Mickey Blair
Mickey Blair, October 1931
Mickey Blair, February 1933
Mickey Blair, 1928
Mickey Blair was born Michael Tenerelli in 1908 and grew up at 833 South 4th Street in Camden. His neighbor at 839 South 4th Street was Vincent Scola. Standing 5’5” tall, Blair fought as a super featherweight and lightweight throughout his career, which ran from 1925 to 1936. He compiled a record of 25 wins (including 3 knockouts), 11 losses, 2 draws, and 33 no decisions. Notable opponents included Roxie Allen, Eddie Chaney, Eddie Cool, Harry Blitman (managed by Max “Boo-Boo” Hoff), and Tony Falco. In his final fight in 1936, Blair competed as a welterweight, two pounds over the lightweight limit.
Blair was involved in a series of legal troubles during the early 1930s, including a 1933 armed robbery acquittal in Atlantic County and an appearance as a material witness in the 1934 investigation of the murder of Camden police officer William Feitz. He was murdered on November 4, 1941, at the Pleasure Bay Inn in Atlantic County. A grand jury investigation into his death followed in 1942.
Boxing Record
| Date | Opponent | Location | Result | Method | Rds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1936-10-14 | Bob Wilson | Camden NJ | W | PTS | 10 |
| 1931-12-21 | Eddie Cool | Atlantic City NJ | L | PTS | 8 |
| 1931-10-22 | Dick Clark | Paulsboro Arena, Paulsboro NJ | W | PTS | 6 |
| 1931-10-16 | Sammy Fuller | Rochester NY | L | KO | 2 |
| 1931-09-01 | Charley Gomer | Atlantic City NJ | W | PTS | — |
| 1930-12-22 | Harry Blitman | Jersey City NJ | L | KO | 5 |
| 1930-12-05 | Emery Cabana | Camden NJ | L | PTS | 8 |
| 1930-11-13 | Sherman Brown | Philadelphia PA | W | PTS | 8 |
| 1930-10-24 | Jimmy Batchelor | Camden NJ | W | PTS | 8 |
| 1930-09-26 | Emery Cabana | Camden NJ | D | PTS | 8 |
| 1930-09-11 | Mickey Doyle | Philadelphia PA | W | PTS | 8 |
| 1930-08-12 | Calvin Reid | Atlantic City NJ | W | PTS | 8 |
| 1930-07-22 | Young Patsy Wallace | Atlantic City NJ | W | PTS | 8 |
| 1930-07-08 | Tony Falco | Atlantic City NJ | L | PTS | 8 |
| 1930-06-23 | Eddie Forte | Camden NJ | W | KO | 2 |
| 1930-06-17 | Tony Falco | Broadway A.C., Philadelphia PA | W | PTS | 8 |
| 1929 | Frankie Hayes | L | TKO | 2 | |
| 1929 | Stanislaus (Tani) Loayza | L | TKO | 9 | |
| 1929 | Roxie Allen | L | PTS | 8 | |
| 1928-12-17 | Stanislaus (Tani) Loayza | Arena, Philadelphia PA | L | KO | 8 |
| 1928-05-22 | Tommy Murray | Wilmington DE | W | PTS | 8 |
| 1928 | Marcel Zavella | W | KO | 6 | |
| 1928 | Al Winkler | W | PTS | 8 | |
| 1928 | George Amblard | W | PTS | 8 | |
| 1928 | Joey Hadfield | W | PTS | 8 | |
| 1928 | Ernie Ceasar | W | PTS | 8 | |
| 1928 | Al Winkler | W | PTS | 8 | |
| 1928 | Hubert Gillis | W | PTS | 8 | |
| 1928 | Sammy Moffo | W | PTS | 8 | |
| 1928 | Mickey Diamond | W | PTS | 8 | |
| 1928 | Roxie Allen | L | PTS | 8 | |
| 1928-04-27 | Joey Michaels | Camden NJ | D | ND | 8 |
| 1928-03-12 | Tommy Murray | Philadelphia PA | L | PTS | 6 |
| 1928-01-03 | Pete Zivic | Fairmont WV | L | KO | 3 |
| 1927-03-18 | Nick Quagarelli | Camden NJ | NC | ND | 8 |
