Jack Bernstein
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jack Bernstein, also known as "John Dodick," "Kid Murphy," and Young Murphy," (born November 5, 1899, in New York, New York; died December 26, 1945) was an American boxer.
He was World Junior lightweight Champion.
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[edit] Early life
He attended P.S. 64 in New York, but since there were seven Dodicks in the family he did not complete his studies because he had to do his bit in the battle for bread. He got a job as errand boy in a printing establishment.
[edit] Boxing career
Bernstein was billed as "Kid Murphy" or "Young Murphy" in his early fights in the New York-northern New Jersey area in 1920 and 1921.
John Dodick first stepped into the ring at age 14 as “Young Kiddy.” In his third match —labeled a workout — he went six rounds in a no-decision fight against young Benny Leonard. A few years later, champion Leonard would not give the mature Bernstein a chance at his title.
Enlisting in the Army during World War I, Dodick fought under the name of Kid Murphy. Stationed near the Mexican border, he won a 20-round decision in El Paso, Texas, over Mexican champion Nick Gundy to win what was labeled the Featherweight Border Championship.
Jack Bernstein won the World Junior Lightweight Championship on May 30, 1923 from titleholder Johnny Dundee in New York City’s Velodrome. The 5' 3", 128-pound Bernstein was a 4-to-1 underdog when he stepped into the ring against Dundee in their first match. But he picked himself off the canvas in the third round to earn a unanimous 15-round decision and the Junior Lightweight crown.
He lost the championship back to Dundee on December 17 that same year in a 15-round decision in Madison Square Garden. In their return bout Bernstein again dominated Dundee. Some media called the victory decision for Dundee “outrageous,” “putrid,” and “a heist.” Time Magazine wrote: "... the crowd hooted. The fans and the journalists watching could credit Dundee with at most only three victorious rounds, the last three, and possibly two other rounds drawn. The judges brought in a decision favoring Dundee. There was blank astonishment. Then a chorus of hoots and denunciations shook the building." Another critic, Wilbur Wood, wrote: "It will be many a year before the memory of the decision handed down in the Bernstein-Dundee fight can be softened down sufficiently to prevent sportsman from undergoing an attack of nausea when it is called to mind." And the New York Times reported: "The decision shocked a crowd of 13,589 persons."[1]
The two fought a “rubber” third match 10 months later, on September 15, 1924, 3 months after Dundee lost his Junior Lightweight title. This time the 15-round decision went unanimously to Bernstein.
He also fought the three boxers who would succeed Leonard as Lightweight Champion, all in non-title bouts. He beat Jimmy Goodrich (Leonard’s successor) twice. Against Rocky Kansas (who followed Goodrich), Bernstein won the first in a 15-round decision, drew the second, and lost the third bout. His first fight against Sammy Mandell, Kansas’ successor, ended in a 15-round draw. The second was a no-decision. Their third meeting was a 10-round loss for Bernstein.
Bernstein’s recorded professional record: 89 bouts, 60 wins (14 KOs, 1 foul), 8 draws, 21 losses (1 KO).
[edit] Boxing style
His darting left hand and airtight defense made him one of the most dangerous and sought after boxers in the game.
[edit] Hall of Fame
Bernstein, who was Jewish, was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.[2]
