Fight:199063

Richie Lemos 125 lbs beat Petey Scalzo 126 lbs by KO at 2:02 in round 5 of 12

• Date: 1941-07-01
• Location: Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, USA
• Referee: Benny Whitman

Lemos won the 1st round, scoring a knockdown on a half-slip from a left hook. Lemos took the 2nd round as well handily, scoring heavily in the middle of the round with both hands in a mid-ring assault. Scalzo battled back to win the 3rd and 4th round, landing his right uppercut effectively, as Lemos landed few effective blows.

At the start of the 5th round, Lemos switched from an orthodox stance to a southpaw stance. Almost immeadiately, he connected with a left hand that sent Scalzo's head back and sent him staggering. Chasing after his hurt foe, Lemos threw with both hands to the head, as Scalzo did not return fire. Lemos eventually pulled back, with the right side of Scalzo's face covered with blood from a small cut beside his eye and a large cut on his cheek. Scalzo attempted to back away, but Lemos caught him with a left hook, that sent him to the canvas for a nine-count. After he rose, he was met by another left hand to the chin that floored him for a second time. Scalzo made no movement to rise until the count of eight, when he attempted to rise only to collapse part way up.

The new champion was greeted with a hug and kiss from Mexican film star Lupe Velez. Scalzo's manager Pete Reilly, stated his fighter entered the ring under a weakened condition, as he had to sweat off three-quarter pounds prior to the weigh-in.

Source: Los Angeles Times