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Johnny Kilbane

 1911-12-24 Cleveland Plain Dealer (Cleveland, OH) (page C1)
BY J. P. GARVEY.
The Clevelander was White's master at close range fighting. With all his experience and boxing ability, Charley was seldom able to keep Johnny from belting him when they drew together after missing or after Kilbane had connected with a jab, which in nine cases out of ten he followed up by getting in closer and lifting left uppercuts and hooks to head and jaw. Johnny seemed able to twist White into most acceptable positions for the use of these uppercuts, most of which were stingers.


1912-02-23 Buffalo Courier (Buffalo, NY) (page 1) - quoting sporting editor of Los Angeles Examiner
(BY H. M. WALKER)
Four separate and distinct features illuminated Kilbane's winning battle for the championship. A straight left jab which he must have landed 100 times on Attell's mouth, nose and eyes. A side-swiping left which he fanned to the champion's chin coming out of the clinches. A short right uppercut that plowed its way to Abie's face whenever Johnny found this arm free. Last of all Kilbane's perfect defense. No sooner would Johnny's scoring infuriate Attell into making a rush than Kilbane would duck, sidestep or clinch and pin Attell's two arms in such a way that he was helpless.


1912-02-23 Los Angeles Evening Herald (Los Angeles, CA) (page 9)
By JAY DAVIDSON
Attell did not put up his usual classy exhibition and failed to show within 50 per cent of the same great boxer who so frequently drew with Owen Moran and defeated Ad Wolgast and other great fighters. He seemed wholly lacking in the speed that in other battles caused the fans to marvel, and his conqueror was able frequently to beat him to his own famous punch, a left jab. Friends of the former champion were amazed at his slowness and ineffectiveness in matching wits, speed and punches with the Cleveland boy.
Kilbane fought his best battle and showed superior generalship and all-around cleverness. He won the championship with his left hand, by continually jabbing it into Attell's face and hooking it with great regularity to his head. His right hand seldom counted for much during the fight, with the exception of what work he did in the clinches, when he hooked it time and again in swift uppercuts.


1912-02-23 The Chicago Daily Tribune (Chicago, IL) (page 13)
BY HARRY GILMORE JR.
For the first time in Attel's remarkable career he was outgeneraled. Kilbane would not be nursed along to fall into the traps of Attel's trickery. Instead, he waited and allowed the champion to set the pace, meeting him repeatedly with lefts to the face and quick exchanges to the body.
Kilbane had figured wisely before jumping through the ropes that he must not crowd Attel but await his onslaught, and in this way he peppered the champion with straight lefts at every meeting. Attel seemed content to go along teasing his opponent and coaxing him to come to close quarters, but Johnny waited amid the hoots and howls of the immense crowd and Attel was compelled to force matters. Attel's great cleverness has been to judge distance, to slip and counter with terrific body blows and inside punches when the other fellow is coming in. Kilbane worked just the opposite and Abe was lost.


1912-05-15 The Sun (New York, NY) (page 9)
Burns employed rushing tactics practically all the way, but he found it a puzzle to reach the conqueror of Abe Attell. Kilbane's footwork and blocking were too much for the Jerseyman. The champion feinted him into all sorts of awkward positions and then punched him practically when and where he pleased. Kilbane was fast at long range boxing and also showed that he knew a lot about hard infighting. He used short punches with much effect and in the eighth round he had Burns in some trouble when he reached the jaw with a solid hook. Burns under fire showed real gameness and for that reason he deserves credit, but in other respects he was no match for the Cleveland boxer. Kilbane made an excellent impression as far as cleverness was concerned. He had a clean advantage in every round.


1912-05-15 The Brooklyn Daily Times (Brooklyn, NY) (page 11)
Kilbane's every movement denotes speed. He is remarkably fast on his feet and his footwork alone is enough to bewilder anybody. He bounds around the ring as though on springs and just when he seems in the way of a heavy swing he is out of range. Besides being wonderfully fast, his judgment of distance is splendid and every punch is timed to perfection. While in action, both arms are held straight out, his elbows resting against each side of his body. There are few punches that work their way inside this guard, and every lead that Burns started either faded away in the air or landed on the champion's arms. Class fairly bulged out all over Johnny.


1912-05-15 The New York Times (New York, NY) (page 12)
To the credit of the little Jerseyite, it may be said that he was game to the finish. He was always trying, but he had little success in getting his punches over, as Kilbane showed an almost perfect defense and ability to glide skillfully away from Frankie's leads. At every stage of the bout the Clevelander showed himself the master of the Jerseyite. Burns has always shown to especial advantage as an infighter, and most of his battles have been decided in his favor by the rapid-fire punches which he drove almost ceaselessly to an opponent's stomach. Against Kilbane, Burns was helpless at infighting. When he tried it in the early rounds he found that the champion carried the proper defense for these tactics, and he had to try something else. An occasional hard swing to the head proved his most effective blow, but Kilbane permitted few of these punches to land.


1912-12-13 St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, MO) (page 22)
By HARRY S. SHARPE.
Kilbane is not of the slashing, slugging type that made Terry McGovern a terror, but he has much of the speed, skill and cunning of Abe Attell, from whom he won his title. He has the body of many well-developed lightweights, but his legs are small, though strong. He blocks well and can hit from almost any position. Against Dixon he showed unbounded confidence and at times he walked in without any attempt to guard, depending only upon his skill at slipping blows or his ability to land first in an exchange.


1912-12-13 St. Louis Star (St. Louis, MO) (page 12)
BY MAL DOYLE.
It would probably have made little difference, as far as Tommy's chances were concerned, as to the outcome of the bout. Kilbane is a good, fast and shifty boxer. It will take a good boy to whip him. He can punch hard when he wants to. He has good straight lefts, he can hook. He swings or punches straight with his right. He looks like a finished boxer. His position is somewhat similar to that of old Bob Fitzsimmons. He boxes straight up. His head erect and looks like a champion. He is heavy of body and light of legs.


1913-02-05 New-York Tribune (New York, NY) (page 10)
He simply refused to take even the most remote chance, and left not even a little opening. Furthermore, he showed that he cannot hit as hard as the average paperweight. Time and again, and in rapid succession, he landed crushing wallops on the tip of Driscoll's chin, but the latter never went to the mat or even to his knees.
Kilbane boxed with remarkable skill, and there was never a moment when he was not in complete command of the situation, but, on the other hand, there was not a moment when he had Driscoll in more than momentary distress. Fiddling, feinting and stepping around his man, brushing off leads and blocking or ducking nicely the Forest City champion had Driscoll badly muddled in the early rounds. Driscoll lashed out blindly, fighting by the instinct of self-preservation, but his foe, invulnerable still, thwarted his efforts with steady skill and science.


1913-02-05 The Brooklyn Citizen (Brooklyn, NY) (page 4)
There were quite a few arguments after the bout as to whether Kilbane was under a pull. If Kilbane fought his best, then he is the poorest champion that has ever held the title. Johnny has a reputation of being a very accurate puncher, but it would be impossible to count how many punches he missed last night. In one round he went to the floor when he missed Driscoll by a foot. Johnny said to one of his friends after the bout that Driscoll's awkwardness was responsible for his many wild swings.


1913-02-05 The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, NY) (page S2)
By "RICE."
The greatest fault displayed by Kilbane was a lack of judgment of distance at long range that made him appear utterly foolish. Over and over again he made free swings with his right at Driscoll as the latter was coming in with his jaw wide open, and he missed nine out of every ten. With the left Kilbane swung freely, and also tried a sort of stiff arm swing, which worked with the full force of his weight behind it and was intended to do all the damage possible, but not once did that maneuver pan out successfully. Kilbane's uppercuts were as wild and futile as his swings, although Driscoll is essentially a fighter upon whom the uppercut should be used.
Kilbane's inability to land his intended demolishers upon his rival's head was by no means due to Driscoll's cleverness, for Driscoll is not clever, except for one defensive trick of bending his body backward like a contortionist and covering up in a weak imitation of Leach Cross. The whole answer was that Kilbane could not hit what he was shooting at in a clear field, with the light good and the wind in his favor, so to speak.
Only at close quarters could Kilbane be sure of landing, and then he was so crowded that he could not put enough steam into his blows to make an opponent who was obviously frightened stiff for three rounds quit coming in. He connected often enough and cleanly enough to win easily, because his own defense was entirely too much for the Italian, and it was solely a question of what he would accomplish, not what Driscoll would do. Kilbane's punches were mostly those delivered as the men were jammed together or in mixups. When he shortened his right to wreak damage upon the son of sunny Italy in such circumstances, the blow merely stung Driscoll, but did not have driving power enough to weaken him.


