World Champion
Webb then challenged Charles Towns, the World Title holder, to a match and £500 a side stake. Charles Towns of Australia had become the holder after his brother, George Towns, had forfeited the Title to him. The Webb race was the first defence for Charles Towns. This race took place on the Parramatta River, Sydney, Australia, on the 2 August 1907. Webb won by five lengths and was declared World Champion by the umpire, despite a protest by Towns regarding an alleged foul by Webb, which would have lost him the race. Not all commentators agreed with the umpire as some thought Webb should have lost the race because of the foul. However as there was no controlling body for the World Title, nor for most other professional sports, the ruling stood.
Read more about this topic: William Webb (rower)
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