The World Boxing Alliance

[grevan]

The World Boxing Alliance
presents
12 of the world’s best fighters in
6 thrilling bouts

Main Event
Heavyweights
Max Baer (8-0)
v
Joe McAuliffe (8-2)

Main Support
Featherweights
Tracy Patterson (10-2-1)
v
Shigeyoshi Adachi (7-1-2)

Plus the undefeated;
Billy Ernst (9-0)
Sammy Fuller (9-0)
and
Tony Lopez (8-0)

Saturday
6 February 1954
Madison Square Garden, New York
First bout at 7pm

[grevan]

Okay, so this is my latest attempt at a uni, but one I’m hoping will stick*. It follows a UFC type model in that most of the best fighters will initially be signed by the World Boxing Alliance (WBA). Over time other organisations will be formed to provide opportunities to up and coming fighters and those who’ve been “let go” by the WBA. I’ve had a couple of goes at getting something like this started previously but this time I think (hope) I’ve got it right.

Boxers will not have long careers in terms of fights (32-50) but will only fight an average of 3 times per year, progressing through the club ranks against a selection of 0-2 rated opponents. Club fights are over 6 rounds or a maximum of 8 although as new “minor” organisations are formed title fights will be over 10.

WBA cards will be numbered (eg. WBA 1, WBA 2 etc.), consist of 6 bouts and be held about 8 times a year. WBA title fights will be over 12 rounds although the plan is not to stage any title fights in the WBA’s first year (1954).

80 fighters are randomly selected each year to debut with the first universe year being 1950. So far I have simulated the first 4 years (1950-53) ahead of the formation of the WBA in 1954. As always this is a mixed-era universe.

Weight classes are only the 8 original with fighters in the database moved as follows;

HW (all HW in database),
LHW (CW & LHW’s in database)
MW (SMW & MW)
WW (JMW & WW)
LW (JWW & LW)
FW (JLW & FW)
BW (JFW, BW, JBW)
FLY (FLY, JFLY, SW)

* I have had a number of problems with TBCB 2013 including fighters mysteriously changing career stage or weight class and multiple crashes. I’ve gone through and tried various fixes mentioned in the mod pages but found the game to be increasingly unreliable. So for this uni I’ve gone back to 2.5 and must say, I find it much better and a reminder of why I fell in love with the game in the first place.

[grevan]

The WBA has signed eight boxers in each division who will fight in eliminators during 1954. The two top fighters in each division will square off for the respective WBA title in 1955.

Ahead of the first card, The Ring Magazine names the top 10 fighters signed by the WBA and five others whose time is near.

The WBA’s top 10 signings…
(Ring Magazine, January 1954)
1. Marvin Hagler 9-0(8), MW, USA
2. Rafael Orono 13-0(2), BW, Venezuela
3. Virgil Hill 12-1(12), LHW, USA
4. Pongsaklek Wonjongkam 10-1-1(3), FLY, Thailand
5. Max Baer 8-0(6), HW, USA
6. Sammy Fuller 9-0(1), LW, USA
7. Rubin Carter 10-0(5), MW, USA
8. Horacio Accavallo 9-0(5), FLY, Argentina
9. Gypsy Joe Harris 11-1-1, WW, USA
10. Bronx Davey Moore 14-1(5), WW, USA

…and five boxers the WBA should be watching
1. Willie Pep 6-1(2), FW, USA
2. Mikkel Kessler 5-0(3), MW, Denmark
3. Carlos Palomino 7-0-1(2), WW, Mexico
4. Tony Shucco 7-0-1, LHW, USA
5. EusebioPedroza 7-1(3), FW, Panama

[grevan]

WBA 1
Madison Square Garden, New York
6 February 1954

All bouts over 8 rounds

Preliminaries
LW: Billy Ernst 10-0(3) UD8 Lakva Sim 9-1(5)
The opening bout in WBA history was a fine contest with Ernst taking charge in the second half of the fight to close Sim out over the final four rounds. Scores were 78-74 on all cards.

HW: Peter Felix 9-2-2 D8 Tom Fischer 9-1-1
Felix landed more often (204-144) and seemed to be in control after six rounds but a big finish by Fischer saw him take the last two an all three judge’s cards to force a draw, 76-76 across the board.

FW: Tony Lopez 9-0(8) KO1 Carlos Cardenas 8-1-1(3)
After a subdued start to the night with two decisions, Lopez livened up proceedings with a brutal one punch knockout just two minutes into the first round. In his nine fights, all but one which has finished inside the distance, Lopez has averaged just 2.9 rounds.

