Bob Montgomery vs Beau Jack II

A late rally that threatened to produce a knockout could not prevent the lightweight championship from changing hands for the second time in 6 months. Beau Jack recovered the New York State Athletic Commission’s world title from Bob Montgomery by unanimous decision over 15 rounds at Madison Square Garden on November 19, 1943. Montgomery finished strongly, particularly in the closing 2 rounds, but Jack survived to secure the verdict through the advantage built by his earlier work. Approximately 17,000 spectators watched the return contest between the fighters who had met for the same championship in May.

Montgomery had taken the title from Jack by unanimous decision on May 21. Since then, the Philadelphia boxer had beaten Al Reasoner, Frankie Wills, former welterweight champion Fritzie Zivic and Petey Scalzo. Jack’s preparations for the rematch followed a defeat by Bobby Ruffin and concern over a troublesome right knee. Montgomery was a substantial favourite. The championship remained divided: this contest concerned the New York commission’s recognition, while Sammy Angott held the National Boxing Association’s version.

Jack’s new trainer, Larry Amadee, prescribed close fighting and a more carefully regulated expenditure of effort. The challenger followed those instructions, staying near Montgomery and working with both hands when space opened after clinches. His crouch helped him deliver short punches inside. He began well, taking the initiative in the opening 2 rounds, before Montgomery found him with a right in the third. Jack answered in the fourth, but another right in round 5 drove him towards the ropes and forced him to hold. Montgomery’s most effective opportunities came when Jack straightened from his crouch.

The challenger recovered to resume his inside attack in rounds 6 and 7, combining punches to the body with uppercuts. Montgomery answered in the eighth, but Jack again increased his work. In round 9, an uppercut as they separated from a clinch staggered the champion towards the ropes. Montgomery was bleeding from the mouth and had to evade further punishment until the bell. Neither man could maintain an uninterrupted command. Montgomery landed another damaging right in the tenth and began the sustained late effort that made Jack’s early advantage increasingly important.

Montgomery pressed hard over the closing stages. Jack still found opportunities, including a left to the body in round 13, but the champion’s rights made the fourteenth especially dangerous for him. Jack remained upright despite being badly shaken. Both fighters finished marked and bleeding, and neither had scored a knockdown. Amadee’s insistence that Jack conserve himself at intervals proved important: the challenger had enough left to withstand Montgomery’s final attacks and complete the distance.

Referee Young Otto scored the fight 7-6-2 for Jack. Judges Joe Agnello and Bill Healy also favoured the challenger, their cards returning margins of 10-5 and 10-4-1. The Associated Press scored it 8-6-1 and United Press 8-5-2, both for Jack. The decision reversed the outcome of their first meeting and restored the championship Montgomery had taken from him. Their rivalry remained unsettled: Montgomery would regain the title by split decision in March 1944, before Jack won their final meeting, a contest without the championship at stake, the following August.

I like this fight as an example of a beaten fighter coming back with a proper plan. Montgomery had taken Jack’s title, and the defeat by Bobby Ruffin hardly suggested Beau was ready to reclaim it. But Larry Amadee gave him clear instructions: stay close, work inside and save something for the finish. Jack listened.

For me, the important detail is the crouch. Jack could work with short body punches and uppercuts, but Montgomery caught him when he straightened up. That’s the danger of fighting low without protecting yourself as you rise. Beau still found enough openings to build his advantage, then had to withstand a fierce late rally.

I wouldn’t describe this simply as courage winning through. Jack's aggression was backed by tactical discipline, and that deserves equal credit. Both men could hurt the other; neither had an easy night, and you can understand why the Garden public wanted them back. Jack earned the return victory by changing how he fought.