| 1927 | Frankie Ferro | NC | ND | ||
| 1927 | Emery Cabana | NC | ND | ||
| 1927 | Ernie Tredesco | NC | ND | ||
| 1927 | Tim O’Dowd | NC | ND | ||
| 1927 | Eddie Chaney | NC | ND | ||
| 1927 | Eddie Chaney | NC | ND | ||
| 1927 | Tommy “Kid” Murphy | NC | ND | ||
| 1927 | Sammy Moffo | NC | ND | ||
| 1927 | Emery Cabana | NC | ND | ||
| 1927 | Joey Hadfield | W | 6 | ||
| 1927 | Freddy Jackson | W | 6 | ||
| 1926-12-25 | Harry (Kid) Decker | Arena, Philadelphia PA | W | PTS | 6 |
| 1926 | Chick Emmons | W | KO | 6 | |
| 1926 | Joe Wilson | W | PTS | 6 | |
| 1926 | Joe Boyle | W | PTS | 6 | |
| 1926 | Joe Kansas | NC | ND | 6 | |
| 1926 | Joe Boyle | NC | ND | 6 | |
| 1926 | Patsy Nelson | NC | ND | 6 | |
| 1926 | Johnny Shearn | NC | ND | 6 | |
| 1926 | Eddie Palmer | NC | ND | 6 | |
| 1926 | Eddie Palmer | NC | ND | 6 | |
| 1926 | Johnny Shearn | NC | ND | 6 | |
| 1926 | Jimmy Burns | NC | ND | 6 | |
| 1926 | Buck Fleming | NC | ND | 6 | |
| 1926 | Sammy Moffo | NC | ND | 8 | |
| 1926 | Sammy Moffo | NC | ND | 8 | |
| 1926 | Tony Russo | NC | ND | 8 | |
| 1926 | Johnny Dixon | NC | ND | 8 | |
| 1926 | George Amblard | NC | ND | 8 | |
| 1926 | Freddie Jackson | NC | ND | 8 | |
| 1926 | Johnny Shearn | NC | ND | 8 | |
| 1925 | Eddie Palmer | W | KO | 5 | |
| 1925 | Jack Kelly | NC | ND | 6 | |
| 1925 | Charlie Cunningham | NC | ND | 6 | |
| 1925 | Frankie Goldsmith | NC | ND | 6 | |
| 1925 | Harry “Kid” Wallace | NC | ND | 6 | |
| 1925 | Tommy Langdon | NC | ND | 6 | |
| 1925 | Eddie Palmer | NC | ND | 6 | |
| 1925 | Harry “Kid” Wallace | NC | ND | 8 |
Blair and Chaney Get Return Shots
Camden Courier-Post —
Meet Moffo and Spearing in Feature Bouts at Ball Park Friday
Mickey Blair, Camden’s promising featherweight, will get an opportunity to wipe away the only stain on an otherwise spotless career next Friday when he meets his only conqueror, Billy Moffo, the Bristol bearcat, in the feature bout at the Public Service Ball Park, Twelfth and Federal streets. Moffo is the lad who halted Blair’s winning streak in a hard-fought battle last month, and Mickey is training hard to try and avenge that setback. If successful against the Pennsylvanian, the Camden youth will go after bigger game.
Joe Spearing, the rugged Camden lightweight, and Eddie Chaney, Whitman Park star, appear in another return engagement in the semi-windup. Spearing first leaped into fistic prominence by beating Chaney at the Temple Theatre last winter. While Eddie is anxious to turn the tables this time, Spearing is planning an active campaign, and he will try hard to repeat his impressive victory.
Tommy Boylan, the scrappy Beverly bantamweight, faces Ray Weigand, of Philadelphia, in the second setto. Weigand was originally booked to meet Boylan at the last show, but an injury prevented the Philadelphian from going through with the bout. Kid Bevo, the elongated Trentonian who knocked out Boylan at the Convention Hall last winter, returns to Camden and faces Tommy Lyons, of Gloucester, in the opening bout. All four fights are slated for eight rounds.