LW: Sammy Fuller 10-0(1) UD8 Jim Barron 9-1(3)
Fuller handed Aussie Barron his first loss with some clever defensive work and constantly connected with a fluid combination of jabs and crosses. Barron threw plenty of punches (915) but had limited success (12% landed), succumbing 78-76 and 78-75 twice on the cards.

FW: Tracy Patterson 10-2-2(1) D8 (m) Shigeyoshi Adachi 7-1-3(1)
A scrappy affair and difficult to score with plenty of closely fought rounds, though Patterson landed more often (168-132) and seemed to finish the stronger. Some indecisive judging left a number of even rounds with one judge scoring it 78-77 for Adachi while the other two scored it even at 77-77.

Main Event
HW: Joe McAuliffe 9-2(7) UD8 Max Baer 8-1(6)
This was the blood and guts brawl the crowd had come to see and they were on their feet from the first round when McAuliffe sent Baer crashing to the canvas twice in the space of 30 seconds. Somehow Baer survived but in round four he was down again from an uppercut and then, when the end seemed near, he produced his own booming right hand to drop McAuliffe in round five. In the final three stanzas both men threw everything at each other but in the end it was the early damage done by McAuliffe that saw him claim an upset victory, 76-72 and 75-73 twice on the judges cards.

Fight of the night: McAuliffe/Baer
Performances of the night: McAuliffe & Lopez

[grevan]

WBA 2
Miami Stadium, Florida
20 March 1954

All bouts over 8 rounds

Preliminaries
LW: Dejan Zlaticanin 13-2(6) TKO4 Cesar Rene Cuenca 8-2(1)
Cuenca’s nose was broken by a big right hand early in round 4 and worsened by more shots as the round wore on. Shortly before the end of the round the referee asked the doctor to have a look and unable to stem the blood flow, he recommended the stoppage at 2:47.

FW: Jason Litzau 13-1(4) MD8 Luis Cruz 9-1(2)
Cruz dropped Litzau in the first round and looked good early but Litzau fought back strongly, landing some hard uppercuts, one which accounted for Cruz’s own trip to the canvas in round five. An action packed fight that two judges saw clearly for Litzau 77-73, the third unable to separate the fighters, scoring it 75-75.

HW: Patsy Perroni 11-1-3 UD8 Giuseppe Ros 7-1-2(1)
In a fairly uneventful contest Perroni did enough to secure a clear cut unanimous decision, dominating from round three onwards to convince the judges, 78-74 and 77-75 twice.

FW: Miguel Roman 11-1-2 (2) SD8 Evan Armstrong 8-1(5)
Roman was in all sorts of trouble in the first part of the fight, down from right hands in rounds one and four, before clawing his way back in the last half, topped by a pinpoint uppercut in the last round that dropped Armstrong for a 7-count. In a tough, close bout two judges scored for Roman 76-73 and 75-74, while the third had it 75-74 for Armstrong.

LW: Morris East 9-1-2(1) UD8 Greg Haugen 8-2-1(1)
Haugen was caught early and almost stopped in the first round when East dropped him twice but managed to regain his composure and fight his way back into the contest, finishing much the better in the last three rounds. Still, final punch stats were 233-168 for East, as was the decision 76-75 on all cards in something of an upset.

Main Event
HW: Phil Jackson 13-5(9) KO4 Harley Breshears 8-2(6)
Both men came out throwing bombs but Jackson picked his shots better, connecting on 63% of his punches including a number of big hooks. The end came at 1:04 of round four courtesy of a crushing shot to the ribs that Breshears couldn’t get up from.

Fight of the night: Roman/Armstrong
Performances of the night: Jackson & East

[grevan]

WBA 3
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles
8 May 1954

All bouts over 8 rounds

Preliminaries
FLY: Shingo Yamaguchi 10-1 MD8 Jaime Rios 8-3-6
Yamaguchi pushed the pace from the start, throwing over 300 more punches than Rios and opened cuts over both of Rios’ eyes. In spite of Yamaguchi appearing a clear winner, one judge still saw it even at 76-76 but the other two leaned toward Yamaguchi, 78-75 and 77-76.

WW: Larry Barnes 8-1-2(2) D8(m) Domenico Tiberia 10-2-3(1)
A tough, even fight throughout with neither man able to take charge, Barnes suffered a cut under his left eye while Tiberia finished with a swollen right. One judge scored it for Barnes 77-76 but the other two couldn’t split them, both seeing it 76-76 for a majority draw.

