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JCWeb · 05-01-2007, 12:06 PM

1918 action has been concluded, so here is the first of the year-end reports, starting with the HWs.

1918 HW Title Bouts

WBA

Harry Wills CH (27-2-1) vs Jeff Clarke #7 (32-9-2)

Wills' second defense comes against the "Joplin Ghost," who is making his second try for the WBA title, having lost to Langford back in 1911. Wills scored a UD 12 over Clarke in their only prior bout, back in 1915.

Wills looks sharp early, taking the opening round. Wills connects with a big left hook, staggering the challenger early in round two, but the Joplin Ghost recovers to come only strong at the end of the round. Clarke is the aggressor for the next few rounds, but it's Wills who lands most of the scoring blows, causing swelling around Clarke's right eye. Wills puts Clarke on the canvas in round 6 when he lands a strong shot. Another KD follows in round seven, but it isn't until round 10 when Harry lands the coup-de-grace. Wills by KO 10.

Harry Wills CH (28-2-1) vs Tommy Burns #3 (47-13-5)

The veteran ex-Champ, who managed a draw with Wills in a prior bout, gets a rematch after coming off a UD 10 over Jess Willard.

The bout doesn't last very long, as Wills shocks the Canadian fans by taking out Burns with a strong shot in round one. Wills by KO 1.

Harry Wills CH (29-2-1) vs Otto Flint #14 (24-7-2)

Wills' next opponent is the long-time EBU champ, Flint, who is making his first try for the WBA title.

Wills dominates the round one, while Flint has difficulty getting on track. The Black Panther builds his points lead with a strong performance in the round four, but an aggressive Flint gets going with a big uppercut that buckles the knees of the Champ in round four. Flint comes back with a strong round five, and the unofficial cards have him ahead (48-47) after five. Flint continues to press forward, but sustains a cut above the right eye in round 6. Wills targets the cut and gradually begins to wear down his tired opponent starting in round 8. Round 10, Wills puts Flint on the canvas after both men mix it up on the inside. The end comes in the following round when, after a second trip to the canvas, a groggy Flint is out on his feet. The ref stops the bout with two seconds left in the round. Wills by TKO 11.

Harry Wills CH (30-2-1) vs Jack Dempsey #3 (26-0-1)

See post #326 for a blow-by-blow summary of this bout, which sees Jack Dempsey capture the HW crown.

NABF: Sam Langford defended the belt three times in 1918, first versus aging vet Joe Jeannette (now pushing 40), dominating from early in the round when Jeannette was cut, scoring four KDs en route to a TKO in the 10th when the cut was too severe for Jeannette to continue. Then it was veteran Frank Moran, the Pittsburgh Dentist, who put up some stiff resistance and actually ripped open a cut above Langford's left eye, before going down to a narrow UD 12 defeat. Finally, Langford took on his old rival, Sam McVey, breaking open a close bout when he floored McVey with a huge uppercut from which McVey did not recover -- Langford by KO 8.

USBA: Dempsey defended the title versus Willard (see Post #315) and Miske (see Post #320) before taking on Wills. The USBA belt is now vacant and will be up for grabs some time in early 1919.

CBU: Langford defended this belt once in 1918, versus the resurgent Aussie Colin Bell -- the bout mirrored the Moran bout in that Langford survived a cut above the eye to register a UD 12 win to keep the belt.

GBU: Three bouts for the GBU belt, which changed hands twice in 1918. Joe Beckett defended versus "Bandsman" Dick Rice, dominating with KDs in rounds 4, 6 and 7 with Rice being counted out in round 7. In his next defense he found Joe Goddard to be too strong, as the "Fighting Farmer" (Goddard) recovered from a slow start to register a MD 12 win to take the belt. Goddard, in turn, was bested by Charlie Penwill, who overcame a bloody nose to score a KD in the final round to cinch a UD 12 victory.

EBU: German Otto Flint defended once, versus Irishman Bob Devere. In a rather boring bout absent of any knockdowns, Flint managed to outbox his younger opponent to ring up a comfortable UD 12 win.

