September 25: DICK WELSHDick Welsh was a scrappy bantam-weight of Italian decent who was born Mike DiMatteo. He fought out of South Philly between 1925 and 1937 and compiled a career record of 62-20-8 with 10 KOs. Welsh fought many outstanding opponents in his 12 years in the ring. He posted wins over Midget Wolgast, Eddie Cool and Benny Schwartz along the way, and lost to Lou Salica, Mike Belliose, and Midget Wolgast. Today we celebrate his 1931 8-round decision win at Portsmouth, VA over Billy Landers of Norfolk. September 24: GIARDELLO BEATS JONESOn this day in 1954, Joey Giardello faced Ralph 'Tiger' Jones in the first of their 3 fights. This 1st match played out at the Arena before 1,833 fans & saw Jones jump out to a lead on the score-cards. But Joey kept the fight close, which thrilled the crowd. In the final two rounds, he began to find his mark. Al-though he hurt Jones a few times, the KO never came. The decision was unanimous for Joey and it was his final rush that gave him the win. They would fight 2 more times with each winning one - Joey in 1957 & Jones in 1959. September 23: TUNNEY & MARCIANO WIN HEAVYWEIGHT CROWN 26 YEARS APARTSept. 23 is an important day in Philly boxing history. The world heavyweight championship changed hands twice here, on the same date & same site. First in 1926, Gene Tunney won a 10-round decision over Jack Dempsey at Sesquicentennial Stadium to take championship honors. Then 26 years later at the renamed Municipal Stadium, Rocky Marciano KO'd Jersey Joe Walcott in the 13th to take the crown. Both guys also retired without losing their belt. September 22: LOUIS TOPPLES ETTOREOn this day in 1936, the great Joe Louis, fresh off a win over former champ Jack Sharkey, made the first of his two career appearances in the City of Brotherly Love. This time it was a pre-title Brown Bomber (28-1) vs. W. Philly's Al Ettore, who was on a 10-bout win streak. Al's run included victories over Jersey Joe Walcott & 3 against Leroy Haynes. 40, 407 paying customers (plus 10,000 comps) came out to Municipal Stadium to get a glimpse of Louis, touted as a future champ. Ettore was game and did his best, but Louis prevailed in 5 rounds. September 21: CONCRETE KOS CYCLONEOn this day in 1971, Cyclone Hart battled Denny Moyer at the Spectrum. The fight was a barn-burner but the ending was a dud. Make that a 'thud'. In the 6th, after 5 sessions of back & forth thumping, the fighters continued to thrill the crowd of 5,132. Suddenly Cyclone struck, hurting Moyer & forcing him to hold. As they clinched, Denny drove Hart into the droopy ropes. But instead of bouncing off, Hart tumbled out of the ring & cracked his head on the concrete floor. With Hart unable to go on, the bout was ruled a "No Contest" in six. September 20: FRAZIER GOES TO 2-0On this day in 1965, Smokin' Joe Frazier won his second consecutive bout as a professional when he KO'd Mike Bruce in the 3rd round. Frazier would run that consecutive win streak all the way to 1973, when he lost his heavyweight championship to George Foreman. His second pro fight was held at Philly's Convention Hall with Bennie Briscoe vs. Tito Marshall I as the main event. Marshall would win that bout in an upset 10-round decision. Also on the card, Roger Russell KO'd Mel Fulgham in 3 & Royden Collins beat Dennis Heffernan. September 19: BENNY BASS WINS TITLEOn this day in 1927, Benny Bass won a 10-round decision over Red Chapman to win the world featherweight championship. 14,114 fans packed Municipal Stadium in South Philly to see the "Little Fish" win the unanimous verdict, but in the ninth round, they were treated to a boxing rarity - a double knockdown! Early in the round, both fighters landed right hands. Bass went down to his knees, while Chapman fell flat on his back. Both got up, but Bass managed to floor Chapman again in the round, sealing the scorecard victory. September 18: HOPKINS - DE LA HOYAOn this day in 2004, Bernard Hopkins won a mega-fight versus Oscar De La Hoya with a 9th round KO. It was not the most important fight of his career, but this bout was definitely the highest-profile night of Hopkins' life. And he delivered. After several rounds of careful feeling out, Bernard dropped the Golden Boy with a crushing body shot for the count. It was the only time Oscar was stopped. With the victory, Hopkins defended his middleweight crown for the 19th time, certified his stature as a star attraction and collected a boatload of cash. September 17: SAAD - DOUGLAS SLUGFESTOn this day in 1977, Matthew Saad Muhammad (then Franklin) stopped Billy "Dynamite" Douglas in 6 action-packed rounds at the Spectrum. After sizing each other up, the fireworks began in round 3. In the 4th, the action was upgraded to full-scale war, with both guys landing heavy artillery. In the 5th, Douglas dropped Matthew & battered him on the ropes after he rose. But by the end of the round, the tables had turned. In the 6th, Matt continued to land until referee Hank Cisco jumped in to stop it, perhaps a bit early. It was a great Spectrum battle. September 15: ROSSMAN BECOMES A CHAMPOn this day in 1978, Mike Rossman stopped Victor Galindez by TKO in round 13 at the New Orleans Superdome to win the WBA light heavyweight championship. The bout was broadcast on national television as part of the Ali-Spinks II under card. While most of the world marveled at Ali's comeback win over Spinks, the perfection of Rossman's victory may have been lost in the (Ali) shuffle. But