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Boxing At The 1908 Summer Olympics - Middleweight




It was the only boxing event in which a non-British boxer won a bout. Reginald Baker from Australia (competing on the Australasia team) won three before losing to Johnny Douglas in the final.


STANDINGS



BRACKET


  R1-title Round of 16
  R2-title Quarterfinals
  R3-title Semifinals
  R4-title Final
  R1-date 27 October
  R2-date 27 October
  R3-date 27 October
  R4-date 27 October
  R1-name1 '''Childs'''
  R1-score1 KO
  R1-name2 Aspa
  R1-score2 Ret (2nd)
  R1-name3 Dees
  R1-score3 2nd
  R1-name4 '''Baker'''
  R1-score4 KO
  R1-name5 '''Philo'''
  R1-score5 2
  R1-name6 Murdoch
  R1-score6 1
  R1-name7 ''None''
  R1-score7 -
  R1-name8 ''None''
  R1-score8 -
  R1-name9 '''Warnes'''
  R1-score9 KO
  R1-name10 Morard
  R1-score10 2nd
  R1-name11 ''None''
  R1-score11 -
  R1-name12 ''None''
  R1-score12 -
  R1-name13 Doudelle
  R1-score13 1st
  R1-name14 '''Douglas'''
  R1-score14 KO
  R1-name15 ''None''
  R1-score15 -
  R1-name16 ''None''
  R1-score16 -
  R2-name1 Childs
  R2-score1 0
  R2-name2 '''Baker'''
  R2-score2 2
  R2-name3 '''Philo'''
  R2-score3 -
  R2-name4 ''None''
  R2-score4 -
  R2-name5 '''Warnes'''
  R2-score5 -
  R2-name6 ''None''
  R2-score6 -
  R2-name7 '''Douglas'''
  R2-score7 -
  R2-name8 ''None''
  R2-score8 -
  R3-name1 '''Baker'''
  R3-score1 KO
  R3-name2 Philo
  R3-score2 1st
  R3-name3 Warnes
  R3-score3 2nd
  R3-name4 '''Douglas'''
  R3-score4 KO
  R4-name1 Baker
  R4-score1 0
  R4-name2 '''Douglas'''
  R4-score2 2



COMPETITION



Round of 16


The first round was characterized by knockouts, as all three Frenchmen as well as Dees were out before the start of the third round. Aspa managed to make it through two rounds before withdrawing due to a thumb injury. Doudelle went down the quickest, in the first round, while Dees and Morard were bested in the second rounds of their bouts. The one bout that did go all the way was between Philo and Murdoch, which was such a tight contest that the referee had to break the judges' tie.


Quarterfinals


Philo, Warnes, and Douglas all had byes in the second round. Baker and Childs had the only quarterfinal match. The Australian hit Childs with a powerful uppercut as well as managing to avoid a charge by Childs that caused the Briton to fall through the ropes. In a clear decision, Baker advanced to the semifinals.


Semifinals


Both semifinal contests were knockouts, bringing the middleweight event to a total of 6 knockouts to 2 decisions. Baker defeated Philo quickly, while Douglas took two rounds to put Warnes away.


Final


In a match that had the potential to break England's dominance of the boxing championships, Baker and Douglas went through a middleweight final that the Official Report described as the "best boxing of the day"Official Report, p. 112. (and therefore the entire 1908 Olympic boxing competition). The two fought well, with Douglas's knockdown of Baker in the second a major factor in the Briton's win.


NOTES



SOURCES

  • Official Report of the Games of the IV Olympiad (1908).

  • De Wael, Herman. ''Herman's Full Olympians'': "Boxing 1908". Accessed 8 April 2006 . Available electronically at .