Albert Morgan Pilkington (December 25, 1902 – August 3, 1953), better known as Tod Morgan, was an American boxer who took the Undisputed World Super Featherweight Championship in 1925 in Los Angeles and held it for an impressive four years. His managers were his stepfather Frank Morgan, and later Frank Churchill, who also trained Mike Ballerino, a former Jr. Lightweight champion. His trainer was "Spider" Roach.
Early life and career Morgan was born in the small town of Dungeness, Washington, near Sequim, on December 25, 1902.Beal, Scoop, "Around Our Town", The Times Standard, Eureka, California, pg. 19, 5 August 1953
Tod's stepfather, Fred, put Tod in boxing as a means of getting some strength into his body. His first professional fights were in 1920, in Concrete, and Anacortes, Washington, against Johnny Bitoni, and Pete Moe, who knocked him out. After these two bouts, his stepfather Fred moved him to California. After arriving in Eureka where he fought two bouts with George Green, his stepfather began training him in the backroom of the Hoffman House in Vallejo, California, a soft-drink parlor and lunch room. Tod's first fight in Valejo was around October 1920.Seattle Daily Times, Seattle, Washington, 3 April 1929
On May 24, 1922, Morgan defeated California boxer Ad Rubidoux at the Oakland Arena in Oakland, California in a ten-round points decision. The bout was fiercely fought and considered the most interesting of the bouts fought that night."Ad Rubidoux is Defeated", The San Bernardino County Sun, San Bernardino, California, pg. 7, 25 May 1922
Taking the Pacific Coast Featherweight Title, August 1923 Morgan first took the Pacific Coast Title on August 22, 1923, against Bud Ridley in a six-round decision in Seattle. In a decisive win, he outpointed Ridley in every round but the opening of the sixth. As in previous fights, Morgan used his left to keep his opponent at a distance. Ridley's crouching style was ineffective against the left of Morgan."Bud Ridley is Trimmed By Morgan", Vancouver Daily World, Vancouver, Canada, pg. 13, 23 August 1923
In another six round points decision, Morgan defended his Pacific Coast Title on September 5, 1923, against Ridley in a rematch in Seattle. Most ringside critics felt that Morgan had defeated Ridley even more decisively than in their first match. Morgan outboxed, outslugged, and effectively out maneuvered his opponent. Morgan landed far more punches than Ridley, who showed gameness, but was clearly outmatched."Tod Morgan Wins From Bud Ridley", Vancouver Daily World, Vancouver, Canada, pg. 12, 6 September 1923
On January 22, 1924, Morgan knocked out accomplished boxer Frankie Britt in the third round at Crystal Pool in Seattle, Washington, retaining the Pacific Coast Featherweight Title.
Wins over Joe Gorman Morgan's first meeting with Joe Gorman on February 26, 1924, ended in a six-round draw. As the bout was non-title due to Gorman's weight of 130, the bout was tame, and Morgan landed blows easily, though not with great steam. Some ringside felt Morgan had the edge in the bout."Tod Morgan And Joe Gorman at Draw in Seattle", Vancouver Daily World, Vancouver, Canada, pg. 13, 27 February 1924
On December 30, 1924, Morgan defeated Doc Snell at the Crystal Pool in Seattle, Washington in a six-round points decision. He had drawn with Snell two weeks earlier in Tacoma. In their Tacoma bout, several critics ringside felt Morgan had the edge, but the boxing was fast and probably close."Last Night's Fight Results", Oakland Tribune, Oakland, California, pg. 39, 19 December 1924 Snell would take the Pacific Coast Featherweight Title in January 1927, and would later take the Pacific Coast Jr. Lightweight Title. He had formerly held the North Central Washington Featherweight Title.
On June 28, 1927, Morgan would lose to Snell in an unusual six round outdoor bout in Seattle. In the first two rounds, Morgan used his left jab cautiously to control Snell and defend against him, although Snell seemed to have an advantage in the third. Morgan floored Snell twice in the fourth round, once for a count of five. Snell recovered and decked Morgan in the fourth with a strong blow behind the ear. He dropped Morgan again briefly in that round and then continued in the fifth and sixth with a decided advantage as Morgan still appeared groggy. Snell may have come close to a knockout at several points in the final two rounds.Morgan was down three times in their June 28 bout, in "Snell Decisions Morgan", The Lincoln Star, Lincoln, Nebraska, pg. 10, 29 June 1927Morgan may have had an advantage in the third in "Morgan Loses Battle Where Title is Safe", Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona, pg. 16, 30 June 1927
Morgan would meet Gorman again on October 21 of that year for a fairly easy decision in six rounds in Seattle."Portlander Defeated", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, pg. 1, 22 October 1924 On June 10, 1925, Morgan would defeat Gorman again in Oakland in an easy ten round points decision. Gorman was knocked to the mat in the first, and was not a major threat in the following rounds."Joe Gorman Who Fought Here Beaten in California", The Klamath News, Klamath Falls, Oregon, pg. 6, 11 June 1925Gorman on mat in first round in "Boxing", Albany Democrat-Herald, Albany, Oregon, pg. 6, 11 June 1925
Taking the World Jr. Lightweight Title from Mike Ballerino, December 1925 Morgan took the World Jr. Lightweight Title on December 2, 1925, in a ten-round technical knockout against Mike Ballerino at Olympic Auditorium in Los, Angeles. Though putting up a typically aggressive and tireless display, the Lincoln Star wrote that Ballerino only won the first round decisively. He was down for a nine count in the third round, outpunched badly against the ropes in the sixth, and had the crowd shouting to end the bout by the ninth and tenth rounds."Coast Scrapper Captures Crown", The Lincoln Star, Lincoln, Nebraska, pg. 16, 8 December 1925 The Associated Press wrote that Ballerino's seconds had his manager Frank Churchill throw in the towel, though they already knew Morgan had clinched the bout on points.
