Leonard Morrow
Born
Leonard Delano Morrow

February 12, 1926[1]
Kiowa, Oklahoma, USA
DiedAugust 2, 2000(2000-08-02) (aged 74)
NationalityAmerican
Other namesThe California Kid
Statistics
Weight(s)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights39[2]
Wins30
Wins by KO19
Losses8
Draws1

Leonard Morrow (February 12, 1926– August 2, 2000) was an American professional boxer in the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions, who was active from 1946 to 1954. He was ranked as a top contender in the light heavyweight division from 1948 to 1950.[3][4][5] In 1948, he was the number two rated contender by the The Ring (magazine) for Freddie Mills' light heavyweight world title.[6] During his career, he defeated hall of fame fighters, champions, and top contenders such as Archie Moore, Jimmy Bivins, Bert Lytell, and Arturo Godoy. In 1989, Archie went on record saying that Morrow was one of only three men that ever really hit him alongside Rocky Marciano and Yvon Durelle.[7]

Amateur career

Leonard got his start in boxing under the tutelage of the former two-time welterweight champion, Young Jack Thompson. He would train under Thompson's instruction from his start in 1945 until his untimely death due to a heart attack at 41 years old in 1946. After Thompson's death, Leonard fought his last two amateur fights before making the transition into the professional ranks, winning one and losing one.[8]

Professional career

Morrow made his professional debut on October 30, 1946, at the Auditorium in Oakland, California with a 4-round PTS victory over Allen Arnett. His next two bouts came against rugged veteran, Gil Mojica in March 1947. Leonard lost the first fight, which took place on March 5, via PTS in 6 rounds and subsequently lost again two weeks later via TKO in 2 rounds of a scheduled 4. Between April 23, 1947, and September 1, 1948, Morrow went undefeated in 15 fights, drawing one against Dee Edwards. During this unbeaten streak, he fought Mojica two more times avenging his losses with two victories PTS 6 and TKO 4 (8).

Upsetting Bert Lytell

On February 11, 1948, Morrow won a controversial 10 round split decision upset over the ring magazine number two ranked middleweight contender and black murderer's row member, Bert Lytell. In the first 6 rounds, the fight was fought fast and even until Morrow knocked down Lytell for a count of two in the sixth round. Lytell would close strong, decisively winning the last four rounds as Leonard's stamina rapidly drained, but it was only enough for one of the judges to score the fight in his favor. Bert Lytell's manager filed an immediate protest of the decision to the athletic commission, but to no avail.[9][10]

California State Light Heavyweight Title

Leonard Morrow's next bout against Archie Moore would turn out to be the defining fight of his career. Despite his stunning upset win against Lytell, the 12–2–1 (6KO) prospect was thought to be over matched up against the experienced ring veteran in Archie Moore who held a record of 92–14–7 (1NC) (69KO) and the California State light heavyweight title. This bout would be Moore's first title defense of his state championship after he had out pointed Bobby Zander for the vacant title in the previous year. Scheduled for 12 rounds, on June 2, 1948, Leonard Morrow upset the odds for a second time in a row when, in the first round, after getting hit with a few clean jabs, he dropped Moore three times, winning the bout after two minutes and fifty one seconds of the opening stanza.[11][12]

Morrow would not go on to defend his newly won state title in his career. After defeating Archie Moore, he knocked out Fitzie Fitzpatrick twice, before Bob Foxworth bruised and beat Morrow in 4 rounds of a scheduled 10 in September 1948. Morrow rebounded with two victories from March to April before knocking out Oakland Billy Smith in 3 rounds of a 10-round fight.[13]

