By Tom Donelson
In the world of boxing today, it would appear that there are enough sanctioning bodies for every fighter to be declared champion. However, the multiple world of boxing sanctioning bodies is not a new state of affairs. As 1965 began, there were two world heavyweight champions- Muhammad Ali and Ernie Terrell. It would not be until 1967 when Ali defeated Terrell that Ali would actually be the undisputed world heavyweight champion. For nearly three years after he beat Sonny Liston, Ali was not recognized as the undisputed heavyweight champion, incredible as it may sound.
Throughout boxing histories, there have been moments that numerous champions competed for championship recognition. In the late 60’s, Jimmy Ellis and Joe Frazier both held the title world heavyweight title while Ali was stripped of his title. Frazier would claim the mantle of undeclared champion on February 20, 1970 when he stopped Jimmy Ellis.
During the next decade, Frazier, Ali and Foreman would be the recognized champion but when Ali lost to Leon Spinks, multiple champions became the vogue once again. Spinks opted for a rematch with Ali as oppose to fighting Ken Norton and the WBA withheld its recognition from Spinks. Ali would win the rematch and then retire, but from this point, there were numerous recognized Heavyweight champions with very few moments of just one champion. Ali retirement allowed Larry Holmes to capture the recognized championship mantle but by the time the 80’s rolled around, the various sanctioning bodies declared their own champions at the various weight divisions.
Throughout boxing history, the more successful promoters became the influential in the governance of the sport as well as boxers’ managers. These promoters such as Michael Jacobs and Tex Rickard in the first half of the 20th century and Don King today have proven to be effective in bringing new audiences to boxing as well as provoking public interest. The trio of Jack Dempsey, Jack Kearns (Dempsey manager) and promoter Tex Rickard grossed 8.4 million dollars in only five fights between 1921 and 1927. Tex Rickard became the main man in United States boxing till his death in 1929.
In the first two decades of the 20th century, the Police Gazette recognized champions and acted out the role that Ring Magazine provides today- a neutral observer of the pugilistic scene. In 1920’s, New York State Athletic Commission and the National Boxing Association began to sponsor “title fights.” (The NBA evolved into the World Boxing Association in 1962 and its main rival, the WBC would be formed the following year.) These two groups would soon become rivals and as a result, recognized different champions at different weight division.
The Walker Law established the New York State Athletic Commission, which allowed boxing to be legal in the state. New York became the center of the boxing universe and the Madison Square Garden its Mecca. The New York State Athletic Commission impact followed upon the success of boxing in New York. As long as New York remained the center of the boxing world, the New York State Athletic Commission became the most powerful state commission.
The National Boxing Association, formed in 1921, originally represented 15 states but this organization represented a threat to the New York State Athletic Commission and New York boxing in general. This rivalry would lead to multiple champions almost from the beginning and New York refused to participate within the NBA structure. New York and its boxing establishment did not want to share its revenue and influence with other states or organization.
New York State Athletic Commission would maintain its influence until the 60’s when boxing began to migrate away from New York and the sport’s crime ridden structure were exposed. Ring Magazine would try to mediate any controversy dealing with champions just as it is attempting today. Ring editor’s Nat Fleischer would issue monthly ranking of contenders and award their own championship belt.
As the 1930’s open, there were three sanctioning bodies: the NBA, New York State Athletic State Commission and the European-based International Boxing Union. This state of affair existed because of NBA attempt to break the NYSAC boxing monopoly on titles and many outside of New York felt that the NYSAC favored New York boxers over others and NYSAC xenophobic attitude toward foreign boxers.
The Middleweight division was but one examples of this confusion. Author Peter Walsh declared the 1930’s and early 40s as the era of the Muddleweights. Among those declared Middleweight champions by the NBA included Gorilla Jones, Marcel Thil, Fred Apostoli, Ceferino Garcia, Ken Overlin and Billy Soose. The NYSAC champions included Ben Jeby, Lou Broulillard, Vince Dundee, Teddy Yarosz, Eddie Risko, Freddie Steele, Al Hostak and Sonny Kreiger.
As 1940 opened, Ken Overlin was the NBA Middleweight titlest and the NYSAC recognized Al Hostak, who would be beaten by Tony Zale that following July.
Peter Walsh wrote, “The New York State Athletic Commission was a law unto itself in 1930’s. It ran boxing by dictate..Its sporting rulers had power out of all proportion to their geographic area control.” Many fine fighters were frozen out of championship contenders. Walsh added that many hoodlums and mobsters gained control of the sport in the demise of Prohibition as the mob looked for new revenues.
In 1940, Billy Soose would defeat both champions in non-title fights. During this period, fighters would fight one another without putting their title at risk. The main way this was accomplished was through “over the weight” contest. A champion would contract with his challenger a fight that would be over the championship weight so the fight could not be recognized as a championship bout. When Billy Soose fought both Ken Overlin and Tony Zale, the contract specifically called for fighters to fight above the 160-pound weights.
After Tony Zale won his title, Ken Overlin desperately wanted a unification bout but personal rivalries between managers prevented this fight from happening. Zale’s manager, Sam Pian hated New York promoter Michael Jacobs. When Soose grabbed the title from Overlin, he had no better luck in getting Zale in the ring for a title bout for the same reason. Jacobs and Pian would not work together and Jacobs helped promoted Soose as he promoted Overlin. Soose would beat both fighters in 1940 but only Overlin would put his title at risk a year later. Soose would never fight Zale for his share of the title.
Today’s situation is just a continuation of past political battles over control. The history of the Middleweights of the 1930’s is comparable to what is happening today. While boxing fans long for the day of a single champion in each division, the reality is that today’s muddle affairs is reflective of past boxing history. Throughout boxing history, multiple champions were always part of boxing history.
