Great Outdoor Fight 1942

From The Great Outdoor Fight

Often known as the "G4F," the fight came on the heels of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Many of those who would have competed were drafted or enlisted rather than go to the fight. The result was such a shortage of able-bodied fighters that year that many in the Ruling Body favored postponing the fight. Young Jude Surrency disagreed.

"These here boys done come for a fight, and that's just what they deserve. Just a'cause half of 'em aint got the physicality to fight the sonuvabitch Japs don't mean they ain't got the spirit an' honor for the fight. I say, let 'em have at it."

However, fears of a Japanese assault on prominent targets near the Pacific coast persisted, and most people agreed that Bakersfield was a risky location for the fight. Thus, an alternate venue was sought further inland. 1935 champion Silas Losey offered the use of his Wyoming ranch, and so the 1942 fight became the first (and subsequently only) Great Outdoor Fight since 1857 to be held outside of The Acres.

Twenty-three of the deaths in the 1942 Great Outdoor Fight were ruled unrelated to actual combat.