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1924 WW Title Bouts

WBA

Ted Kid Lewis CH (39-13-4) vs Piet Hobin #15 (20-10-1)

First meeting of the two, as Lewis accepts a challenge from the newly-crowned EBU Champ.

Strong start in round one for Lewis, who works quickly to establish his jab. Edge to the Champ in round two, which sees both men work outside. Hobin moves inside for round three, which is a close, even round. Ted Kid Lewis tries to slug it out on the inside in round four, but Hobin holds his own. Round five, Hobin goes back to the inside, unofficial scores after five have Lewis ahead (49-46). Hobin's left eye starts swelling in round six, Lewis dominates through the middle rounds as the Belgian challenger starts to gradually weaken. No KDs, Lewis retreats into a defensive shell that Hobin can't penetrate to take the lopsided UD 15 (147-138, 146-139, 147-138).

Ted Kid Lewis CH (40-13-4) vs Pete Latzo #6 (18-2-1)

The reigning USBA Champ is next in line for a title shot. First meeting of the two, Latzo enters on a three-bout win streak.

Good start by the challenger in round one. Close round two as both men elect to stay outside. Good effort by Latzo in round three, but he suffers a cut on his right eye that is quickly patched up. Latzo presses the action on the inside in round four, but the cut is re-opened. Lewis outhits a cautious Latzo to take round five, and he holds a narrow lead (48-47) on the unofficial card at this point. Lewis becomes more aggressive in the middle rounds, and Latzo is on the defensive most of the time, protecting the cut. Still, Latzo has a slight edge on the unofficial card (96-94) heading into the final five rounds. Lewis steps up the pace, targeting the cut, has a strong round 11; round 12 is essentially even. Latzo battles back with a strong round 13. But the cut is still a big concern, as it has been re-opened repeatedly, and finally in round 14, despite the efforts of "Doc" Bagley in Latzo's corner, the cut becomes too troublesome, and the ref calls a halt. TKO 14 for Lewis, but a check of the official cards showed Latzo ahead on all three heading into the final two rounds. A close escape for Ted Kid Lewis!

Ted Kid Lewis CH (41-13-4) vs Willie Loughlin #6 (30-10-1)

First meeting of the two, Loughlin coming in off a TKO over Albert Badoud.

Lewis gets off to a strong start in round one. Another strong round two for the Champ, who is exhibiting great boxing skills as he repeatedly beats Loughlin to the punch. Another good points-accumulating round for Lewis in the third, as Loughlin unsuccessfully tries to trade blows on the inside. Lewis is bothered by a cut over the left eye in round four. Loughlin targets the cut, but to no effect. Lewis steps up the pace, taking round five and ripping open a cut over Loughlin's right eye. Loughlin tries to hang on, but Lewis lands repeatedly in round six, and the ref steps in to save Loughlin from further punishment. Lewis by TKO 6 to keep the title.

Ted Kid Lewis CH (42-13-4) vs Tommy Robson #2 (32-13-1)

Second meeting, it's a rematch of a 1921 encounter that went to Lewis. Robson earned this title shot after four successive wins.

After a close round one, both fight outside in round two which is another even round. Robson moves inside in round three, which goes to the Champ. Slight edge to Lewis, who works the inside in round four. Some good toe-to-toe action in round five, which is another close round. Very slight edge for the Champ (49-48) on the unofficial card at this point. Robson becomes more aggressive in round six, but Lewis has the upper hand. Close round seven, slight edge to Robson. Back and forth action the next few rounds, and Lewis has a two-point edge (97-95) heading into the final stretch after many close rounds that could go either way. Lewis decks Robson with a strong shot for the bout's only KD in round 11, but Robson hangs on to make the bout close; Lewis barely retains the belt despite scoring the only knockdown via a SD 15 verdict (142-143, 144-141, 145-140).

NABF: Long-time NABF titleholder Packey McFarland defended versus Tommy Freeman, who had the edge in the early going but was gradually worn down by the crafty veteran; MD 12 win for McFarland. Then Eddie Shevlin took advantage of an early cut, had Packey on the canvas in round 9, and then won via a TKO in the 10th as the cut worsened. Shevlin defended versus Latzo, the USBA titleholder, and -- in a topsy-turvy affair -- Latzo came off the canvas to win by a cuts stoppage in round eight.

USBA: Vacated by Latzo once he added the NABF title. George Levine hooked up with Jack Sparr to fight for the vacant crown, and Sparr scored two KDs in round 11 after an earlier flash knockdown in round 8 to take the belt via an 11th round TKO.

CBU: Johnny Basham defended versus Bermondsey Billy Wells, who took advantage of a cut to record a late stoppage win, TKO 11 (cut) to take the belt. Wells defended twice, versus GBU Champ Hamilton Johnny Brown, who opened a cut over Wells' eye but was put on the canvas himself in a bout that went down as a lopsided UD 12 win for Wells, and then versus Aussie Tommy Uren, who battled cuts from the very beginning in another bout that ended in a UD 12 for Wells.

GBU: Hamilton Johnny Brown made no defenses in 1924.

EBU: Ditto for EBU Champ Piet Hobin.

OPBF: Uren defended this belt versus fellow Aussie Paul Demsky. Demsky staggered Uren in round five, then Uren decked Demsky with a wild overhand right in round seven. Demsky battled back, opening a serious cut over Uren's eye and then took the belt with a UD 12 decision.