Jack Reddick vs. Johnny Papke
Jack Reddick 168 lbs beat Johnny Papke 168 lbs by NWS in round 10 of 10
- Date: 1925-01-07
- Location: Board of Trade Building, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Canadian Light Heavyweight Title
Jack Reddick, Canadian light-heavyweight champion, defeated Johnny Papke, of Cleveland, in a rousing ten-round contest before
2.500 fans at the Board of Trade building.
A terrific right cross flush on the chin in the closing moments of the eighth round, which sent Papke reeling and totering to the canvas, was the blow that gave Reddick victory.
Up to the time of the knockdown there was little to choose between the fighters and Papke, rallying and beating Reddick to the punch, seemed on his way to victory.
But in a fast exchange, Reddick shot a right cross straight and true to Papke's chin which sent the Cleveland boxer into Poppyland. He took a count of three and rose just, as the bell rang. He was reeling and bleary eyed and had to be directed to his corner as he grabbed the ropes to hold his balance. The gong saved him.
Starting the ninth round, it seemed like Papke would not weather the ordeal.
But here he showed rare courage and ring generalship. He covered up, clinched and held, and though Reddick smothered him with hard lefts and rights, he failed to land a killing blow. In the final round Papke had recovered sufficiently to retaliate, and he staged a rally that earned for him the plaudits of the roaring crowd.
All round, it was a hard-fought contest between two boxers evenly matched in every department, though Reddick maintained the ascendancy for the greater part and was the more dangerous fighter. However, Reddick found it hard to fathom Papke's awkward and shifty style. The Cleveland boy is one of the freaks of the game, a lad who leads both with his right and left hand, and hits just as hard with either. This, coupled with his crouching style gave Reddiek no end of trouble.
Reddick, however, fought a heady battle. He boxed cautiously, always waiting for the opening that would give him a chance to drive his pile driver right to the button. This he succeeded in doing and gained a splendid victory.
The first six rounds were not productive of any sensational milling, though both fighters worked hard, fighting cautiously. Reddick had the edge until the sixth and, though he puffed Papke's left eye with a hard right cuff, the Cleveland boy held him fairly even and was gaining confidence as the hunt wore on.
In the seventh Papke drove lefts to Reddick's head and body, and scored with a hard one-two to tho face. Though Reddick fought back hard, it was Papke's round. The eighth was marked by brisk exchanges, with Papke landing frequently and seeming to be on the road to victory when, like a bolt from the blue, Reddick's right lifted Papke clear off his feet and sealed his fate. The last two rounds had the crowd on its feet, with Reddick working desperately for a knockout but without avail. Papke proved himself a real courageous boxer, and was great in defeat.
The boxers both weighed in at 168 pounds, and were in perfect condition. Reddick was fresh and unmarked at the finish, while Papke's right eye was swollen.
Source: "Terrific Right Cross To Chin In Eighth Wins For Reddick" (1925, Jan. 8) Manitoba Free Press p. 14.