Fight:296521

Art Shires beat Al Spohrer by TKO in round 4 of 6

• Date: 1930-01-10
• Location: Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Spohrer is a Boston Braves baseball catcher at this time.

"I didn't want Al Spohrer. I wanted 'Hack' Wilson," Shires shouted at the 18,000 fight fans after the decision, reported the Associated Press. "Spohrer was outclassed from the opening gong. Right hooks by Shires began to land soon after the start of the first round."

Baseball Commissioner Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis issued a ruling January 18 that any baseball player who engaged in professional boxing would be regarded as having retired permanently from organized baseball. "The two activities do not mix," Landis said, seemingly displeased with some baseball players boxing during their winter off-season, Shires calling himself "The Great," and the allegations that the results of Shires' bouts were suspect. "These heroics have gone too far. They have got to stop."

Thus ended Shires's professional boxing career, after five bouts. (He would have two more bouts years later.) "If I felt that I could become heavyweight champion, of course I would stay in the ring," he said, "but under the circumstances I believe I had better stick to baseball, so I'll give up the ring." A week later Shires attempted to be "a bigger success at basket ball than at boxing" when he played forward for the Philadelphia Spha team, but found that none of his team-mates would pass him the ball. Manager Eddie Gottlieb "restored harmony on his team by removing Shires and the Sphas won, 38 to 29." (UP).