Gene Fullmer vs. Gil Turner (3rd meeting)

Gene Fullmer 158 lbs beat Gil Turner 151 lbs by SD in round 10 of 10

• Date: 1956-02-17
• Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, USA
• Referee: Petey Della 5-3
• Judge: Harold Barnes 3-6
• Judge: Leo Birnbaum 6-5

"Middleweight contender Gene Fullmer beat Gil Turner with a headlong attack in the early rounds and a stronger finish for a split 10 round decision tonight in their bruising "rubber match" at MSG. Fullmer piled into the lighter Turner in the first two rounds and the continuous slugging pace was so torrid that it seemed neither man could continue it for 10 sessions. Turner shook up Fullmer in the 4th, then began an attack on Gene's body that had Fullmer floundering in the 6th. Turner continued his body and head attack in the 7th and 8th, but Fullmer rallied for an edge in the terrific 9th, and he battered game but tired Gil about the ring in the 10th." -United Press

• Judge Leo Birnbaum had it even in rounds 5-5, but gave Fullmer a 2 point edge in the 10th for a 6-5 score on New York's supplemental point system.

Unofficial scorecards

• UP - 5-5 in rounds, but 6-5 Fullmer on supplemental points system.
• AP - 6-4 Turner
• A poll of the 11 ringside reporters showed 5 for Turner, 4 for Fullmer and 2 scoring it a draw.

Post fight comments

• "You're the toughest guy I ever saw." -Gene Fullmer, to Gil Turner.

• "And they don't make them any tougher than you." -Gil Turner, replying to Fullmer.

• "I want Commissioner Julius Helfand of the NYSAC to bring up the three officials and make them look at the motion pictures. Then I want to ask the referee to explain how he got that 5-3-2 score. Gil won it big." -George Katz, Turner's manager.