Judo Versus Boxing:
Can a Professional Boxer
Beat a Judo Expert?
Judo Versus Boxing:
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Beck made some of the following acerb comments on judo: "Judo ... is a complete fraud ... Every judo man I’ve ever met was a braggart and a showoff ... Any boxer can beat a judo man.” Beck then described an alleged fight between himself and a judoka in which he, Beck, naturally prevails using boxing. I met Beck. He stands approximately 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs about 155 pounds. And he is no Rocky Graziano. Offered $1,000 In concluding, Beck proposed a contest between a judoka and himself—no, but a boxer the caliber of Gene Fullmer. His parting comments were, “Judo bums hear me one and all! It is one thing to fracture pine boards, bricks and assorted inanimate objects (Here, he’s confused between the sports.), but quite another to climb into a ring with a trained and less cooperative target. My money is ready (Beck offered $1,000 to any winning judoka). Where are the takers?” A judoka brought the article to the attention of Gene LeBell. LeBell promptly contacted Beck through Rogue and offered to meet any boxer Beck selected. LeBell, the 1954 and 1955 National AAU judo champion, was free to meet a professional boxer because of his semiprofessional standing. He owns and operates his own judo school in Hollywood, California. Other judokas would lose their amateur standing if they fought a professional boxer. Contract Was Prepared After much vacillating on the part of Beck, I prepared a contract, which set forth the following specific rules: The fight is scheduled for five rounds, three minutes per round. The boxer will wear a gi top and a belt. He can also wear boxing trunks, boxing shoes, and to his great advantage, unweighed speed-bag gloves, which completely cover his hands. He can apply any legitimate punch and hit in any circumstance. He will not be curtailed by NBA rules. LeBell, the judoka, will wear his gi, no shoes and no gloves. He can apply any recognized judo or karate technique except the karate kick. A winner will be declared under the following conditions: when his opponent is disabled or is counted out for 10 seconds. A referee will be the sole judge. Milo Savage Beck selected Milo Savage, a high-ranking middleweight. Savage had been fighting professionally since 1945. He had beaten such fighters as Holly Mims, Moses Ward and Bobby Boyd. He lost two close decisions to former champion Fullmer. He won his last eight fights, six by knockouts and was negotiating to meet champion Dick Tiger. Savage therefore seemed to be a true representative for boxing. The match was set for December 2, 1963, at the Fair Grounds in Salt Lake City, Beck and Savage’s hometown. On the night of the fight, contrary to the rules agreed and set forth in the contract, Savage wore a short, tight karate gi given to him by Beck, who answered that he did not know the difference between a judo gi and a karate gi. Savage also wore a pair of unusual speed-bag gloves. There was a metal or plastic plate under the leather running from the knuckles to the wrist and to the tip of the thumb. His fingers were not covered. It was potentially a lethal weapon. Savage, who proved to be a great competitor, asserted that he would fight LeBell in an overcoat, if necessary. But Beck and Savage’s manager insisted on the gloves and the gi. LeBell nevertheless consented to fight him under those conditions. A large partisan crowd was present, including Salt Lake’s favorite fighting brothers, Gene, Jay and Don Fullmer. Round One
Savage and LeBell moved cautiously toward each other. During the entire fight, Savage never extended his arms except to throw his fast, powerful punches. He maintained perfect balance and refused to rush the judoka. Instead, he moved cautiously, throwing jabs with those deadly gloves. Just before the round ended, LeBell managed to grab Savage’s short jacket, but the boxer was able to jerk away. In the engagement, LeBell pulled his left shoulder, an old contest injury he had reinjured a few weeks earlier. Round Two Realizing that he could apply only a limited number of techniques because of his “bum” shoulder, LeBell’s strategy was to set Savage up for a “front choke.” He succeeded to flip the boxer with a “corner throw” and immediately straddled him. Savage kept punching and finally managed to put his legs into LeBell’s, trying to break the hold. But Savage’s effort was futile. LeBell would not relax. Meanwhile, LeBell kept maneuvering for a better position, but the bell rang before he could end the contest. It was easily noticeable that Savage was able to elude the judoist because of his powerful strength and fighting instinct. Round Three Savage threw a perfect left jab and a right cross. The right just grazed LeBell as he ducked. And both men crashed into the ropes. LeBell attempted a “standing front choke,” but Savage quickly attacked his opponent’s body and slipped away from the grip. LeBell then grabbed Savage for a hip throw, but the boxer ceased punching and grabbed LeBell’s leg, thereby, preventing the judoka to move in for the throw. At that moment, Savage tried a “foot sweep.” It only jammed LeBell’s foot, but the movement undoubtedly revealed that Savage must have had some judo instruction before the fight. I also noticed several times that the boxer had attempted to ward off the judo expert with jigoti (judo defensive position). Round Four Savage leaned against the ropes and compelled LeBell to come to him. LeBell moved under Savage’s jabs and managed to throw Savage with a spectacular left-sided maki hari goshi. He quickly followed with a neck choke. In a few seconds, the boxer was out cold. The choke was what LeBell wanted to use. He explained that he had several opportunities to apply an armbar but feared that he might seriously disable Savage. He wanted to prove that judo could be effective without maiming the other party. Riot Was Averted Throughout the contest, the partisan crowd continuously screamed mercilessly, “C’mon Milo, knock him out!” “Put the redhead away!” “Smash him!” But when LeBell quickly ended the bout and effectively vanquished their idol, the crowd became violent. They threw bottles, paper cups and other debris into the ring. Fortunately, quick-thinking Jay Fullmer climbed into the ring to congratulate LeBell, thereby averting a riot. Throughout the bout, Savage was not able to land a devastating blow. His most effective punches were to LeBell’s body, but they were not crippling. The Future? What about the future? Will there be more bouts? Most likely. There will more Becks along the way who will not attempt to learn the sports or arts but will stir controversies between them. But before they open their mouths, they should take this advice: Was it Joe Louis who sagely said, “The sport of judo and boxing should never be compared because they are so different. If I were to meet a judo man and hit him first, I’ll bury him. But if I don’t and he grabs me, he’ll bury me.” Controversy Settled? It is doubtful whether this contest will really settle the controversy between boxing and judo. There will always be those who will say “if” this or that had happened the result would have been different. But perhaps this is the way it should be between the adherents of the two great sports. What was settled on December 2, 1963, was that a ranking professional boxer lost to a ranking judoka under rules that gave each contestant the best possible advantages for the use of his techniques. About the author: Dewey Lawes Falcone holds a black belt in judo. He accompanied Gene LeBell to Salt Lake City. |
