Every year in 1948–1955 Jack Solomons, then the largest promoter in British boxing, accustomed to the stage of one show per year, in the open air, at the White City stadium at Shepherds Bush in London.

This huge place was built in 1908 for the Olympic Games and was used for boxing sporadically in the 1930s. The capacity was about 90,000 and was exceeded when it was used for the 1939 competition between Len Harvey and Jock McAVoy, still the greatest attendance in the British fight (regardless of what Carl Froch or Tyson Fury can tell you). The place was also used during the 1966 World Championships, when Uruguay met France in a group game.

Solomons introduced here his most spectacular tournaments, and the first, in 1948, managed Freddie Mills and Gus Lesnevich. In the years 1949–1954 they always took place during the first 10 days of June, when Bruce Woodcock defeated Freddie Mills in 1949, and then lost Lee Savold in 1950. The following year, Don Cockell defeated the American Nick Barone in the highest line, and then in 1952, Cockell was beaten by Randolph Turpin in 11 rounds of the British and Empire Lightles. Turpin returned in 1953 to mention Charles Humez in the competition, which Solomons optimistically settled for the title of world average.

In the following year 1954, Don Cockell, which became heavyweight, returned to the stadium, headed by American Harry Matthews. The competition took place on June 1 and was settled as an eliminator of the world’s heavyweight title. Matthews was nearby. Managed by veteran Jacek Hurley, who started with Billy Silefle in the 1920s, before he ended his managerial career at Boone Kirkman in the 70s, Harry has already switched to the top of the stack and was in line with Rocky Marciano in the last rock competition before he won the title. Marciano got rid of Matthews in two cruel rounds in something that was seen as a fairly even fight before two men entered the ring.

In 1953 he was on his way down, slipping from rating number 5 in June 1952 Ring magazine Grades up to 9 the following year. He came out of the ratings after he suffered 10-round points of defeat from Cockell in Seattle in August 1953. This victory was alone in March 1954. In March 1954. In March 1954 in March 1954 in March 1954 in March 1954. Ring The ratings took place in the days before the commissions we have today.

It was not the best weather when two men met for the second time and the stadium was far from full. Nevertheless, Cockell hit the victory after 10 rounds of thrilling boxing. BN announced that “Cockell won this fight because he always went forward, forcing his rival on the defensive and causes the greatest damage with his stronger blow. Matthews finished the unmarked fight, but the same cannot be said about the winner whose left eye was almost closed and who bleeds from the mouth. “

Two men met again the following year, in Seattle, when Don stopped his man in seven. When asked who probably won between Cockell and Marciano, Matthews said that: “Don is much better in style. Marciano is only a mighty inactive. Cockell can box, stab and moves with class. The stylist always overcomes Lenica. “As we all know, Marciano defeated Cocella in 1955 in one of the most hard fights that was ever seen for the world’s heavyweight.

The White City stadium was used only twice as much for boxing, in 1955, and then in 1958, when Brian London took over the last curtain, beating Joe Erskine in the titles of British heavyweight and the Empire.

Currently, I combine and index my results in 1904 before they are introduced into my database, and I came across several captivating entries that show how much the game has changed in the last 120 years.

By far the best sources for boxing results during this period are Sports life and Mirror of Lifeboth of which are available via the excellent British Library website.

On April 4, 1904, Flying Flying Liverpool, Ike Bradley, met Arthur Grimshaw from Stratford, at East End in London, in 20-rounds in Albert Hall, Modern Brighton, on the other side of Mersey from his hometown.

Grimshaw fought in his first competition north, as well as his first fight over eight rounds. He had some courage to face Bradley, who, although he was a professional for just a few years, was an experienced 15-round specialist. Later, in his career, Bradley decorated himself with many vast and characteristic tattoos, and it was quite unusual during this period, when it was usually only navy boxers.

According to Mirror of Life The report that the fight was good, fought for a bag of 50 pounds, and while “Grimshaw was very clever on his legs and used a great judgment with good basic leftists,” he was nailed in the seventh round with blows, before he was dressed three times, the last time for the full number.

Today, such a loss would cause a minimal suspension of 28 days. If the knockout was bad, the suspension may be longer. This principle applies to every internal defeat, be it by KO, TKO or in retirement. However, in 1904, things were completely different.

