Lee Savold vs. Joe Baksi (1st meeting)
Lee Savold 198 lbs beat Joe Baksi 210 lbs by SD in round 10 of 10
- Date: 1944-03-10
- Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, USA
- Referee: Frank Fullam 6-4
- Judge: Jimmy Hagan 4-6
- Judge: George Kobb 6-4
Baksi had been a 12-5 favorite by virtue of his surprise win over Tami Mauriello recently.
"Veteran Lee Savold at last has crashed into the heavyweight throne room - establishing himself as the No. 1 civilian 'white hope' by upsetting young Joe Baksi from Kulpmont, Pa. The Paterson, N.J., battler registered an upset 10-round split decision over Baksi last night at MSG. Savold, a 12-5 underdog after losing four consecutive Garden bouts, blasted his 'Garden Jinx' by combining a left-jabbing and left-hooking attack to win by a slight margin. Savold and his educated left hand took such a commanding lead that Baksi's later rallies were unable to overcome it. Savold, who fought like a champion in the Hinterlands, but who had no luck at MSG, hit harder and displayed more stamina than ever before." -United Press
Scorecards
- Referee Frank Fullam - 5-4-1 Savold
- Judge Jim Hagen - 6-4 Baksi
- Judge Joe Agnello - 6-4 Savold
- Unofficial UP scorecard - 5-4-1 Savold
- Attendance - 15,947
- Gate - $62,170
Post-fight comments
- "It was about time he won." -Mike Jacobs, MSG promoter, on Savold's first win at the Garden.
- "I guess I left my fight in the gym." -Joe Baksi