This content is protected 1. The opening was cautious on both men's parts. Lesnevich hurt Mills with a right hand. Foreshadowing the issues Mills has to followe. Lesnevich. 2. It was disastrous for Mills. He went down four times. The first time Gus hit him with two left hooks and was about to throw a right, but Mills, who had been driven into the ropes, fell on his hands and knees. The second KD was a rather typical one. Mills was already hurt and Lesnevich went in throwing bombs to try to get another KD. After a barrage, ending with a left hook and two right uppercuts, Mills was down again. Mills sank to the canvas from another barrage. It was a willing KD though. He looked like he was seeking relief by going down. Mills stood up and Lesnevich came in with his third wave. A prolonged series of right hand punches chopped Mills down. Straight rights, hooks, uppercuts. Mills went down for the fourth time, merely touching down with his left glove. Lesnevich. 6. Solid rally by Mills, but he still lost it. Lesnevich. 10. Lesnevich knocked Mills into the ropes. Mills got up, but a helluva right hand dropped him on his back. He BARELY got up, but was permitted to continue (stupid ref). Another right hand had him sagging over the bottom rope. Verdict: Good KO. Absolutely fun destruction to watch.
The British seem to have been into filming their top matches more than the Americans after the war. I don't know if we have Lesnevich filmed in a fight in the states in the 1940's, even though he was the champion through most of the decade. Mills looks a middling mauler. Lesnevich appears stylistically better, but is stocky for his weight, and looked very vulnerable to overhand rights. My reaction is that these men aren't the best in the division and an unofficial color line allowed them to get to the top in Mills case, and to prolong a stay at the top by Lesnevich. Neither is on the level of Charles, Moore, or Marshall, and perhaps others. I mentioned once before that in those days one was allowed to go down and take a count in an effort to survive with the ref not immediately stopping the fight. Mills took this advantage in the second round and it allowed him, as it did Pastor against Louis, to come back and make a fight of it. Lesnevich's rep has collapsed over the years because of the Billy Fox defenses. Fox had a puffed up record built on fixes. Lesnevich stopped him twice in title defenses. At the time these might have looked like solid defenses. Now they look like gimmes. It might not be at all Lesnevich's fault. Fox looked on paper to be a formidable opponent. Despite his short stature and reach, Lesnevich was matched quite often with heavies. He lost disastrously to Baksi and Woodc-ck, but KO'd Mauriello and Bettina. Thanks for posting. Whatever else, this was a fun fight.
that Ref, was Eugene Henderson, Britain's TOP Ref at the time... he was far from stupid, they were just way more lenient back them... let me tell you WHAT Happened to Henderson becuase of His STOPPAGE. the BBBofC, the Board, PULLED Him into Interagation to Explain 'His Stopping' the fight, there was only 4 Seconds let in the round. Henederson, explained to them even though we've got a good sense that Time is running out in a round, but in Moments of Such Intensity, time & everything else is lost to the hieghtened reality of the brutality & beating that a fighter might be taking... it is Then the Safety & Health of the Fighter IS the Priority. the BBBofC, the Board, wanted to SUSPEND Him & Fine him... Henderson Politely told them to get STUFFED and handed in his Resignation... that was the Reality of the Disdain & Desperation Britain/England harnessed for top World Titles among the BIGMEN, desperate to Cull the Insult of 'Horizontal Heavyweights' that the american Press labbelled them!!! anyway Eugene Henderson was no mug, he knew well the Corruption of Boxing, wrote an excellent book entitled "Box On" and was Reinstated a few years later, AFTER Mills, and Britain/England did finally Win a Title among the Bigboys. Corruption isn't simply Cheating & Theft, it is also Partisan.
This content is protected aha new footage of highlights the second encounter between these two gentleman had emerged, quite an interesting one this is
Thanks a lot for posting this ... coincidentally, I happened to be looking for this fight on YT a few weeks ago, but couldn't find it. IDK yet if it's mentioned in the vid, but Lesnevich had an all-but-guaranteed shot at Joe Louis' title lined up, & took this fight as an intended warm-up/payday. Needless to say, he blew his shot (& a big payday) w/ this fight.
Gus was a good fighter, beat tough opposition in Tami Mauriello (x2),Anton Christofordis and gave the great Billy Conn two solid fights. Shame he never gave Jimmy Bivins a return after losing a non-title bout. Here´s a radio broadcast of his 1st Conn fight: This content is protected
