Young Stribling: Difference between revisions

'''William Lawrence Stribling Jr.''' (December 26, 1904 – October 3, 1933), known as '''Young Stribling''', was an American professional [[boxing|boxer]] who fought from [[Featherweight]] to [[Heavyweight]]. His 1931 fight against [[Max Schmelling]] for Schmeling's world heavyweight championship was named [[Ring Magazine fight of the year]]. Stribling was inducted into the [[Georgia Sports Hall of Fame]] in 1965, and the [[International Boxing Hall of Fame]] in 1996.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Roberts |first1=James B. |title=Young Stribling |url=http://www.ibhof.com/pages/about/inductees/oldtimer/stribling.html |website=ibhof.com |access-date=15 October 2023}}</ref>

"Strib" celebrated his 21st birthday by marrying Clara Kinney, a student at [[Brenau College]]. Clara's father was a prominent Macon businessman, and her mother was the first woman to serve on the city council. Clara's grandfather was a former president of Wesleyan College in Macon, the oldest female college in America. "Strib" and Clara had three children, the first was W. L. Stribling III, born in 1927.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=1927-02-07 |title=Milestones: Feb. 7, 1927 |language=en-US |magazine=Time |url=https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,729977,00.html |access-date=2023-01-19 |issn=0040-781X}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=STRIBLING IS EAGER FOR TITLE MATCH: Here on Honeymoon, He Tells Rickard Marriage Will Not Interfere With Ring Career. WANTS TO FACE BERLENBACH Also Anxious for Return Bout With Slattery |url=https://www.proquest.com/hnpnewyorktimes/docview/103468200 |access-date=4 October 2023 |publisherwork=The New York Times |date=29 December 1925|id={{ProQuest|103468200}} }}</ref>

In a title match against light-heavyweight champion [[Mike McTigue]] the fight was declared a draw. Unhappy with the draw, the ring was surrounded by angry fans who demanded the fight be given to Stribling, which the referee did. Three hours after the fight though, he re-affirmed that it was a draw. "Unless I awarded the decision to Stribling I would never leave the arena alive," referee Harry Ertle said after the fight.<ref>{{cite news |title=M'TIGUE GETS DRAW AFTER RIOTOUS BOUT: Referee First Called Battle a Draw, Then Gave It to Stribling Under Force, He Charges. VERDICT AGAIN REVERSED Three Hours After Fight Ertle Asserts His Original Decision Stands. BOUT HAD BEEN CALLED OFF McTigue Pleaded Injured Hand, but Declares Pistols Were Used to Get Him Into Georgia Ring. |url=https://www.proquest.com/hnpnewyorktimes/docview/103171219 |access-date=4 October 2023 |publisherwork=The New York Times |date=6 October 1923|id={{ProQuest|103171219}} }}</ref> The two would face again for a rematch 6 months later. Stribling convincingly outpointed McTigue, winning the match. However, in New Jersey boxing at the time a title couldn't change hands on a [[newspaper decision]].<ref>{{cite news |title=STRIBLING OUTPOINTS M'TIGUE AT NEWARK: World's Light-Heavyweight Champion Loses by Wide Margin to Southern Youth. |url=https://www.proquest.com/hnpnewyorktimes/docview/103282081 |access-date=4 October 2023 |publisherwork=The New York Times |date=1 April 1924|id={{ProQuest|103282081}} }}</ref> Both fights occurred while Stribling was just 2019 years old. After his bouts against McTigue, he was often referred to in newspapers as "the uncrowned light-heavyweight champion."<ref>{{cite news |title=New picture of uncrowned champ |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84020645/1924-04-07/ed-1/seq-6/#date1=4%2F7%2F1924&sort=relevance&rows=20&sequence=0&index=15&date2=4%2F7%2F1924&words=&dateFilterType=range&page=14 |access-date=7 April 2024 |publisher=The Montgomery Advertiser |date=7 April 1924}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Young Stribling also golfs, dresses part |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85042243/1924-04-07/ed-1/seq-6/#date1=4%2F7%2F1924&sort=relevance&rows=20&sequence=0&index=10&date2=4%2F7%2F1924&words=&dateFilterType=range&page=3 |access-date=7 April 2024 |publisher=The Bismarck Tribune |date=7 April 1924}}</ref>

In[[Paul 1926Berlenbach]] Striblingtook got anotherthe light-heavyweight title shot.from This time against [[Paul Berlenbach]]McTigue. HeStribling had previously fought Berlenbach to a draw. inIn 1926 a match between the two took 1924place. Berlenbach won the rematch decisively.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dawson |first1=James P. |title=BERLENBACH VICTOR; RETAINS HIS TITLE: 50,000 See Light Heavyweight Champion Beat Stribling in 15 Rounds at Stadium. TRIUMPH IS DECISIVE ONE Berlenbach's Powerful Blows Wear Down Rival After the Third Round. GEORGIAN HARD PRESSED Resorts to Clinches to Save Himself From Knockout |url=https://www.proquest.com/hnpnewyorktimes/docview/103789105 |access-date=4 October 2023 |publisherwork=The New York Times |date=11 June 1926|id={{ProQuest|103789105}} }}</ref>

In 1928, now 24 years old, Stribling set the record for knockouts at 101. [[The New York Times]] added that "few of Stribling's recent victories were over well known fighters."<ref>{{cite news |title=Young Stribling Sets Record For Knockouts, Stopping 101 |url=https://www.proquest.com/hnpnewyorktimes/docview/104506449 |access-date=4 October 2023 |publisherwork=The New York Times |date=5 July 1928|id={{ProQuest|104506449}} }}</ref>

After a string of impressive wins against [[Hans Schönrath]], [[Otto Von Porat]], and [[Phil_Scott_Phil Scott (boxer)|Phil Scott]], none of which lasted more than 2 rounds. Stribling was given a shot at the heavyweight championship against [[Max Schmelling]]. It was a decisive victory for Schmelling. Stribling nearly made it to the final bell, with the referee stepping in with just 14 seconds remaining in the 15th and final round. The first and only stoppageKO or TKO loss in Stribling's 259291 fight career.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nichols |first1=Joseph C. |title=STORY OF TITLE BOUT TOLD ROUND BY ROUND: Schmeling Has Slight Advantage in Weight, Scaling 189 Pounds to Stribling's 186 |url=https://www.proquest.com/hnpnewyorktimes/docview/99324248 |access-date=5 October 2023 |publisherwork=The New York Times |date=4 July 1931|id={{ProQuest|99324248}} }}</ref> It was named ''[[The Ring (magazine)|Ring Magazine]]'' [[Ring Magazine fights of the year|Fight of the Year]] for 1931.

|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, LondonnLondon, England, U.K.}}

|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, LondonnLondon, England, U.K.}}