Virgil Akins vs. Ronnie Delaney

Virgil Akins 146 lbs beat Ronnie Delaney 150 lbs by KO at 2:41 in round 8 of 10

• Date: 1955-05-02
• Location: St. Nicholas Arena, New York, New York, USA

Virgil Akins was hoping today that his surprising eight-round knockout of hitherto iron-chinned Ronnie Delaney wouldn’t scare off any other high-ranking opponents. The 25-year-old St. Louis veteran, a 4-1 underdog, flattened the sixth-ranking middleweight contender from Akron with a picture left hook and right to the jaw in 2:41 of the eighth round of their television 10-rounder at St. Nicholas Arena last night. Akins, a one-time lightweight contender, now fighting in the welterweight class, has had plenty of trouble in the past getting leading fighters to meet him. Knocking out the formidable Delaney isn’t going to make it any easier. It was Akins’ fourth straight victory and third kayo in a row. It was the first time Ronnie has been stopped in 54 scraps and was only the second defeat of his career. Outweighed 149 ¾, to 146 ½, Akins held a slight lead when he nailed the Ohio southpaw in the eighth. The Newport Daily Express, Vermont