Mickey Blair Wins Mythical Lightweight Crown by Decisive Victory Over Sammy Moffo
Camden Courier-Post —
South Camden Flash Puts Up Most Sensational Bout of Career
WINS BY WIDE MARGIN
BY FRANK H. RYAN, Courier Sports Editor
Mickey Blair, South Camden’s fistic wizard, today wears the mythical lightweight championship of Camden and vicinity.
Boxer, Sayrs’ Aide Nabbed in Tipsy Row
Camden Courier-Post —
Bertman Frees Both After Police Tell of Fuss at Brewer’s Cafe
Mickey Blair, Camden pugilist, and Thomas Schneider, secretary to Commissioner William D. Sayrs, Jr., started the New Year by getting drunk and becoming both abusive and pugnacious when ordered away from Horace Brewer’s restaurant on Market street. Patrolman Frank Evans, Charles Bowen and August Fortune arrested Blair, Schneider and one Joseph Borini after they created a disturbance outside the restaurant following their ejection.
The case was called before Judge Bernard Bertman, who suspended sentence on all three. Blair, 19, lives at 833 South Fourth Street; Schneider at 414 Spruce Street; Borini, 22, at 324 Pine Street.
Mickey Blair Denies Charge of Police
Camden Courier-Post —
Says He Wasn’t in Cafe; Blames ‘Mistaken Identity’ for Fuss
“Mickey” Blair, widely known Camden pugilist, today issued a complete denial of charges made against him and two companions by police before Judge Bertman Tuesday. Blair, Thomas Schneider, secretary to Commissioner Sayrs, and Joseph Bardini were arrested Sunday morning in front of Brewer’s Restaurant by Patrolman Frank Evans, Charles Bowen and August Fortune.
Blair declared that he was not inside the restaurant and that he was the victim of mistaken identity. Horace Brewer, proprietor of the restaurant, also denied that Blair or his companions were inside his establishment at any time that evening.
Fans Anticipate Stirring Bout When Mickey Blair Clashes With Joey Michaels Here Tonight
Camden Courier-Post —
EVEN MONEY PREVAILS AS BOUT DRAWS NEAR
Friends of Principals Will Not Offer Odds on Convention Hall Final
BOTH BOYS CONFIDENT
Admirers of Mickey Blair, clever downtown Italian, are wagering even money that Blair will outpoint Joey Michaels, the Riverside knockout king when they clash in the feature eight-round scrap at the Convention Hall tonight. Michaels’ supporters are willing to back their man at the same price. Despite Blair’s recent broken hand injury, he has trained hard and is confident of victory.
Fans Jeer As Referee Smith Gives Draw Decision in ‘Mickey’ Blair-Joey Michaels Bout
Camden Courier-Post —
BLAIR’S SKILL OFFSET MICHAELS KAYO PUNCH
Downtown Italian Wages Great Scrap in Holding Knockout King at Bay
MORRIS STOPS CURRIE
By TOM RYAN
Mickey Blair, downtown Italian, once more is the idol of Camden boxing devotees after his brilliant performance against Joey Michaels, the Riverside knockout king, last night at the Convention Hall. Blair dominated seven of the eight rounds with his superior boxing skill, but Referee Sgt. Ray Smith’s draw decision was met with jeers from the crowd. Despite Michaels’ knockout power, Blair’s clever footwork and counter-punching kept the Riverside slugger at bay for most of the contest.
In the undercard, Morris stopped Currie; Kelly won over Buck; Collins took a dive; and Leon Lucas, Olympic champion, was introduced to the crowd.
Gorman Meets Test Against Joe Bashara
Camden Courier-Post —
Hard-Hitting Middleweights Meet in Prelim to Forgione-McGorgary Bout Tuesday
ALLEN FIGHTS MURPHY
Successful so far in a comeback campaign launched recently, Joe Bashara, hard-hitting middleweight from Baltimore, will stack up against a tough customer in one of the preliminary bouts at the all-star show arranged by the Matthew Purnell Post, 518, Veterans of Foreign Wars, at the Camden Convention Hall next Tuesday. Tip Gorman faces Bashara in the prelim to the Forgione-McGorgary main event.