1913-02-05 The New York Times (New York, NY) (page 9)
Kilbane did some effective jabbing at close quarters, but in the open work he missed so often that the crowd took turns in hooting and jeering his efforts. Driscoll is a poor defensive fighter, and he left openings last night large enough for a squad of champions to pass through, but Kilbane missed them time and again. At the same time he was able to send a shower of punches against the Brooklyn boy's jaw, and he put all the power that he possessed in many of them, yet he was unable to knock Driscoll off his feet.
The lack of aggressiveness which marred Kilbane's other bouts here was more in evidence last night than ever before, and Driscoll did practically all the forcing throughout the bout. Even when the Kilbane wallops came in the fastest the Brooklyn boy often answered by swinging at the champion, and Kilbane, who a moment before seemed intent on putting an end to the bout, backed around the ring. At other times he held both arms extended and placed his gloves against Driscoll's shoulder as the latter tried to come close. At infighting Kilbane showed more speed than Driscoll, but on a few occasions the Brooklynite exchanged punches at close quarters in approved fashion, and Kilbane was the first to break ground.


1913-02-20 The Evening World (New York, NY) (page 20)
The showing made by Kilbane in this battle was so different from that when he met Frankie Burns, Johnny Dundee, Eddie O'Keefe and Young Driscoll that the spectators could not held but give him a great ovation after the mill was over. Kilbane cut out all fancy boxing, sidestepping, feinting and blocking and waded right into Kirkwood from the tap of the bell until the bout was stopped. So fast did the little champion fight that he had Kirkwood completely bewildered, and he had no trouble in landing punches in his face, body and jaw.


1913-02-20 The Sun (New York, NY) (page 10)
Kilbane was a revelation to those who saw his poor exhibitions here in the past. He bristled with speed and aggressiveness. He showed a heavy hitting power with both hands and cleverness that outclassed Kirkwood from start to finish. Kirkwood landed maybe a dozen blows, but missed half a hundred.
Kilbane possessed the accuracy of a sharpshooter and landed practically when and where he pleased.


1913-06-11 Oakland Tribune (Oakland, CA) (page 10)
(By THE TIMEKEEPER.)
Again and again he held back the old poppy wallop when the bewildered San Franciscan offered a target as big as the barn door. Fox landed just about six light blows during the five and a third rounds, and showed 20 seconds after the bell rang that he didn't have any more chance than a jack rabbit at the north pole. It was hardly a test of Kilbane's real ability as a fighter, for his stamina, endurance, nerve and absorbing power were not called into play at all. Of footwork, feinting ability, dexterity with both mits, and ability to time his blows, Kilbane is endowed wonderfully. It is small wonder that there are no boys of his weight left and that he must seek other realms in which to conquer.


1913-06-11 San Francisco Chronicle (San Francisco, CA) (page 15)
By HARRY B. SMITH.
Kilbane made an impressive showing, strong in every particular, save one last night, and that was his ability as a finisher. It is likely, as has been said, that he wasn't in a hurry and wanted to give the Oakland fans an opportunity to watch him in the ring. He is the fastest man on his feet in the ring today, he has good judgment of distance, not only in hitting, but in ducking swings, and he is an infighter of no mean ability.


1913-06-11 The San Francisco Call (San Francisco, CA) (page 10)
By JOE MURPHY
Kilbane is a wizard for speed, as he gets around the ring like a flash and he is a faultless boxer.
Kilbane is built on the Fitzsimmons style. He has very light underpinning, but he is a might husky fighter around the chest, and he has an unusually long reach. He is a wicked infighter and can rough it as well as box.
It was apparent after the first round that Fox did not even have an outside chance. Kilbane danced around his man and jabbed him at will. In the clinches he pounded Fox about the head and body and the latter seemed content to defend himself instead of fighting back. Fox, who is regarded as a mighty shifty boxer himself, could not land an effective blow.


1913-09-26 Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, NY) (page 23)
The champion was clever, he was cunning, he ducked, he dodged, he stepped back just at the right time; Kilbane displayed class footwork throughout the bout.


1914-02-12 Syracuse Journal (Syracuse, NY) (page 10)
Despite the fact that Kilbane's wonderful cleverness and hitting ability made his opponent seem like an amateur and even if Bresnahan hadn't put up the really sensational battle that he did, it was worth the price of admission to watch the champion in action. His footwork, his hair breadth judgment of blows and distance, his wonderful timing of wallops and his ability to land a punch through the smallest of openings was a delight to those who could appreciate the extreme science of his work, while to the others who liked only the clean hitting and hard fighting he gave all that was desired. It was a wonderful exhibition and required a close follower of the fistic game to really appreciate the work of Champion Kilbane.


1914-04-17 The Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY) (page 14)
Wonderful footwork, the ability to gauge distance perfectly and a hard punch in either hand whenever he landed, marked the Westerner's struggle against the aspirant for titular honors. Kilbane was so clever that Julian could not locate him at intervals, and the crowd hooted its disapproval of the side-stepping methods which permitted the champion to keep away from the little Roman's desperate lunges.


1914-04-23 The Detroit Free Press (Detroit, MI) (page 13)
Kilbane showed about everything any man of his standing could be asked to display. He pumped both hands into every spot allowed for punches by the rules, carried the going to his man all the time, shook him up repeatedly and hardly turned a hair. He didn't put the lights out for Reynolds, though, and there was the opening for the disgruntled.
Aside from McFarland, Kilbane unquestionably is the most brilliant glove swinger ever to display his skills in the ring across the river. What he doesn't know about boxing hasn't been invented.


1914-05-30 The Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO) (page 9)
BY MAX MELVILLE.
In the eyes of every spectator of the fight, Kilbane appears as a real champion in the light of his showing against the best Colorado had to offer. Quick thinking combined with a wonderful cleverness and agility was plainly apparent in and characterized every move Kilbane made. There were no wasted blows, every one finding its mark. Not over a dozen blows were struck, and every one of these was placed to the account of the winner. Five of them did the business.
Even in the clinches, where Chavez usually gets in his best work, he was unable to land. Every trick of infighting known to him was tried, but without success. To suit the occasion, Kilbane merely moved his head or body a trifle and the blows were rendered harmless. It was a great exhibition of skill on his part, and showed plainly what gives him the right to the title to the best man of his weight in the world. It was a question of generalship throughout, and the titleholder simply outclasses his man at every angle.

Peter Jackson and Jack Johnson, by W.W. Naughton, 1911

 1911-05-28 The San Francisco Examiner (San Francisco, CA) (page 44)

Jackson and Johnson Had Different Style of Boxing
--------
By W. W. Naughton

It is very evident that Peter Jackson, former champion of Australia, had most admirers among California's patrons of boxing and that he is still remembered as a pleasant, well behaved fellow and a Class A heavyweight.

In an article written some little time ago I took occasion to say that I did not care to hazard an opinion as to whether Peter Jackson, in his day, was a greater fighter than Jack Johnson is in his day. I have explained time and again that there is no way of settling an argument of that kind satisfactorily. But the arguments keep cropping up just the same.

A correspondent who frankly utters the opinion that Jackson would have demolished Johnson in ten rounds and who just as frankly declares that he can't for the life of him see why I am not of the same way of thinking asks me to describe for his personal benefit wherein Johnson compares with Jackson as a fighter.

To begin with, the two famous colored exponents of the glove game do not compare. I mean they had not a thing in common. They presented a striking contrast and that is why I can't make up my mind how a fight between them would have come out if they had flourished contemporaneously.

Peter Jackson, in my idea, was the most finished of all the boxers developed under the Mace system. He was a marvelous judge of distance, a wonderfully sure hitter and he had tremendous reach. He could send in a straight left that it seemed impossible for an opponent to get out of the way of. He could draw a man's fire and meet him with a right cross that would land squarely on ear or chin.

He knew to a dot when to unload with a left at the body or a right at the heart and he knew to a nicety when to block or draw back from a lead or counter.

But he was a mechanical fighter, albeit a rapid, heady one. He knew nothing outside of what the Mace system taught, whereas this man Johnson is a natural fighter with a stock in trade of punches that the Mace system, if employed to-day, could not provide against.

It may be that Jackson with his splendidly timed straight left would keep Johnson at bay and cut him to pieces gradually.

But if he failed to do so?

If Johnson worked close to Jackson as he did to Jeffries?

If Johnson courted clinches and began uppercutting Jackson with a free left and right in turn as he did Jeffries?

What then?

Therefore I repeat I don't know.

Jackson was a great fighter and Johnson is another. But they belonged to different ages and different schools, and for the life of me I can't say whether old Peter's straight-from-the-shoulder-stand-away work would have carried the day against Johnson's clinging tactics and his grape-vine punches.

While on the subject I would like to refer to Jackson's fight with Jeffries in San Francisco. It has been said quite often that Jackson was but a wraith of the Peter Jackson of other days when he fought the boilermaker.

Well, while results proved that Jackson was not as good as formerly--just as the result at Reno showed a falling away in Jeffries--it must be said that Peter's confidence in his own prowess was not impaired. He came to San Francisco from England looking for a match with Jeffries and he went systematically to work to gain his desire. He convinced the matchmakers of the Olympic Club of San Francisco that he was in earnest and that he had firm belief in his ability to trim the rising young boilermaker, and he was the most self-satisfied man on earth when called upon to sign articles.

Nor did he think that the defeat by Jeffries meant the end of his career. This was shown when Eugene Van Court, a strong personal friend of Jeffries, approached Peter after the fight and said: "Jeffries told me to give you his respects and tell you not to be downcast over losing the fight."

"You tell Jeffries to look out for himself and not to mind me," said Peter with a snort. "The sweetest message Jeffries could send me would be word that he is willing to fight me again."

