Mike DeJohn vs. Willi Besmanoff (1st meeting)

Willi Besmanoff 201 lbs lost to Mike DeJohn 203 lbs by UD in round 10 of 10

• Date: 1958-11-28
• Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, USA
• Referee: Al Berl 3-6
• Judge: Leo Birnbaum 4-5
• Judge: Jack Gordon 4-5

"Mike DeJohn, the tall, lackadaisical Syracuse fighter squeezed out a close but unanimous 10-round decision over Willi Besmanoff Friday night that put him in line for two high level scraps. Mike, however, was no ball of fire against Besmanoff at the Garden. Willi, who fights out of Milwaukee, wasn't much to rave about either. Maybe it was their contrasting styles. Willi chased the angular DeJohn most of the 10 rounds but couldn't do much but belt to the body. Often he was low and he was warned several times by referee Al Berl." -Associated Press

• Unofficial AP scorecard - 5-4-1 DeJohn
• The two high level bouts mentioned in the accompanying article was for a January bout with Zora Folley in Syracuse offered by promoter Norm Rothschild and an IBC offer for DeJohn to fight the winner of the December 19th bout between Nino Valdes and Pat McMurtry in February at MSG. However, neither of these bouts came off at this time.

Post-fight comment

• "I'll take both (offers) if I can work it out. I know I need plenty of work to keep in top shape and give me the fighting edge I need. I think I can go all the way and make a lot of trouble for Floyd Patterson if I ever get the chance.