1 TheBoxing Biographies Newsletter Volume 4- No 11 22 May , 2009 www.boxingbiographies.com If you wish to sign up for the newsletters ( which includes the images ) please email the message “NEWS LETTER” [email protected] The newsletter is also available as a word doc on request As always the full versions of these articles are on the website Harry Mizler Part 6 and the final installment Just before he was matched with AI Roth of New York Mizler became friendly with Betty Greenfield an attractive young woman who was to become his wife two years later. Betty met Roth at a dance and asked him during the course of conversation what he did for a living. The exchanges went something like this: Al (swelling out his chest and trying to look nonchalant "I'm a professional boxer." Betty (surprised): What a coincidence! My boy friend is a fighter—his name is Harry Mizler." Al: "Oh, that guy. I may be meeting him in the ring soon which will be tough luck for him. I’ll slaughter him." TIPPED FOR TITLE That story may carry more than one moral, but it may also have spurred Mizler to be at the peak or his form and outpoint the American by an overwhelming margin over ten rounds. Certainly Harry looked brilliant and besides being awarded a "Boxing News" Certificate of Merit was very strongly tipped to regain the British lightweight title. For the contest, made at ten stone. John Harding paid Mizler £250 and Roth £150. And to this day looks back at the promotion and considers it the best bargain he over made. On the same bill Harding introduced Aurel Toma (ex-King Carol of Rumania's chauffeur) to British boxing fans. Toma went on to writs finis to the career of Benny Lynch by scoring a third round knockout— the only time the great little Scot bad been stopped decisively in the whole of his career. But in his first contest Toma was paid £50 for a draw with Jim Brady of Dundee. 2 Name: Al Roth Career Record: click Nationality: US American Birthplace: New York, NY Hometown: Bronx, New York, USA Born: 1913-09-22 Died: 1982-09-16 Age at Death: 68 Stance: Orthodox Height: 5′ 4″ MIZLER’S LEFT The opening exchanges in the Mizler v. Roth contest stamped the pattern for the ensuing rounds The American lighting machine who had battered into gory defeat countless opponents charged In with his head lowered and fists poised tor the kill. But he never had a chance to use them, being pulled up halfway by a bunch of padded knuckles which exploded in his face. Mizler's famous straight left was working at it’s best with every ounce of shoulder weight behind it. Al paused and then charged again —only to he met by the identical punch plumb centre on his face. For the third time he jumped in, but this time a jarring left was followed by a right cross that had him buckling at the knees. The crowd went delirious as Mizler drove In punches from all angles and had the American In dire straits But. bull-like. Roth refused to take a count and shaking his head clear met Harry with his own fists flailing. In the second round Al adopted different methods attacking from a crouching position, bobbing his bead from side to side. but Mizler's timing that night was uncanny and his left never strayed from his rival's face. And so the fight wore on with Harry outclassing the American at long range and even boxing him at close quarters. It is estimated that during the contest he must have caught Roth at least 200 times with that accurate and stinging left. The tenth and last stanza surpassed all others for shear excitement Realising that his only chance was to win by a knockout Al bustled into the Englishman so relentlessly that for once Harry could not keep him out Facing a human whirlwind Harry backed on to the ropes and played his trump card. For nearly a minute he joined In and exchanged punch for punch until the great Roth wilted. 