James Braddock vs. John Henry Lewis ~ "The Worst Decision Ever At MSG'
Friday ~ November 16, 1934
Madison Square Garden ~ New York City, New York
'Main Event' ~ World Light-Heavyweight Championship ~ Champion *Maxie Rosenbloom vs. Challenger *Bob Olin
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'Main Undercard' ~ James Braddock vs. John Henry Lewis
Boxer ..........James Braddock ...................... John Henry Lewis
Age ............ 29 years, 5 months ................. 20 years, 6 months
Height ........ 6' 2 1/2" ................................. 5' 11"
Reach ........ 76" ......................................... 75 1/2"
Weight ...... 187 lbs. ................................... 176 lbs.
Record ....... 42-23-4 {26 KO's} ................... 34-2-3 {23 KO's}
Rank .......... #14 Light-Heavyweight ........... #2 Light-Heavyweight
~ The Skinny ~
John Henry Lewis, the 'super-talented' and #2 World-Rated Light-Heavyweight was 'heavily favored' over
former World Light-Heavyweight Title Challenger, James Braddock.
The odds were posted at {4-1} for John Henry, as Braddock was still nursing a 'bad' right-hand.
~ The Brooklyn Daily Eagle ~
If James Braddock comes into the Ring with a 'sore' and {out-of-use} right-hand, he will be out-gunned
by the fast-handed John Henry Lewis.
A 'one-armed' Braddock, with an average left-hand {on a good night}, will be out-sped early, and out-fought
late by this slick {20 1/2 year-old} Phoenix-Flash.
Braddock's only hope will be to 'tag' John Henry early, with one of his right-crosses. But, this kid has
never been floored, and has never shown a time in the Ring where he was 'out-of-sorts'.
Braddock will have an advantage in experience, height, reach and punching-power. But, he falls way
short in hand-speed and footwork. Also, Braddock is a 'one-punch-at-time' fighter, while John Henry
throws 'punches-in-bunches', and works the body as well.
The only 'smart betting-man edge' here, is that Braddock {from New Jersey} will have the hometown area
on his side, as this is John Henry's '1st-Bout' in New York.
Re: James Braddock vs. John Henry Lewis ~ "The Worst Decision Ever At MSG'
Is this John Lewis that got knocked out by Joe Louis in one of his defences?
Re: James Braddock vs. John Henry Lewis ~ "The Worst Decision Ever At MSG'
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Master
Is this John Lewis that got knocked out by Joe Louis in one of his defences?
Yes.
On January 25, 1939 ........... Joe Louis ..... {KO 1} .... John Henry Lewis
Joe Louis floored John Henry Lewis '3-times'
But at the time, John Henry Lewis was nearly blind in his left-eye, due to cataracts. And his sight
for the right-eye was not good as well.
John Henry Lewis never fought again after that bout, due to deteriorating vision problems.
Re: James Braddock vs. John Henry Lewis ~ "The Worst Decision Ever At MSG'
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Bill Paxtom
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Master
Is this John Lewis that got knocked out by Joe Louis in one of his defences?
Yes.
But at the time, John Henry Lewis was 'partially blind' in one eye.
Also Joe was a friend of his so dispatched him in 1 round so as not to hurt him too much.
Re: James Braddock vs. John Henry Lewis ~ "The Worst Decision Ever At MSG'
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Bill Paxtom
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Master
Is this John Lewis that got knocked out by Joe Louis in one of his defences?
Yes.
On January 25, 1939 ........... Joe Louis ..... {KO 1} .... John Henry Lewis
Joe Louis floored John Henry Lewis '3-times'
But at the time, John Henry Lewis was nearly blind in his left-eye, due to cataracts. And his sight
for the right-eye was not good as well.
John Henry Lewis never fought again after that bout, due to deteriorating vision problems.
This ^^^^^^^^^^^
Re: James Braddock vs. John Henry Lewis ~ "The Worst Decision Ever At MSG'
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Bill Paxtom
Friday ~ November 16, 1934
Madison Square Garden ~ New York City, New York
'Main Event' ~ World Light-Heavyweight Championship ~ Champion *Maxie Rosenbloom vs. Challenger *Bob Olin
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'Main Undercard' ~ James Braddock vs. John Henry Lewis
Boxer ..........James Braddock ...................... John Henry Lewis
Age ............ 29 years, 5 months ................. 20 years, 6 months
Height ........ 6' 2 1/2" ................................. 5' 11"
Reach ........ 76" ......................................... 75 1/2"
Weight ...... 187 lbs. ................................... 176 lbs.
Record ....... 42-23-4 {26 KO's} ................... 34-2-3 {23 KO's}
Rank .......... #14 Light-Heavyweight ........... #2 Light-Heavyweight
Stance ....... Orthodox ................................ Orthodox
Style .......... Puncher/Counter-Puncher ........ Fast-Handed Boxer/Puncher
~ The Skinny ~
James Braddock >
This would only be James Braddock's '2nd-Bout' within 14-Months {since September 1933}.
James has been 'idle' for 5-Months, since 'upsetting' {TKO 3} John 'Corn' Griffin on June 14th.