LHW: John Odhiambo 11-1-2(3) KO3 Nathan Cleverly 9-3-1(4)
After feeling each other out for two rounds Odhiambo levelled Cleverly with a devastating right cross in the third, the Welshman counted out at 2:07.

FLY: Pongsaklek Wonjongkam 11-1-1(4) TKO7 Nico Thomas 10-2-1
A dominant performance from Wonjongkam saw him land 235 punches to 60 and drop Thomas twice in the sixth round before finishing the overmatched Indonesian fighter in the next round, the referee calling a halt a second before the bell. Scores were 60-52, 60-53 and 59-53 at the stoppage.

WW: Gypsy Joe Harris 12-1-1(1) SD8 Barry Allison 8-1-3
Harris appeared to be in control for most of the fight but eased off down the stretch and almost blew it, having a point deducted for a second low blow in round seven and hanging on for a tight split decision win. Scores were 77-74 and 76-75 for Harris, 76-75 for Allison.

Main Event
LHW: Willie Edwards 12-1(3) SD8 BJ Flores 9-3-4(2)
In a crowd pleasing fight Edwards started strongly, backing up Flores with some sharp combinations and dropped him with a sweet uppercut in round four. Flores wasn’t going to go quietly though and fought back strongly over the closing rounds. He staggered Edwards in the sixth and then caught him with a perfect combination late in round eight, sending Edwards crashing to the canvas, but the bell tolled a moment later to end the fight. A shaken Edwards was declared the winner on two cards 78-73, 77-74 while the third gave it to Flores 76-75.

Fight of the night – Edwards/Flores
Performances of the night – Odhiambo & Wonjongkam

[grevan]

WBA 4
Mirage Hotel, Las Vegas
12 June 1954

All bouts over 8 rounds

Preliminaries
FLY: Amnat Ruenroeng 10-2-3(1) UD8 Leo Gamez 9-1(5)
A close fight to kick off the night, with both men suffering cut eyes, but Ruenroeng seemed to have more in the tank over the final two rounds, stealing them and the fight to get the unanimous decision, 78-75 and 77-75 twice.

WW: Bronx Davey Moore 15-1(5) KO5 Mark Jason Melligan 9-2-1(6)
Moore confirmed his danger to the welterweight division with an authoritative display, out-boxing Melligan for four rounds before he turned up the heat and iced his overmatched opponent with a sizzling uppercut at 0:54 of the fifth round.

FLY: Horacio Accavallo 10-0(5) UD8 Carlos Velarde 8-4-1
Velarde was willing but ultimately outclassed by Accavallo who scored with 50 combinations during the fight and generally looked a step ahead. Scores were 78-74, 78-75 and 77-75, all judges giving Velarde the last as Accavallo took the round off.

LHW: Eddie Cotton 9-1(3) UD8 Sergio Daniel Merani 9-4-3(1)
Merani was on the canvas in the first and only up after a 9-count but fought back strongly from there and after six rounds it was anyone’s fight. Cotton would not be denied though, scoring his second knockdown in round seven which proved the eventual difference, all three judges scoring it 76-74.

WW: Jimmy Leto 13-1-1 UD8 Kevin Anderson 9-2-1(5)
Leto was away slowly in the first two rounds but after he warmed up proved to be too good for the game Anderson. All up Leto landed 290 punches to 120, including 84 jabs, to earn the decision 79-74 and 77-75 twice.

Main Event
LHW: Virgil Hill 13-1(3) KO5 Francisco Palacios 9-1(2)
Palacios tried to unsettle Hill by holding and hitting early in the fight but a left hook from Hill in the third put him down for an 8-count and another hook two rounds later dropped Palacios for the full count. Time of the knockout was 2:51 of round five in an ominous warning from Hill to the light heavyweight division.

Fight of the night – Cotton/Merani
Performances of the night – Moore & Hill

[grevan]

WBA 5
Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City
24 July 1954

All bouts over 8 rounds

Preliminaries
BW: Wayne McCullough 11-4(4) KO5 Jose Sanjuanelo 9-2(3)
After a tightly contested first half of the fight McCullough exploded in the fifth round, hurting Sanjuanelo with a barrage of hard shots before he finished him with a huge hook at 2:27 of the round.

MW: Ron Essett 11-3-1(4) UD8 Rocky Castellani 10-2(2)
Castellani was down early in the first round and struggled to get back into the fight over the next few rounds as Essett pushed the pace. Castellani managed to land some nice combinations over the closing rounds but it was too little too late, Essett taking the decision 78-73 and 77-74 twice on the cards.