Roxie Allen faces Tommy Murphy in the semi-final; Al Gordon meets Jesse Gosa in another prelim; and Leon Lucas makes his professional debut against Muaby Brown.
Blair to Meet Clark in Paulsboro Windup
Camden Courier-Post —
Paulsboro, Oct. 15.—Boxing will make its indoor appearance here on Thursday night, October 22, when six bouts will be staged at the Paulsboro Arena, which has been renovated to such an extent that it will seat 1200. It was announced yesterday by Matchmaker Jack Fitzgerald that he has signed Mickey Blair, popular Camden lightweight, and Dick Clark, of Memphis, Tenn., to clash in the main event of six rounds. Five other bouts will fill out the card.
Blair Faces Clark in Paulsboro Bout
Camden Courier-Post —
Paulsboro, Oct. 22.—Indoor boxing will make its debut here tonight at the Paulsboro Arena when Promoter Jack Fitzgerald presents a card of six all-star matches. The first bout is timed to start at 8.30 p. m. Mickey Blair, pride of South Camden, is down to oppose Dick Clark, of Memphis, Tenn., in the feature bout of six rounds. Five undercard bouts will precede the main event.
Blair Conquers Clark in Paulsboro Feature
Camden Courier-Post —
Camden Lightweight Easy Winner Before 1200 Fans at Indoor Show
LAWSON-CRAMER DRAW
Paulsboro, Oct. 23.—Mickey Blair, Camden lightweight, added another victim to his long string here last night when he outpointed Dick Clark of Memphis, Tenn. in the six-round feature attraction at the Paulsboro Arena. Although the windup was a good scrap, Blair had much the better of the going before 1200 fans. The Lawson-Cramer undercard bout ended in a draw.
Blair and Pals Held Without Bail
Camden Courier-Post —
Camden Boxer Must Face Charge of Robbing Shore Cigar Store
By Staff Correspondent.
Atlantic City, May 31.—Mickey Blair and his two companions charged with the holdup and robbery of an Atlantic City store proprietor were held without bail for the grand jury last night at a preliminary hearing before Magistrate Francis J. Waldmayer. Blair, Thomas Banalli and Charles Parisi were arrested after a license plate led police to Absecon. The charge stems from the $365 robbery of Mrs. Barbara Lehman’s cigar store at 1209 Arctic Avenue.
Mickey Blair Freed as Uncle Posts Bail
Camden Courier-Post —
Mays Landing, June 9.—Mickey Blair, Camden boxer, today was released from the Atlantic county jail when his uncle, William Tenerelli, 296 Chestnut street, Camden, posted $5000 bail. Blair’s two companions, Bonalli and Parisi, were unable to raise bail. Edward Martino serves as Blair’s counsel.
April Grand Jury Indicts Blair
Camden Courier-Post —
Billed as Bomber — Mickey Blair portrait caption
Billed as Bomber
MICKEY BLAIR
The April Grand Jury yesterday returned an indictment against Blair charging him with threatening to kill a Pennsauken man by bombing his home. It was the first time Blair has ever been indicted, although arrested 10 times for various offenses.
Two Camden Pals Also Accused in Holdup of Store
Camden Courier-Post —
12 Charges Are Returned Against Gang of Six in Torture Case
FOUR WOMEN TESTIFY
Atlantic City, June 17.—Two Camden men indicted by the Camden County Grand Jury on robbery indictments faced a grand jury here as Atlantic City returned 12 robbery indictments against a gang of six, including Blair, in connection with the jewelry theft from Herman Meier. The charges included torture with matches. Four women served as material witnesses.
Mickey Blair Trial Scheduled Monday
Camden Courier-Post —
‘On Again-Off Again’ Robbery Hearing With 2 Pals Much Delayed
The “on again-off again” trial of Mickey Blair, Camden prize fighter, and two companions on robbery indictments in Atlantic county, is listed to go on hearing Monday at Mays Landing. Blair, 23, of 833 South 4th Street; Thomas Bonalli, 23, of 270 Walnut Street; and Charles Parisi, 22, of 313 Pine Street, are charged with taking $33.07 from Mrs. Barbara Lehman and Benjamin Rubenstein at 1209 Arctic Avenue on May 18.