Braddock has put on {+7 lbs.} of muscle over the past 5-Months. And in sparring, Braddock
has looked stronger than ever, and his toughness is still there. But, his foot-speed is down to 'nil'.
John Henry Lewis >
John Henry Lewis, the #2 World-rated Light-Heavyweight is making his New York debut.
John Henry is a 'super-talented' boxer/puncher with fast-hands and good footwork. A win here,
and the {20 1/2 year-old} John Henry has been promised the next Challenge for the World
Light-Heavyweight Championship.
The Phoenix-boxer has been a Professional since October 1930 {Age; 16 years, 6 months}. In
'39-Bouts', John Henry has 'never' been floored. And, both of his '2-Losses' were 'highly' controversial,
as one was by 'Disqualification' in only his 2nd-Bout, and the other was to World Champion - Maxie Rosenbloom
in a 'non-title' bout, which went to a 'debated' 10-Round Decision on November 16, 1932.
But in subsequent rematches with Maxie Rosenbloom {July 10, 1933 and July 31, 1933}, John Henry returned
the favor by scoring 10-Round Decision wins.
Also, John Henry is no stranger to James Braddock, as an 18 year-old John Henry won a one-sided 10-Round
Decision over a 27 year-old James Braddock 2-Years earlier on September 21, 1932 in San Francisco.
John Henry has been very active in 1934, and has gone 6-0-2 with {5 KO's} since June, including having
'3-Bouts' in the past 6-Weeks.
Re: James Braddock vs. John Henry Lewis ~ "The Worst Decision Ever At MSG'
Friday ~ November 16, 1934
Madison Square Garden ~ New York City, New York
Attendance ........ 8000
'Sour Decision' - Braddock Given Verdict Over John Henry Lewis ~
~ Decision Given To James Braddock Was A Poor One ~
Veteran James Braddock was given an 'undeserved' 10-Round Decision over talented
Phoenix Light-Heavyweight - John Henry Lewis.
The bout was all action with hard-punching, as John Lewis displayed faster hands and
better boxing tonight, over a slow but tenacious and hard-hitter in James Braddock.
The 'fast-handed' Lewis giving up weight, height and reach > had little problem tagging
the 'slow-footed' Braddock over the first 4-Rounds, as he peppered the veteran with an
assortment of left-jabs to the chest, and quick combinations to the lower-body {mid-section}.
But, Referee - Arthur Donovan penalized John Henry {1-Point} in Round 4, for hitting
both 'low', and after a 'break'.
As Braddock plodded forward, the quick-footed younger boxer fired away with punches,
then easily side-stepped Braddock's right-hand counters over the early going.
But Braddock kept coming forward, and in Round 5 he caught Lewis coming in with
right-hand crosses, and by the Rounds end, Lewis was a bit 'groggy' after taking '2'
solid right-hands to the jaw 'late' in the Round.
In Round 6, Braddock took advantage of his previous Rounds success, and went after his
younger opponent with heavy-punches to the head and hooks to the body.
Just past the {1:45 Mark}, Braddock 'nailed' Lewis with a right-hand cross to the head that
had the Phoenix fighter 'stiff-legged'. Braddock then came 'charging', and unleashed with a
barrage to the head and 'deposited' Lewis on the canvas.
Lewis 'struggled' to get up, and made it to his feet at the '8-Count' as Referee - Arthur Donovan
tolled off the count. Braddock came back in swinging, and had Lewis 'staggering' and nearly out,
but the younger fighter grabbed-and-held his arms around Braddock's waist.
As Braddock tried to break loose, John Henry continued to grab. Lewis was able to ride out the
storm as Braddock unleashed a series of punches until the Bell.
Referee - Arthur Donovan also penalized John Henry {1-Point} in Round 6, for excessive holding.
In Round 7, Braddock tried to put across the 'finisher', but mid-way thru the session the veteran
was 'arm-weary' and could not put his punches together. Instead, he could only deliver a 'single-punch'
at a time.
By the end of Round 7, John Henry put forth a short-rally. But 'one' of his punches strayed low, and he
penalized another {1-Point} by Referee - Arthur Donovan.
But over the last 3-Rounds {8, 9 and 10}, saw John Henry out-speed Braddock with fast left-jabs and quick
one-two's, before darting back outside.
Braddock continued to 'plod' forward, and was the heavier-puncher, but he was only throwing single-punches
at a time {left-hooks to the body} and/or {right-crosses upstairs}.
Scorecards
* Referee - Arthur Donovan .... {3-2-5 in Rounds} > James Braddock
* Judge -Harold Barnes .......... {4-3-3 in Rounds} > James Braddock
* Judge - Charley Lynch ......... {3-2-5 in Rounds} > James Braddock
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle {Frank Reil} >
"This was the 'worst' Decision ever at Madison Square Garden. John Henry Lewis, despite being {penalized 3-Points}
still won the Decision, clearly."
"John Henry was faster and the better boxer here tonight. James Braddock was the harder hitter, but he was weary
by the 7th Round and had little left. John Henry was the 'cleaner puncher' over the last 3-Rounds, and won by
2-Points on my Scorecard, including the {3-Point} deductions for fouls."
