Gil Turner vs. Virgil Akins

Gil Turner 151 lbs beat Virgil Akins 149 lbs by PTS in round 10 of 10

• Date: 1957-09-18
• Location: Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA
• Referee: Joe Mangold 5-4

"Gil Turner, the hustle guy from Philadelphia, was high up in the welterweight picture again and looking for a title shot today following his upset victory over Virgil Akins. Strong at 151 pounds, Turner kept the pressure on his flurry-fighting, 149 1/4, opponent throughout the bout. He bored in continuously to prevent Akins from getting punching room for his long range blasts. Akins, however, hurt Turner with a left hook in the 2nd round and staggered him with a right in the 7th. Referee Joey Mangold, the only official, awarded the verdict to Gil on a 5-4-1 score in rounds. Turner had to win the last round to get the verdict according to Mangold's card, and he did that in typical storming fashion." -Associated Press

• Unofficial AP scorecard - 7-3 Turner
• Unofficial Atlantic City Press scorecard - 5-3-2 Turner

Post fight comment

• "If Carmen Basilio beats Ray Robinson for the middleweight title Monday night, then we'll have to be in on any elimination tournament for the welterweight title. Akins was ranked 2nd by Ring and 3rd by the NBA, so that means we have to be in there." -George Katz, Turner's manager

• Ironically, although Basilio did beat Robinson, thus vacating the 147 lb. title, and Turner did take part in the tournament, the tournament and title was ultimately won by Virgil Akins.