Johnny Jadick boxer

John J. Jadick, better known as Johnny Jadick (June 16, 1908 – April 3, 1970) was an American light welterweight boxer and the NBA light welterweight world champion in 1932. In September of 1932, the NBA decided not to recognize junior divisions. Jadick continued to reign as the world light welterweight champion until February of 1933 when he was defeated by Battling Shaw for the championship which had been continually recognized by the Louisiana State boxing commission. He was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Though not an exceptionally strong puncher, he had great speed, and an effective left jab. He was managed by Tommy White, and trained by Joe Ferguson.John Jadick was born on June 16, 1908, in the Kensington section of Philadelphia where he spent most of his life. One of his first professional victories came in 1925, when he defeated Harry Decker in an eight-round decision. Between July 1923, and March 1927, he won 42 of 45 fights, with only two losses and one draw. In his early career in Philadelphia, Jadick was often managed and promoted by Johhny Burns, particularly when he fought at the Cambria Athletic Club, where Burns worked. Jadick once admitted he patterned his style of boxing from Tommy Loughran, a famous Philadelphian light heavyweight champion, also managed briefly by Burns in his early career. Jadick was quite tall for a lightweight at 5' 8", which gave him an advantage in defending blows, though he lacked the power of some stockier competitors.On March 12, 1928, Jadick lost to Pete Nebo in a ten-round points decision at the Arena in Philadelphia. Both fought in the featherweight range of 126 pounds. Nebo won from hard, accurate blows at close quarters and when coming out of clinches. Having only a two-inch disadvantage in reach, he was able to maneuver effectively during the infighting to score points. In their two subsequent meetings, Nebo won in a close eight-round newspaper decision on May 6, 1927, in Camden, New Jersey, and March 12, 1928 in a ten-round points decision at the Arena in Philadelphia.He defeated English-born Jewish lightweight boxing great Al Foreman on May 21, 1928, in an eight-round points decision at the Polo Grounds in New York. One of Jadick's better known opponents, Foreman would take the Canadian, British Empire, and British Board of Control (BBOC) World Lightweight Championships during his career. On August 8, 1928, Jadick lost to Dick "Honeyboy" Finnegan, considered a serious Jr. Lightweight contender, at Braves Field in Boston, Massachusetts, in a ten-round points decision. Finnegan won an easy victory by exhibiting more speed than Jadick. He won six of the rounds, with Jadick winning only one, and three even. Jadick had defeated Finnegan two months earlier fighting in the lightweight range in a ten-round points decision in his hometown at Shibe Park in Philadelphia before an enormous crowd of 18,000. Jadick built up a lead, taking the first two rounds, but sagged a bit in the middle rounds, hampered somewhat by the wet footing caused by the pouring rain in the outdoor arena. Jadick had enough left to take the decision in the late rounds when the footing in the arena began to dry. The verdict for Jadick, however, was surprisingly unpopular with the home crowd. Finnegan was a competent southpaw who had taken both an Army and Navy and New England Lightweight title earlier in his career.