Mickey Rodgers
Mickey Rodgers manager was Yock Heninger. Yock Heninger ref'd many of Harry Greb's fights.
Here are parts of a newspaper article from BEFORE the Mickey Rodgers fight with Hooks Evans. From the Pittsburgh Post. Dec 14, 1913. Sports section page 3.
"I'll win by a knockout, sure," said Mickey yesterday, while Evans refuses to divulge wether he believes he will stop Mickey or just win by a decision. Rodgers confidence is attributed in a way to the fact that he is now his own manager and hereafter will have something to fight for. He knows that he must fight and fight hard to win, but he has trained harder for this encounter than he did for any other and is in the best condition of his career, according to his own statement.
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Here is a newspaper article from AFTER one of the the Mickey Rodgers vs. Hooks Evans fights. From the Pittsburgh Press. September 13, 1912.
EVANS AND RODGERS IN SAVAGE BATTLE
By Jim Jab
Southside feudists had a howling time last night when Mickey Rodgers and Hooks Evans, native sons, mugged, mauled, mashed and did everything except bite each other in a six-round joust. For downright excitement the mess beat anything yet presented for the fall season. The lads went at each other like wild beasts and put so much strenuous life in the first two rounds that bets were offered against both not going the distance. There came a lull soon, however, for tired nature asserted herself. It was a savage spree, Evans out-topped Rodgers by over a baker's dozen pounds. This weight was a factor.
To be fair, it must be said that Hooksey held on too much in the fourth, fifth and sixth frames. Rodgers tried to tear away from him and often rattled his fists against Evans' paunch. Mebbe he did go low several times, but for that if the referee if the referee had taken notice of foul tactics there wouldn't have been a fight. It was a biff, bingo, bout, allright. Rodgers dropped Hooks with a crashing right on the jaw right after first bell, but the Beltzhoover mixer got up and went forward to his knitting, finishing the stanza by getting Mickey on Uneasy ave. The second round was a soaker also, likewise the third. In the latter Hooks was so tired at bell that his corner seemed a mile away. Rodgers had a shade of the mussing if a ruling was necessary. Both men had claret-colored beaks and will bear souvenirs of slamdom for a few days.
Here is a newspaper article from AFTER the Mickey Rodgers fight with Hooks Evans. From the Pittsburgh Post. Dec 16, 1913. Page 13.
MICKEY RODGERS HAS BEST OF HOOKS EVANS
Mickey Rodgers came back long enough last night to hand a nice beating to hooks Evans, making amends for the defeat suffered at the hands of the Beltzhoover boy almost a year ago. Mickey won from Evans but he was forced to travel at top speed for Hooks was on the job nearly every second and fought toe to toe when they really fought. He could not, however, keep Rodgers off, who showed better than he has for a long time. He looked trained to the minute and never slowed down. Mickey worked a good left-hand jolt to the body, which invariably rocked Hooks.
Until the fifth round the bout proved most unsatisfactory. Both men insisted upon clinching and wrestling around the ring. Referee Henninger having a hard job prying them apart. It was anybody's fight until then, neither in fact doing much in the way of clean hitting.
The fifth, though, saw Rodgers getting set in his old-time style and he caught Hooks time and again on the chest, having him hanging on at the bell. In the sixth it looked as if he was going to put Hooks away, but Evans managed to come back strong in the last minute and held his own. The fifth round proved a hummer, but the sixth was nothing short of sensational. These two rounds almost made up for the uninteresting work in the first four sessions.
From the Pittsburgh Post. July 11, 1914. Page 14.
TRAINED ON BOOZE, RODGERS A WINNER
Mickey Gives Phil Brock a Beating at Motordrome.
By Jim Jab.
Wondrous is the physical and pugnacious repertoire of one Mickey Rodgers, Southside slammer. Pig Fat, trained on alcoholics three nights this week, the young man entered a boxing arena at the Motordrome last night and startled veterans by his fighting and great endurance.
