Which boxers fought a nine rounder?

[Fray Bentos]

It was in the UK and between a reigning champion and a future champion in a catchweight bout.

Actually, there is more than one said bout - not the ones fought by Battersea light heavyweight Frank Hough in the 1930's.

[bennie]

Londoner Johnny Clark outscored the Scot John McCluskey over nine rounds at Wembley in 1968. Clark was a bantamweight and a future British and European champion at the weight while McCluskey, the reigning British flyweight champion, knew he would be giving away weight so the compromise distance was agreed.

[Fray Bentos]

Londoner Johnny Clark outscored the Scot John McCluskey over nine rounds at Wembley in 1968. Clark was a bantamweight and a future British and European champion at the weight while McCluskey, the reigning British flyweight champion, knew he would be giving away weight so the compromise distance was agreed.

Knew you would answer the question, Bennie! Nice one!

[bennie]

Cheers, Carlos. You're right about the 1930s as a decade that featured many nine-rounders and even the great Benny Lynch got in on the act in 1936, although he didn't need the full nine rounds to win. It's a strange distance, possibly designed to avoid draws in an era known as the Great Depression when money was scarce but betting in boxing arenas was open and legal. A draw would hardly sit well with the punters.

[Fray Bentos]

Cheers, Carlos. You're right about the 1930s as a decade that featured many nine-rounders and even the great Benny Lynch got in on the act in 1936, although he didn't need the full nine rounds to win. It's a strange distance, possibly designed to avoid draws in an era known as the Great Depression when money was scarce but betting in boxing arenas was open and legal. A draw would hardly sit well with the punters.

I read the O.F. Snelling book 'Bedside Book of Boxing' (really good read..) and what he said about the nine rounder was that the BBB of C made it illegal to fight a 10 rounder every week so Frank Hough would fight nine rounders every week because it got round that rule and then he got KO'd in a fight so left it a week or two before getting on with fighting more nine rounders.

But of course, what you said is correct as well - those were strange days for boxing - NWS results and people betting their houses on the results of fights - crazy times!

Now I am looking at Frank Hough's record, he was fighting once every two or three days sometimes.

https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/40147?&offset=100

[bennie]

Cheers, Carlos. You're right about the 1930s as a decade that featured many nine-rounders and even the great Benny Lynch got in on the act in 1936, although he didn't need the full nine rounds to win. It's a strange distance, possibly designed to avoid draws in an era known as the Great Depression when money was scarce but betting in boxing arenas was open and legal. A draw would hardly sit well with the punters.

I read the O.F. Snelling book 'Bedside Book of Boxing' (really good read..) and what he said about the nine rounder was that the BBB of C made it illegal to fight a 10 rounder every week so Frank Hough would fight nine rounders every week because it got round that rule and then he got KO'd in a fight so left it a week or two before getting on with fighting more nine rounders.

But of course, what you said is correct as well - those were strange days for boxing - NWS results and people betting their houses on the results of fights - crazy times!

Now I am looking at Frank Hough's record, he was fighting once every two or three days sometimes.

https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/40147?&offset=100

I had the pleasure to meet Fred Snelling a few times in the 1980s and he is up there with Gilbert Odd as a truly great boxing historian, particularly on the domestic front. His explanation would be the right one.

[Fray Bentos]

I read the O.F. Snelling book 'Bedside Book of Boxing' (really good read..) and what he said about the nine rounder was that the BBB of C made it illegal to fight a 10 rounder every week so Frank Hough would fight nine rounders every week because it got round that rule and then he got KO'd in a fight so left it a week or two before getting on with fighting more nine rounders.

But of course, what you said is correct as well - those were strange days for boxing - NWS results and people betting their houses on the results of fights - crazy times!

Now I am looking at Frank Hough's record, he was fighting once every two or three days sometimes.

https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/40147?&offset=100

I had the pleasure to meet Fred Snelling a few times in the 1980s and he is up there with Gilbert Odd as a truly great boxing historian, particularly on the domestic front. His explanation would be the right one.

Amazing writers - absolutely legends in boxing journalism - as a kid - I used to get the Manchester Evening News football pink and Gilbert Odd's articles that were published in there were amazing!