Harry (Kid) Matthews vs. Reuben Jones

Harry Matthews 172 lbs beat Reuben Jones 174 lbs by KO at 2:28 in round 3 of 10

• Date: 1950-05-16
• Location: Civic Auditorium, Seattle, Washington, USA
• Referee: Jimmy Wilson

• Weights: Jone 174, Matthews 172½
• Time: 2:28

The well-touted New Yorker did not look impressive either as a boxer or puncher, but appeared tough, willing and game. The remodeled Matthews can beat those kind of fighters without much trouble.

Showing the schooling of Jack Hurley, veteran manager who took over his contract some seven months ago, Matthews went to the front from the first. Moving in, he scored with two left hooks to the head and another to the body in the opening round. All hurt.

Matthews punished Jones about the body in the second round and was particularly effective with his left hook to the midsection.

Early in the third, Jones landed his best punch of the evening, a left hook to the head. Matthews stepped up the pace, scoring heavily with both hands to head and body and finally caught Reuben on the ropes, near a corner. He blasted a right to the chin, a left, and another right. Jones pitched forward, tried to push himself as the count neared the finish, but slumped down again. Reuben tried to renew hostilities after he had regained his feet, choosing Matthews' entire entourage. He was quickly restrained. He was out of his head--he couldn't even beat Matthews, leave alone the others.

Matthews operated like an old pro, mixing his punches well and wasting very few shots. Hurley has done a great job in changing him from a jabbing, dancing boxer into an effective workman fighter. Right now he looks as if he would do all right against Champ Joey Maxim, although the latter might outbox him.

Tacoma News Tribune