Rodgers...despite unfitness, handed Phil Brock, Cleveland veteran , a lacing in six savage sessions. When the combat started, the man who wanted to wager that Brock , the tricky, well conditioned campaigner, would score a kayo, wasn't classed a "come-on" by listners. Scores thought it a sensible offer viewed by Rodgers flabbiness and puffed countenance. Rarely has a worse guess been made.Rodgers tore into the Ohio lad from the gong. The latter took things cooly, no doubt picturing in his mind the cinch for a sleeper inside of four frames. Brock blocked and ducked leads with a nonchalance that betokened his confidence. Suddenly as the round neared a finish, Rodgers clipped Brock on the jaw-point with a vicious left swing. It was a dreamer and the gnarled faced old fellow quivered and dropped to the floor. He was up in a jiffy, but dazed. Rodgers rushed him, Phil tried to defend, but was most feeble in the stunt. Bang went another souser and Brock sprawled on the timber, Rodgers falling over him. The men locked as they lay and this singular incident no doubt saved Brock from being upset for keeps. It took 10 seconds to disengage the warriors, and when they were upright the gong clanged in time to save Brock.
Five swift sessions followed. Brock got going with his short arm stabs and attacked Rodgers inner works. He was met more than half way and you can wager that some fight was enacted. Barring a stage of the fourth round, Rodgers didn't seem harried. Brock had him looking dubious, but nothing like a kaydee or kayo could be uncorked. Brock must have been fully aware as the hostilities drew near a close that he was trailing, for he brought into play every ruse and artifice at his command. Famed as a rough-house mauler, Phillip introduced some of his best bets in this line. His wicked left hook worked over time in well aimed endeavers to stop Rodgers, but something akin to a 10-foot fence was needed to check the marvelous Mickey.
Bugs could be heard hummimg - "If that fellow only trained, the lightweight world would be at his feet." Maybe so, but remember Rodgers own narrative - "The only time I ever trained for a fight, I was knocked out in two rounds."
Mick shot his left across Brock's guard and ripped his eye open, also mugging his face. Though puffing like a roarer, Rodgers plunged and tugged, striking from all angles amid cheers from his pals. When the final bell chimed Rodgers was surounded by his gang. Hilarity started that will hardly cease before Monday or until the change runs out. "If Mickey would only train. Yes, "if's" the word. He won't, that's all you can say.
Tale Of The Tape Weight: Lightweight Hometown: Pittsburgh Manager: Billy Corcoran(amateurs),Yock Henninger(pros)
selected bouts
1912
May 15 1912 Swats Adamson Pitts. Win Sep 12 1912 Hooks Evans Pitts. ND 6 (win) Sep 21 1912 Young Washey Pitts. TKO 3 (win) Nov 18 1912 Joe Getz Penns. ND 12 Nov 29 1912 Kid Black Pitts. W 10 (Rodgers won every round and floored Black in the fifth for a nine count.) Dec 2 1912 Kid Black Mich. W 15 (The referee was E.W. Dickerson. The fight took place in Muskegon. It was an easy win for Rodgers.) Dec 17 1912 Joe Aarons Mich. KO 2 (win)
1913
Jan ?? 1913 Hooks Evans Pitts. ND 6-loss (the exact date is unknown. It may have taken place as early as December 1912) Mar 12 1913 Johnny Lore Pitts unknown (fight took place at Old City Hall) Apr 26 1913 Grover Hayes Pitts. ND 6 May 3 1913 Grover Hayes Pitts. ND 6 (fight took place at Old City Hall) July 1913 Red Robinson Pitts. unknown (fight took place at Old City Hall) Dec 1 1913 Hooks Evans Pitts. ND 6-win (they fought previously "almost a year ago". Mickey Rodgers lost the previous fight)
1914
Mar 2 1914 Harry Greb Ohio DQ 5 (loss) "The battle..degenerated into a wrestling match..both men roughing it up in the clinches and breaks. Greb was fouled in the 5th round by receiving a well placed knee in the abdomen which doubled him up and he had to be carried from the ring. Jul 10 1914 Phil Brock Pitts ND 6 Sep 7 1914 Knockout Brown Pitts. ND 6
1919
Dec 8 1919 Johnny Kirk Pitts. KO'd by 4 (loss) Dec 25 1919 Johnny Kirk Pitts. KO'd by 1 (loss)
1920
Feb 16 1920 Ray Pryel Ohio KO'd by 4 (loss)
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