Leo Lomski vs. Cowboy Jack Willis
Leo Lomski beat Cowboy Jack Willis by PTS in round 6 of 6
- Date: 1929-10-01
- Location: Civic Ice Arena, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Referee: Billy Wright
Shortly before this scheduled bout, King County prosecutor Ewing D. Colvin filed misdemeanor criminal charges against promoters George "Biddy" Bishop and Lonnie Austin for staging prize-fighting in violation of state law. (The statute did permit "Sparring or fencing amongst members of private clubs for exercise only" or for the enjoyment of their fraternal brothers. Thus, virtually all bouts in the state were usually held in the various American Legion posts, Eagles, Elks, and other athletic clubs for their "members." Anyone wishing to witness a match was required to obtain a membership card and levied an assessment for the seat.)
Instead of preparing in quiet and solitude, both Lomski and Willis were forced to sit for hours in a smoke-filled courtroom, also facing possible jail sentences, on the day of the fight. Each then took the witness stand and testified that he was a member in good standing of the Austin & Bishop Athletic Club. They promised to "spar for their health" instead of fighting (which turned out to be the case--local papers reporting the bout as being "dull"). Lomski said he was going to box for "exercise only," while Willis admitted that he expected to get a share of the revenue. Austin testified that the club had 7,000 members and that the fighters were to get only "expense money."
A Superior Court jury of seven women and five men "debated a little more than six hours" and acquitted the defendants. (The next professional show in Seattle was held the following January 28.)
Meanwhile Justice of the Peace William Hoar refused to intervene in the bout, and Superior Court Judge Chester A. Batchelor issued an injunction prohibiting any interference by the prosecutor or the sheriff.
As for the bout itself: "Compared with the slow, lumbering Willis, Lomski was a greyhound. His speed was a revelation to the club members. His blocking was beautiful to watch while time after time he was beating Willis to the punch by the split-part of a second." Everett Daily Herald.
Referee: former middleweight boxing star Billy Wright.