Johnny Harko vs. Al Gillette (2nd meeting)
Johnny Harko drew with Al Gillette by PTS in round 10 of 10
- Date: 1931-07-24
- Location: Athletic Field, Manchester, New Hampshire, USA
- Source: "Johnny Harko and Gillette Fight Draw" The Telegraph (1931, July 25) p. 8. Article
Johnny Harko and Al Gillette of New Bedford fought a ten-round draw in the feature bout of the out-of-door show last night. In the final three rounds, Harko forced the fighting and pummeled the new Bedford fighter with rights and lefts and in the opinion of many fans should have been awarded the decision.
Johnny used his left continually during the fight and on a few occasions swung his right into action with telling effect. His New Bedford opponent fought a steady battle and in the opinion of Referee Dooley, had the edge on the local boxer through the first six or seven stanzas.
Both scrappers boxed warily until the seventh when things began to stir up a bit. Gillette led the attack with a smashing right to Harko's eye but the nimble-footed Pole retaliated by sailing into his adversary with both fists flying. Harko forced Gillette into a corner and banged away with lefts and rights, scoring rugged blows before the Bay state boxer could dance away.
Harko continued to swing his fists like pistons in the eighth and forced the fighting throughout except for a brief flurry launched by Gillette. The local boy jabbed and jabbed with his left and the result of his attack showed a marked effect on Gillette who slowed up considerably from then on.
In the ninth and 10th rounds, Harko carried the attack supplementing his ever-ready left with an occasional smashing right to his opponent's face and body. Harko was still dancing in and out, jabbing blows to Gillette's face, with no sign of tiring when the final gong sounded.