Marginal notes - Gene Burton 1944

 ===1944===

Mar 13 Charley Davis     W6 Arena, Trenton, NJ, USA

1944-03-13 Trenton Evening Times (Trenton, NJ) (page 12)
Also on the card, although Trenton fans can't figure out why, is an all-New York bout between Ed. Cooper and Gene Burton. If past form holds true, this will be either a slow waltz or a fluke knockout. These all-New York bouts, sometimes carefully rehearsed in advance at Stillman's gymnasium, have an alarming tendency to wind up in either one or the other of these two unsatisfactory ways. Matchmaker Brown would be doing Trenton fans a favor if he would eliminate all-New York affairs completely from his Trenton shows.

1944-03-14 Trenton Evening Times (Trenton, NJ) (page 12)
The preliminaries, in keeping with the action-packed pattern of the windup, were among the best of the Trenton season. Eugene Burton, of New York, scored a smash hit with the fans by outpointing Philadelphia Charley Davis in a lively six-rounder.
Burton, a stablemate of Francis, is a former New York Daily News Golden Gloves champ, released recently from the army after 11 months in the service. Gene closed with a two-fisted flurry of punches to take a close verdict over Davis. The Philadelphian is a protege of Trentonian Jesse Goss. Burton weighed 141 and Davis 143.


Apr 3 Charley Davis     W6 Arena, Trenton, NJ, USA

1944-04-03 Trenton Evening Times (Trenton, NJ) (page 14)
Eugene Burton, Jim Foster, Jimmy Green and Jose Torres probably will rule slight favorites to win in the four scheduled six-round bouts.
Burton, erstwhile New York Daily News Golden Gloves champ, will seek a second straight Trenton victory over Charlie Davis, Philadelphia Negro welterweight. Burton shaded Davis on the Ike Williams-Leo Francis show three weeks ago. Davis took that fight on short notice, but still made a fine showing. Tonight, having had the benefit of more training, Charlie hopes to turn the tables on his New York rival.
Burton, recently released from the army after 11 months of service, is managed by Charley Goodman, the pilot of Leo Francis. Davis is trained by Trentonian Jesse Goss.

1944-04-04 Trenton Evening Times (Trenton, NJ) (page 12)
Burton, New York 142-pounder, scored his second straight win over Charlie Davis, 142, Philadelphia, in another six-rounder. This bout had its flashes of good action, but wasn't nearly as lively as the previous sizzler between the same pair. They seemed to have gotten too well acquainted with each other in the intervening three weeks.


Apr 24 Johnny Cool W-KO4/6 Arena, Trenton, NJ, USA

1944-04-24 Trenton Evening Times (Trenton, NJ) (page 12)
A second eight-rounder on tonight's program pits Johnny Cool, former Philadelphian, against Eugene Burton, classy New York lightweight and former Daily News Golden Gloves champ. Cool, who now lives in Bayonne, bids fair to test Burton's two-fight Arena winning streak to the limit. Burton recently was released from the army after 11 months in the service.

1944-04-25 Trenton Evening Times (Trenton, NJ) (page 12)
Burton, former New York Golden Gloves champ, exploded a sudden left uppercut in the fourth round to dispose of Johnny Cool, Garfield 139-pounder. Cool found Burton an elusive target and grew careless about his defense as the fight progressed. Burton found just the opening he wanted in 1:32 of the fourth. Cool didn't stir until after Referee Valentine had tolled the fateful "10."


Jun 12 Bobby Root     W6 Queensboro Arena, Long Island City, Queens, NY, USA

1944-06-13 Daily News (New York, NY) (page 35)
in sixes, Eugene Burton, 137 1/4, defeated Bobby Root, 138.


Sep 12 Santiago Sosa     SCH8 Roosevelt Stadium, Union City, NJ, USA
Sep 12 Barry Carubia     SCH8 Roosevelt Stadium, Union City, NJ, USA
Sep 14 Barry Carubia     SCH8 Roosevelt Stadium, Union City, NJ, USA
Sep 19 Barry Carubia     SCH8 Roosevelt Stadium, Union City, NJ, USA

1944-09-07 The Jersey Journal (Jersey City, NJ) (page 13)
Featuring the show will be an eight-round scrap between Santiago Sosa of Cuba and Eugene Burton of New York, a pair of slugging welterweight. Santiago made a dazzling debut in this country when he battled to a draw with Roy Peterson of the British West Indies in a punching bee at Union City a few weeks ago.

1944-09-08 The Jersey Journal (Jersey City, NJ) (page 14)
Barry Carubia, former amateur star, who is the new hope in Manager Bill Daly's stable, will oppose Eugene Burton, undefeated New York welterweight, in the eight-round feature of the USO boxing show Tuesday night at Roosevelt Stadium, Union City.
Carubia signed with Promoter Frank Paula yesterday to replace Santiago Sosa of Cuba after Sosa's managers had informed the promoter that the Cuban has taken a run-out on them. Rather than wait to see if Sosa could be located or if he were in shape if his handlers did find him, the promoter signed the new opponent for Burton.

1944-09-09 The Jersey Journal (Jersey City, NJ) (page 7)
When Gene Burton and Barry Carubia meet in the eight-round feature of the USO benefit boxing show Tuesday night at Union City's Roosevelt Stadium, two of New York's leading welterweight prospects will make their first appearance in Hudson County.
Burton, who combines colorful, slam-bang fighting with smartness, has not stuck close to home like his rival. He has been getting around, and in recent starts pleased Trenton and Hartford fans while upsetting Charlie Davis and Bobby Root, both formidable battlers.

1944-09-11 The Jersey Journal (Jersey City, NJ) (page 13)
While Carubia and Burton are strangers in Hudson, their records indicate they will maintain the reputations newcomers have made on the county's fistic stage this summer. And the incentive to headline the inaugural indoor show may serve to push them on a bit faster.
How pleasing Burton and Carubia have been so far can be gleaned from the big followings they have. Gene has done slightly better than Barry as far as winning is concerned, for he never has lost in 32 professional engagements. Carubia has suffered two losses in 27 "pro" fights after an illustrious amateur career, in which he won Golden Gloves and Diamond Belt titles.
The scrap shapes up as Carubia's toughest test so far. While the Italian idol has passed some difficult ones, it's questionable whether he ever tangled with a mixer like Burton. Gene operates much in the fashion of Joey Sulick, who maintained his undefeated status in Hudson last year. Like Sulick, Burton is a busy battler who throws punches tirelessly and at the same time mixes his slugging with skill. His clean slate is evidence enough of how well his combination of science and slug has been functioning.
Unlike Carubia, who has stuck close to Gotham, Gene has been getting around. He recently visited Trenton to beat Charlie Davis and invaded Hartford, Conn., to likc Bobby Root, a big favorite up that way.

1944-09-12 The Jersey Journal (Jersey City, NJ) (page 13)
Eugene Burton will test Barry Carubia in an eight-round clash of highly-regarded New York welterweights tonight at Union City's Roosevelt Stadium.
The scrap looks like Carubia's biggest test since he left his amateur titles behind him and went out to seek further fame and fortune in the professional ranks. He already has done well enough to be stamped as one of New York's best prospects, having held Golden Gloves and Diamond Belt titles and having won 25 of 27 fights as a professional. But now he faces a fighter with a better record.
Burton enters the scrap with a perfect slate. Unbeaten in 12 bouts, he comes here much as Joey Sulick did last year--not only with a spotless record but also with the reputation of being a rapid-fire puncher who supports his colorful slugging with plenty of savvy.
Gene has made himself known outside his home town. He recently visited Trenton and beat the capable Charlie Davis for the second time. Then he startled New England by conquering Bobby Root, new rage of Hartford, Conn., at Hartford.
While the busy Burton presents a problem for Carubia, the Italian idol is confident he will be able to solve it with his own combination of slug, speed and skill. He isn't worried over his first appearance outside of New York, for he expects to have a big delegation of rooters who will make him feel right at home.

1944-09-13 The Jersey Journal (Jersey City, NJ) (page 13)
Gene Burton, Barry Carubia and the other boxers in the USO benefit show at Roosevelt Stadium, Union City, will have to wait until tomorrow night to do their pegging of punches.
The rain forced a postponement of the program last night. At first, Promoter Frank Paula said the bouts would go on tonight, but one look at the weather this morning prompted him to hold over the card for another day.

1944-09-14 The Jersey Journal (Jersey City, NJ) (page 17)
Weather permitting, Eugene Burton and Barry Carubia will do their delayed battling tonight at Roosevelt Stadium, Union City, in the boxing show for the benefit of the Union City Servicemen's Club.
Burton and Carubia, the promising New Yorkers who collide in the eight-round feature, and the other boxers on the program are required to weigh in again today, according to state regulations. They will do it regardless of the weather, for Promoter Frank Paula intends to wait until the last minute before contemplating another postponement, even if rain threatens to wash out the show again.
In the event the weather man fails to cooperate once more, the promoter will hold over the complete card until next Tuesday night. He has lined up a bout between Freddie Dawson, unbeaten Chicagoan, who is one of the country's leading lightweights, and Charlie Davis of New York for next week, but would set that event--one of his best attractions of the season--back until the following Tuesday, if it is necessary to postpone the Carubia-Burton match again.