Mickey Blair Free, Accusers Arrested
Camden Courier-Post —
Plaintiff in Robbery Held After Failure to Identify Suspects
Mays Landing, Feb. 6.—Mickey Blair, well-known boxer and two other Camden youths were acquitted by a jury in Atlantic County Criminal Court here today of participation in an Atlantic City cigar store holdup nine months ago. The acquittal followed summary arrest of a state’s witness on perjury charges at the direction of Judge William H. Smathers. Blair remains under a separate bombing charge in Camden county.
Police Officer William Feitz Investigation
Camden Courier-Post — September 10–11, 1934
Mickey Blair Admits Visit to Crawford Smith
Camden Courier-Post —
Feitz Slaying ‘Mystery’
Camden Courier-Post —
POLICE ADMIT FEITZ SLAYING IS ‘MYSTERY’
‘Still in the Dark,’ Cops Say After Three Weeks of Vice Probe
BLAIR LAWYER SCORES ‘FARCE’
Three weeks after the slaying of Detective William T. Feitz, police admitted yesterday that they are “completely in the dark” in their efforts to solve the murder and find the slayer.
Although Mickey Blair, former pugilist, is held as the most important witness in the case and police say they believe Blair knows who killed Feitz, they have no one under direct suspicion, the police said.
This was in direct contradiction to a police statement of several days ago, in which it was said that a New York gunman of peculiar appearance was sought as the trigger man.
Lawyer Flays Police
The conflicting stories coming from the police department yesterday drew a scathing fire of ridicule from Blair’s attorney, Edward V. Martino.
In a review of Blair’s surrender, Martino flayed the police for “many contradictory statements” and said their handling of Blair is a “disgrace to the department.”
The handling of the case drew this comment from Martino:
“Such conduct on the part of an intelligent police force is detestable.”
Martino’s criticism of the department and the announcement that Mayor Roy R. Stewart will present such facts and evidence as he has gathered in his probe of police connivance with vice or dereliction in duty to Supreme Court Justice Frank T. Lloyd constituted the only developments in the case yesterday.
Double-cross Hinted
Stewart said he will give Justice Lloyd and Prosecutor Samuel P. Orlando his complete data on the police and Feitz probes and is ready to present the same data to the grand jury if Lloyd and Orlando consider this course advisable.
Martino, describing step-by-step the events leading to Blair’s surrender and his subsequent examination drew the conclusion that Police Chief Arthur Colsey is “either tell-
(Continued on Page Four)
Bribery Charges in Feitz Case
Camden Courier-Post —
Bribery Charged by Grand Jurors
BRIBERY CHARGED BY GRAND JURORS
26 Other Persons Named in 111 True Bills on Numbers
KLOSTERMANS TO FACE TRIAL
2 Speakeasy Owners Paid Hush Money, Graft Probers Hear
COLSEY DROPS ACCUSED MEN
A bumper crop of 111 indictments was returned yesterday by the September grand jury probing gambling against alleged numbers operators alone.
In addition, Mickey Blair, free on bail as a material witness in the murder of Detective William T. Feitz, was indicted at 26 individuals with craft and bribe-taking, and 111 wholesale indictments constituted the first visible results of the grand jury probe of vice in Camden in connection with the police vice graft probe conducted by Supreme Court Justice Frank T. Lloyd.
Those indicted: Patrolman Thomas C. Cheeseman, 30 indictments; Patrolman Vernon Jones, 30 indictments; Patrolman George Weber, also known as "Bucky Weaver," 20 indictments; Patrolman Frank Wilmot, one indictment.
All are attached to the Second district and were among those suspended from the force two weeks ago in connection with the Feitz inquiry by the Commission.
Looking on in court with Detective Frank T. Feitz on the night of September 2, were detectives George Ward and Samuel Mardino.
Cheeseman was a brother-in-law of Mrs. Emma Heisler and was shot through a city hall window while being used as a target to identify others.
