LASZLO PAPP – HARRY SCOTT (British)

March 13th, 1964, Vienna, Stadhalle

10-round bout ending with a win-on-points
The 27th of Papp’s professional matches

’Though first his opponent seemed to get the upper hand during what was a gory a dramatic fight,
Papp could also perk up to spring to the counter-attack, showing his age and skill’. – boxrec.com

Possibly Papp’s ’nastiest’, penultimate, ’home-ground’, that is, Viennese battle was fought against
the supertough, foul-happy Liverpool native, eleven years his junior, by the name of Harry Scott.
The corner Laci took all by himself this time in Vienna was foredoomed to be tight with Zsigmond
Adler, his trainer, absenting himself - having been hopitalized and operated on an illness. It was
not until the last couple of rounds that this unrelenting, nect-to-neck combat was about to yield
when an apparently but unordinarily unfit Papp managed to get the upper hand over his opponent
fighting on his title strength. Truth be told, since there was no lack of British-launched wanton
headbutts for him to choose from, Papp, having both of his eyebrows lacerated, had to endure an
ever-increasing bleeding all along. As for Scott himself and his countrymen of sportsjournalists
Papp had to be sent off on account of his serious injury, thus having the British declared
victorious.
Max Stadtlander, Laci Papp’s manager recalled what had happened as follows: „As
far as Laci’s bouts are concerned there’s not much for me to say. The level of prudentiality he
demonstrates will beyond any doubt guarantee the positive outcome for him. I just once
remember having cause for worry. In Vienna, during the match against Harry Scott. Laci was
pretty uptight on that day due to Zsigmond Adler’s on-going operation. Notwithstanding my
objections, a very poor referee was in charge. And I did have my apprehensions confirmed.
Scott, who for that matter was known to be an impure hitter, ’fashionably’ headbutted and
badly injured Papp’s left eyebrow. The referee should have been expected to at least warn
Scott, not just let it all go unanswered. Then another headbutt came in the 8th round
wounding Laci above the right eye. The referree being not equal to the task was at a loss
again and failed to interfere. I for one was afraid for my protege’s health and wanted to get
the match stopped during the break prior to the 9th round. Laci wouldn’t hear of giving it up
and begged me to let him on. During that break I managed to stanch the flow of blood. Scott,
then in the 9th and 10th round, could barely withstand Papp’s renewed blast having trouble
holding out to the end. The unsuited referee got hissed off the ring, whilst the victorious Papp
got doted over.
As it is the seen on the recording, Scott got warned just once while he was obviously
pushing the envelope of foul means ranging from headbutts to elbowing, let alone clinching.
Interestingly enough, Papp did not take up the gauntlet in return. What helped Harry Scott,
this recognised and distinguished sparrer, win a nationwide popularity was his willingness to
give the hotshots a run for their money throughout the thirteen years of his professional
career (1960-1973). No notable achievement could Scott make a boast of in the world of
professional boxing though. All he won was a bronze medal in the 1959 European
Championship in the amateur league. Harry Scott passed away in 2015 after a prolonged
illness, at the age of 78.
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