[8.6] JOEY MAXIM 115-82(21)-29-4: Daily Telegraph - Archie Moore - Bert Randolph Sugar -
Joey Maxim, the former world light-heavyweight boxing champion who has died aged 79, ended the career of the much-loved British fighter Freddie Mills in 1950 and two years later became the only man to stop Sugar Ray Robinson during Robinson’s remarkable 201-fight career …
Maxim himself was stopped just once in a 115-fight career spanning 17 years, so he could justifiably claim to have been one of the most durable fighters in a golden era, and among the most skilful. Daily Telegraph article 4th June 2001, ‘Joey Maxim: former world light-heavyweight boxing champion and the only man to have stopped Sugar Ray Robinson’
The fight was set for 27 January 1954. It was held in Miami. Doc Kearns, being manager of both fighters, had access to both training camps. Being that Doc is a sentimentalist about money, I think he would have liked Maxim to win, because then he could have arranged still another rematch. As it was, I was getting a little weary of fighting Joey. For so many years I couldn’t get near him, and now I couldn’t get away from him. Archie Moore, Managers and Their Titles
Out of Cleveland Ohio. Not a great puncher ... He was going to take the Robinson fight for his biggest payday. Bert Randolph Sugar
100) Sugar Ray Robinson TKO14: US Fight Commentary TV - Joey Maxim -
v Sugar Ray Robinson 25th June 1952 New York 15.5 lbs advantage Light Heavyweight 104 degrees [r1] ... A good lively round this one. You can see Sugar Ray is full of fight ... It was this round that the clinches evidenced themselves ... It’s a real bear hug … [13] ... Look at Robinson’s legs ... He is dancing around but he doesn’t quite know where he is going. Maxim still seems sluggish but otherwise he looks quite threatening ... He is so tired. So tired now ... That’s it. Robinson falls flat on his face … US post-fight commentary
I couldn’t keep up with him so I didn’t even try. Joey Maxim
[8.6] TOMMY LAUGHRAN 169-121(14)-32-14-2: BoxRec online -
Tommy Loughran (born November 29, 1902, Philadelphia, PA? died July 7, 1982, Altoona, PA) was the 1927-1929 undefeated Light-Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the world and is regarded as one of the most skilled fighters of all time.
Loughran’s effective use of coordinated foot work, sound defense and swift, accurate counter punching is now regarded as a precursor to the techniques practiced in modern boxing. Loughran fought many middleweight, light-heavyweight, and heavyweight champions in his career – including Gene Tunney, Jack Sharkey and Georges Carpentier. In his esteemed career Loughran even achieved a Newspaper Decision over fistic phenom Harry Greb. Loughran was but 19 years old when he first met Greb.
As a light heavyweight, he defeated two future world heavyweight champions: Max Baer and James J Braddock. Loughran finally fought Primo Carnera for the Heavyweight title. Despite the 8-inch size disadvantage, the age disadvantage and weight disadvantage Loughran was up against, he still managed to beat the colossus – at least that’s how the fans and critics since have ruled it. The judges however thought differently.
In later years, when interviewed for the book, Loughran reportedly agreed to only be awarded a win if he could stop the giant. Considering the conditions, Loughran’s state and Carnera’s connections, it is not unfair to assume some sort of corruption was at hand.
While Loughran is remembered among boxing’s elite, his career was marred by his fragile hands and jaw. Loughran was also a very small Light heavyweight and possessed no fear of larger men. Loughran fought regularly, even taking fights with only a few hours notice. When examining Loughran’s career one must consider the, almost masochistic, abuse Loughran embraced. BoxRec online article
Record Notes. Several bouts that were included in early published records for Loughran are not included in his BoxRec record, because they have not yet been verified. They are as follows: 1920, Bill Clark, W ko 3; 1920, Eddie Moran, W ko 4; 1920, Joe Brock, W ko 2; 1921, Ted Mitchell, No decision, 8; 1921. If and when these fights are verified, they will be added to BoxRec. ibid.
[8.6] JIMMY BIVINS 112-86(31)-26-1: Revolvy online -
Jimmy Louis Bivins (December 6, 1919 – July 4, 2012) was an American heavyweight boxer whose professional career ran from 1940 to 1955. He was born in Dry Branch, Georgia. Although he was never given the opportunity to fight for a world title, despite at one point being the number one contender in both the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions, Bivins fought and defeated many of the great fighters of his era and won the ‘Duration’ Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight titles. In recognition of his achievements in the ring – among other things, he defeated eight of the eleven world champions he faced – Bivins was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1999. He was also the one-time husband of Dollree Mapp, the subject of prominent Supreme Court case regarding the rights of search and seizures.
