The Heavyweight Division (WW2)

[HomicideHenry]

Heavyweight champion Joe Louis, by and large, was inactive for four years. The title, more or less, frozen. Many divisions were also in similar predicaments with their champions and leading contenders off to war.

For me, this timespan was one of the most interesting and competitive mini-eras in the sports history. Those fighters left behind, battled it out for versions of the World Championship.

State Championships became "in vogue" with various contenders attempting to unify the Midwest, Mid-South, Northwest, Northeast, etc titles to determine the true North American Champion.

For example....

Buddy Knox was the Ohio Heavyweight Champion, and the Athletic Commission there viewed him as their Interim Heavyweight Champion while Louis was gone. Buddy Walker, who won it from Harry Bobo, would become the next Ohio State Champion.

Turkey Thompson was the California Heavyweight Champion, before losing it to Pat Valentino. Valentino's claim was taken by Ezzard Charles (to further cement Charles's claim as World Champion).

You also had, of course, Elmer Ray stalking the division and occasionally knocking off current or recently dethroned State Champions. Walcott was also around fighting whenever he could but basically losing more than winning. Ray would defeat Savold, who for all intents and purposes was the best Heavyweight besides Charles.

Lee Savold was the Iowa State Champion, and like Ray he was beating a mixed bag of State Champions who was current or recently dethroned. In 1950, well after the war, he was involved in a controversial Heavyweight Championship bout with Bruce Woodcock claiming to be the true World's Champion, but when he'd get kayoed by the comebacking Joe Louis the BBBC then recognized Ezzard Charles as the true World's Champion.

There was, also, believe it or not another "Great White Hope" tournament organized by Frank Barbaro, to find a Heavyweight to dethrone Joe Louis. Savold won the 19 man tournament winning $9,000 for his efforts. After which, Savold defeated Buddy Knox the Ohio State Champion.