[JCWeb]

1923 MW Title Bouts

WBA

Panama Joe Gans CH (34-4) vs Mike O'Dowd #1 (34-6)

Ex-Champ O'Dowd gets a chance to regain his belt, having defeated Gans by a MD 15 in September 1919. Gans has won five in a row since that loss.

Things start off poorly for O'Dowd, who suffers a severe cut over the right eye in the initial round. Panama Joe targets the cut in a closely competitive round two. Gans presses forward in round three, but O'Dowd manages to withstand the pressure while his corner keeps the cut under control -- for now. Round four, not much action -- an even round. Fifth round sees an aggressive O'Dowd doing well, in his best round of the bout by far. It's even (48-all) at this point on the unofficial scorecard. Both move inside in round six, and it is another strong round for the ex-Champ, O'Dowd. Both stay outside and the cut is reopened in round seven. Round eight, O'Dowd tries to protect the cut as Gans probes on the inside for an opening. The cut is patched up for round nine, and the action swings back to O'Dowd's favor. Finally, round 10, the cut reopens once more, and this time the ringside doctor expresses concerns, and the bout goes down as a TKO 10 for Panama Joe Gans on a stoppage due to cuts.

Panama Joe Gans CH (35-4) vs Mickey Walker #2 (21-0)

First meeting of the two, and the popular Walker enters the ring with the USBA title belt won earlier in the year.

Action is slow to develop in round one, slight edge for the Champ. Round two, the Toy Bulldog presses the action on the inside, who lands a few heavy shots that find the target, causing Gans' left eye to puff up. Third round sees both men pound away from the outside, again the edge to the challenger. Slight edge for Panama Joe, who moves inside in round four. Both move inside in round five, Gans suffers a flash knockdown, but Walker is cut over the right eye. Walker is ahead after five (49-45) on the unofficial card. Gans targets the cut, but Walker manages to stay away, land a few shots to take round six. Round seven, the cut is still a concern, but Walker rips an uppercut to stagger the Champ. More toe-to-toe action follows in round eight, Gans lands a big cross to gain the upper hand. Walker steps up the attack in round nine, nailing Gans with a straight right; Gans' knees buckle, but he remains upright. Gans comes back with an aggressive posture in round 10, nailing Walker with a combination. Mickey slumps to the canvas but bounces up at a 7 count. The champ has cut the margin to 96-92 on the unofficial card, with five rounds left. Gans continues to set the pace, but Walker is much more cautious, protecting his lead and his cut eye. Gans tires noticeably in the final rounds, and his title belt slips away as well. It goes the distance and Mickey Walker, still unbeaten, lifts the WBA belt via UD 15 (144-139, 143-140, 1144-139).

NABF: Ex-Champ O'Dowd steps up to take on Canadian Eugene Brosseau for the belt vacated by Gans. O'Dowd is out of the gate quickly, working the jab, and he breaks through to register a fifth-round TKO. Later in the year, Frankie Schoell provides an unexpectedly stiff challenge, taking an aggressive approach while O'Dowd impresses with his slick boxing skills. O'Dowd escapes with a SD 12 to keep the title.

USBA: Joe Borrell began 1923 with this title and defended versus Johnny Wilson, who succumbed to a barrage of blows until the ref called a halt -- TKO 4 for Borrell. Then Mickey Walker stepped up for his first title try, scoring an early knockdown in round two and following up with two more late in the bout, finishing it with a KO in round nine. Walker moved up to try for the WBA belt, and Borrell is matched with Tiger Flowers for the vacant belt. Both take an aggressive approach, and a stunned Flowers eschews the cover up strategy and pays the price, becoming a KO victim in round four. Borrell defends versus veteran Jack McCarron, outhitting his opponent to piece together a UD 12 win.

CBU: No title defense in 1923, Frank Moody keeps the belt.

GBU: Moody defends the British title versus veteran Jake Ahearn, who can't recover from a wicked hook to the head in round six. Easy UD 12 win for Moody.

EBU: "Little Fox" Rene DeVos defends versus young British hopefully Billy Bird, who suffers an early cut and can't offer much resistance as DeVos scores a solid UD 12 win. He then takes on CBU/GBU Champ Moody, who is bothered by a cut suffered in the opening round that leads to an early end on a cuts stoppage -- TKO 6 for DeVos.