In the midst of their intense boxing match at the Chicago Coliseum, Jackie Fields and Young Jack Thompson were caught in a notorious riot. Just as the tension in the ring reached a high, referee Ed Purdy hastily directed the fighters to seek refuge under the canvas. The panicked scene was a jarring interruption to the nearly eight-round bout for the welterweight world championship under the National Boxing Association.
The NBA had stripped Joe Dundee of his title due to a missed defense schedule, setting the stage for Fields and Thompson’s showdown on March 25, 1929. Joe Dundee, who claimed the championship almost two years prior, was still recognized by the New York State Athletic Commission, which hoped he would defend his title soon.
Thompson had made a name for himself following a decisive TKO against Dundee on August 30, 1928, a victory that had catapulted the 24-year-old into the spotlight. Just a month afterward, Thompson risked everything in a clash against Fields.
For Fields, it had been almost five years since his Olympic triumph in featherweight boxing back in 1924. At just 21, he became a formidable contender to Dundee’s title, after defeating Thompson in a solid decision and securing a second-round KO over Sergeant Sammy Baker, as well as outscoring Baby Joe Gans at Madison Square Garden.
Promoter Jim Mullen sweetened the bout with a promise of a $5,000 diamond-studded belt for the victor, painting Fields as a talent surpassing even Benny Leonard, while billing Thompson as the “Colored Wonder” known for his knockout of Dundee. Despite Thompson’s prowess, Fields entered the ring as the favorite, thanks to his win six months prior.
Fields dictated the initial rounds with a strategic jab, a hallmark of his slick boxing style that had developed more power and aggression with time. Although Thompson wielded a mighty right hand, Fields began to falter in the sixth round. However, just as Thompson appeared to seize an opportunity, chaos unraveled.
Trouble stirred when a Fields supporter in the stands hurled a racially charged insult at Thompson. The tension escalated rapidly with an armed response from Thompson’s fans. Panic ensued, magnified by someone shouting, “Fire!” amidst the camera flashes, causing an evacuation stampede that resulted in serious injuries, including the fatal injury of Herman Landman.
In the bedlam, the power suddenly failed, plunging the nine thousand spectators into darkness. Underneath the ring, Fields and Thompson waited anxiously as the sounds of chaos unfolded around them. Fields, recalling the era of Al Capone, feared it was gunfire, a sentiment shared by many on that tumultuous night.
Efforts to restore order were spearheaded by Emil Denemark of the Illinois State Athletic Commission, who, alongside others, sustained injuries in the attempt. Eventually, Deputy Police Commissioner John Stege and Detective Chief John Egan coordinated with emergency services to quell the disturbance.
The lights returned, and with it, a semblance of normalcy, allowing the fight to resume. Fields maintained his strategic advantage, outlasting Thompson’s desperate attempts to land a decisive blow. When the match concluded, Fields was declared the NBA’s new welterweight world champion.
In the aftermath, the Illinois commission controversially suggested banning interracial bouts as a means of avoiding future riots. This proposal, however, effectively barred black contenders from competing for titles, given the racial dynamics of champions at the time.
Fields would later claim the undisputed welterweight championship from Dundee and defend it against Thompson in a far less chaotic rematch. Reflecting on their shared history, Fields and Thompson often revisited that night, with Thompson humorously admitting he had aimed for a knockout amidst the blackout.
Their remarkable trilogy remains etched in history, marked forever by the night pandemonium took over the Chicago Coliseum.
