Leonard C. Bibby “The Professor” versus Stanley Wetherell “Long Stan”
The contest went eight rounds, with Bibby taking the points result. Wetherell moved readily away from the ropes; The Professor answered by keeping the centre and making his reach count over the scheduled distance.
Bibby was billed as “The Professor” for this contest. He worked from the outside behind his long lead hand, using his reach to make an opponent cross the distance.
A long timber room adapted for evening sporting meetings.
Contest date: . Entry numbers identify records rather than dates.
Round by round.
Round 1
Wetherell began with light movement and a clear preference for leaving the ropes before they could become part of Bibby’s plan. The Professor took the centre without rushing after him. Their first exchanges were concerned with finding a useful meeting point rather than imposing an immediate pace.
Round 2
Wetherell changed direction quickly and found a clean reply when Bibby’s lead followed the first route too faithfully. Bibby reset rather than extending the mistake. The round gave Wetherell space to show how his movement could turn the taller boxer before the longer reach became useful.
Round 3
Bibby allowed the first exit and prepared his lead for Wetherell’s return towards the middle. He found a more dependable position from which to work. Wetherell still moved readily, but the movement was no longer carrying him beyond the next exchange as reliably as it had earlier.
Round 4
Wetherell made shorter changes of direction and stayed nearer to a position from which he could answer. The adjustment prevented Bibby from treating every withdrawal as an invitation to hold the centre. Both found clear passages, with Wetherell doing useful work before the longer lead could settle again.
Round 5
Bibby became more economical, using small movements to keep Wetherell in view rather than attempting to close every route. His lead reached the more useful positions first. Wetherell remained composed, but had to make a fresh adjustment before he could turn movement into an equally sustained reply.
Round 6
Wetherell’s quickest footwork produced another good passage near the ropes, where Bibby had less freedom to leave the line of an exchange. Bibby answered by returning to the middle rather than prolonging the argument there. The contrast kept the round lively without turning it into a hurried pursuit.
Round 7
Bibby held his position more firmly and made Wetherell approach a lead that was already prepared. The cleaner sequences came from that patience. Wetherell continued to find ways out, but each exit now required another journey before he could begin work on terms of his own.
Round 8
Wetherell continued moving through the final round, answering when Bibby’s recovery left a brief opening. Bibby’s steadier position and longer lead gave his work greater continuity across the closing passages. The contest completed eight rounds, and the points result went to Bibby in his final recorded appearance.