World Welterweight Championship Reynolds, Joe vs. Parks, Joey II Patrick, Joel vs. Rosano, Leon Jordan, Jerry vs. Sowell, Benny Reynolds, Tommy (final) vs. Dale, Gene (final) Postponed Event
Californian "Geronimo" Jordan wrested the welterweight championship from "Honey Bear" Akins in Los Angeles in December of '58, taking the title after 15 rounds by a unanimous decision. Competing for the title for the 2nd time in five months in this event postponed for 3 weeks, Jordan again outlasted the Missourian for the unanimous decision after another 15, this time in front of Akins' hometown crowd. In a fine rematch on the undercard, Joe Reynolds, the local hero who as an amateur had won the 1952 Intercity Golden Gloves title for lightweights, took on the pugnacious Joey Parks, come down the Missouri from Omaha, knocking Parks out again, though Reynolds required 5 rounds this time, instead of 3. Also pleasing his local fans in one of a pair of contests pitting welterweights, Joel Patrick pounded Indianapolis's Leon Rosano for 6 and then was declared the victor, while in the other, Chicago's Jerry Jordan schooled the novice from Detroit, Benny Sowell, for most of 3 rounds before putting him down for a full count. The short fight on the card at the Kiel Auditorium had Tommy Reynolds, the Golden Gloves Intercity champion at flyweight (1955) and bantam (1957), in his 2nd pro match, defeating local featherweight Gene Dale over the course of 4 frames, and neither returned to the ring, according to current records. |