1944-09-15 The Jersey Journal (Jersey City, NJ) (page 13)
The inclement weather this week was rough on the boxers. It again forced a postponement last night of the Union City Servicemen's Club benefit show, originally slated for last Tuesday at Roosevelt Stadium, Union City. Promoter Frank Paula decided to hold the program over until next Tuesday night, with Barry Carubia and Eugene Burton, both of New York, mixing in the feature.


Sep 19 Johnny Bellus     SCH8 Roosevelt Stadium, Union City, NJ, USA
Sep 20 Johnny Bellus     W8     Roosevelt Stadium, Union City, NJ, USA

1944-09-18 The Jersey Journal (Jersey City, NJ) (page 12)
That Union City Servicemen's Club boxing program has been nothing but a headache to Promoter Frank Paula and he'll be the happiest individual in this locality tomorrow night when--and if--it is staged at Roosevelt Stadium, Union City.
Paula originally had Santiago Sosa and Eugene Burton paired for the feature bout but had to revise his plans when the first named boxer refused to go through with the bout. Barry Carubia was substituted but rain last Tuesday night forced a postponement until Thursday and the hurricane that night made it necessary for Paula to shift the show over until tomorrow evening.
Last night, Paula was advised that Carubia would be unable to go through with the bout tomorrow night for he was originally scheduled to box at New York's Broadway Arena tonight and can't fill his date with Burton.
Undaunted by the many setbacks he has encountered, Paula secured Johnny Bellis, a rough and rugged New York ringman, to oppose Burton.

1944-09-19 The Jersey Journal (Jersey City, NJ) (page 14)
If the weather man cooperates, the third annual boxing show for the benefit of the Union City Servicemen's Club will be held tonight at Roosevelt Stadium, Union City.
Featuring the program is an eight-round bout between Eugene Burton and Johnny Bellis, both of New York. Bellis is the third opponent to be named for Burton since Promoter Frank Paula originally arranged the program, which has been hounded by tough luck.
Misfortune started to flirt with the show when Santiago Sosa, the first foe named for Burton, took a run-out on his managers, who notified Promoter Paula in plenty of time to obtain a new opponent. The promoter then signed Barry Carubia, who was all set to compete last week but had to honor a previously-signed contract when the Union City show was rained out.
The wet weather last week forced three postponements of the bill, which had to be carried over until tonight. Since Carubia had signed to box last night at Brooklyn's Broadway Arena, he couldn't go through with the Burton bout. So Bellis was lined up. Now the promoter and Mayor Harry Thourot, who has been counting on the show to help support Union City's popular servicemen's headquarters, hope nothing new comes up to prevent the card from going on tonight.
The rugged Bellis, a seasoned scrapper, has his eyes on the new big arena Paul will have in Jersey City next month, and accepted the substitute's role against Burton with the hope of becoming a leading attraction at the modern indoor club. The promoter promised the winner of tonight's fight will get consideration for a place on the inaugural indoor card.

1944-09-20 The Jersey Journal (Jersey City, NJ) (page 13)
Maybe you heard this before, but the boxing show for the benefit of the Union City Servicemen's Club has been postponed. It will be held tonight at Roosevelt Stadium Union City, provided the skies are clear. The proviso has been connected with the show for more than a week now.
Yesterday's rain forced Promoter Frank Paula to postpone the program for the fourth time. He said last night that if the weather man doesn't make room for the card to go on this evening, he will hold it over until Friday night.
Eager to get the show out of the way, the promoter will disregard any threatening signs of the weather today, and wait until the last minute before reaching any decision about another postponement.
The program, which probably will be the county's last outdoors this year, will be featured by an eight-round bout between Eugene Burton, undefeated New York welterweight, and Johnny Bellis, also of New York.
Bellis, a seasoned battler who has made a habit of spoiling the rises of up-and-coming youngsters like Burton, is the third opponent named for Gene since plans originally were made for the show. However, he has had plenty of time to get ready, and expects to be in his best condition. In fact, his shorter training grind may have been more beneficial than the one Burton had. Gene has been in and out of the gym for extra workouts ever since the first postponement a week ago.

1944-09-21 The Jersey Journal (Jersey City, NJ) (page 14)
Eugene Burton's name today was added to the list of newcomers who have made good on first appearances in Hudson County boxing. Only his name wasn't Eugene Burton; it was Jean Bart.
Confusing? Well, after Burton had beaten Johnny Bellus, veteran from New Haven, Conn., in his Hudson debut last night at Roosevelt Stadium, Union City, his manager revealed the New York youngster is taking the name of Jean Bart for pugilistic purposes.
Bart, a former amateur star, won his 33rd straight bout when he outpointed the bald Bellus in an eight-round bout that featured the third annual show for the benefit of the Union City Servicemen's Club. He said after the fight there is a slight mistake about his record. He isn't unbeaten, he declared, for he lost his first professional fight--a six-round fray in which Ike Williams of Trenton, now one of the top lightweights, outpointed him at White Plains. Since then, though, nobody has beaten Jean.
The New York colored youth, who served in the army 11 months and received an honorable discharge last spring, is a smart, fast boxer with a good left hook. He seemed a bit rusty at times, probably because of the off-again, on-again training routine he had to follow in preparation for the fight, which was postponed four times. However, he still had plenty on the ball--and too much youth and speed for Bellus.
The New Haven veteran, who dropped a close decision to Billy Beauhuld and knocked out Joey Costa, when he visited Jersey City in 1937, wasn't as sharp as he was in his prime, but he made a gallant stand against Bart, and received plenty of cheers for his game, though losing, effort. He repeatedly troubled Jean with his smart work at close quarters, and Bart had to go at a sizzling pace in the last two rounds to put down a Bellus rally.
For a while in the fifth frame it didn't seem as though the veteran would be able to stand the pace, for Bart let go a furious assault that had the New Englander reeling. Then Bellus came out and surprised by winning the sixth. He kept tying up his younger foe and pounding him inside.
Bellus continued to be threatening in the seventh, but Bart stepped up the pace, forced most of the milling at long range, and won the session. That just about clinched the verdict for Jean, but he made sure of Referee Gene Roman's official award by winning the eighth, the most lopsided round of the fight. The New Yorker shot the works in the closing heat. He really poured it on with a stream of left hooks and occasional bolo rights.
Bart weighed 140, a half pound more than Bellus.


Oct 23 Johnny Chatman     SCH6         Casino Hall, Scranton, PA, USA
Oct 23 Jimmy Buzzelli      W-TKO3/6 Casino Hall, Scranton, PA, USA

1944-10-24 The Scranton Tribune (Scranton, PA) (page 13)
By CHIC FELDMAN
The failure of Johnny Chatman of Buffalo to catch the train resulted in a last minute substitution of Jimmy Buzzelli, the Old Forge teacher, as the foe of Eugene Burton, an ebony hued New York, and Jimmy did his best to make a fight out of it until early in the third when a left hook to the body dropped him. Referee Johnny Kelly didn't hesitate to count, which was the smart thing to do under the circumstances.
Burton, six pounds heavier at 140, lived up to the glowing advance notices from Harlem (where they rate him 'better than Ray Robinson') and can come back with the best talent in the region.


Nov 20 Buck Streator     SCH6       Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Nov 20 Billy Nixon        W-KO3/6 Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia, PA, USA

1944-11-21 The Philadelphia Inquirer and Public Ledger (Philadelphia, PA) (page 25)
By JOHN WESTER.
Gene Burton, 140 1/2, Scranton, snapped a winning streak for Billy Nixon, 148 1/2, Philadelphia, when he twice floored him, and heard him counted out at 2.30 of the third. Rights to the body and head did it. Burton was a Golden Glover in Scranton, later in New York.


Dec 4 Bobby Winters     W6 Laurel Garden, Newark, NJ, USA

1944-12-05 The Jersey Journal (Jersey City, NJ) (page 14)
NEWARK (AP) -- In six-round bouts Midget Mayo, 125, Philadelphia, won over Johnny Beaton, 118, Bay Head, by a technical knockout in 2:58 of the fourth round and Eugene Burton, 140, New York, outpointed Bobby Winters, 148 1/2, Philadelphia.


Dec 12 Jimmy Hatcher     W-MD8 Convention Hall, Philadelphia, PA, USA

1944-12-13 The Philadelphia Inquirer and Public Ledger (Philadelphia, PA) (pages 30, 31)
By JOHN WEBSTER
With bursts of shelling in the sixth and seventh periods, Gene Burton, 138, flashy New York Negro, gained a split decision victory over stubborn Jimmy Hatcher, 138, Lake City, S. C., veteran, in the eight-round semi-final. One judge called the bout a draw.
Hatcher, a fistic "cutey," made the going very tough for young Burton prior to the sixth when the latter's lashing left hooks to the head slowed down the Southerner. Burton's hooking was even more effective in the seventh, and Hatcher's grim battle in the eighth couldn't alter the result.


