Smallwood Likely to Surprise Pepe

Camden Courier-Post – August 15, 1933

Wilmington, Del., Middleweight, Meets Veteran Philadelphian on Friday

When Johnny Pepe, veteran Philadelphia middleweight, mingles with Joe Smallwood of Wilmington, Del. in the first half of a double-windup at Grip’s Pennsauken township open-air Arena on Friday night, the Quaker City entrant will be playing with fire.

The two are scheduled to engage in an eight-rounder which will. pre­cede the final fracas between Johnny Duca, Paulsboro “Paralyzer” and Carl Fuser, formerly of New York, but now of Philadelphia. Duca and Fuser also meet in an eight-round joust.

Pepe, who lost a hairline decision to Roxie Allen, Camden Italian, in the latter’s comeback attempt here several weeks ago, may find Smallwood far more troublesome than Allen. Joe has established a great reputation in the five years he has been throwing leather.

Smallwood came to Wilmington from Washington, D.C., shortly after the advent of legalized boxing in Delaware. He started out as a preliminary boy and after three straight knockouts he was thrown into a windup with Young Johnny Ketchell, Chester middleweight who was regarded as a star.

Smallwood, according to the record book, beat Ketchell and then repeated over Tommy Rios. He enjoyed a long winning streak till he met Billy Ketchell of Millville, who held Smallwood to a draw in a sensational battle.

Last Spring he collided with Vince Dundee at Peipervllle, Pa., and dropped a close decision to the Newark Italian, who still is the outstanding contender for the middleweight championship now held by Lou Brouillard. In his last battle, Smallwood beat Jimmy Smith of Staten Island, in a great club fight.

In event that Smallwood wins a clear-cut verdict over Pepe, the Wilmington mauler may meet Dundee here as Matchmaker Lou McFarland is seriously considering staging the contest.

However, Pepe also has met the cream of the middleweights. He’s a dangerous foe at close quarters and as Smallwood also likes to fight “inside,” the fuss should develop into a red hot skirmish.

Four six-rounders also will be staged. Joe Montana, Camden heavyweight wrestler, makes his bow as a boxer in meeting Mickey Sullivan of Philadelphia; Marty Little of Waterford, takes on “Sonny” Carley of the United States Marine Corps; “Mush” Green and Joe Lawson, both of Camden, clash, while Frankie “Mush” Blair of South Camden, faces Lou Heinsman of Lindenwold..