Those indicted, with the exception of the six policemen, were among the 12 members of the force suspended by order of Police Chief Arthur Colsey two weeks ago in connection with vice connections with vice.
Patrolman George Weber is named in 20 indictments; jointly indicted with other detectives in numbers policy indictments; as having paid the policemen along with Patrolman Vernon Jones, in March. They are reported to have also been indicted on 29 separate counts of accepting policy payments.
Four of the six policemen indicted yesterday on charges of bribery. They are George Weber, (upper left) also known as "Bucky Weaver"; Frank Wilmot (upper right), Howard Fisher, (lower left), and Joseph Leonhardt, (lower right), who had been dismissed from the police department.
Ex-Fighters Are Set for Charity Show
Camden Courier-Post —
Jersey Joe Walcott and Roxie Allen in Feature at Civic Hall Tomorrow
Present and past greats of Camden boxing will do their all for charity tomorrow night, when they appear on a card sponsored by the United Democratic Clubs of Camden, at the Camden Convention Hall. Fifteen bouts of three rounds each are scheduled to be held, and the entire proceeds will be used to provide Christmas baskets for Camden’s needy. The boxers and referees have generously donated their services free of charge, and are to be complimented for their willingness to aid a worthy cause.
All 15 bouts are exhibition matches as the principals have been out of training for several years. However, they have done their best to get in pretty fair shape during the past two weeks and a number of interesting bouts should be presented.
Jersey Joe Walcott, still in action in the heavyweight ranks, and Roxie Allen, who 10 years ago was Camden’s leading lightweight, but who retired two years ago, are on the card. Allen and Walcott met here about two years ago and the latter knocked out Roxie in a scheduled eight-rounder.
Blairs Box Each Other
Allen quit fighting about this bout, but still is in good physical shape as Frankie Blair, one of Camden’s well-known heavyweights showed three fast rounds against Walcott. Frankie and Mickey Blair, both of South Camden, are two fighters who spent themselves in out-of-town fights, and are slated to box each other. Frankie, a welterweight, fought his greatest bouts in New York City about two years, while Mickey was one of the best featherweights in the East shortly after the World War.
George Chaney, Benny Bass, Kid Williams, Pete Herman were some of the boys Balling met in his prime. He is slated to face Lew Skymer, another Attell.
Hindle Battles Chaney
Jackie Hindle and Eddie Chaney, both local residents, are due to meet. Hindle and Chaney were among the welterweights of local weights who flourished here in 1926, ’27 and ’28. Allen, Hindle, Chaney, Shamus McGuire, Charlie Mack, White, Lew Jackson, and Johnny Attell were included among the men which made boxing a major attraction in this city during those years.
Charley Mack meets Young O’Connor, Jackson in short four-round bouts. Spearing battles Frankie Rapp, downtown southpaw who fought four of the best featherweights in the East in short time. Pee Wee Ross and Attell clashes with Billy Marino.
Charity Boxing Show Results
Camden Courier-Post —
Nearly 4000 Witness Old-Timers in Action
NEARLY 4000 WITNESS OLD-TIMERS IN ACTION
Past and Present South Jersey Boxers Go Through Paces in Charity Show
NO DECISIONS RENDERED
By FRANK KOPESKY
They turned back the sporting page, month after month, year after year. And out of the staring type and fading newsprint stepped the shadows of all the names you've been reading about these past weeks.
With nearly 4,000 in attendance, the United Democratic Clubs of Camden sponsored a charity boxing show at Convention Hall last night that turned into a sentimental journey through the years for most of the fans.
Braddock Gets Big Hand
The feature attraction and a man who received a thunderous reception from the gallery was popular James J. Braddock, former heavyweight champion of the world, who refereed the final two bouts.
Roxie Allen, of Camden, and Hindie, who 10 years ago was Camden's leading lightweight, but who retired two years ago, were paired on the card. Allen and Walcott met here about two years ago and the latter knocked out Roxie in a scheduled eight-rounder.
However, Walcott held a 25-pound pull in the weights, scaling around 165, while Frankie weighed around 160. Walcott eventually knocked out Allen, Roxie had the satisfaction of flooring Jersey Joe in the first two and a felt hook to the jaw sending the Negro down for a count of two.