Apparently, dissatisfied by nature, his defeat, Grimshaw asked for a rematch, and he got him the next day! Because, on April 5, 1904, two men met again, this time in Circus, Warrington, just a few kilometers down the road from Modern Brighton. The promoter was the same man who organized the first competition and was very elated that he founded it again, especially when Bradley’s contract opponent, a youthful Ward from Liverpool, did not appear.

Once again, the fight was recorded by Mirror of Life And this time Bradley won faster, again with a knockout after three rounds of boxing. “Two boys began to work at maximum speed and there was nothing between them for the first two rounds. In the third Bradley, Grimshaw caught a great blow to the chin and eliminated him. “

Two knockout palsy within 24 hours could not happen today in Great Britain and probably send alarm bells calling anywhere in the world, but not phase Grimshaw and his team, because he returned to the ring nine days later in Liverpool, when he came up with Youthful Yates in 10 rounds.

Grimshaw withdrew from the ring, after an eight -year career, in 1908, with a lost record that included a certain opposition of high caliber. Bradley went to great things, including a US trip in 1906, many competitions that were settled for the world, European or British title, and was at the top of the bill during the opening of the aged Liverpool stadium at Pudsey Street. He was one of the best of the first fighters who left Liverpool, a city steeped in a boxing tradition.

In 1938, the Management Board issued a regulation, which meant that no boxer could engage in two competitions of 10 rounds or more, within five days, and eventually forbade any boxer of participation in two competitions within six clear days from the date of their last competition, and this rule still applies. I wonder what Arthur Grimshaw would do with it.

Max Baer was one of the most colorful heavyweight masters. He was a destructive blow, and his escalate in the title in 1930–1934 showed him at its best. In 1935 he lost to Jimmy Braddock in great nervousness in the title defense, before three months later he was destroyed by Joe Louis.

In 1936 he was almost published, but still a gigantic enough name to earn decent money, so in 1937 he ventured to Great Britain to face Tommy Farrem in the Fararra competition before his title challenge with Louis. Farr defeated the American over 15 on the Harringay Arena, thus adding another nails to Baer’s coffin. Then he knocked out Walter Neusel in three to set up a title with Louis.

Among the Baer resignation from sparring partners in this competition was his younger brother Buddha, who at the age of 21 was six years younger than his brother. Buddy changed the professional in 1934 and before he came to Great Britain in April 1937, he had 48 professional competitions with only three losses. Forty -one of them ended with KO, so Buddy was a blow.

After his brother lost to Farr, Buddy remained in Great Britain throughout May and took part in two competitions against the developing British heavyweight prospects, and this very excited our press. As is well known, Baer finally challenged Louis in 1941 and managed to lose her grand master on the canvas in the first round. Finally, Baer ran out of couple and was disqualified after he was raised three times in the sixth. In the rematch the next year he survived only one round and never fought again.

His two British competitions took place in 18 days in May 1937. The first was against Jim Wilde of Swansea and took place at the Harringay Arena, and the fight was a common affair with Petey Sarron against Dave Crowley. Many people confuse Swansea warrior with the World Flyight Flyight Jimmy Wilde from Tylorstown. Despite the same name, two men could not be more different. Jim would greatly surpass Jimmy, even if there were two versions of Jimmy standing on the same scales.

Bn He informed that “if Buddy Baer can definitely overcome Wilde, he would achieve what was out of the power of most British heavyweight, and will take a decisive step towards the competition with the best men available in England. The bulky weight of very shy enter as a sparring of Buddha’s partners, whose reputation of a struck criminal was obviously spread. “

In this event, Baer wore a Welsh and finally stopped him in the fourth round after he implemented him twice. It was the beginning he needed in British rings, and soon he was matched with Jacek London of West Hartlepool in a duel, which took place on the pitch, the home of the Swansea football club. It seems strange that he fought London in this place, not Wilde from the city.

The turnout was huge, even though there was no Welsh at the top of the bill and once again Baer began clearly, dropping London with a bulky right hand almost as soon as the first round. The breaking up, upper right miner soon led him to the floor and seemed unlikely to survive the round. However, Jack was made of raw things and, despite the re -floor in the second, survived the full 10 rounds and was transported to his wardrobe by the appreciated crowd. Buddy learned that Great Britain has good, challenging bulky scales, and then returned to the States to resume her career.