BoxRec

bennie wrote: ↑18 Mar 2020, 07:13 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.

bennie wrote: ↑21 Mar 2020, 23:47 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.

Carlos wrote: ↑22 Mar 2020, 05:14

bennie wrote: ↑21 Mar 2020, 23:47 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 wrote: ↑22 Mar 2020, 05:46

Carlos wrote: ↑22 Mar 2020, 05:14

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.