I think this topic was raised recently. But I just saw a January 1929 newspaper article which raised this question. Part of the controversy mentioned in this article is whether the 10-count was or should be included in determining the time of the KO.
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Quickest K.O. in History?
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Guest
- Heavyweight
OK, here's what a Feb. 2, 1929 article in THE WORLD (NYC) said:
- A boxing controversy that promises to be world-wide was started yesterday with the receipt of a cablegram by Jess McMahon, New York matchmaker, from Jeff Dickson, leading Paris promoter. Al Brown's quick knockout of Tiger Humery, former French featherweight champion, will go down in the records as the quickest knockout in a foreign ring. Dickson is seeking American figures regarding bouts that ended in one punch. Brown and Humery came to the centre of the ring and having prearranged to do away with the handshaking, the American Negro landed his right on the Frenchman's jaw five seconds after the bell rang and the referee counted him out. Mr. Dickson wants to know if this is the quickest K.O. on record. He insists the K.O. should be timed as 5 seconds, and that the 10 count should not be included. McMahon said yesterday he is mailing Dickson data on the Del Hawkins-Martin Flaherty bout, which the former won in 4 seconds, and the Battling Nelson knockout of William Rossler, which the timekeeper caught in 2 seconds. According to the New York State Athletic Commission the 10 count is included in the knockout.