Professional boxing record

39 fights 30 wins 8 losses
By knockout 19 4
By decision 11 4
Draws 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
39 Loss 30–8–1 Billy Gilliam PTS 10 Feb 11, 1954 Winterland Arena, San Francisco, California, US
38 Win 30–7–1 Willie Bean PTS 10 Dec 7, 1953 Winterland Arena, San Francisco, California, US
37 Win 29–7–1 Frank Buford TKO 4 (10) Jun 15, 1953 Coliseum Bowl, San Francisco, California, US
36 Win 28–7–1 'Young' Harry Wills PTS 10 Jun 6, 1953 Municipal Auditorium, Eureka, California, US
35 Win 27–7–1 Abel Fernandez TKO 8 (10), 2:52 Mar 17, 1953 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, US
34 Win 26–7–1 Sonny Andrews UD 10 Feb 10, 1953 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, US
33 Win 25–7–1 Junior Payne TKO 2 (10), 2:26 Dec 2, 1952 Auditorium, Richmond, California, US
32 Loss 24–7–1 Harold Johnson KO 3 (10), 1:55 Sep 16, 1952 Arena, Toledo, Ohio, US
31 Win 24–6–1 Sonny Andrews TKO 5 (10), 2:50 Jun 9, 1952 Sports Center, Tucson, Arizona, US
30 Win 23–6–1 Ralph K.O. Hooker TKO 3 (8) May 19, 1952 Pacific Livestock Pavilion, Portland, Oregon, US
29 Loss 22–6–1 Colion Chaney UD 10 Jun 12, 1951 Last Frontier Sportsdrome, Las Vegas, Nevada, US
28 Win 22–5–1 Ralph K.O. Hooker RTD 3 (10), 3:00 Jun 4, 1951 Sports Center, Tucson, Arizona, US
27 Loss 21–5–1 Archie Moore KO 10 (15), 0:30 Dec 13, 1949 Sports Arena, Toledo, Ohio, US
26 Loss 21–4–1 Jimmy Bivins UD 10 Jul 5, 1949 Auditorium, Oakland, California, US
25 Win 21–3–1 Arturo Godoy TKO 10 (10) Aug 16, 1949 Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, US
24 Win 20–3–1 Johnny Flynn PTS 10 Jul 25, 1949 Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, US
23 Win 19–3–1 Jimmy Bivins UD 10 Jul 5, 1949 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, US
22 Win 18–3–1 Oakland Billy Smith TKO 3 (10), 2:31 May 4, 1949 Auditorium, Oakland, California, US
21 Win 17–3–1 Watson Jones TKO 8 (10), 2:38 Apr 5, 1949 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, US
20 Win 16–3–1 John Donnelly KO 8 (10) Mar 23, 1949 Auditorium, Oakland, California, US
19 Loss 15–3–1 Bob Foxworth TKO 4 (10) Sep 1, 1948 Auditorium, Oakland, California, US
18 Win 15–2–1 Fitzie Fitzpatrick KO 2 (10), 2:50 Aug 17, 1948 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, US
17 Win 14–2–1 Fitzie Fitzpatrick KO 5 (10), 1:01 Jul 13, 1948 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, US
16 Win 13–2–1 Archie Moore KO 1 (12), 2:51 Jun 2, 1948 Auditorium, Oakland, California, US Won California State light heavyweight title
15 Win 12–2–1 Bert Lytell SD 10 Feb 11, 1948 Auditorium, Oakland, California, US
14 Win 11–2–1 Al Spaulding UD 10 Jan 14, 1948 Auditorium, Oakland, California, US
13 Win 10–2–1 John Donnelly PTS 10 Dec 17, 1947 Auditorium, Oakland, California, US
12 Win 9–2–1 John Harding TKO 2 (6) Nov 19, 1947 Auditorium, Oakland, California, US
11 Win 8–2–1 George Evans TKO 1 (6) Oct 29, 1947 Auditorium, Oakland, California, US
10 Win 7–2–1 Gil Mojica TKO 4 (10) Oct 8, 1947 Auditorium, Oakland, California, US
9 Win 6–2–1 Paulie Peters TKO 6 (10) Jun 27, 1947 National Hall, San Francisco, California, US
8 Win 5–2–1 Gil Mojica PTS 4 Jun 16, 1947 Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, US
7 Win 4–2–1 Allen Arnett PTS 4 Jun 4, 1947 Auditorium, Oakland, California, US
6 Draw 3–2–1 Dee Edwards PTS 4 May 21, 1947 Oaks Ballpark, Emeryville, California, US
5 Win 3–2 Jake Green KO 1 (4) May 6, 1947 Ryan's Auditorium, Fresno, California, US
4 Win 2–2 Eddie Keller TKO 3 (4) Apr 23, 1947 Auditorium, Oakland, California, US
3 Loss 1–2 Gil Mojica TKO 2 (4) Mar 19, 1947 Auditorium, Oakland, California, US
2 Loss 1–1 Gil Mojica PTS 4 Mar 5, 1947 Auditorium, Oakland, California, US
1 Win 1–0 Allen Arnett PTS 4 Oct 30, 1946 Auditorium, Oakland, California, US

References

  1. ↑ https://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Leonard_Morrow
  2. ↑ https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/12448
  3. ↑ https://boxrec.com/media/index.php/National_Boxing_Association%27s_Quarterly_Ratings:_1948
  4. ↑ https://boxrec.com/media/index.php/National_Boxing_Association%27s_Quarterly_Ratings:_1949
  5. ↑ https://boxrec.com/media/index.php/National_Boxing_Association%27s_Quarterly_Ratings:_1950
  6. ↑ https://boxrec.com/media/index.php/The_Ring_Magazine%27s_Annual_Ratings:_1948
  7. ↑ "The Ageless Warrior".
  8. ↑ "Leonard Morrow-The California Kid: Part I". September 5, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Honolulu Star-Bulletin 12 Feb 1948, page 20".
  10. ↑ "Leonard Morrow-The California Kid: Part I". September 5, 2017.
  11. ↑ https://boxrec.com/media/index.php?title=Fight:20442
  12. ↑ "Archie Moore KOd by Leonard Morrow". Oakland Tribune. June 3, 1948. p. 30.
  13. ↑ "Details on Oakland Billy Smith vs Leonard Morrow bout". Oakland Tribune. May 5, 1949. p. 29.
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