1956 Golden Gloves tournament. The College of Puget Sound Fieldhouse was filled with boxing fans during the Tacoma Athletic Commission-sponsored Golden Gloves amateur boxing tournament. 59 boxers participated in the two-day event in January, 1956, coming from as far away as Portland and Vancouver, B.C. There were nine different weight categories; only the bantamweight division was not represented. View of two boxers; man in dark trunks has just landed a shot to the jaw of his opponent while the referee watches intently. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Athletic Commission. (TNT 1-20-56, p. 20, TNT 1-22-56, B-11)
Composite photograph for advertisement for appearance by Jack Dempsey in Tacoma for the Junior League Milk Fund Benefit. The benefit was held at the Tacoma Stadium (Stadium Bowl) on Thursday, September 10, 1931. Although Mr. Dempsey and other boxers on the card were paid for their appearances, ticket proceeds funded the purchase of milk for needy Tacoma Public Schools students. Net proceeds totaled $1042 with Mr. Dempsey contributing $154.50 of his appearance fee. (TNT 8-28-31, p. 1-article; TNT 9-25-31, p. 1-article)
ca. 1931. Copy negative of publicity photograph of Jack Dempsey. Photograph was used for advertising the Junior League milk fund benefit held on September 10, 1931 in Tacoma. Mr. Dempsey arrived via train on September 10, 1931, as the star attraction for the benefit. He fought four opponents in exhibition matches that evening at the Stadium Bowl before a crowd of about 6000. (TNT 8-28-31, p. 1-article; T.Times 9-11-31, p. 13-article)
ca. 1962. Portrait of boxer Emile Griffith. He has his fists clenched as he stares into the distance. He would meet Portland middleweight Denny Moyer in a 10-round matchup at the Tacoma Sports Arena on August 18, 1962. Griffith, the world welterweight champion, would not have his title at stake as both fighters would weigh over the 147 pound welter limit. The fight would be televised nationally on ABC as its "Fight of the Week." Griffith would win a split decision over Moyer before a crowd of approximately 2,600 - not a bad gate considering the match was not blacked out locally. (TNT 8-17-62, A-1, 8-19-62, A-1)
ca. 1962. Portrait of young boxer in bare-fisted stance, ca. 1962. This is Denny Moyer, Portland middleweight. He was a former Tacoma Golden Gloves junior middle champion. Moyer would win an unanimous decision over former welterweight and middleweight champion Sugar Ray Robinson in a February 17, 1962, rematch at Madison Square Garden. The 22-year-old boxer had lost a previous decision to the 41-year-old Robinson. Moyer would gain the attention of the nation again when he fought welterweight champ, Emile Griffith, in a 10-round non-title event on August 18, 1962. He would lose to Griffith by a split decision in the nationally televised bout.(TNT 2-18-62, B-10, TNT 8-17-62, A-1, 8-19-62, A-1)