05-01-2007, 12:06 PM	#329 (permalink)
JCWeb All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,052 Thanks: 0 Thanked 15x in 14 posts	1918-Heavyweight Part I 1918 action has been concluded, so here is the first of the year-end reports, starting with the HWs. 1918 HW Title Bouts WBA Harry Wills CH (27-2-1) vs Jeff Clarke #7 (32-9-2) Wills' second defense comes against the "Joplin Ghost," who is making his second try for the WBA title, having lost to Langford back in 1911. Wills scored a UD 12 over Clarke in their only prior bout, back in 1915. Wills looks sharp early, taking the opening round. Wills connects with a big left hook, staggering the challenger early in round two, but the Joplin Ghost recovers to come only strong at the end of the round. Clarke is the aggressor for the next few rounds, but it's Wills who lands most of the scoring blows, causing swelling around Clarke's right eye. Wills puts Clarke on the canvas in round 6 when he lands a strong shot. Another KD follows in round seven, but it isn't until round 10 when Harry lands the coup-de-grace. Wills by KO 10. Harry Wills CH (28-2-1) vs Tommy Burns #3 (47-13-5) The veteran ex-Champ, who managed a draw with Wills in a prior bout, gets a rematch after coming off a UD 10 over Jess Willard. The bout doesn't last very long, as Wills shocks the Canadian fans by taking out Burns with a strong shot in round one. Wills by KO 1. Harry Wills CH (29-2-1) vs Otto Flint #14 (24-7-2) Wills' next opponent is the long-time EBU champ, Flint, who is making his first try for the WBA title. Wills dominates the round one, while Flint has difficulty getting on track. The Black Panther builds his points lead with a strong performance in the round four, but an aggressive Flint gets going with a big uppercut that buckles the knees of the Champ in round four. Flint comes back with a strong round five, and the unofficial cards have him ahead (48-47) after five. Flint continues to press forward, but sustains a cut above the right eye in round 6. Wills targets the cut and gradually begins to wear down his tired opponent starting in round 8. Round 10, Wills puts Flint on the canvas after both men mix it up on the inside. The end comes in the following round when, after a second trip to the canvas, a groggy Flint is out on his feet. The ref stops the bout with two seconds left in the round. Wills by TKO 11. Harry Wills CH (30-2-1) vs Jack Dempsey #3 (26-0-1) See post #326 for a blow-by-blow summary of this bout, which sees Jack Dempsey capture the HW crown. NABF: Sam Langford defended the belt three times in 1918, first versus aging vet Joe Jeannette (now pushing 40), dominating from early in the round when Jeannette was cut, scoring four KDs en route to a TKO in the 10th when the cut was too severe for Jeannette to continue. Then it was veteran Frank Moran, the Pittsburgh Dentist, who put up some stiff resistance and actually ripped open a cut above Langford's left eye, before going down to a narrow UD 12 defeat. Finally, Langford took on his old rival, Sam McVey, breaking open a close bout when he floored McVey with a huge uppercut from which McVey did not recover -- Langford by KO 8. USBA: Dempsey defended the title versus Willard (see Post #315) and Miske (see Post #320) before taking on Wills. The USBA belt is now vacant and will be up for grabs some time in early 1919. CBU: Langford defended this belt once in 1918, versus the resurgent Aussie Colin Bell -- the bout mirrored the Moran bout in that Langford survived a cut above the eye to register a UD 12 win to keep the belt. GBU: Three bouts for the GBU belt, which changed hands twice in 1918. Joe Beckett defended versus "Bandsman" Dick Rice, dominating with KDs in rounds 4, 6 and 7 with Rice being counted out in round 7. In his next defense he found Joe Goddard to be too strong, as the "Fighting Farmer" (Goddard) recovered from a slow start to register a MD 12 win to take the belt. Goddard, in turn, was bested by Charlie Penwill, who overcame a bloody nose to score a KD in the final round to cinch a UD 12 victory. EBU: German Otto Flint defended once, versus Irishman Bob Devere. In a rather boring bout absent of any knockdowns, Flint managed to outbox his younger opponent to ring up a comfortable UD 12 win.