Tommy Jackson vs. Bob Baker (1st meeting)
Tommy Jackson 194 lbs beat Bob Baker 215 lbs by MD in round 10 of 10
- Date: 1956-02-03
- Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, USA
- Referee: Harry Kessler 5-4
- Judge: Jack Gordon 5-4
- Judge: Joe Agnello 5-5
Well over 4000 people were in attendance. Only heavyweights were allowed to fight on this night just like on September 21, 1955. Jackson won by the slimmest of scores. If Baker had won the final round, the bout would have been a draw. This fight ended Baker's streak of 13 consecutive wins. Jackson scored an upset by taking an unpopular majority decision from Baker (44-5-1 prior to the contest), who was the logical contender for Rocky Marciano's heavyweight title from April 1955 to February 1956. At the time, Archie Moore was returned to the rankings as light heavyweight champion by the NBA, however The Ring magazine still considered him the light heavyweight champion.
The bout was broadcast live on national coast-to-coast TV and radio.
- Unofficial AP scorecard - 5-4-1 Baker
- Unofficial UP scorecard - 6-4 Jackson
- Attendance - 4,300 (app.)
- Gate - $12,000
Post fight comment
- "We'll box Jackson. But we won't box him for only $4,000 TV money. Let any promoter bid for it, independents, IBC and everybody. This is a big match. We were willing to box Jackson for $25,000 at one time. But now, with the winner in line for the title, it represents big money." -Cus D'Amato, manager of Floyd Patterson