Dec 15 Ralph Walton     W6 Boston Garden, Boston, MA, USA

1944-12-16 The Boston Daily Globe (Boston, MA) (page 2)
By CLIF KEANE
In the preliminaries, all six-rounders, Gene Burton, New York, defeated Ralph Walton, Portland, Me.

1944-12-16 The Boston Herald (Boston, MA) (page 4)
By W. A. HAMILTON
Gene Burton, New York lightweight, and a handy man with his fists, punched out a convincing six-round decision over Ralph Walton of Portland in a contest that held the fans' interest.


Dec 25 Dorsey Lay     W-UD10 Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia, PA, USA

1944-12-25 The Philadelphia Inquirer and Public Ledger (Philadelphia, PA) (page 16)
By JOHN WEBSTER
Lay, a graduate of the Diamond Belt Tournament, is a flashy boxer-hitter who has knocked out Dusty Brown, Maxie Starr, Vince Dell'Orto, George LaRover and Tommy Sloan in that period. It appears that he will draw a much more heated argument from Burton, who came out of New York Golden Gloves, however.
In his two showings here, Burton has knocked out Billy Nixon, an improving welter, and defeated Jimmy Hatcher, tricky and troublesome. Just a short time before Burton, a protege of Ray Robinson, outfought Hatcher on the Robinson-Sheik Rangel program, Hatcher had held Lay to a draw in the Garden.
From all indications, the meeting of the Negro striplings, both of whom are former G. I.'s, should develop into a stirring battle. Burton is rated a slight favorite off his two triumphs here, and we pick him as the probable winner.

1944-12-26 The Philadelphia Inquirer and Public Ledger (Philadelphia, PA) (page 18)
By JOHN WEBSTER
Consistently taking the play from a nimble fellow who resolutely brought the battle to him, Gene Burton dealt out a sound beating to Dorsey Lay last night in the 10-round feature of the holiday boxing program at the Met before 1900 fight fans who paid $3447.
For six rounds, it was nip-and-tuck; then the harder, cleaner hitting of Burton, 138, New York, began to tell in the meeting of Negro lightweights. Though Lay, previously unbeaten in 1944, fought back furiously to the last bell, the last three periods were bitter ones for the Philadelphian, 138 1/2, who was waging his first at 10 rounds.
In gaining his third victory in as many tries here, Burton took the unanimous decision of Referee Dave Beloff (5-3-2) and Judges Charles Cunningham (7-1-2) and Eddie Loughran (5-4-1). On our scoresheet, Lay was credited with the second and fifth rounds, the other eight went to Burton.
Lay operated at top speed for six rounds; invariably he darted into action, stabbed, stuck and slashed with left hooks. He missed frequently when Burton, 7-5 favorite, rolled under hooks, and the latter countered to excellent advantage. Burton's hooks and crosses to head and body lashed Lay in most rounds, but Dorsey, a graduate of Diamond Belt battles, outmoved and outboxed the New Yorker in the second and fifth.
Exploding punches to the body in the seventh, Burton hurt the local lightweight, smashed him against the ropes with a head shot at the bell. In the eighth, Lay's spurts checked only briefly the stream of leather he stopped; it was his worst round, though a storm of left hooks to the head sent him spinning to the ropes in the ninth, and more head blows discouraged his valiant offensive notions in the 10th.

Marginal notes - Gene Burton 1941-1943

AMATEUR RECORD

===1941===

Feb 5 Ben Faga     W3 Ridgewood Grove, Brooklyn, NY, USA

1941-02-06 Daily News (New York, NY) (page 55)
last night's fifteen-bout Gloves program at Ridgewood Grove.

Gloves Summaries
135-lb. Open Class
(First Round)
Eugene Burton, Salem Crescent, defeated Ben Faga, Flatbush Boys.


Feb 18 Albert Romanelli     W3 Columbus Council, KC, Brooklyn, NY, USA

1941-02-19 Daily News (New York, NY) (page 62)
By Ray Bates
Another group of Golden Glovers battled their way into next week's Semi-Finals--but before gaining this distinction, registered a new record for trigger-quick action, which won the hearty acclaim of 2,100 fans at Columbus Council, KC, last night.

Gloves 1/4 Finals
135-LB. OPEN
Eugene Burton, Salem-Crescent AC, defeated Albert Romanelli, CYO.


Feb 26 Jerry Moore     L3 Coliseum, Bronx, NY, USA

1941-02-27 Daily News (New York, NY) (page 52)
By Jack Mahon
The Salem-Crescent Club of New York, outstanding clinic of colored amateur boxing stars, placed 8 men out of 11 entrants in the Finals of the Golden Gloves, as the famed tourney's Semi-finals were concluded before 6,804 at the Bronx Coliseum last night.

Golden Gloves Semi-Finals
135-Pound Open
William Moore, Salem-Crescent, defeated Eugene Burton, Salem-Crescent. (3).

P.S. Moore's first name is erroneously given as William, but was listed correctly as Jerry in reports of other stages of the GG tournament, for example, when he lost eventually to William Smith in the final bout on March 3.


===1942===

Feb 3 Russ Anzalone     W3 Downtown AC gym, New York, NY, USA

1942-02-04 Daily News (New York, NY) (page 52)
By Ray Bates
The presence of Golden Gloves Coach Ed Eagan, middleweight champion of the Allied forces during World War I, encouraged lightweight Sub-Novices and Open veterans to show impressive form in an action-filled program of 18 bouts before an overflow crowd at the Downtown AC gym last night.
Eagan was greatly impressed with the fine fighting ability of Gillis and Dunne, as well as the sparkling performances of Gene Burton and Chester Williams, who chalked up their first Gloves victories.
Burton met a tartar in rugged Russ Anzalone. Russ withstood a fierce barrage for two heats, then staged a comeback in the third. But it was too late for Burton's early lead rated the nod.

Gloves Summaries
DOWNTOWN AC.
135-Pound Open
Eugene Burton, Salem Crescent, defeated Russ Anzalone, Dept of Parks.


Feb 17 Anthony Lerro     W-KO1 St. Peter and Paul Hall, New York, NY, USA

1942-02-18 Daily News (New York, NY) (page 58)
By Ray Bates
battles in Golden Gloves history last night. Their toe to toe slugging brought continual yelps of joy from the 1,200 Bronx spectators who crowded into St. Peter and Paul Hall to watch 16 Quater-Final bouts.
Pat Dunne, U. S. Coast Guard; Doc Henry, last year's Sub-Novice champ; Gene Burton, Salem Crescent star, and Chester Williams, all lightweight Open contenders, spiced the action-filled card by scoring thrilling wins.

Gloves Summaries
ST. PETER AND PAUL HALL
Quater-Finals
135-Pound Open
Eugene Burton, Salem Crescent, stopped Anthony Lerro, unattached, (1).


Feb 25 Doc Henry     W3 Coliseum, Bronx, NY, USA

1942-02-26 Daily News (New York, NY) (page 46)
By Dick McCann
One of the greatest heavyweight fights--pro or amateur--in recent days and one of the biggest upsets in Golden Gloves history shared the spotlight last night as 19 youngsters survived the second-half of the '42 Semi-Finals at the Bronx Coliseum.
Henry's upset in the 135-pound Open left both him and the fans gasping. The '41 Sub-Novice champ was an overwhelming favorite to whip his teammate, but Burton, a beauty parlor helper, gave him a facial in the first, a singe in the second and a marcel in the third.

Golden Gloves Semi Results
135-POUND OPEN
Eugene Burton, Salem Crescent, defeated Doc Henry, Salem Crescent.


Mar 2 Patrick Dunne     W3 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, USA

1942-03-03 Daily News (New York, NY) (pages 38, 40)
By Dick McCann
A new peak in beak-punching was set last night at the Garden as 16 youths were crowned Golden Gloves Champions of 1942. Some 16,503 fans got their fill of thrills in the 19-bout program which was studded with five knockouts
In one of the best fights of the evening, Gene Burton, 19-year-old Salem Crescent star, decisioned Patrick Dunne, 22-year-old Coast Guardsman, for the 135-pound Open diadem. Burton had too much experience and speed for the game Guardsman, and beat him to the punch most of the way.

Golden Gloves Finals Results
135-POUND OPEN
Eugene Burton, Salem Crescent, defeated Patrick Dunne, U. S. Coast Guard.


Mar 16 Felix Stevens     W3 Coliseum, Bronx, NY, USA

1942-03-17 Daily News (New York, NY) (pages 44, 46)
By Dick McCann
Eighteen knockouts featured the opening of the three-night Tournament of Champions at the Coliseum last night before 5,517 fans. The 47-bout program, which was rioted in two different rings at the same time, saw Syracuse's crack Golden Gloves squad make a strong bid for the team title by placing seven men in the second round which will be fought at the Coliseum tonight.
Survivors will move into the Garden tomorrow night for the semi-finals and finals of the eight divisions from flyweight to heavyweight.
The other New York victories were unclouded. Burton easily outpointed Felix Stevens, a sailor from Norfolk Naval Base, fighting under the Virginia AAU colors

Golden Gloves Summaries
135-POUND CLASS
Eugene Burton, News Welfare decisioned Felix Stevens, Virginia Association.

