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JCWeb · 05-01-2007, 07:51 PM

1918 MW Title Bouts

WBA

Harry Greb CH (23-2) vs Gus Platts (19-11-3)

Platts qualifies for a World title shot despite not being rated in the Top 20 because he holds the EBU and GBU title belts. Greb is seeking a relatively easy defense and his fifth win in a row.

Not much action in the opening stanza, but Greb comes on strong at the end of the round. Platts holds his own in rounds two and three, staying on the outside while Greb tries to force the action on the inside. The Human Windmill continues to press forward, finally wearing the challenger down, finally dominating the toe-to-toe action in round 7 when he dishes out enough punishment to lead to a TKO win. Nonetheless, Platts turned out to be a surprisingly tough nut for Greb to crack.

Harry Greb CH (24-2) vs Jeff Smith #4 (29-7)

Greb is looking to avenge a SD loss to Smith from early 1917. Smith is coming off a TKO win over Johnny Wilson and a UD over McGoorty.

Action is slow to develop after a cautious start by both men. Greb begins to gain the upper hand in round 3, then unleashes a wild overhand right that puts Smith on the canvas in round 4. Greb tries mightily to put Smith away in round 5, but some strong defense and the challenger is right back in the fight. Greb continues to hold the edge until he sustains a bad cut above his right eye in round 8. Smith targets the cut, which proves to be a difficult one to control. Greb is actually well ahead on all three cards when the cut becomes too severe to continue, and Smith is awarded the crown via an 11th round TKO due to the cut.

Jeff Smith CH (30-7) vs Eddie McGoorty #6 (38-15-1)

McGoorty makes his third try for the WBA title, having lost to Ketchel in 1908 and Gibbons in 1916, both KO losses. His recent UD loss to Smith in early 1918 does not seem to help his prospects.

Both men have their moments in a couple of action-packed early rounds. McGoorty takes the third round, Smith dominates the fourth, then McGoorty takes charge on the inside to compile a 49-47 lead after five on the unofficial card. Smith becomes more aggressive in rounds 6 and 7, keeping the bout close. McGoorty goes on the attack in round 8, landing several strong shots that hurt the Champ. McGoorty gets in a strong hook in round 10, and manages to maintain control in a close battle (with no knockouts), taking the UD 15 decision (145-140, 146-139, 144-142) and finally he ascends to the WBA MW throne after many years of effort.

NABF: Four NABF title bouts during 1918. Billy Papke defends versus Al McCoy, who surprises Papke with an uppercut for a KD of the Champ in round 5. Papke is cut above the eye in round 6 but is able to rally in the later rounds, scoring three KDs in the 11th to keep the belt via a TKO 11. Then Mike O'Dowd steps in against Papke, content to play a waiting game in a very close bout, coming on strong at the end to take a narrow SD 12 decision and the belt. O'Dowd defends versus Jack McCarron, who stuns O'Dowd with some strong shots in round 7 but gradually runs out of gas, allowing O'Dowd to score three KDs en route to a TKO 11 win. Then, ex-champ Mike Gibbons mounts a strong challenge, but O'Dowd withstands a late surge and a cut above the eye to register a UD 12 win to keep the belt.

USBA: Fighting Billy Murray takes on O'Dowd, who overcomes a split lip and a strong surge by Murray in the final round to take the title with a close but UD 12. O'Dowd then steps up to take the NABF belt, creating a vacany. Mike Gibbons is matched with Joe Chip for the vacant title, and Gibbons stuns Chip in the second round and then maintains the edge to the end, registering a solid UD 12 win.

CBU: Jake Ahearn faces Gus Platts in a unification bout that has both the CBU and GBU belts at stake. It's a bruising battle, as each man has a win, a loss and a draw in their three prior meetings. Ahearn suffers a cut mouth and a bloody nose, Platts has a swollen left eye, but in the end it's a SD 12 verdict in favor of Ahearn. Ahearn then defends the CBU title versus the aging Aussie, Les Darcy, but this time the "Maitland Wonder" proves to be a shadow of his former self, going down meekly in a rather boring UD 12, a lopsided win for Ahearn.

GBU: Ahearn held the belt after winning the unification bout with Platts.

EBU: Platts defended versus the Dane, Chic Nelson, and had a better time than against Ahearn, scoring a KD in the final round to seal a UD 12 victory.

