Augie Ratner vs. Johnny Basham
Augie Ratner drew with Johnny Basham by PTS in round 20 of 20
- Date: 1919-06-16
- Location: National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, United Kingdom
Drawn Contest in International Boxing at National Sporting Club.
DIVIDED OPINIONS.
The international twenty-rounds contest at the National Sporting Club between Johnny Basham, the British welterweight champion, and Augie Ratner, of America, who won the middle-weight competition at the Albert Hall ended in a draw last night after a splendid bout.
It was a sharp contrast of styles. In the open Basham had all the best of it, but in the close work Ratner, served by his 7lb. advantage in the weights, for a long while proved too strong for Basham, and took the points.
As there was a lot of close work in the first ten rounds, it is possible Ratner had a useful lead at half-way, but thereafter I thought Basham had all the best of the exchanges.
Using his left hand very cleverly and with marked effect, the Englishman time and again almost played a postman’s knock on Ratner’s face without a counter, and I think he had levelled up his leeway long before the last round, and was a bit in front at the finish.
But Mr. Douglas thought otherwise, and he had the score in front of him, so I will not question his decision. It was a fine bout throughout, and both men boxed in the cleanest and most sporting spirit.
Generally speaking, Basham did nearly all the leading, and Ratner, particually in the early rounds, made him look foolish several times by his cleverness with his head in slipping Basham’s leads.
Ratner for the most part did not attempt to lead. His defence was a straight-out left, and his attach a right counter after Basham had led. He also tried to keep the fight close, and as I have said, succeeded in the earlier rounds. But Basham, after Ratner had lost some of his pace, dominated the exchanges, and then there was only one in it.
The superb defence of both men was the great feature of the bout. At the finish there were people who declared for Ratner, and others equally emphatic for Basham, and so perhaps Mr. Douglas was the wise man of the lot.
P.J.M.
The Daily Mirror
June 17th 1919