MW: Jack Bonner 11-1(2) TKO7 Solly Krieger 12-1(4)
Bonner was taking a beating at the hands of Krieger, dropped in the third round and well down on the cards (68-64 and 69-63) when he opened up a massive gash over Krieger’s right eye with a desperate left hook in round seven. After checking with the doctor the referee had no hesitation in stopping the bout to hand Bonner an amazing, come from behind victory.

MW: Rubin Carter 11-0(6) KO4 David Lopez 12-3(4)
Lopez came out swinging and stood toe to toe with Carter, giving as good as he got until Carter landed a brutal right hand near the end of round four that ended proceedings. A great finish by one of the biggest name in the WBA.

BW: Paulie Ayala 10-0-1 MD8 Randy Caballero 6-1(4)
In a tremendous fight, Caballero got off to a perfect start, dropping Ayala in the first round and hurting him numerous times through the first three. He seemed to tire quickly in the latter stages though as Ayala stormed home, sending Caballero to the canvas with a sizzling uppercut in round eight. Caballero survived and won the appreciation of the crowd but it was Ayala who took the decision on two cards 76-74 with the third even at 75-75.

Main Event
MW: Marvin Hagler 10-0(9) TKO5 Jack Palmer 9-2-2(4)
Hagler battered Palmer from the outset, bludgeoning him with uppercuts and hooks for four rounds before ending it in the fifth with two knockdowns followed by an onslaught along the ropes that had the referee stop the contest at 2:49 of the round. Hagler led 40-36 and 39-37 twice on the cards.

Fight of the night – Ayala/Caballero
Performances of the night – Carter & McCullough

[grevan]

All eight weight classes have now been showcased across the first five WBA events and from now we'll start to see fighters appearing for a second time. All of the winners so far will fight in title eliminators over the remaining three cards of 1954 along with some of the boxers who fought to a draw in their initial WBA outing. Title eliminators will be over 10 rounds.

A number of fighters who lost their debut match have also returned to the club ranks to get some rounds under their belt while they await an announcement from the WBA about an expanded roster for 1955.

[grevan]

WBA 6
28 August 1954
Wachovia Spectrum, Philadelphia

Preliminaries
BW, 8: Khaokor Galaxy 12-2(6) TKO6 Enrique Pinder 12-2
This was a fantastic start to the night with both men throwing plenty of leather. Pinder was sharp and used his jab well but Galaxy’s power was overwhelming, dropping Pinder in the fourth round and then three times in the sixth to earn a stoppage at 2:32 of the round. Scores at the stoppage were 48-46 twice for Galaxy and 47-47.

BW, 8: Rafael Orono 14-0(2) UD8 Giovanni Caro 7-2-1(1)
A slick, classy display by Orono saw him land 252 punches to 112 at an imposing 48%. Caro battled gamely to the final bell but couldn’t land the big punch he needed to change the direction of the fight, the final scores a clear victory for Orono, 80-74, 78-75 and 77-75.

Title Eliminators
FW, 10: Tracy Patterson 11-2-2(2) KO3 Tony Lopez 9-1(8)
In what could only be described as an unexpected result, Patterson produced a devastating combination in the third round of a fairly even fight to put Lopez out for the count at 2:22 of the round. In doing so Patterson booked himself a spot in the inaugural WBA featherweight title fight to be held early in 1955.

HW, 10: Peter Felix 10-2-2(1) TKO7 Joe McAuliffe 9-3(7)
Felix was almost out in a disastrous first round when he was dropped for an 8-count and then penalised a point for holding but managed to survive, though he was unable to mount much offence as McAuliffe hurt him on several occasions over the ensuing rounds. Then in the sixth Felix caught McAuliffe with a hard shot that opened a gaping wound on McAuliffe’s forehead and when the cut reopened in the next round the referee halted the fight to have a closer look. Despite vehement protests from McAuliffe and his corner the fight was dramatically stopped, handing Felix the win at a point he was down 57-55 and 59-53 twice on the cards.

FW, 10: Miguel Roman 12-1-2(3) KO6 Jason Litzau 13-2(4)
In an action packed fight Litzau was getting the better of the exchanges before Roman exploded in the sixth round, landing a picture perfect left hook that saw Litzau counted out at the 1:58 mark. Scores after five were 48-47 and 49-47 twice, all for Litzau. The win sets up a Patterson/Roman title fight.