05-01-2007, 07:51 PM	#335 (permalink)
JCWeb All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,052 Thanks: 0 Thanked 15x in 14 posts	1918-Middleweight Part I 1918 MW Title Bouts WBA Harry Greb CH (23-2) vs Gus Platts (19-11-3) Platts qualifies for a World title shot despite not being rated in the Top 20 because he holds the EBU and GBU title belts. Greb is seeking a relatively easy defense and his fifth win in a row. Not much action in the opening stanza, but Greb comes on strong at the end of the round. Platts holds his own in rounds two and three, staying on the outside while Greb tries to force the action on the inside. The Human Windmill continues to press forward, finally wearing the challenger down, finally dominating the toe-to-toe action in round 7 when he dishes out enough punishment to lead to a TKO win. Nonetheless, Platts turned out to be a surprisingly tough nut for Greb to crack. Harry Greb CH (24-2) vs Jeff Smith #4 (29-7) Greb is looking to avenge a SD loss to Smith from early 1917. Smith is coming off a TKO win over Johnny Wilson and a UD over McGoorty. Action is slow to develop after a cautious start by both men. Greb begins to gain the upper hand in round 3, then unleashes a wild overhand right that puts Smith on the canvas in round 4. Greb tries mightily to put Smith away in round 5, but some strong defense and the challenger is right back in the fight. Greb continues to hold the edge until he sustains a bad cut above his right eye in round 8. Smith targets the cut, which proves to be a difficult one to control. Greb is actually well ahead on all three cards when the cut becomes too severe to continue, and Smith is awarded the crown via an 11th round TKO due to the cut. Jeff Smith CH (30-7) vs Eddie McGoorty #6 (38-15-1) McGoorty makes his third try for the WBA title, having lost to Ketchel in 1908 and Gibbons in 1916, both KO losses. His recent UD loss to Smith in early 1918 does not seem to help his prospects. Both men have their moments in a couple of action-packed early rounds. McGoorty takes the third round, Smith dominates the fourth, then McGoorty takes charge on the inside to compile a 49-47 lead after five on the unofficial card. Smith becomes more aggressive in rounds 6 and 7, keeping the bout close. McGoorty goes on the attack in round 8, landing several strong shots that hurt the Champ. McGoorty gets in a strong hook in round 10, and manages to maintain control in a close battle (with no knockouts), taking the UD 15 decision (145-140, 146-139, 144-142) and finally he ascends to the WBA MW throne after many years of effort. NABF: Four NABF title bouts during 1918. Billy Papke defends versus Al McCoy, who surprises Papke with an uppercut for a KD of the Champ in round 5. Papke is cut above the eye in round 6 but is able to rally in the later rounds, scoring three KDs in the 11th to keep the belt via a TKO 11. Then Mike O'Dowd steps in against Papke, content to play a waiting game in a very close bout, coming on strong at the end to take a narrow SD 12 decision and the belt. O'Dowd defends versus Jack McCarron, who stuns O'Dowd with some strong shots in round 7 but gradually runs out of gas, allowing O'Dowd to score three KDs en route to a TKO 11 win. Then, ex-champ Mike Gibbons mounts a strong challenge, but O'Dowd withstands a late surge and a cut above the eye to register a UD 12 win to keep the belt. USBA: Fighting Billy Murray takes on O'Dowd, who overcomes a split lip and a strong surge by Murray in the final round to take the title with a close but UD 12. O'Dowd then steps up to take the NABF belt, creating a vacany. Mike Gibbons is matched with Joe Chip for the vacant title, and Gibbons stuns Chip in the second round and then maintains the edge to the end, registering a solid UD 12 win. CBU: Jake Ahearn faces Gus Platts in a unification bout that has both the CBU and GBU belts at stake. It's a bruising battle, as each man has a win, a loss and a draw in their three prior meetings. Ahearn suffers a cut mouth and a bloody nose, Platts has a swollen left eye, but in the end it's a SD 12 verdict in favor of Ahearn. Ahearn then defends the CBU title versus the aging Aussie, Les Darcy, but this time the "Maitland Wonder" proves to be a shadow of his former self, going down meekly in a rather boring UD 12, a lopsided win for Ahearn. GBU: Ahearn held the belt after winning the unification bout with Platts. EBU: Platts defended versus the Dane, Chic Nelson, and had a better time than against Ahearn, scoring a KD in the final round to seal a UD 12 victory.