Gene Fullmer vs. Wilfie Greaves (2nd meeting)

Gene Fullmer 161 lbs beat Wilf Greaves 162 lbs by MD in round 10 of 10

• Date: 1959-02-20
• Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, USA
• Referee: Harry Kessler 5-4
• Judge: Jack Gordon 6-4
• Judge: Nick Gamboli 5-5

"Gene Fullmer, former world middleweight champion, came from behind Friday night with plunging and bulling tactics to register his ninth straight victory and his second decision over Wilfie Greaves, Canadian champion, in their return fight at MSG. Fullmer, who had outpointed Greaves on Jan. 28, 1957, used practically the same tactics Friday night as in that non-title bout, but Friday night's fight was much closer. Fullmer took a licking in the early rounds from the aggressive Canadian, who now fights out of Detroit. However, Wilfie made a desperate rally in the 10th and staggered Fullmer twice. All three officials gave him the 10th round." -United Press International

• Unofficial AP scorecard - 6-4 Fullmer
• The UPI conducted a poll of 12 ringside sportswriters, in which 10 favored Fullmer and 2 scored it a draw.
• After this fight Fullmer's manager, Marv Jensen, formally petitioned the NYSAC to vacate the middleweight title held by Sugar Ray Robinson and match Fullmer with Carmen Basilio or any other middleweight for the vacant title since Robinson had not fought since March 25, 1958.
• X-Rays were taken on Fullmer's right hand at the hospital the following day, which disclosed no fracture. However, Dr. A.L. Lichman said a hemorrhage had caused 'free fluid' in the middle finger knuckle joint and administered a splint on Fullmer's right hand.
• This injury cancelled Fullmer's March 17th rematch of his February 14th, 1955 bout with Paul Pender, which was to take place in Boston. Pender, instead, fought Ralph (Tiger) Jones on that date.

Post fight comment

• "We want to fight Basilio for the title in New York. Basilio is No. 1, Gene is No. 2 and he has licked Spider Webb, the best of the rest." -Marv Jensen, Fullmer's manager.