February Boxing History Talk – TnS Podcast #37 – At the TalknShoot Boxing Podcast, we have long held the belief that boxing, not baseball or football or basketball, is the sport with the richest and deepest history for those that care to look.
February 8th of 1888 saw the birth of Adolphus “Ad” Wolgast in Cadillac, Michigan. On President’s Day, February 22nd of 1910, Wolgast became the lightweight champion of the world when he defeated Battling Nelson in Colma, California in a fight that lasted into the 40th round before the referee stopped the fight.
The fact is that Oscar “Battling” Nelson was a big deal in 1910. He had been the world lightweight champion for several years by virtue of his even more famous encounter with Joe Gans, a black world champion who was revered as the “old master.” Nelson became a sports media star as his exploits were covered in the newspapers from ocean to ocean. Nelson. who was from Denmark and went by the name of the “Durable Dane” had a bit of an education and he penned his own newspaper columns and even an autobiography. What he didn’t seem to realize is that his rise in celebrity gave him a target on his back and the “Michigan Wildcat” Ad Wolgast was one man who was coming for him.
In July of 1909 the pair would meet in a non-title bout that meets every cliche – Wolgast, the younger, hungrier fighter took it very seriously and made a good showing while Nelson appears to have underestimated his opponent. Nelson insisted on the length of the fight, insisting that his famed durability would carry the day. Little did he know that Wolgast was a fighter cut from the same cloth.
That first bout built up animosity for the second bout and by the time the two men met in the ring on February 22nd, 1910 the two really did not like each other. What they did that day transcends the annals of combat sports history because as the two men toiled for more than two hours they were reaching the limits of human endurance. There is nothing like a fight of 40 rounds in the sport of boxing today nor has there been for more than 100 years. a true look at both Wolgast and Nelson reveals that both men suffered the ravages of the wars they fought in their latter years, with Wolgast’s end particularly tragic.
February Boxing History Talk – TnS Podcast #37
For this podcast, we are joined by author Arne K Lang of The Sweet Science as we delve back into boxing history. among Lang’s many books is one titled “The Nelson-Wolgast Fight and the San Francisco Boxing Scene 1900-1914.” Lang brings his unique insight to the era, which in many ways represents a “golden age” of boxing in the lightweight division. Though his book concentrates on the historic Wolgast versus Nelson encounter, it brings a unique and historical perspective not only on boxing but on the history of southern California at the turn of the last century. Check out all of Arne’s available books at AMAZON.
This latest 37th edition of the TalknShoot boxing podcast takes a look in-depth at some of the historic happenings in the month of February. A must listen for true fans of boxing history.
February Boxing History Talk – TnS Podcast #37 / The NFL season is over. But who is going to win Super Bowl LII?
[related_post_one]
