[3] In the spring of 1942, the United States First Marine Division sailed for Wellington, prior to opening a counteroffensive against the advancing Japanese forces.

In the local team there appeared two Wellington fighters who were to turn professional after the war, Jack McCann and Lyn Philp.

Philp while serving with J Force[4] in Japan after the war, he would win a tournament in Kure,[5] beating an Australian in the final.

[7] At Hastings New Zealand on 6 August 1947, and his second professional fight he met Tot Hoggarth the bantamweight champion in the first of three meetings between the pair, being defeated in round twelve.

In his rematch with Tot Hoggarth, on 6 October 1947 at Petone New Zealand he won by KO, setting the stage for the final showdown and the battle for the belt.