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| • . • ] : : NBA Orders Montgomery To Retire From Boxing Ex-Light Champ Quits Again After Sad Comeback Attempt WASHINGTON, D. C, May 9 UP. — Aged Bob Montgomery, the rangy Negro who won and lost the lightweight championship twice, retired from the ring today for the second and probably last time. It was, for all practical purposes, a-forced retirement. The National Boxing Association announced it had retired the 31-year-old boxer "for his own physical good and the best interests of boxing." The NBA said it acted on the request of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission. This is the second time that Montgomery has been forced to hang up his gloves. In 1947 he announced his retirement but during the past year made a pitiful stab at a comeback. Last month he lost to Aldo Minelli here and to Sonny Boy West in Baltimore. Montgomery began professional fighting in 1938, after winning 22 and losing two as an amateur. He won the New York state Version of the worlds" lightweight championship from Beau Jack in May of 1943, lost it back to Jack that November, and won it again — also from Jack — in March of 1944. Meanwhile, Ike Williams was recognized by the NBA as champion. Finally, Montgomery was matched with Williams for undisputed possession of the title, and was knocked out in the sixth round on August 4, 1947. Three days later Montgomery was scheduled to announce his retirement, but at the last moment tearfully pleaded for "one more crack at that Williams.* He lost two warm-up bouts and never earned that "one more crack." The day after Christmas that year he announced his retirement.