1942-03-18 Daily News (New York, NY) (page 60)
By Dick McCann
New York Light-heavyweight Clent Conway and Lightweight Gene Burton qualified with Carollo by drawing byes to give the News' team three places in the semi-finals. Tied with the locals were Philadelphia, Newark and Buffalo with three semi-finalists apiece.


Mar 18 Joe Lucignano             W3 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, USA
Mar 18 Robert McQuillan       W3 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, USA

1942-03-19 Daily News (New York, NY) (pages 50, 52)
By Dick McCann
last night in the Madison Square Garden ring. ... the Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions before 15,119. Carollo was one of the three New York Glovers to win, Pvt. Clent Conway annexing the light-heavyweight title and Gene Burton, 19-year-old messenger, the lightweight crown.
Burton, a messenger boy who can really deliver the goods, won the 135-pound crown by a shivery shave from Buffalo's Robert McQuillan, hight school student who, last year lost out in the finals to New York's Charley Davis. In his semi-final scuffle, Burton had an easy time of it, outpointing Joe Lucignano, 18-year-old Hoboken machinist. His finals' foe, McQuillan, breezed through the semi-finals with a 59-second kayo of Washington's Charley Petro.

Champs' Champs
FINALS
135-POUND CLASS
Eugene Burton, News Welfare, defeated Robert McQuillan, Buffalo Courier Express.
SEMI-FINALS
135-POUND CLASS
Burton defeated Joe Lucignanon, Hudson Dispatch.


Mar 30 Morris Corona     L3 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, USA

1942-03-30 Daily News (New York, NY) (page 36)
By Dick McCann
A tale of fifty-two cities will be told tonight in 16 sock-filled, thrill-soaked chapters. It's the wind-up of the '42 Golden Gloves season which has seen 35,000 boys battle in 52 cities for tonight's flood-lighted roles in the Garden where the Western champions, sponsored by The Chicago Tribune Charities, and the Eastern title-holders, under The News Welfare Association's banner, clash in the 15th annual Inter-City matches.
The eight Western champions and eight alternates, survivors of Chicago's Tournament of Champions, are favored to maintain their spell over the Eastern squad, who emerged from the New York Tournament of Champions. Chicago hasn't been beaten in these Inter-City matches since '34. New York managed to get ties in '36 and '40. But, in every other duel during this seven-year streak of bad luck, the Easterners have bowed.
The championship pairings, with the Easterner named first, will be:
135-POUNDS--Eugene Burton, New York, vs. Morris Corona, Ft. Worth, Texas.

1942-03-31 Chicago Daily Tribune (Chicago, IL) (page 21)
BY WILFRID SMITH.
135 POUNDS.
Morris Corona, Chicago, beat Eugene Burton, New York [3].
Burton fought a boring-in type of battle, but while he had the better of the punching in close, Corona leveled on him twice with a long right to the head. Corona was warned for backhanding. The boys feinted and boxed cleverly and the crowd enjoyed their showmanship. Burton had a shade of the first round.
Corona caught Burton with a sharp right and the New Yorker took a count of two coming up just before the third second. He rushed and they traded punches in close. The boys fought out of a clinch and traded rights as they marched across the ring. Burton was short with a left hook. The New Yorker's right glanced from the side of Corona's head. Burton hammered with a right to the ribs in a clinch.
They traded punches in close and each had little defense for the other's long leads. They hammered away on even terms and the decision might be as near a draw as one could find in the tournament. The bout was awarded to Corona.

1942-03-31 Daily News (New York, NY) (pages 40, 43)
By Dick McCann
into the flood-lighted Garden arena and, before 16,671 thrill-chilled fans ... and give New York a 9-7 triumph in the 15th Annual Inter-City matches.
It was tied up again at 4-4 when the West's Morris Corona, 23-year-old oilworker from Fort Arthur, Tex., was awarded a much-booed decision over New York's Gene Burton, 19-year-old beauty shop messenger, to become 135-pound champ. It seemed Burton's two-fisted tattoo on Corona's body in the second and third rounds gave him the edge, but the officials ruled for the Westerner who had advantages of reach and speed over Burton. The New Yorker was down once in the second, half from a punch and half from a slip, for a count of three.

Inter-City Golden Gloves Summaries
135-POUND CLASS
Morris Corona, West, defeated Eugene Burton, East.




PROFESSIONAL RECORD

===1942===

May 25 Douglas Ratford     W4 St. Nicholas Arena, New York, NY, USA

1942-05-26 Daily News (New York, NY) (page 40)
In fours: Eugene Burton, 134, defeated Douglas Ratford, 137.


Sep 1 Bobby Williams     W6 Queensboro Arena, Long Island City, Queens, NY, USA

1942-09-02 Daily News (New York, NY) (page 63)
In sixes: Eugene Burton, 134 3/4, defeated Bobby Williams, 136.


Oct 20 Ike Williams     L-KO4 Westchester County Center, White Plains, NY, USA

1942-10-21 The Herald Statesman (Yonkers, NY) (page 13)
In the remaining six rounder, Ike Williams, 131, Trenton Negro, scored a surprise knockout over Eugene Burton, 136, of Harlem. In 1.16 of the fourth round. Up to that time Williams was being outpointed by the bobbing and weaving Burton. But Ike found Gene with a smashing left hook to the jaw to drop the Harlemite for a nine count. Burton was reeling when he regained his feet, but nodded to the referee that he wished to continue. Williams, however, changed his mind for him, and knocked Burton cold with another left hook.


Nov 23 Charley Williams     W6 Laurel Garden, Newark, NJ, USA

1942-11-24 The Jersey Journal (Jersey City, NJ) (page 15)
In the other bouts, all six-rounders, Eugene Burton, 135, New York, defeated Charley Williams, 138, Newark.


Nov 30 Bobby Gunther     W-UD6 Valley Arena, Holyoke, MA, USA

1942-12-01 Springfield Daily Republican (Springfield, MA) (page 9)
By GEORGE B. KELLEHER.
The six-rounder which followed the feature attraction didn't excite the fans much. Bob Guenter of Philadelphia, 135, dropped the decision to Gene Burton of New York, 134 1/2. Burton, a stablemate of Beau Jack's, was the busier of the two and took all three votes of the officials. It was the first defeat of Guenter in three starts in the local club.


Dec 18 Charley Williams     W4 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, USA

1942-12-19 Brooklyn Eagle (Brooklyn, NY) (page 6)
By HARROLD PARROTT
Gene Burton took a four from Charley Williams on strength and a real punch.

1942-12-19 Daily News (New York, NY) (page 32)
Fight Prelims
Eugene Burton, 135, New York, beat Charley Williams, 137 1/2, Newark, (4).


===1943===

Feb 1 Charley Roberts     W6 St. Nicholas Arena, New York, NY, USA

1943-02-02 Daily News (New York, NY) (page 36)
In the six-round semi-final: Eugene Burton, 133 3/4, defeated Charley Roberts, 138.


Apr 26 Willard Hogan     D6 St. Nicholas Arena, New York, NY, USA

1943-04-27 Daily News (New York, NY) (page 45)
In sixes. Willard Hogan, 138 1/4, and Eugene Burton, 131 3/4, drew.

1917-06-14 Ted (Kid) Lewis ND10 Jack Britton [St. Nicholas Arena, New York, NY, USA]

1917-06-15 New York Tribune (New York, NY) (page 13)

Lewis Outpoints Britton in Fast Ten-Round Bout

--------

Ted Kid Lewis, of England, won the twelfth of the series of bouts with Jack Britton, the welterweight champion of the world, at the St. Nicholas Rink last night.

Lewis had the better of six rounds; two, the fifth and sixth, were clearly Britton's, and the first and seventh could be called even without injuring either man's reputation.

In spite of the many rehearsals between this pair, the bout last night was sensationally fast, particularly the fourth and eighth rounds, when Lewis had Britton jarred from one-two punches to the jaw. Jack fought back fiercely, and the crowd roared approval as the men battled chest to chest in midring.

Lewis did his best work at long range, nailing Britton with stiff straight lefts to the face. Several times, too, Ted caught Jack on the side of the jaw with wicked right chops that spun the champion right around on his feet.


1917-06-15 The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, NY) (page 10)

BRITTON BEAT LEWIS

Ted (Kid) Lewis fought a great battle against Jack Britton of Chicago in the St. Nicholas Rink last night, but Teddy weakened toward the end and Britton was entitled to the decision. In the first three rounds of battling Lewis was the aggressor, but the Englishman's punches were missing, and the ones that did not miss were blocked by the holder of the welterweight title. When the men came into the ring Joe Humphries announced that Britton had weighed in at 146½, while Lewis had tipped the beam at 144¼ pounds.

It was evident from the start that the fight was to be fast. Both men plunged in, and though Lewis looked to be battling hard, Britton's cleverness offset the Englishman's rushes. But at that Ted managed to land enough blows to get a lead in the first four rounds. From then on there was a different aspect to the battle. Britton began to fight. The manner in which he punched Lewis' body caused Jimmy Johnson's champion to weaken. The craftiness of Britton was very evident.