his performance was exactly that - a perfect fight on a perfect night. At 22, the entire boxing world seemed to be at the Jewish Bomber's feet. September 14: HAGLER STOPS CYCLONEOn this day in 1976, Marvelous Marvin Hagler scored a 9th round TKO over Eugene Cyclone Hart at the Spectrum before a crowd of 3,564. It was Hagler's third Philly bout that year, but just his first win. Hart grew frustrated as the fight wore on and he saw his chances to win the bout slip away. He quit in his corner before the ninth, which drew a chorus of "boos" from his hometown crowd. Hagler at age 24 was just getting started as a major attraction. The following year he would avenge his loss to Monroe twice and continue to rise in the rankings. September 13: SONNY LISTON WINS #12On this day in 1955, a 23-year old Sonny Liston scored his 12th victory with a 6th round TKO of Johnny Gray in Indianapolis. The win pushed Liston's young record to 12-1 (6 KO) and came toward the beginning of a 28-bout unbeaten streak. This stretch would run for almost nine years and take Liston all the way up the ladder to the heavyweight championship. He would finally lose to Cassius Clay in 1964, compiling a record of 35-2 (25 KO) through the period. In the final six years of his career he went 15-2 for an overall log of 50-4. September 12: GIARDELLO VS. SMITH IOn this day in 1961, Joey Giardello and Jesse Smith met at the Arena in an all-Philadelphia 10-rounder. Joey, coming off a loss to Henry Hank & a so-so 2-4 stretch since his draw with champ Gene Fullmer, was in need of a win. Smith, on a 6-bout win streak since his draw with Hank, looked to retire the old man with his heavy hands. In the ring, Joey showed superior skill, out-boxing Smith most of the way. Joey's excellent conditioning (a rarity) allowed him to sustain for 10 rounds & come away with a resounding unanimous decision victory. September 11: ETTORE VS. HAYNES SERIESOn this day in 1935, West Philly's Al Ettore won a 12-round decision over Philly-transplant Leroy Haynes, before a crowd of 11,000 at Phila. Ball Park. This was the 2nd of 3 bouts between the two. The first was a rousing 10-round affair won by Ettore just one month before. The competitiveness of that bout lead led to a 2nd fight which Ettore won handily. About one year later, the pair would do it one more time with Ettore easily winning yet again, but by 15-round decision. It was his 10th consecutive win & it landed Al a match with Joe Louis. September 10:BASS VS. BLITMANOn this day in 1928, one of Philly's great ring battles took place. Former champ, Benny Bass took on rising star Harry Blitman, both Philadelphians. Bass had lost his crown to current king Tony Canzoneri. Earlier in the year, Blitman beat Canzoneri in a 10-round non-title bout. Both guys were looking for a championship rematch and had to go through each other to get it. The fight took place on a Monday night before 24,000 fans at Shibe Park. The action was fierce and both gave everything they had. But Bass prevailed in round six. September 8: JOHNSON UPSETS CHARLESOn this day in 1953, #1 light-heavy contender Harold Johnson upset 11-5 odds by beating former heavyweight champion Ezzard Charles by 10-round split decision at Connie Mack Stadium. But it wasn't an easy fight for Johnson who spotted 8.5 lbs. and had to use all of his stylish tricks, solid jabs & a bucket of heart to come away with the win. After leading early, Johnson had to withstand a surging Charles, who pressed hard for the KO. But Harold hung in there, especially through a difficult 10th round. 8,462 watched. September 7: LISTON DEFEATS MACHENOn this day in 1960, Sonny Liston continued to close in on his title shot by defeating Eddie Machen by 12-round decision at Seattle's Sick Stadium. What was unusual about this one was that Sonny was able to land more than enough punches to secure the unanimous verdict, but was unable to land solidly enough to ever really hurt his foe. Over 12 rounds, he had plenty of chances, but his usual KO never came. Sonny said, "He was running. It takes two to make a fight." After two more matches, Liston stepped into the ring with Patterson. September 6: FOX SCORES 25th STRAIGHT KOOn this day in 1944, Blackjack Billy Fox knocked out Rocky Luciano in 2 rounds at Shibe Park for his 25th consecutive career KO. Fox was a hot prospect who was the runner up in the amateur Phila. Diamond Belt championship tournament the year before. Once he turned pro, the KOs' started to pile up. Ultimately Fox's KO streak reached an incredible 43 straight stoppages between 1944 and 1947. KO #25 against Luciano was on the undercard of Ike Williams' 10-round decision over Sammy Angott and was attended by 15,500 Philly fight fans. September 5: The great Ike Williams died on this day in 1994 at age 71. Williams turned pro in 1940 with a 4-round decision over Carmine Fotti at New Brunswick, NJ. In '43, Williams KO'd Johnny Hutchinson in 3 rounds. This set up a classic grudge fight with Hutchinson's friend Bob Montgomery in '44. Williams lost the high-profile bout by KO in the 12th, but then went on a 20-2 tear through the ranks before beating Juan Zurita for the NBA lightweight crown in '45. In 1947, he unified the title by avenging his loss to Montgomery, and held the title until '51 when he lost to Jimmy Carter. William's overall record was 125-24-5 (60 KO). September 4: MAX ALEXANDER ON "THE CONTENDER"
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