THE OPENING BELL HAD hardly stopped ringing when Bob Robbers of Nigeria rushed toward his English opponent, Teddy Barker, in a bout of welterweights held at Maestag, Wales. Mr. Roberts was extremely eager to get the first punch, so eager that he hauled off with a wild right overhand. Barker ducked under the punch and came through with a right counter, a sharp jab that caught the over enthusiastic Roberts square on the jaw.
The Nigerian collapsed, but climbed to his feet before the count began. However, the referee saw that glazed look in the fallen man’s eyes. To save Roberts from further punishment, he halted the fight before either man could swing again, awarding the victory to Barker on a technical knockout. The whole thing had taken but 10 seconds. It was the shortest bout on record.