Some 1945 Scottish Info

Manos de Oro · Post by **Manos de Oro** » 01 Aug 2005, 12:26

Source: Evening Times from beginning of January to 15th March; 16th August to the last day of October, 1945. (Reels: NP14475/NP14472)

Paterson - Webb (25/10/45)

Paterson retired in his corner claiming a hand injury.

Paterson - Foran (24/08/45)

Paterson had been inactive for 7 months due to Service duties prior to this bout. It took place at a venue called the 'Dome' in Brighton.

Paterson - Grimes (29/01/45)

The match was set at 9st and, FWIW, this was described as being Grimes' 5th pro fight.

It took place at The Alexandria Theatre in Stoke Newington.

Grimes was down five times while Paterson "ends up with blood streaming from an eye injury".

Paterson - Grimes undercard (29/01/45)

I have Tommy Hendrie (who was from Glasgow) being DQ'd in the 4th round. The Comerford - Morris result matches.

Paterson - Brady 3 undercard (12/09/45)

Charlie Kerr WPTS Alec (<-- note spelling) Murphy, who was from Port Glasgow - the Port bit is important.

According to the database right now, these two are supposed to have fought on Friday the 14th September, 1945

Maybe this is the wrong date? Or maybe they fought twice?

Anyway, Eddie Starrs from Lochgelly WPTS Marcel Ludovina (France) also on this undercard.

Jock Porter lost by 8th round TKO - he retired in his corner claiming an injured rib. Reporter Euan Wellwood described it as a close fight that Porter was 'shading' on points. Shaw is reported to have landed repeated heavy rights to the ribs of Porter, which is likely where the injury came from.

Porter had weighed in at 13st 6lb 7oz. Shaw at 14st.

The other results match.

This was promoter George Grant's first Glasgow venture, and he established a new Scottish attendance record of 40,000.

Paterson - Brady (12/09/45)

Paterson weighed in on the day of the fight at 8st 5lb. Brady clocked in at 8st 5lb 10oz

The fight was given the moniker 'battle of the tempests' by the press, due to thunder, lightening, and torrential rain which caused "tidal proportions" in the actual ring (NB: the oval roofed stadium was purely terraces at this time, meaning standing room only. Promoter Grant also made it an "all ticket affair", of which 300 were reserved at ringside for wounded servicemen).

The referee was a Mr C.B. Thomas.

It is described as a qualifier for a shot at Johnny King's British bantamweight title.

Misc

Ken Shaw weighed in at 14st 5lb to face Tom Reddington in Dundee, on New Year's Day 1945.

Jock McCusker was scheduled to face Moss Leen (who isn't in the database) over 10 rounds at Grove Stadium on the 29th August 1945. This note is more or less just a reminder for me to checkup on.

I have Jock Porter vs. Alf Brown on the 13th May in Antwerp as a 'Service Contest'. It was also described as a KO by 2 loss for Porter.

Martin Thornton retired in his corner against Bruce Woodcock in Dublin, in what was described as an 'easy win' for Bruce.

I have reports of a Cruiserweight prospect from Manchester who the reporter predicts will become a heavyweight - maybe because of his height at 6ft 5inch. His name is Frankie Bell, could it be this guy?

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=037612

barry · Post by **barry** » 01 Aug 2005, 12:37

Very good work and for those not certain it's Jackie Paterson, one of the great Scots with bombs on the end of his wrists!

Manos de Oro · Post by **Manos de Oro** » 01 Aug 2005, 12:49

Hey barry, check out this video of Jackie against Theo Medina for the Euro title:

http://heritage.scotsman.com/videos.cfm?vid=144

The website seems to have gotten the date wrong, but it looks to be the bout on 30th October 1946 where Paterson lost by KO in the 4th round.

The thing to note: he gets dropped right at the end of the second round.

Also, bit of an unsatisfactory ending that, isn't it? KO'd by cramp.

(though to be fair Medina never let him get settled.)

barry · Post by **barry** » 01 Aug 2005, 13:41

Thanks for that link...it's actually the first time that I have seen Paterson fight. Know of any more clips?

Manos de Oro · Post by **Manos de Oro** » 01 Aug 2005, 15:05

Unfortunately I only found that one by chance, barry. Wish I had footage of one of his better nights to show.

Something interesting to look for in that clip, though, is his feinting - full body feints (which are becoming increasingly rare). The rugged Medina did the right thing and never let him get a rhythm going with them. That takes balls to jump on a puncher like Paterson like that.

Anyhow, to give an account of one of Paterson's better nights:

After beating Brady in Newcastle Jackie was lined up to meet him later in the year, this time for the Commonwealth crown (at bantam). Paterson seemed intent to KO Brady, went in looking for one shot, and was picked off all night.

The rubber match got HUGE press in the build up. Thousands (I think the paper might have said over 2000) packed in to the city's Astoria Ballroom just to see the weigh in. There were strong rumours in the press and in boxing circles that Paterson was in decline (due to the losses to Duffy, Webb, Davies and Bonser). He had been hoping for a shot at Manuel Ortiz - maybe the greatest bantamweight champion of all time - and this third Brady fight was considered the last chance saloon if that hope was to come to anything.

As you know, there was a MASSIVE crowd despite the dour weather conditions. But it turned out they made the right decision to brave the elements, because Paterson proved ALL the doubters wrong... by actually OUTBOXING Brady. The reporter for the Evening Times was forced to admit he was "just as brainy a boxer as he is a deadly puncher".

Deadly is right - Paterson had a signature right that the press dubbed his 'killer' punch. Brady started the fight very cagey - very wary in particular of that right hand. He was attempting to repeat the performance of the second fight. The difference this time was, Paterson KNEW what he was doing, and began using those feints you see in the Medina clip. He was said to have feinted Brady into a shell.

Paterson was well in the clear after 10 rounds. Aware he was behind, Brady went all out in the last ~3 rounds, but it was too little too late. The closing fireworks, however, prompted the crowd to give a standing ovation.

Manos de Oro · Post by **Manos de Oro** » 01 Aug 2005, 15:08

By the way, you might be interested in a clip of Benny Lynch on that site. I've got a film of one of Lynch's fights where he knocks down the guy about 9 times or something, though this isn't that one:

http://heritage.scotsman.com/videos.cfm?vid=146

Lynch was a bomber alright.

jimglen · Post by **jimglen** » 04 Aug 2005, 13:45

Excellent fight clips, especially the Theo Medina vs Jackie Paterson fight!

Now you know what I find most interesting(?)

Although the British little men had TOP recognition and acceptance in the World during this period and for a good few years yet to come, it is amazing how some people, not so much then but in later years and of course present day fans who either don't know the past or don't want to know it seem to forget this.

There is no disputing little Jackie Paterson's ability as a Champion, YET the way this EURO TRASH of a fighter Theo Medina (???) handled him with such skill, certainty and over all confidence and ability was nothing short of amazing...

But of course they don't compare to top flight American fighters, fellow Champions and Contenders... YEAH RIGHT!!!

As I've always maintained brought together regularly Boxing History would have been RE-WRITTEN!

That preformance by Medina was in short First Class EXCELLENCE!!!

Manos de Oro · Post by **Manos de Oro** » 06 Aug 2005, 15:26

That's true, Jim. There's no room for national bias (often ignorance) in any form of analysis - modern day or in the past.

BTW, I'm doing some more research at the start of next week (after getting held up on Saturday). I'll keep you posted.