From the fifth to the end of the ninth rounds it was Britton's fight. He managed to block or get away from the punches aimed at him, and at the infighting game he was the master. In the last round Lewis made a rally, but it was not enough to give him the verdict. Except for a badly puffed nose on the part of Lewis, both fighters were unmarked at the last.


1917-06-15 The Evening Telegram (New York, NY) (page 10)

Lewis Beats Jack Britton in Ten Rounds

--------

With four rounds to his credit in his ten round bout Thursday night at St. Nicholas Rink against Jack Britton, the world's champion welterweight, Ted (Kid) Lewis earned the verdict inasmuch as his opponent garnered but three of the sessions while in a like number they broke even. The winner tallied the first, second, third and tenth, while the Chicago boxer scored in the fifth, sixth and ninth.

Britton was probably the more effective when he got home, but the peppery Lewis was a particularly busy proposition in a majority of the sessions. He proved an adept at holding immediately following his frequent landing of leads and swings, many of which, however, landed around his man's neck.

The champion fought in his usual nonchalant, "don't give a rap whether I'm outpointed or not" style and appeared "under wraps" most of the time. At other times he was most effective with his right hook to the body, which was apparently not relished by the Englishman. Britton's jabs at times had plenty of steam behind them, but there was not that continuation of effort seen which is felt to be in his makeup, but which is so seldom seen in his battles.

There was no period when either was in any serious difficulty. The men have met so frequently that in all likelihood each knows every move of the other. There were some well staged mix-ups which had the partisans of each on edge yelling for each to deal out a finishing punch, but that appears to be as far off as when they first engaged in battle, which was some dozen bouts or so back. With honors even coming into the concluding session there was a deal of ineffective mixing which looked fierce enough with the only result that in this instance Lewis was the one to come off with whatever honor is involved in getting the verdict.


1917-06-15 The Evening World (New York, NY) (page 16)

R. Edgren's COLUMN
--------
Britton and Lewis Box Fast Draw at St. Nicholas Rink.

--------

Copyright, 1917, by The Press Publishing Co.

(The New York Evening World.)

Jack Britton, now generally recognized as the welterweight champion of the world and Ted Lewis, who claims the European title, are at liberty to play the rest of their circuit. Their twelfth bout, or their one hundred and fifty-sixth round of boxing, was fought last night at the St. Nicholas Rink and at the finish the question of supremacy was as much in the air as ever. It was a good, fast draw.

Lewis didn't put over his promised knockout, but it wasn't because he didn't try. Countless times during the evening he swung his right with all his might, and if he didn't entirely miss landing he only managed to graze Jack's head, the clever local boxer always "riding away" with the punches.

The men fought at top speed all the way, and it is not hard to understand why they put up such even battles, as they know one another's styles so well and both are so adept at the manly art that they anticipate one another's moves and of course sidestep or block as the blows come their way.

Lewis started off as though he was confident of stopping Britton in short order. He was in the best of shape and put every ounce of steam he possesses back of his wallops, but as we said before, Jack was not on hand to receive the goods when or where they were delivered.

Towards the end of the bout Lewis slowed up considerably. This was not only because he saw it was practically useless to hit Britton "on the button," but because Britton greatly weakened him with a continuous bombardment in his mid-section.

It was odd to see these two clever ring performers pursuing different modes of warfare. Lewis usually was doing his best to drop one on Jack's chin that would spell curtains. Britton seldom tried to reach the head, but confined his hitting to Ted's body. One practically offset the other, with Britton once or twice landing the most effective blows, left hooks to the stomach that made Lewis double up and so temporarily paralyzing his muscles that his arms hung limp at his sides.

Britton's ability to just step back and cause Lewis's blows to fall to land by a fraction of an inch was a treat to watch. He was as cool as a cucumber throughout while Lewis displayed great eagerness to score a knockout and his face showed disappointment when he found he couldn't perform this feat.

When the bout was over and they were dressed for the street nobody would have guessed that they had just emerged from a slashing ten-round battle. If they had just quit playing checkers they couldn't have been less scathed.

"I would like to get Britton in another twenty-round match," said Lewis, after the bout. "It is pretty hard to stop him in ten, but now I think I have so much more stamina than he that I would surely wear him down over the distance."

Britton weighed 146 1-2 pounds and Lewis 144 1-4.


1917-06-15 The New York Herald (New York, NY) (page S5)

Lewis Outpoints Britton in Bout

Ted Lewis proved his superiority over Jack Britton, welterweight boxing champion, in their thirteenth bout in the roped arena, fought at the St. Nicholas Rink last night. The one-time English title holder earned his victory by outpointing Britton in seven of ten rounds.

Chopping right hand blows dealt from the elbow in a way employed by Kid McCoy, coupled with an aggressiveness not too frequently displayed by his opponent, contributed heavily to Lewis' success. Britton seemed to box at times under a restraining influence. Although Britton's most effective blows were those which he delivered to the body with such force in the fifth and sixth rounds as to cause his opponent to double up, he tried for the head in many others.

Britton's right hand blows directed at the jaw were not given the freedom of action one had a right to look for from a man whose purpose was the accomplishment of a knockout. But it was a bout that seemed to please all who attended. The eighth round in particular was a slashing affair, the men fighting toe to toe during the greater part of the three minutes.


1917-06-15 The New York Times (New York, NY) (page 10)

BRITTON AND LEWIS HAVE CLOSE BATTLE
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Chicago Welterweight Divides the Honors of Bout with Englishman.

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Jack Britton of Chicago, recognized world's welterweight champion, and Ted Kid Lewis, the English boxer, meeting in the ring last night for the twelfth time, furnished a fair-sized crowd of enthusiasts at the St. Nicholas A. C. with an interesting ten-round draw. The willing aggressiveness of the English boxer and heavy blows to the head which he landed with telling force on Britton in many of the rounds, earned him an even break in the honors for the bout. Britton, while his style was not as spectacular or interesting, nevertheless managed to land the cleaner blows in the latter rounds of the bout.

In fact after the first few rounds Britton settled down to his task, and taking the lead away from Lewis, forced him with a punishing attack to the stomach. The Chicagoan, incidentally, directed his efforts almost solely to Lewis's stomach, and the effects of this hammering was plainly noticeable as the contest progressed, and Lewis slowed perceptibly. Lewis earned the second, third, and fourth rounds; Britton got the fifth, sixth, and ninth, and the remainder were even.

In the early stages of the bout Britton was unsteady and wild and landed few effective blows. Lewis, carrying the fighting, aimed blows for the jaw, but the majority went wide or were taken easily by Britton, who "rode" with them. Quite a few blows were landed in the second, third and fourth rounds by Lewis, however, which shook up the title holder and made him wary, but Lewis, while his dashing style attracted the eye of the spectator, was unable to get past Britton's close guard with a clean, really damaging blow.

Lewis was evidently somewhat tired from his efforts in the first four rounds and in the fifth Britton took the lead. The Chicagoan found his rival a comparatively easy target for heavy blows to the stomach, and Britton sent these home with both hands, making little or no attempt to reach Lewis's face except with an occasional left hand jab; in the sixth session the title holder followed the same style of boxing. His cleverness and more effective hitting, coupled with his coolness in the face of Lewis's spasmodic rallies, earned him his share of the honors. Britton weighed 146½ pounds and Lewis 144¼ pounds.


1917-06-15 The Standard Union (Brooklyn, NY) (page 12)
Jack Britton and Ted Kid Lewis battled ten rounds to a draw last night at St. Nicholas Rink.


1917-06-15 The Sun (New York, NY) (page 13)

BRITTON AND LEWIS DRAW IN RINK BOUT
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Welter Champion Held to Even Terms by Englishman in Their 12th Meeting.

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By GEORGE B. UNDERWOOD.

The only way to decide the supremacy between Jack Britton, the American welterweight champion, and Kid Lewis, his English rival, is in a bout of twenty-five rounds or more. That much was shown in their ten round tilt in the St. Nicholas S. C. last night. It was the twelfth meeting of the two and as usual the bout ended with the honors in doubt. The only decision Referee Kid McPartland could have rendered, had he been empowered to do so would have been "a draw."

Lewis started out as if he intended to annihilate Britton. Ted shaded Jack in the first round and put it all over the champion in the second and third. Getting inside with rapid fire lefts and rights to the body, in the fourth Britton gained an even break in that round.

Keeping inside with his body bombardment and occasionally using a left hook to the head and crossing a right to the jaw, Britton took the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth rounds. The ninth, like the fourth was even, and by a whirlwind finish in the tenth Lewis took that round and gained an even break. Britton had four rounds, Lewis four and two were even.

Heretofore, Lewis did most of his execution with his left hook. He is a master with that blow. During the early rounds last night Ted used his right to good advantage. Britton, by beating the Kid to that punch by getting inside with drives to the body, turned the tide in the fourth.

Britton's body bombardment took the steam out of Lewis, brought him off his toes and slowed him up considerably. While he was up on his toes in the first three rounds Lewis landed at will with clean lefts and rights. The punches to heart and wind slowed him up, however, and between the fourth and the last rounds Britton had little difficulty in getting inside with snappy lefts and rights.

