Bob Montgomery and Beau Jack

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Boxers Ball To Honor Bob Montgomery & Beau Jack

They fought their hearts out for their country and almost no one remembered. It's been a long time coming but on November 19th, 1998, the Fight for Education Committee, government officials and Sugar Ray Leonard remembered. They corrected a national oversight of over 50 years standing! The two boxing champions of the 1940's, Bob Montgomery of Philadelphia, posthumously, and Beau Jack of Miami, in person, were awarded City, State and National commendations for their special contribution to the US War effort in 1944.

In the depression years of the late 30's, teenagers Bob Montgomery and Beau Jack, both raised in the rural South, moved north for a better life. Initially, they didn't know one another but their lives would cross many times. They brought with them only native intelligence, a high energy quotient and a determination to succeed at something.

Beau Jack was born Sydney Walker in 1919 in Augusta, Georgia and raised by grandparents. He began his fighting career as a youngster in the brutal Battle Royal 'last man standing' contests. Five blindfolded men fighting to the finish. The 135lb. Beau overcame his opponents' substantial weight advantage by ducking into a corner until one man remained standing. Then he would pounce on him to win a $50 prize.

Beau's prowess came to the attention of golf great Bobby Jones, a senior member of the Augusta National Golf Course where Beau was also a shoe shiner."Mr Jones"(as Beau still calls him!) organized a career startup fund for him, collecting $50 from each of 50 members and adding $500 himself. With his $3,000 stake Beau was sent up to a Massachusetts golf course to live and train for his New York boxing career. Fighting in the Lightweight class, Beau's high energy, attack style produced victory after victory. By the time he was 23 years old, Beau had beaten six world champions in both the Lightweight and Welterweight divisions: Johnny Bratton, Sammy Angott, Fritzie Zivic, Tippy Larkin, Juan Zuritta and the three-division champ Henry Armstrong. Along the way, he had won the New York version of the World Lightweight Title before entering the Army for wartime service. His path had also crossed three times with Bob Montgomery during those years, exchanging victories and the Lightweight Title.

Bob Montgomery was from rural Sumter, South Carolina, born in 1919. He relocated to Philadelphia at the age of 15 to live with his brother and to find work. But jobs were scarce in the depression era and Bob turned to fighting for income.

His boxing career started with 22 wins in 24 amateur bouts. He then quickly found success as a professional boxer with his aggressive style, punctuated by frequent right crosses. Opponents crumbled and in just 13 months he had 23 straight wins, 14 by knockout. Inquirer writer, John Webster, dubbed him "Bobcat Bob" because of his ferocity.

After only 2 years he was beating world class opponents. Victims included champions Lew Jenkins, Sammy Angott, Fritzie Zivic, and the great Ike Williams(by knockout). His three thrilling bouts with Beau Jack were described by many as the best ever lightweight fights and set the stage for the showdown in August, 1944.

In that summer of 1944, the US, in world war II, desperately needed funds to support the war effort. Most able bodied men, including boxing champions, were in uniform. Jack Dempsey, Gene Tunney, Joe Louis and Sugar Ray Robinson, among others. Beau and Montgomery were no exception. They were serving in the US army.

To help out, Joe Louis had fought two championship bouts raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for the army & navy. After being approached by Madison Square Garden promoter Mike Jacobs, Beau and Bob agreed to meet for a fourth time with the entire proceeds going to the US War Bond Fund. Beau and bob would take no compensation.

On August 4th, 1944 before a huge crowd at Madison Square Garden, they met in what has been called the "War Bond Fight". Risking their careers, they fought their toughest opponent, each other. Beau won a close decision, but the real winner was US. The bout raised $35 million for the war effort, more than any sports fund raiser ever, exceeding the Joe Louis fights by 10 to one.

Other than a commemorative cover on the November 1944 issue of 'Ring' magazine their contribution has passed largely unrecognized for over 54 years. But in their continuing generous and patriotic spirit, Beau and Bob both said recently that it was the proudest thing they ever did. It was for their country.

At the Boxers Ball Dinner on November 19, the two men, Beau Jack in person and Bob Montgomery's family received their just deserves and awards from the City, the State, the Country and from sports and business leaders for their contribution.....and not a minute too soon.

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