Defeating former World Junior Lightweight Champion Steve Sullivan, June 1926 On June 3, 1926, Morgan fought Steve "Kid" Sullivan, a former World Junior Lightweight Champion, at the Brooklyn National League Baseball Park in front of 40,000 enthralled boxing fans. Morgan convincingly beat Sullivan in a sixth round Technical Knockout. The Oakland Tribune wrote Morgan dealt Sullivan "one of the worst beatings a battler ever received in an Eastern Ring""When Champ Morgan Dropped Ex-Champion Steve Sullivan", Oakland Tribune, Oakland, California, pg. 15, 7 June 1926 The Wilkes-Barre Evening News, wrote "Tod Morgan... was not in the slightest danger of losing the world's junior lightweight championship while fighting Steve Kid Sullivan at Ebbets Field last night"."Morgan Kayoes Steve Sullivan", Wilkes-Barre Evening News Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, pg. 30, 4 June 1926 Sullivan was down for the count of nine in both the first and second rounds. In the sixth round, Sullivan's handlers tossed in the towel. Sullivan's most apparent injuries were cuts to his nose."Tod Morgan Retains Title", The Daily News Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania, pg. 6, 4 June 1926
Defense of the Jr. Lightweight Title, Joe Glick, September 1926 On September 30, 1926, Morgan defeated Jewish boxer Joe Glick in a fifteen-round Jr. Lightweight Championship bout at Madison Square Garden. The Associated Press gave Morgan eleven rounds, with three even, and only one to Glick. The A. P. wrote that Morgan put on "one of the nicest exhibitions of boxing put on at the Garden in some time."
Defense of the Jr. Lightweight Title, Johnny Dundee, October 1926 On October 19, 1926, Morgan defeated Johnny Dundee before 14,0000 spectators in a World Jr. Lightweight Title match in a ten-round points decision at Recreation Park in San Francisco. Morgan was considered to have taken six of the ten rounds against the veteran Dundee. Dundee, eleven years older than Morgan, may have injured his hand in the third round, and by the eighth was in a decided disadvantage.Palmer, John, "Johnny Dundee Fails to Come Back Against Tod Morgan, Champ", The Courier News, Bridgewater, New Jersey, pg. 20, 20 October 1926"Old Age in Submission to Youth", Brainerd Daily Dispatch, Brainerd, Minnesota, pg. 6, 20 October 1926
Defense of the Jr. Lightweight Title, Carl Duane, November 1926 On November 19, 1926, Morgan defeated Carl Duane in a close match at Madison Square Garden in New York that drew 14,260 fans. The referees and judges scored a fifteen-round unanimous decision for Morgan, but the bout had its close rounds. Morgan said referring to Duane, that "he gave me the hardest fight I've had since I won the title." Morgan was bruised notably after the bout.Nobbe, George, "Bronx Battler Tough, And His Awkward Syle Puzzling", The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Brooklyn, New York, pg. 4, 20 November 1926 Morgan was injured by hooks to his face most notably in the thirteenth and fourteenth rounds, but Morgan scored frequently with blows to the head of Duane throughout the bout, and his defense seemed somewhat more effective. Duane took considerable punishment in the final round but managed to fight the bout without once being knocked to the mat. Morgan fought at 127 1/2 pounds."Tod Morgan Hammers Way to Verdict Over Carl Duane", The Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis, Indiana, pg. 13, 20 November 1926"Morgan Retains Belt After Meeting Duane", Battle Creek Enquirer, Battle Creek, Michigan, pg. 8, 20 November 1926
Defense of the Jr. Lightweight Title, Vic Foley, May 1927 On May 28, 1927, Morgan defended his Jr. Lightweight Title again against Vic Foley in a twelve-round points decision in Vancouver, Canada. Morgan had taken six months off from active boxing prior to the bout, but was well matched with Foley, who gave him no major trouble in the bout. Morgan twice dropped Foley with two-fisted attacks. The majority of ringside critics gave eight rounds to Morgan with two even, and two to Foley. Foley was down for a count of eight in the second and more briefly in the fifth. Foley made his best stand in the fourth when he sent Morgan to the ropes."Tod Morgan Easily Defeats Vic Foley", The Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis, Indiana, pg. 12, 30 May 1927
Frank Churchill becomes sole boxing manager After Fred Morgan, Tod's acting manager died in a boating accident around August 1927, Tod adopted Billie, his stepfather's four-year-old son, on February 15, 1929. Frank Churchill, who had managed Mike Ballerino, a Jr. Lightweight Champion, and Filipino Flyweight Champion Pancho Villa became Morgan's sole manager.
Difficult defense of the Jr. Lightweight Title, Joe Glick, December 1927