If you thought the weather conditions were bad on Saturday, then read this...

This is a report from the August 17, 1962 issue of Boxing News for the Brian London-Howard King fight in Blackpool:

London KO's King During Rain-Storm

"We have never seen a contest fought under worse conditions than this. The ring was more fitted for a kiddies' paddling-pool than a boxing match, and by the time London and King entered the ring, in a continuous downpour, yard-brushes had to be used to sweep away the water, which was standing in pools.

Immediately the two contestants climbed into the watery arena and they both stripped off their shoes and socks, whilst a huge barrel of sawdust was tipped into the centre of the ring and brushed level to establish some kind of foothold.

In these farcical conditions Brian London, Blackpool, knocked out Howard King, Nevada, after 2 minutes 6 seconds of the sixth round.

After the usual preliminaries and with torrential rain belting down into the ring the bell went for the first round.

London tore across the ring and straight away belted at the tall coloured man's midriff with a two-fisted barrage. King, taken by surprise, could only cover up as the rain streamed down his face...

Both boxers slipped and slithered but somehow managed to keep their balance as each in turn attempted to score with lefts to the face...

...Then the bell ended the [First] round. At this stage, Wally Thom, the referee, bedecked in plastic raincoat, was seen to converse with someone outside the ring and then went over to London's corner.

The Blackpool man was evidently pleading with Thom not to stop the bout. The referee then crossed over to King's corner and had a few words there. He wanted to end the fight but told King that as London was ahead on points he would have to declare him the winner. It was then announced that the fight would carry on...

Shortly after the start of the third round King fell awkwardly in attepting to avoid another London attack and by the time they reached the fourth round London appeared to be more confident and was forcing the pace throughout.

Two hard rights to the head sent the American slithering across the ring and before he knew it, London had landed another stinging right handed to the same spot and King's legs wobbled...

King was first across the ring as the bell sounded the start of the fifth round and he surprised London with a left and right to the head.

This only stung the Blackpool man into action and with a sweeping right hook to the head London floored his man for a count of "six".

On rising, King fell into another clinch as London came forward again, but later in the round the American was on the deck again for a "three" count, this time from a slip.

The sixth round opened with both boxers scoring with left jabs to the face, then each man again slipped in the sawdust in trying to avoid left hooks.

Then more sparring, and more slipping, finally, with London rushing at his man, King was sent slithering across the ring on his back and came to rest with his bare feet touching the ring apron.

He shook his head, half sat up and looked around as the seconds ticked away, then decided to get up but it was too late.

He had just failed to beat the count, leaving London the winner of a fight that never should have started."

:yikes

 

Yep, and London could have gotten the fight stopped and he would have won on points (after just one round!).