Although he was born in Georgia, Bivins fought out of Cleveland, Ohio for the entirety of his career. He made his professional debut on January 15, 1940, winning by knockout in the first round, and went on to win his first nineteen fights, all fought in 1940, before losing a split decision to Anton Christoforidis, whom he had previously beaten. Bivins won his first four fights of 1941, including contests with Teddy Yarosz and Curtis Sheppard, but lost three of his other four contests that year, which included a points loss to Melio Bettina. He began 1942 with wins against Billy Soose and Gus Lesnevich and a split-decision loss to Bob Pastor. After this loss, Bivins had a twenty-seven fight undefeated streak that lasted for four years; it was during this period that Bivins established himself as one of the great heavyweights of his era – a remarkable achievement given that, at 5’ 9’’, he was often significantly smaller than his opponents.
Bivins first fight after losing to Pastor was a split-decision win against Joey Maxim, a fellow Cleveland fighter who went on to become a member of the Hall of Fame. Bivins fought four more contests in 1942, including a rematch with Bob Pastor and a bout with Lee Savold, and won them all. He began 1943 with a remarkable win against Ezzard Charles, in which he recorded seven knockdowns against the future heavyweight world champion. On February 23, 1943 he defeated Anton Christoforidis on points for the duration light heavyweight title – as all the world titles had been frozen for the duration of World War II, this was the closest he ever came to holding a world title. In the three years after this fight Bivins went on to defeat Tami Mauriello, Pat Valentino, Lloyd Marshall, Melio Bettina, Curtis Sheppard and Archie Moore, whom he knocked-down six times en route to a knockout victory. Bivins served with the United States Army from March, 1944 until his honorable discharge in November of the same year – during 1944 he fought only one professional fight, a points victory over Lee Q Murray.
On February 25, 1946 Bivins fought Jersey Joe Walcott at the Cleveland Arena. The fight was Bivins’ first loss in four years, the split decision was interesting in that one official had the fight 6-4 to Bivins, the second had it 9-1 to Walcott and the last had it 5-4-1 to Bivins but gave the fight to Walcott because of a third round knockdown in his favour. After losing his long unbeaten streak, Bivins’ record as a fighter became somewhat average. After his loss to Walcott, Bivins went on to lose his next two contests, against Lee Q Murray and Ezzard Charles, before winning the following four. Bivins suffered a knockout loss to Ezzard Charles on March 10, 1947 and went on to lose a further two of his final seven fights that year, to Lee Q Murray and Archie Moore. He went on to win six of his nine fights in 1948, losing only to Joey Maxim, Ezzard Charles and Archie Moore. In 1949 he won five of his eight fights, but lost to both Archie Moore and Harold Johnson. He only fought twice in 1950, but returned to fighting regularly the following year. In 1951 he defeated Ted Lowry on points, but was once again knocked out by Archie Moore and lost by unanimous decision to both Joe Louis and the undefeated Bob Baker. Bivins had a further eleven fights after his loss to Baker, and won eight of them. His only big-name opponent during these final fights was Ezzard Charles, who won by decision on November 26, 1952. Bivins retired following a victory over the journeyman Chubby Wright in June 1953, but returned for two final fights, both of which he won, a couple of years later.
Following his retirement, Bivins earned a living as a bakery truck driver. In his spare time, he coached young people in boxing. Bivins’ first two marriages ended in divorce. His third wife, Elizabeth, died in 1995. In April 1998, Bivins was discovered living in the unheated attic of his daughter and son in law’s home in Collinwood, wrapped in a urine and feces-caked blanket. The former boxer’s weight had dwindled to 110 pounds. Bivins was then moved into his sister’s home in Shaker Heights. In 2009, Bivins was moved into MacGregor Home, a care facility for the elderly. He died in 2012 at the age of 92 in Cleveland, Ohio. Revolvy online article
v Archie Moore 21 February 1951 New York [r1] … This is the fifth time these two boys have fought … Bivins is also a powerful right-handed puncher … [r2] … Most of the boys try to duck this boy [Moore] who is call the uncrowned light heavyweight champion … [r3] … He’s considered about the best around by the experts … It’s a good mix and Jimmy Bivins is trying to shift a bit … [r4] … He’s fought the greatest in names and performance … [r5] … He [Moore] looks like he wants to fight … [r6] … Slightly low but not damaging … Bivins continues to annoy Archie Moore … [r9] … Bivins on the deck … Seemed to hit his head very heavily … US fight commentary