Jimmy Bivins vs. Wes Bascom

Jimmy Bivins 183 lbs beat Wes Bascom 179 lbs by MD in round 10 of 10

• Date: 1952-10-22
• Location: Arena, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
• Referee: Benny Kessler 50-50
• Judge: Fred Connell 51-49
• Judge: Howard Hess 51-49

"Veteran Jimmy Bivins, 183, of Cleveland, well known as a power-puncher, added to that reputation tonight as he won a majority decision over young Wes Bascom, 179 1/2, in a 10 round heavyweight bout at the St. Louis Arena. While Bivins, a 32 year old campaigner, overpowered the 23 year old Bascom, the decision was close all the way. Both seemed in good condition, while Bascom showed the evidence of Bivins' pounding with a puffed eye and nose in the 5th, a round Bivins lost on a low blow. There were no knockdowns, although Bascom slipped and fell to the canvas in the 6th round." -Associated Press

• Attendance - 3,571
• Gate - $9,230
• Bivins incurred an NBA suspension for taking this fight due to pulling out of a June 17th bout with Billy Gilliam in Newark, N.J., citing a back injury. Off for several months, Bivins was allowed to fight Coley Wallace on September 19th as a 'concession'. However, he then lined up bouts in succession against Wes Bascom, Tommy Harrison and Ezzard Charles. It wasn't until after the weigh-in against Harrison the NBA actually suspended him and had to allow that bout to go on. It wasn't until promises made that he would fight Gilliam or a contender to be named by the NBA that the NBA released him from suspension on November 14th, 1952.

Post fight comment

• "That single concession (the Coley Wallace fight) has been converted into an unjustified self-reinstatement." -NBA and state athletic commissioner of New Jersey Abe J. Greene, on Bivins taking the Bascom fight.