80 years ago

Date: 19th November 1943

Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York, USA

Title: NYSAC World Lightweight Title

Promoter: Mike Jacobs

Bob Montgomery
( 55 - 6 - 3 )
Weight: 133¾ lbs

Beau Jack
( 55 - 8 - 2 )
Weight: 132¾ lbs

On November 19, 1943, Madison Square Garden in New York City hosted the highly anticipated rematch between Beau Jack and Bob Montgomery for the NYSAC World Lightweight Title. This bout, their second meeting, drew a crowd of 17,000 spectators eager to witness the resolution of their rivalry.

Jack, weighing 133 lbs, entered the ring as the challenger against the 134 lbs champion Montgomery. Despite being the title holder, oddsmakers heavily favoured Montgomery at 4-1.

The fight strategy for Jack, devised by his new trainer, Larry Amadee, proved to be crucial. Amadee instructed Jack to stay close to Montgomery, engage in infighting, and conserve energy when necessary. This approach allowed Jack to effectively neutralize Montgomery's strengths and capitalize on his own.

The bout was fiercely contested over the total 15-round distance. Jack's adherence to Amadee's game plan was evident throughout, as he consistently pressed the action in close quarters and responded aggressively when separated from clinches.

As the fight progressed into the later rounds, Montgomery mounted a strong comeback. The champion's resurgence was particularly notable in the final five rounds, with the last two being incredibly dominant. However, Jack's earlier work and ability to withstand Montgomery's late onslaught proved decisive.

When the final bell rang, the judges' scorecards reflected a unanimous decision in favour of Jack. Referee Young Otto scored the bout 7-6 in rounds for Jack. The other two judges saw it more widely for Jack, with scores of 10-5 and 10-4-1.

Unofficial scorecards from the press also favoured Jack, with the Associated Press scoring it 8-6-1 and United Press 8-5-2, both for Jack.

This victory marked Beau Jack's reclamation of the lightweight title he had lost to Montgomery six months earlier. The bout showcased Jack's adaptability and the importance of strategic planning in championship-level boxing. It also set the stage for further encounters between these two lightweight titans, cementing their rivalry as one of the most notable in the division's history during the 1940s.