Blairs Box Each Other
Allen quit fighting about this bout, but still is in good physical shape as Frankie Blair, one of Camden's well-known heavyweights showed three fast rounds against Walcott.
Frankie and Mickey Blair, both of South Camden, are two fighters who spent their greatest days in out-of-town fights, and are slated to box each other. Frankie, a welterweight, fought his greatest bouts in New York City about two years, while Mickey was one of the best featherweights in the East shortly after the World War.
Tommy Ricco and Young O'Connor, another South Camden featherweight, and Johnny Duca, both of Paulsboro, are the other three boys who will be active in the card of events, while Johnny Duca squares off against Al White, also of Paulsboro.
The veteran of the card is Battling Mack, one of the finest characters ever to enter the fight game among South Camden featherweights in the East, shortly after the World War. George Chaney, Benny Bass, Kid Williams, Pete Herman were some of the boys Balling met in his prime. He is slated to face Lew Skymer, another Attell. Mac...
Hindle Battles Chaney
Jackie Hindle and Eddie Chaney, both local residents, are due to meet. Hindle and Chaney were among the welterweights of local weights who flourished here in 1926, '27 and '28. Allen, Hindle, Chaney, Shamus Maguire, Charlie Mack, White, Lew Jackson, and Johnny Attell were included among the men which made boxing a major attraction in this city during those years.
Charley Mack meets Young O'Connor, Jackson in short four-round bouts. Spearing battles Frankie Rapp, downtown southpaw who fought four of the best featherweights in the East in short time. Pee Wee Ross and Attell clashes with Billy Marino.
Firpo is a lightweight, packed a great left hook and has, in recent [years been known to all South Jersey fight addicts.]
Taggart Cleared in Murder Probe
Camden Courier-Post —
Taggart Cleared in Murder Probe — grand jury presentment on Blair death
[Continued from page one]
Grand jury presentment on the murder of Mickey Blair at Pleasure Bay Inn. Mrs. Tenerelli appeared as material witness. Graft testimony presented. "Some of Laxities" section details conditions of Mrs. Tenerelli's incarceration. Thomas D. Taggart cleared in the probe.
Charley Humes Column
Camden Courier-Post —
Life Hereabouts
Life Hereabouts
BY CHARLEY HUMES
DOWN MEMORY LANE with that Old Gang of Yours . . . in a few of the years when Our Town was as good a sport town as any in the land . . . from the time that Taylor and Gunnis promoted fights through the years to Roxey Allen . . . Mickey Blair . . . Eddie Chaney . . . Shamus Maguire . . . Pee Wee Ross . . . Jackie Hindle . . . Watson Finch . . . Georgie Abner . . . Nick Nicholas . . . Dixie Allen . . .
The days when Camden was the Mecca for Philly fight fans . . . with champions like Mike O'Dowd . . . Benny Leonard . . . Pete Herman . . . Jimmy Wilde . . . Gene Tunney . . . fighting in the Armory on Haddon avenue . . . for One, Two and Three . . . tax included . . . the days of John Smith . . . whose son, Lee, became one of our great friends . . . the days when Philly came to Camden to see the best fighters in the land . . .
AND THEN DOWN through the years with Lou McFarland . . . Higgins and Kaplan . . . Tommy James . . . the man named Doyle who always gave us a smile when we called him "Mister" because he was so kind . . . When Sergeant Ray Smith became a referee . . . "Pose" Robinson . . . the days of Willie Davis . . . Harry Smith . . . Jim Kelly . . .
Fights in the ball park at Twelfth and Federal streets . . . at the Fairview Ball Park . . . in the Temple Theatre . . . the Star Theatre . . . Newt Blanchard, the only promoter who gave us MORE money than we asked for . . . The Broadway Theatre . . . the early days of Convention Hall . . .
THE TIME they opened the Plaza Hotel Gym and all the fine lads on the program . . . with the late Mayor Stewart in the audience . . . and many other dignitaries . . . and being "dared" into a match with Ray Smith, because his opponent failed to show . . . the same guy who fought Tunney . . . Mike Brennan . . . Gibbons . . . Martin . . . Dempsey . . . Loughran . . . and seeing the Sergeant's body covered with blood in the second round . . . our very own blood . . .