Main Event
HW, 10: Phil Jackson 13-5-1(9) D10 (m) Pasty Perroni 11-1-4
A great fight saw Jackson and Perroni go toe to toe for large parts of the contest with neither able to take charge and impose his will on the other. Perroni landed more often (244-191) but also suffered a bad gash over his left eye from a sharp Jackson counter in round nine and by the last both men knew they needed a big round to get across the line. What resulted was a frenetic round 10 where both men were staggered and even then the judges were split, as they were as the final scores were read, 97-95 for Jackson on one card but 96-96 on the other two for a majority draw. Afterwards, WBA officials said they would make a decision within the next week as to who would now meet Peter Felix for the heavyweight title.

Fight of the night – Jackson/Perroni
Performances of the night – Patterson & Roman

[grevan]

WBA announces first championship bouts

4 September 1954
Following on from WBA 6 in Philadelphia last week the World Boxing Association has decided that Patsy Perroni, who drew with Phil Jackson, will contest the first heavyweight championship match against Peter Felix at WBA 9. Perroni is also expected to be named the number one heavyweight when The Ring magazine release their year end rankings in December. Jackson has been offered a title eliminator against an opponent to be decided.

On the same card Tracy Patterson will also meet Miguel Roman for the WBA Featherweight Title. WBA 9 will be held at Madison Square Garden in New York on 22 January 1955.

[grevan]

WBA 7
16 October 1954
Omi Coliseum, Atlanta

All bouts over 10 rounds

Title Eliminators
LW: Dejan Zlaticanin 14-2(7) KO10 Morris East 9-2-2(1)
Zlaticanin always appeared in control but East kept pushing him, throwing plenty of punches in an exciting fight that saw Zlaticanin leading after nine rounds, 89-85 and 88-83 twice. Desperate in the last, East walked into a tremendous hook from Zlaticanin and could not beat the count, succumbing just 30 seconds before the final bell.

FLY: Horacio Accavallo 11-0(5) UD10 Amnat Ruenroeng 10-3-3(1)
Ruenroeng was in this one for six rounds but took a beating over the final four including a 10-8 round in the seventh and two knockdowns in the last. Overall, Accavallo landed 283 punches to 152, including 70 uppercuts to take the decision, 99-87 and 97-90 twice.

LHW: Willie Edwards 13-1(3) SD10 John Odhiambo 11-2-2(3)
A thrilling battle saw the punch stats almost equal (182-181 for Edwards) and both men at times getting the better of the proceedings, with Edwards stronger early and Odhiambo winning the middle part. In the end it came down to the last round which Edwards edged on all three cards to get the narrowest of decisions, 96-95 and 95-94 for Edwards, 95-94 for Odhiambo. Edwards also scored the only knockdown of the fight, a brief 3-count in round eight.

FLY: Pongsaklek Wonjongkam 12-1-1(4) UD10 Shingo Yamaguchi 10-2
Wonjongkam boxed his way to the front behind a stiff jab for seven rounds but opened up in the last three, rocking Yamaguchi on several occasions before dropping him with a brutal body shot in the last. The knockdown was the icing on the cake for a comprehensive victory by Wonjongkam, 97-93 and 98-92 twice and sets up a title fight with Horacio Accavallo.

LW: Billy Ernst 10-0-1(3) D10 Sammy Fuller 10-0-1(1)
Another top notch fight on an outstanding card saw both men keep their unbeaten records but left another headache for WBA officials in setting the lightweight title opponent for Dejan Zlaticanin. In a desperately close contest Ernst scored the only knockdown in round seven and took the last round on all three cards but Fuller out-landed him 284-226 on the back of his brilliant jab. Final scores were one 96-94 card for each fighter with the third even at 95-95. Again, the WBA committed to announcing who would get the title shot in the following week.

Main Event
LHW: Virgil Hill 14-1(3) MD10 Eddie Cotton 9-2(3)
Hill was sluggish for the most part and Cotton appeared to be right in the fight all the way, matching Hill punch for punch (180-180) and splitting several rounds on the cards. The final scores were 97-95 for Hill, 96-96 and a ludicrous 99-92 for Hill from the third judge who must have been watching a different fight. Hill’s victory sets up a WBA light heavyweight title bout with Willie Edwards.

Fight of the night – Ernst/Fuller
Performances of the night – Accavallo & Zlaticanin

[grevan]

Ernst gets title shot

22 October 1954
As in the heavyweight division, WBA officials were required to select a fighter to compete for the lightweight title fight after the draw between Billy Ernst and Sammy Fuller and went with Ernst after a long deliberation. No promises were made to Fuller but he would appear to be next in line should he win his next fight.