3 ROTH ON ATTACK His superiority lay in his ability to slip and roll with many of his opponents punches, but be scored with every one of his own’ Roth desperately returned to the attack, but suddenly his left hand "went" and immediately Mizler grasped the ascendancy again. As In the first round he threw every punch In his versatile repertoire and only the American's great courage kept him on his feet . It was subsequently revealed that Roth's hand was damaged in the sixth round. but even allowing this handicap, he was completely outclassed on the night. Mizler’s recption was the biggest since the time he fought Humery. and many experienced ringsiders placed him in the sane category as Peerless Jim Driscoll. Undoubtedly Harry could have defeated the world champion on that form, but as had so often happened in the past. It was not maintained. LACKED 'FIRE' The following March. Harry was paired with Dave Crowley at the Albert Hall in a final eliminator for Walsh's title. But again the ex. champion disappointed his supporters. Opposed to the Clarkenwell scrapper, a perky cock-sparrow, speedy and strong Harry with weight troubles becoming an ever increasing problem — he weighed in within half pound of the lightweight limit — lacked fire. Although the contest never reached classic heights it was always so fast and spirited that interest never flagged and Crowley emerged a narrow but clear points winner over twelve rounds. The same month the East Ender moved into the next weight division and won three fights on the trot. He was established as a serious welterweight threat by a fine win over George Daly, but then he was outwitted over eight rounds by Harry Craster whom be had already defeated. But Mizler won most of his fights until his call-up for the RAF. In 1940. As physical training instructor he devoted his abilities to teaching thousands of airmen the rudiments of boxing until he was invalided out because of stomach trouble. In 1941-43 he took on some of the best men in the division, beating men In the class of Eric Boon, Paddy Roche and Harry Crastor- who had defeated Marcel Cerdan—and losing to top notchers like his old rival Kid Berg also a corporal at the time,. Arthur Danaher and Ernie Roderick. NOT AT BEST However, Harry was no longer at his best. The little characteristics of the old Mizler could still be seen in the ring – his set dead pan expression no matter how his fortune swayed, and his great fighting spirit. But his body was finding it difficult to withstand the rigours of the fight game. Eventually Harry was forced retire against Jimmy Molloy, a tough two fisted battler with a fine record, but not in the same class as the Londoner of five years previously. So the “Guv’nor” as Harry refers to his wife stepped in at this stage and told him he had finished with boxing for good. Betty had travelled hundreds of miles to watch the ex champion since they met and had 4 never interfered. But now she realized he was squaring up to Father Time as well the opponent every time he entered the roped square. Harry mew better than to argue: So it was then that Mizler’s excellent career was Interred at Liverpool Stadium—that Graveyard of Champions—where as a newly crowned champion he lost for the first time to Jimmy Walsh and for the last time nine years later to Molloy. After leaving the RAF Harry returned to the family fish stall In the East End, although before long he and Betty had taken the plunge into the gown business. Today he has a flourishing concern and to meet him there is little to associate him with his old profession. Quietly spoken and facially unmarked he looks the successful businessman he is, a tribute to his boxing ability. AMATEUR ONLY Yet Harry makes no secret of the fact he entered and endured that life to make money for himself and his family. If he had his life to lead over again he says he would still box—but only as on amateur. "That way I could box for pleasure and maybe train three or four nights a ,week, but to get to the top in the Professional ranks you've gut to be conscientious and that means training every day ' "Unfortunately too many present-day young fighters neglect their training." he points out. That is probably the reason why Harry does not wish he had two prospective champions for sons, Instead of daughters. Natalie, eleven, and six-year-old Adrienne. WHEN this series opened I explained that Mizler had everything that goes to make an all-time great champion—yet something went wrong. Perhaps now you can draw your own conclusions. Whatever they are, remember too, that Harry Mizler—win or lose—was a gentleman both in and outside the ring. 5 ( courtesy of Tony Mizler ) The full 18 page transcript of the following document will be made available in the near future 6 THIS IS A RECORD OF THE PROFESSIONAL FIGHTS OF HARRY MIZLER JUNE 1933 – DECEMBER 1943 AS RECORDED IN THE CONTEMPORANEOUS DIARY OF HARRY MIZLER’S FIGHTS AS KEPT BY HISBROTHER, JUDAH MIZLER Transcript typed by Adrienne Edwin, youngest daughter of Harry Mizler. Foreword by Adrienne Edwin: Youngest Daugher of Harry Mizler My uncle wrote this diary.