Boxing at the 1908 Summer Olympics - Middleweight

The middleweight was one of five boxing weight classes contested on the boxing at the 1908 Summer Olympics programme. Like all other boxing events, it was open only to men. The boxing competitions were all held on October 27. The middleweight was the second heaviest class, allowing boxers of up to 158 pounds (71.7 kg).

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.

Ten boxers from three nations competed.

Medalists

Bracket

16TeamBracket-Compact-NoSeeds
RD1= Round of 16
October 27
RD2= Quarterfinals
October 27
RD3= Semifinals
October 27
RD4= Final
October 27

RD1-team01 = flagIOCathlete|William Childs|GBR|1908 Summer
RD1-score01 = KO2
RD1-team02 = flagIOCathlete|Gaston Aspa|FRA|1908 Summer
RD1-score02 = L
RD1-team03 = flagIOCathlete|William Dees|GBR|1908 Summer
RD1-score03 = L
RD1-team04 = flagIOCathlete|Reginald Baker|ANZ|1908 Summer
RD1-score04 = KO2
RD1-team05 = flagIOCathlete|William Philo|GBR|1908 Summer
RD1-score05 = 2
RD1-team06 = flagIOCathlete|Arthur Murdoch|GBR|1908 Summer
RD1-score06 = 1
RD1-team07 = "None"
RD1-score07 = -
RD1-team08 = "None"
RD1-score08 = -
RD1-team09 = flagIOCathlete|Ruben Warnes|GBR|1908 Summer
RD1-score09 = KO2
RD1-team10 = flagIOCathlete|Charles Morard|FRA|1908 Summer
RD1-score10 = L
RD1-team11 = "None"
RD1-score11 = -
RD1-team12 = "None"
RD1-score12 = -
RD1-team13 = flagIOCathlete|René Doudelle|FRA|1908 Summer
RD1-score13 = L
RD1-team14 = flagIOCathlete|Johnny Douglas|GBR|1908 Summer
RD1-score14 = KO1
RD1-team15 = "None"
RD1-score15 = -
RD1-team16 = "None"
RD1-score16 = -

RD2-team01 = flagIOCathlete|Childs|GBR|1908 Summer
RD2-score01 = 0
RD2-team02 = flagIOCathlete|Baker|ANZ|1908 Summer
RD2-score02 = 2
RD2-team03 = flagIOCathlete|Philo|GBR|1908 Summer
RD2-score03 = -
RD2-team04 = "Bye"
RD2-score04 = -
RD2-team05 = flagIOCathlete|Warnes|GBR|1908 Summer
RD2-score05 = -
RD2-team06 = "Bye"
RD2-score06 = -
RD2-team07 = flagIOCathlete|Douglas|GBR|1908 Summer
RD2-score07 = -
RD2-team08 = "Bye"
RD2-score08 = -

RD3-team01 = flagIOCathlete|Baker|ANZ|1908 Summer
RD3-score01 = KO1
RD3-team02 = flagIOCathlete|Philo|GBR|1908 Summer
RD3-score02 = L
RD3-team03 = flagIOCathlete|Warnes|GBR|1908 Summer
RD3-score03 = L
RD3-team04 = flagIOCathlete|Douglas|GBR|1908 Summer
RD3-score04 = KO2

RD4-team01 = flagIOCathlete|Baker|ANZ|1908 Summer
RD4-score01 = 1
RD4-team02 = flagIOCathlete|Douglas|GBR|1908 Summer
RD4-score02 = 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.

tandings

Notes

ources

* 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 [http://users.skynet.be/hermandw/olymp/ath1908.html ] .