Britain's Best

British boxing fans hardly knew what to make of Bruce Woodcock, whose quiet manner camouflaged a paralyzing right-hand wallop. In 19 professional fights, he had won 18 of them by knockouts within six rounds. Last week, paying $2 to $42 for their seats, 38,000 jammed London's Tottenham Stadium to see Challenger Woodcock meet Champion Jack London for the British and Empire heavyweight, crown.

Tucking chin into shoulder in true British style, blue-eyed Bruce saved his Sunday punch for five rounds. Then, putting 182 Ibs. of power into a short right, he blasted the 215-lb. champion through the ropes. The champ made the mistake of climbing right back into the ring, and another right finished him off.

Woodcock might well be the exception to a long line of glass-chinned British heavyweights, but shrewd Tom Hurit, his manager, knew that the 24-year-old slugger was still awkward afoot and short on ring savvy. Woodcock needed two years of seasoning before he could even think of stepping into a ring with a Billy Conn or a Joe Louis. Step One was to put him on a full-time fighting basis. Until now, the pride of Yorkshire had worked all day in a Doncaster railroad shop, trained nightly in a hayloft. Since there is no one left in England capable of warming him up, Step Two was a tour of the U.S. One of Manhattan Promoter Mike Jacobs' agents was London-bound.

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