August 13, 1940

Billy Speary, claimant of the state featherweight crown through his manager Art Thomas has asked promoter Al Dewey to match him with Pete Scalzo, for the world's title, provided he wins decisively over Al Brown, rugged Philly 126-pounder at the 109th Armory drill-shed one week from tonight.

Speary is training with Johnny Dean, Miami, welterweights, at the Stickney hose house in Nanticoke and he expects to beat in the best condition of his career when he crawls through the ropes to swap punches with his dusky rival. Billy realizes that in Brown he's facing the hardest test of his career, but he's confident of winning.

Speary Matched to Fight Al Brown

THE WINDUP FEATURES BOXING SHOW AUGUST 20
Nanticoke State Champ to Meet Al Brown and Burton Will Swap Punches with Dean

Two Golden Gloves Champions will swap punches at the 109th Westmoor armory on Tuesday night, August 20. Promoter and Matchmaker Al Dewey announced today that he has signed Al Brown of Philadelphia to box Billy Speary of Nanticoke, recognized as the featherweight title holder in an eight-round bout and Howard Burton, local colored welterweight, will clash with Johnny Dean of Miami, Florida, now located in New York City.

Brown has a great record. He rates of the best 126 pound boy Speary has ever been matched with, and like the Nanticoke youngster who won fame in the Golden gloves tournament, winning the bantamweight title, and qualifying as the world's amateur champ by winning a Chicago tournament. He is 21 years of age.

Twice Beat O'Leary

Eddie O'Leary, of Pringle, who was recently defeated by Speary, twice lost to Brown, once the Philadelphia and also at Tamaqua. After Brown won the Golden Gloves championship he was sent to Melbourne, Australia where he knocked out the Australian champ in seven rounds. He also kayoed Kriss Christman, at Sydney, Australia, and won verdicts over Danny Laverne, Ray Haddegan and Kru Kung. All told, Brown won 67 out of 80 fights as an amateur and won 15 battles as a pro. One of his best fights was a victory over the highly touted Johnny Forte, of Philadelphia and 10 round battle.

Promoter Al Dewey had Howard Burton, local colored welter signed to box Billy Speary - John McDade, Burton's manager posted a $50.00 forfeit Burton would make 133 pounds - Howard weighed 140 for Patsy Gall at Pottsville recently and McDade was positive he could make the weight - "It's mid-summer and very warm, and Burton can easily make 133," McDade told Dewey - The colored boy then started working out, and after three workouts Dewey put him on the scales and he weighed 143 - Al promptly called off the match and signed Al Brown, a crack New York featherweight to fight Speary at the 109th Armory Tuesday night, Aug. 20.

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