[JCWeb]

Taking us through the end of October 1929, now into post-Crash, recession era boxing.

Oct. 18, 1929: Friday night fights down under once again at Melbourne, Australia, with a solid fight card featuring some British and American fighters traveling to Aussie-land to entertain the eager fight fans in Melbourne. No titles on offer, but featured is a 10-round WW clash between former Champ Ted Kid Lewis and American Johnny Indrisano. Prior to the main event, two US veteran LWs do battle as Lew Tendler pounds out at solid UD 10 win (96-94 on all cards) over Rocky Kansas; both of these are at Post-Prime career stage. Then, OPBF MW Champ Ceferino Garcia takes on Gorilla Jones. Turns out to be a bit of an upset as Jones wins a tense battle, another UD 10 (96-94, 97-93, 99-93) over the higher-ranked Garcia although the 99-93 scoreline seemed way too generous to Jones. Then, on to the main event. Lewis, now nearing the end of his long career, appeared slow and out of shape, allowing the younger man (Indrisano) to take charge from early on. Midway through the bout, Lewis is bothered by a rapidly swelling left eye that further damages his chances. Indrisano coasts through the later rounds to a lopsided UD 10 win (99-93, 99-93, 100-92) to move to 19-3-3 (9) with the win. Lewis, whose best days are definitely behind him, drops to 52-21-4 (22).

Oct. 19, 1929: Back to Rome, Italy for another fight card at the Palazzo. Italian HW hopeful Primo "the Ambling Alp" is on the undercard on this one, and he disposes of TC Dale Horne in two despite suffering a cut over his right eye. Carnera is now 5-0-1 (4) with the KO 2 win. The featured bout is for the EBU HW crown, and it features two Dutchmen (Piet Van Der Veer and Jack DeMave) who are facing off for the first time. Late in round one, DeMave goes down after a barrage of blows from the Champion find their mark. The veteran DeMave, who holds a TKO win over Max Schmeling (Schmeling's only ring defeat thus far), battles back and, by round six, both eyes of VanDerVeer are showing signs of swelling. VanDerVeer, whose early lead seems to be slipping away, rallies in the ninth round when he staggers DeMave with a hook to the head -- this is enough to seal a UD 12 win for VanDerVeer (116-110, 116-112, 116-110), who keeps the crown, at least until the next fight. Post-fight, VanDerVeer moves to 33-13-6 (20) compared to 21-6-2 (11) for DeMave.

Oct. 19, 1929: Back to the Cow Palace in San Francisco for some more exciting fight action. On the undercard is the exciting young HW, Max Baer, "the Livermore Larupper," who has yet to have an opponent last more than three rounds in 4 KO wins. His opponent, another TC, shows greater resiliance, lasting the six-round distance despite two trips to the canvas, courtesy of some devastating punches from Baer. Max takes a UD 6 (57-55, 59-53, 59-53) although the narrow two-point margin on one judge's card seems way out of whack. Max, now 5-0 (4), plans to rest a bit before resuming his career in early 1930. Featured bout on tonight's card is for the USBA MW title belt that was recently vacated when Vince Dundee moved up and captured the NABF crown. "Trenton Terror" Young Terry and local area favorite "Oakland Shadow" Oakland Jimmy Duffy are matched for the vacant belt. Duffy quietly builds an early points lead throughout the first half of the bout. Midway through, however, Young Terry mounts an impressive comeback, culminating in a big hook to the head that decks Duffy in the 11th round. The bout goes the distance, and Young Terry takes the belt via a UD 12 (115-111, 114-112, 114-112) much to the chagrin of the pro-Duffy crowd. Terry moves to 22-2-3 (9) with the win, while Duffy emerges from the bout at 39-19-6 (8).

Oct. 25, 1929: Next Friday night fight card is at Madison Square Garden in New York City. After several preliminary bouts featuring several young fighters, the main event pits Jack Bernstein against Sid Barbarian for the USBA JLW crown currently held by Bernstein. Barbarian, dropping back down to JLW after two years at LW, is 2-0 over Bernstein in prior encounters. Barbarian starts well, and by the end of the fourth round there is visible swelling under Bernstein's right eye. In round five, Bernstein bounces back, landing a sharp combination that drops Barbarian to the deck for an eight-count. By the end of round six, the left eye of the challenger is starting to swell up. Barbarian tries to pick up the pace in the later rounds, but it is to no avail as Bernstein coasts to a UD 12 victory (117-110, 119-109, 116-113) to keep the title. Bernstein moves to 26-14-1 (6) overall while Barbarian slips to 29-12-2 (14).

Oct. 26, 1929: Next fight card at Harringay Arena in London attracts a nice crowd, as several preliminary bouts featuring home-grown fighters versus Yanks lead up to a WBA Flyweight title tilt. First up is veteran Flyweight Emil Paluso, who has traveled here to take on up-and-comer and Commonwealth flyweight Champ Jackie Brown. After just four rounds, Brown appears to be overmatched as his right eye starts to swell. He gamely battles on, and the bout goes the distance, being scored as a MD 10 for Paluso (96-95, 95-95, 99-92), who had a huge lead in punches landed and deserved better than what appeared to be a closer than needed decision by two hometown judges. At any rate, Paluso moves to 23-10-1 (7) while Brown closes out the Pre-Prime stage of his career at 16-3-1 (8). Next up, crowd favorite Nipper Pat Daly takes only highly-rated BW Bud Taylor. In a close battle, Daly suffers a cut over his right eye and a swollen right eye. Nonetheless, it's another close decision, with the MD 10 going to Taylor (96-94, 95-95, 98-92) who is now 30-10 (9) while Nipper Pat slips to 23-10-2 (11). Then, current GBU FW Champ Al Foreman is matched with another higher rated Yank, Dick Finnegan. This time, the home crowd has something to cheer about, as Foreman nails Finnegan with a big left in round five and then follows with a huge shot that leads to a quick stoppage. The TKO 5 win moves Foreman to 25-13 (21) while Finnegan's post-fight record is 27-11 (8). Then, Frankie Genaro defends the WBA belt won in London earlier, taking on fellow American, Newsboy Brown. Genaro is looking to avenge two earlier losses (one, via a SD and the other, via a DQ) in this bout. Brown suffers a cut over his left eye in the opening round, and it continues to bother him throughout the remainder of the bout. Genaro is able to pile up an early points lead and, meanwhile, the cut is reopened twice and gradually worsens, leading to a stoppage. TKO 8 for Genaro, who avenges the earlier losses and retains the WBC crown. Genaro's post-fight record is 33-9 (16) while the loss drops the Newsboy to 31-5-2 (10).

Oct. 26, 1929: Final fight card of the month is at the Gran Stadium in Havana, Cuba. Lots of Cuban and other Hispanic boxers featured on this card. The main event is a NABF title contest, with two sluggers going at it: Cuban LH Roleaux Saguero defendst the belt against the hard-hitting former USBA Champion, Paul Berlenbach. The Cuban Champion gets off to a strong start, landing repeatedly in the opening round to the point where Berlenbach experiences some swelling under his right eye. Berlenbach then suffers a cut over the same right eye in round six. He continues in his own aggressive style but is unable to trouble Saguero. A big hook to the head sets up the Cuban Champion for a strong follow-up shot that sends Berlenbach to the deck for a seven-count in round seven. The cut over Berlenbach's eye, which had been patched up in between rounds, is re-opened and leads to an immediate stoppage in the middle of round nine. It goes down as a TKO 9 win for Saguero, over howls of protest from Berlenbach's corner. Saguero is now 29-10-1 (27) overall compared to 22-6 (17) for Berlenbach.