack Dempsey, whose exploits were documented in posts 279 (winning the belt over Homer Smith), 284 (defending versus Gunboat Smith) and 286 (most recent defense versus ex-Champ Jack Johnson in a memorable bout that turned out to be the end of the line for Johnson).

CBU: Burns defended versus Aussie Ern Waddy, barely surviving a late rally in the final round to escape with a SD 12 win before losing the belt to Langford (see NABF title history, above). Langford thus wound up the year with two titles, the NABF and Commonwealth belts.

GBU: Joe Beckett defended against ex-Champ "Iron" Hague and proved too much for the aging vet, scoring a KO win in round 5.

EBU: German Otto Flint defended twice, first versus Ireland's Bartley Madden, who he had down twice (in rounds 7 and 12) and registered a UD 12 verdict, then followed with an easier TKO 9 win over Brit Tom Cowler.

03-23-2007, 11:00 PM	#291 (permalink)
JCWeb All Star Reserve Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 712	1917-Heavyweights Part I Starting the year-end review for 1917 with the HW division. WBA Title Bouts Sam McVey CH (45-10-2) vs Harry Wills #4 (25-2-1) First meeting of the two. Wills, "the Black Panther," has not lost since his TKO blowout at the hands of Sam Langford, including at KO 7 of Jess Willard and a draw with former Champ Tommy Burns. McVey has won 10 in succession since his last loss in September 1913, over 3 1/2 years ago. Not much action in the initial rounds. Wills starts to establish control on the inside in round three, but McVey comes on strong at the end of the round. McVey moves inside in round four, and there is puffiness around the left eye of the challenger. The Black Panther comes back to take round five by a narrow margin, and at this point our ringside observer has it even, 48-48. Round six is a good action round, with McVey on the winning end of most exchanges. Then, in dramatic toe-to-toe action in round seven, Harry Wills catches McVey with a strong combination, putting the champ on the canvas and following up with a vicious hook to send McVey to the deck for a second time. McVey is unable to regroup and finally the ref stops the contest. Harry Wills is the new WBA Champion by TKO in the 7th. Harry Wills CH (26-2-1) vs Sam Langford #1 (58-8-1) Wills makes his first defense against the Boston Tar Baby, the former WBA Champion, who handed him his last loss by a TKO in round one in December 1915. Wills is off to a tremendous start, dominating the early action. By the end of the second, Langford is bothered by some swelling near his right eye. Langford is forced to cover up after a strong round four for Wills. Langford gradually becomes the aggressor, but he is caught by a short uppercut and floored briefly by the Champ in round 6. Langford perseveres, and by the end of the 7th, the Champ is exhibiting signs of swelling around his left eye. Wills is constantly put on the defensive, but holds off a strong rally by Langford to keep the belt. Wills by UD 15 (143-140, 144-139, 143-140). NABF: Aging veteran Jack Johnson starts the year as the Champ but is easily dethroned by Langford, who scores two knockdowns en route to a comfortable UD 12 victory. Then Langford quickly disposes of "Fireman Jim" Flynn in a mismatch, winning by TKO at 2:59 of the initial round. Finally, he manages to overcome Canadian veteran Tommy Burns in a matchup for both the NABF and CBU belt, dominating the action with three KDs of Burns for another UD 12 win. USBA: Wills began 1917 with the belt and defended it once, versus Jess Willard, dropping Willard once in the fourth before finishing him with a KO in round 7. Then, Wills vacated the belt which was picked up by Jack Dempsey, whose exploits were documented in posts 279 (winning the belt over Homer Smith), 284 (defending versus Gunboat Smith) and 286 (most recent defense versus ex-Champ Jack Johnson in a memorable bout that turned out to be the end of the line for Johnson). CBU: Burns defended versus Aussie Ern Waddy, barely surviving a late rally in the final round to escape with a SD 12 win before losing the belt to Langford (see NABF title history, above). Langford thus wound up the year with two titles, the NABF and Commonwealth belts. GBU: Joe Beckett defended against ex-Champ "Iron" Hague and proved too much for the aging vet, scoring a KO win in round 5. EBU: German Otto Flint defended twice, first versus Ireland's Bartley Madden, who he had down twice (in rounds 7 and 12) and registered a UD 12 verdict, then followed with an easier TKO 9 win over Brit Tom Cowler.