THE YEARS when Gloucester city was the fightenest town in the nation . . .
The days of K. O. Joey O'Donnell . . . who fought them all. . . Of Frankie Conway . . . who never took a backward step . . . and still has the same courage today. . . . Of Willie Spencer . . . who headlined show after show. . . . Charlie Daggert . . . now a referee in Philly. . . . Jimmy Rafferty . . . Eddie (Kid) Wagner . . . Young Sherlock . . . Abe Wustbond, later an instructor of boxing at Herman's gym in Philly . . . Eddie Forrest . . . and his brother, who fought Battling Nelson . . . the crowd-pleasing Willie Fuller . . . Joey O'Connor.
Back when "Chick" Hunt fought under the name of Eddie Melson . . . and later, in professional ranks, the night he fought Joe "Kid" Fisher at the Apollo theatre in Gloucester. . . . Chick is our friend today . . . but we don't believe he ever will forgive us for that night when we yelled at Joe to . . . well, we yelled at Joe . . . The days of Harry "Dick" Donohue, trainer and manager of Nick Nichols.
AND THE BEST, learning the business under the incomparable Eddie Prince . . . who knows how to condition fighters . . . then and now . . . with the best in the nation. . . . The days when they called Mister Georgano "Lemons" . . . but affectionately . . . not because he was ever sour.
When Johnny Sapio . . . who only days ago was honored at a banquet at Weber's Hof Brau by so many people the walls bulged . . . fought under the name of Young Joe Grim.
HOW MANY will remember when our own Eddie Garrity, now the sedate deputy director of public safety in Our Town, was a boxer . . . with plenty on the ball? . . . When George Murphy boxed around here . . . and the Tighe brothers, Eddie and Jimmy . . . Remember Richie Hoehner? . . . Jimmie Jordan? . . . Eddie Douglas? . . . Bobby Graham, then a soldier stationed in Gloucester? . . . Steve Jackson? . . . Frankie McLaughlin (whose brother Neil WAS on Retreat with us, Mrs. McLaughlin, and gave us much of this information)?
Recall Johnny "Homo" Bryan? . . . Duncan Carswell, Jimmy and Jack Dean, referees, all three? . . . Theo Ellick, the matchmaker. . . . And who could forget Joe Spearing, afraid of nobody then and now . . . he fought our boy Fisher three times to our knowledge . . . once in Atlantic City . . . another at one of the ball parks here and the third (the windup, no less) in Gloucester. . . . Who won . . . who cares?
THE DAYS when a Cook was a promoter . . . and a Politician(?) got the gravy. . . . The time "Red" Haines fought Roxey Allen over top the old Standard movies at Second and Vine streets . . . amateur against a near-champ . . . and what a battle . . . when Everett Joslin and Johnny Taylor were on the First district wagon and backed it up to the door leading to the second floor, and all the people gathering around because they thought it was a raid . . . and all they came to see was a round or two of the fights.
Back when Joey Powell had an iron fist . . . and Soldier Freedman an iron jaw. . . . When Mayor Victor King was always in the front row at the bouts . . . when Augie Oswald "worked" the river in his boat for shad and other fish . . . when a dollar was a dollar and not 27 cents . . . when the downtown fight gym was operated by Charley Mack . . . whose brother Battling Mack was a great drawing card and a great fighter . . . and Charley was no softie, either.
THE SUMMER BOUTS in the ball park when you could get a swell bleacher seat for half a buck—and be closer to the bouts than $50 seats at some of the big clubs now . . . and see better fights, too.
When Camden had growing pains . . . and its people started moving to the suburbs . . . when a guy who made 40 slugs a week was a "big executive." . . . When copy boys on the papers got $4 a week . . . and had enough left over from their salary to lend money to reporters who made the tremendous sum of $25 a week. . . . Great days, say you . . . great days, say us. . . . Nostalgia.
1930 Boxing Record Statistics
Statistical boxing record showing KOs, wins, no decisions, draw, lost categories by year from 1925 to 1930.