Fight:344860

Red Bruce 174 lbs lost to Oscar Rankins 169 lbs by KO in round 7 of 10

• Date: 1937-01-21
• Location: Duquesne Gardens, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
• Referee: Freddie Mastrean

"Rankins knocked Bruce out in a real ring thriller. Bruce began by stabbing and hooking his way to a big lead in the first three rounds, which he won going away. Forgetting about a badly split left eye and a cut mouth, Rankins floored Bruce eight times- once in the 4th; twice in the 5th; twice in the sixth; three times in the seventh before he finally gave up. Few gamer exhibitions have been seen here, and it wasn't all one-sided, either. Four times when Red regained his perpendicular, he tore into Rankins and knocked him bow-legged, once smashing his nose almost flat on his cheeks with a power-house right, launched with all the strength and energy of a fellow who proved he not only can fight, but likes it, regardless of the going. The hysterical crowd urged both men on. Bruce staggered Oscar at the start of the 7th, but Rankins bounced right back. Oscar was the same "Red Terror" who fought Solly Krieger and Al Gainer- a riptearing punch trader. It was a gruelling thing, rather gruesome to watch, but a fight which almost takes rank with the Rankins-Krieger bout for sheer brutality and raw courage. Pittsburgh Press