Jake LaMotta vs. Bob Murphy (1st meeting)

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Murphy & LaMotta.jpg

Jake LaMotta 175 lbs lost to Bob Murphy 175 lbs by RTD in round 7 of 10

  • Date: 1951-06-27
  • Location: Yankee Stadium, The Bronx, New York, USA
  • Referee: Ray Miller

"Irish Bob Murphy earned a shot at the light heavyweight title by battering ex-middleweight champ Jake LaMotta into such helplessness he was unable to answer the bell for the 8th round Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium. Blood-smeared LaMotta staggered to his corner at the end of the 7th and his handlers notified Dr. Vincent Nardiello that he didn't feel well enough to continue. There were no knockdowns but LaMotta was knocked back on his heels several times by the southpaw's left uppercuts and short hooks to the head. LaMotta threatened in the 3rd and 4th rounds, giving his opponent a body beating, but Murphy decided the fight in the 5th by giving Jake one of the most intense three-minute beatings of his career, using Jake's bleeding face as a punching bag for uppercuts and hooks. At the finish, LaMotta was bleeding from gashes on both brows, a cut on his chin and a badly battered nose, while Murphy bled from a cut left brow and his lower lip." -United Press

  • With the aspect of Murphy receiving a title shot after this win, Boise promoter Tex Hager jumped on the bandwagon and offered a $50,000 purse for a Bob Murphy v Harry (Kid) Matthews bout with the winner to receive a shot at Joey Maxim for the title. This was due to Matthews having outpointed Murphy three months earlier. However, within two months time, Murphy received the title shot outright.

Scorecards through 7 rounds (all for Murphy)

  • Referee Ray Miller - 6-1
  • Judge Joe Agnello - 6-1
  • Judge Charley Shortell - 4-2-1
  • Unofficial UP scorecard - 5-2 Murphy

Post-fight comment

  • "The bout ended officially in the 8th round because the bell should have been rung. LaMotta completed the 7th round. I don't see how it could have been called a 7th round TKO." -Referee Ray Miller on the official call
  • "Harry Matthews is being left out in the cold. It isn't fair to talk about a Maxim-Murphy title fight without considering the man who licked Murphy. And that's Harry Matthews." -Tex Hager, Boise promoter
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