[grevan]

WBA 8
Boston Garden, Boston
11 December 1954

All bouts over 10 rounds

Title Eliminators
BW: Paulie Ayala 11-0-1 UD10 Wayne McCullough 11-5(4)
Ayala put his combinations together well and landed his punches at almost 50% to keep the more aggressive McCullough at bay, taking the decision 95-94 on all three cards. Ayala lost a point for a low blow in the fifth round but clearly still did enough to win and propel himself into the bantamweight title fight.

WW: Gypsy Joe Harris 13-1-1(1) UD10 Larry Barnes 8-2-2(2)
Harris was in control most of the way, out-landing Barnes 256 punches to 166 and opening a cut over Barnes left eye early. Barnes looked to be setting himself up for a big finish with some strong rounds through the middle but Harris closed it out in style, winning the last three rounds on all cards to take it 96-94 and 97-93 twice.

WW: Jimmy Leto 14-1-1 MD10 Bronx Davey Moore 15-2(5)
Leto was brilliant with his jab, constantly throwing Moore off balance as he landed it 107 times in a classy display. Leto also scored with 110 combinations and the final punch tally of 339-187 in his favour suggested he deserved a more clear-cut decision, one judge actually scoring a draw 96-96 while the other two had 97-95. Leto will now meet Harris for the WBA welterweight title.

BW: Rafael Orono 15-0(2) MD10 Khaokor Galaxy 12-3(6)
This was a great fight, both men trading ferocious shots for almost the entire fight. Galaxy carried more power but Orono’s chin was up to the task and while he was wobbled on occasion Orono hurt Galaxy plenty of times in return. There were no knockdowns but Orono picked his punches just a little better, two judges seeing it for him 97-95 and 96-95 while the third had it even 96-96. Orono will now meet Paulie Ayala with the title belt on the line.

MW: Rubin Carter 12-0(7) TKO7 Jack Bonner 11-2(2)
Bonner gave Carter plenty of trouble for six rounds (57-57 on two cards, 58-56 for Bonner on the other) but when Carter finally found his mark in the seventh he got Bonner out of their quickly, dropping him twice with booming right hands and then battering him until the referee stepped in at 2:29 of the round. An ominous performance by Carter.

Main Event
MW: Marvin Hagler 11-0(9) UD10 Ron Essett 11-4-1(4)
Essett impressed all in attendance by standing toe to toe with the hard hitting Hagler and even landed more punches (216-212) but Hagler’s greater power and iron chin were the difference, Essett staggered on several occasions and down in the third, while Hagler kept marching forward. Final scorecards were 96-93 and 97-93 twice, setting up a mouth-watering title fight with Carter.

Fight of the night – Orono/Galaxy
Performance of the night – Carter & Orono

[grevan]

WBA and the Boxing Network reach agreement

17 December 1954
After a successful year in which the World Boxing Alliance held eight events, showcased a number of thrilling fights and set the stage for a series of title fights in 1955, they today made the next step in becoming the biggest boxing promotion in the world by announcing a five year deal with the Boxing Network.

As of 1955 the Boxing Network, a channel dedicated entirely to boxing, has committed to showing 12 WBA cards in addition to the eight major WBA events scheduled for the new year. These smaller 4-fight cards will be screened on a program to be known as "WBA Ringside" and involve a host of the promotions best fighters.

In order to meet their commitment to provide high level fights and entertainment the WBA has decided to expand it's roster to 80 fighters, 10 in each weight division. The contracted fighters will be announced in conjunction with Ring Magazine's inaugural world rankings, to be released on the 31st of December.

[grevan]

The following posts will show the current Ring Magazine world rankings as of 31 December 1954, noting the 10 fighters in each division who have been contracted to the WBA. Starting with the Heavyweights, where in spite of his failure in his opening WBA bout, Max Baer holds down the number two spot.

[grevan]

Two men yet to grace the WBA canvas top the light heavyweight rankings but they'll get their chance to prove themselves in 1955.

[grevan]

Carter and Hagler is the big event of the first part of 1955 but Mikkel Kessler is sure to draw plenty of attention as we see if he's ready for the WBA.

[grevan]

Charley Fusari will be gunning for the winner of the Leto/Harris title fight.

[grevan]

The biggest threat in the lightweight division might come from outside the current top 10 in the shape of Greg Haugen.