Once in the second round and twice in the third Lewis rocked Britton with right hand punches to the point of the jaw. Early in the fourth Lewis, employing a left shift, crashed home flush to the jaw for the most damaging blow of the bout. It shook the champion from head to heel. Britton's head cleared quickly, however, and he uncorked a fierce rally. He backed Ted about the ring and landed smashing lefts and rights to heart and wind.

As the bout progressed Britton frequently bluffed Lewis off with his right. All Jack at times had to do to keep Ted on the defensive was to poise that right hand.

The weights were announced as Britton, 146½ pounds; Lewis, 144¼ pounds.

1917-06-06 Ted (Kid) Lewis ND10 Jack Britton [Coliseum, St. Louis, MO, USA]

1917-06-07 St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, MO) (page 22)

Ted Lewis, as We Get It, Earned the Welter-Wait Championship, Last Night
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COLISEUM CROWD WAITS 2 HOURS TO SEE TAME SETTO
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Only Knockout Landed Was by Ted Lewis, Who Floored Old General Interest.
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GUARANTEES TOO HEAVY
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Receipts of $1947 Insufficient to Cover Sums Promised to Britton and Foe.

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By John E. Wray.

Boxing may exist in the State of Missouri, but St. Louisans are more ready to declare it is in a state of coma. A long series of blows, culminating last night at the Coliseum in a good-night soak right in the middle of the public's patience sent $1947 worth of paid admissions home with a "never-again-for-mine" glare in their soul-windows.

The facts are these: Jack Britton, billed as the "welterweight champion," and Ted Lewis, his partner in 10 previous ring encounters, were to have fought 12 rounds, starting somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 o'clock last night. At 12:03 this morning they began a 10-round exhibition which never for a moment aroused even a thrill of nervousness in the minds of Judge and Mrs. Granville Hogan who were among those present at or near the ringside.

For two hours the house whistled, stamped and cat-called in vain. Ted Lewis insisted on having his financial guarantee, which was not in the house. Tommy Sullivan, president and fall guy of the Future City A. C., with true promoting instinct, had tried to chop the guarantee to save himself. In the vernacular, Tommy was on the "nut" about $2500 and the sum was not in sight anywhere.

Britton Easily Satisfied.

Britton took $800 of his $1000 guarantee gracefully and accepted a check. Gershon Mendeloff, who gets his money under the name Ted Lewis, lived up to his racial tradition by demanding the cash, and got most of it.

Britton was in the ring ready to box at 11:20 o'clock, but it was 11:47 before Lewis succeeded in wresting the last buck from Promoter Sullivan, after which he strolled into the ring, to the accompaniment of cat-calls, boos and jeers.

At midnight approximately, announcer Frank Witt stilled the maddening throng with uplifted hand.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he began, "I wish to announce that the card for next Tuesday night, --" here a roar like the bursting of Johnstown dam overwhelmed Witt's voice, a roar of laughter and derision which seemed to insinuate that next Tuesday's receipts will not be enough to fill a microbe's fob pocket.

Following on the many disappointments experienced in Coliseum bouts of late, old General Interest and his army of boxing fans are now executing a strategic retreat to the Pine street front, where Brooklyn T. Sullivan will entrench behind the color line.

Lewis Shakes Up Britton.

The fight itself? No ring horrors shocked or thrilled the many women present. It was a very lady-like show.

It may be said that while Ted Lewis did not clinch the welterweight title last night, he clinched the welterweight champion hard and often. After each lead, which he generally landed, Lewis obtained a firm clutch on Britton and clung tenaciously to prevent body damage, awaiting a chance to break free without getting stung.

But for this tendency to clinch it might be said that Lewis outclassed Britton in the boxing done, winning practically every round but one, and landing some fairly hard blows to body and head. He seemed to entertain an entirely needless fear that Britton would cut loose and hurt him; but Britton was innocuous. If that was his championship best, then he is as far away from the title as Bat Nelson--almost.

Britton, in brief, was lethargic, not in the best of shape and harmless. There were no knockdowns, although Britton went to the floor from losing his balance once.

The bout would have been accounted a fair exhibition had fans been in a good humor--which they were not. Their temper was not helped by the fact that just after the semi-windup they had kicked in to a "pass-the-hat" proposition to the tune of many dollars, for "Jimmy Dunn" of New York, who, under the plea that he needed money for an operation on his eyes, was allowed to make a sotto voce speech and collect.

Kid Bandy frightened Red Cole out of all the boxing he knew and won a mile in the semi-windup.

Why So Wild, Happy?

Happy Howard who ought to know more boxing than Young Welsh, missed everything he started after, in the preliminary, except his end of the purse. Young Welsh won the bout, which did not seem to erase the smile from Howard's face.

That "next bout" will take place at the Future City A. C. No more Coliseum stuff for Tommy Sullivan, he says. The place is a hoodoo. Vic Moran, who signed the registration lists in St. Louis June 5, will battle Young Denny of New Orleans, according to the announcement Frank Witt tried, but was not allowed to make.

Lewis is matched to meet Mike O'Dowd next Thursday. Lewis is in splendid shape and had the inducements been right there is little doubt that Britton would have been hard pressed to save his crown. Lewis will be heard from on the title end of the welterweight honors ere many months.


1917-06-07 The St. Louis Star (St. Louis, MO) (page 15)

Britton and Lewis Vex Boxing Fanatics

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Welterweights Keep Crowd Waiting While They Wrangle Over Guarantee, Then Go On and Stage Exhibition That Fails to Thrill.

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Jack Britton and Ted Lewis boxed at the Coliseum last night, as advertised, but their battle failed to thrill. Instead of fighting twelve rounds they went but ten. It was a bad bout. Everything pointed to a red-letter event in the annals of the local ring, but Old Man Gloom butted in and spoiled the show. The weather was ideal, the night cool, the show was given columns of publicity, a big convention was in town, the card brought together two great boxers, and they were to go a distance of twelve rounds. The advance dope was better than the realization. It was a bout that was not worthy of being dignified by a decision.

Placing the Blame.

The onus of guilt for the fiasco must be borne by the promoters. Their contracted obligations to public and fighters were not carried out. A twelve-round exhibition was advertised and only ten supplied. The fighters did not receive the amount promised. Some fans paid $2 to see the bouts; others went through the side door for 50 cents.

The bout should never have been scheduled. It was a love feast instead of a battle. Britton and Lewis had met ten times before being matched here. Practically the same burlesque followed as the one staged between Dillon and Brown, which brought a blight on boxing here.

Less than 1,500 fans turned out. The gate receipts were so far below the guarantee given the fighters that they refused to enter the ring until nearly midnight, despite the fact that the semi-windup was over at 10 o'clock. The Dear Old Public was compelled to forfeit about 3,000 hours of precious sleep while the battlers and their handlers were quibbling with Promoter Sullivan and his advisers over the payment of the guarantee.

"Cash or No Bout."

Lewis was to receive $1,000 and transportation, while Britton's guarantee was $200 lower. There was less than $1,500 cash in the tills when Tommy Sullivan counted the receipts, although the tickets taken in at the door indicated a $2,000 house. The club hadn't received the cash for tickets disposed of through outside agencies, but the boxers refused to take part payment and wait for the rest. These fellows were "Pay-as-you-enter-the-ring" pugilists. "Cash or not bout" was the ultimatum. Finally Sullivan compromised by giving them what money he had on hand and checks for the balance.

At 11 o'clock, Announcer Witt informed the weary spectators that the bout would start in a few minutes. Twenty minutes later Jack Britton entered the ring. Then ensued another delay. Lewis did not appear until 11:45. It was 12 o'clock midnight before the engagement got under way. Owing to the late start the match was cut down to ten rounds.

Lewis took the aggressive at the start of the bout and played on Britton's face with a left jab. Britton came back with a couple of hooks at close range, and the Englishman immediately resorted to the dancing game. Britton had to bore in to put over an effective punch. Lewis usually caught him in a clinch at this style. The Englishman did his best to put up a running fight, but Britton's ring generalship prevented the Britisher from slipping away after a lead.

Tame Boxing Exhibition.

Lewis displayed his greatest skill at ducking blows while waiting for Britton to run into a clinch. Britton registered most of his points on jabs and short uppercuts to the body during the periods of infighting. Lewis also relied on his left for jabbing purposes, but seemed to prefer the right for hooks and straight punches.

The Londoner also used a one-two punch effectively. After going through nine rounds of decidedly tame boxing, the boxers rallied for a whirlwind finish.

Lewis showed an inclination to box Britton at his own style in this round and Britton responded to the invitation by driving his "Meal Ticket" before him with body punches and hooks to the jaw.

About a minute before the round ended, Lewis surprised with a terrific right swing which seemed to daze Britton for a moment, and as Lewis rushed in to follow up this advantage, the American fell into a defensive pose, which he maintained until the end.

Bandy and Cole in Great Bout.

The semi-windup between Kid Bandy and Red Cole was easily the best feature of the evening. Bandy won the bout on points. The "South Side Slasher" waded into Cole from the start. Cole seemed to be unable to fathom his opponent's style until along about the sixth, when he rallied and put up a whirlwind finish, which came too late to overcome Bandy's tremendous lead.

Young Welsh defeated Happy Howard in the curtain-raiser.