Johnny Saxton vs. Del Flanagan

Del Flanagan 150 lbs beat Johnny Saxton 150 lbs by SD in round 10 of 10

• Date: 1953-12-30
• Location: Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
• Referee: Johnny DeOtis 98-93
• Judge: Billy McCabe 97-95
• Judge: Johnny Stanton 92-94

"Unpredictable Del Flanagan barged squarely into top welterweight contention today following a split decision over Johnny Saxton. Flanagan, 6th-ranked contender, abandoned his fancy footwork in the closing rounds last night in favor of a free-swinging offensive which pried loose the verdict over the 23 year old New Yorker, No. 3 among the contenders. Flanagan, 25, won by tearing into Saxton in the final four rounds." -Associated Press

• Saxton's manager, Blinky Palermo complained that the decision was wrong and issued a challenge for a return bout on neutral ground.
• Truman Gibson, the IBC secretary, stated that Kid Gavilan was ready to abdicate the 147 lb. title and that Flanagan would figure in the eliminators.
• Nothing came to pass, however, as Gavilan lost his welterweight title to Saxton and Flanagan and Saxton were never rematched.
• Both fighters weighed 149 3/4