Who refereed two heavyweight title fights seven or eight years before fighting for the same title himself? asked P. Kevin Crosby.
No, this isn't a trick question. The man you're looking for is Frenchman Georges Carpentier - who was not only a brilliant boxer, and a decorated combat pilot in World War I, but also a part-time referee. It was in this later capacity that Carpentier took charge of Jack Johnson's 20-round decision win over Frank Moran for the world heavyweight title in Paris on June 27 1914.
Three weeks later, Carpentier was back in the ring, this time as a fighter. On July 16 1914 he beat Ed "Gunboat" Smith in London to win the heavyweight championship of Europe and - in a sad reflection of the times - the white heavyweight championship of the world.
It was seven years before Carpentier got the chance to fight for the real thing. By now, he was light-heavyweight champion of the world having beating Battling Lewinsky in 1920, and some experts gave him a chance against the Manassa mauler, Jack Dempsey.
But when they met in Jersey City on July 2 1921, Dempsey blew the Frenchman away. Carpentier, whose nickname was the "Orchid Man", was a very hard hitter for a man of his size. But he had no answer for Dempsey's power and was knocked out in four rounds.
PALINDROMIC FOOTBALLERS - THEY ARE OUT THERE
"Following your query in the knowledge about Ugo Ehiogu, I've noticed that his name is very nearly a palindrome - backwards it reads Ugo Iheogu," noted Matt xxx (sic) last week. "I was wondering if there were any palindromic footballers, either now or ever?"
Incredibly, there are, Matt xxx. As Pete Allen suggests, Liverpool's 17-year-old youth team player Leon Noel certainly makes the palindrome grade.
He might also make the grade on the pitch too. According to Liverpooltv.com, Noel's "a powerful centre forward who can also play in a wide role. One of the quickest players at the club he is very strong and a tremendous hard worker for the team cause," the club's potted biography adds (as only potted biographies can). "His strength makes him difficult to play against and he is progressing well."
Meanwhile, Owen Hudner says that York Region Shooters of the Canadian Professional Soccer league - "they play in the illustrious company of such teams as London City and the Brampton Hitmen!" he points out - currently have a player called Mike Kim.
If you know of any other palindromes (surely there's a Tom Mot or a Shane Enahs out there?), send them to the usual address.
LONGEST PENALTY SHOOT-OUT EVER
"After Nottingham Forest managed to dispatch the mighty Stockport in a thrilling 8-7 victory on penalties in the Worthington Cup, the conversation in the office is rife as to the highest scoring penalty shoot-out," said Rory Sewell. "Any ideas what the highest score is?"
Several of you point out the 1992 African Nations Cup Final between Ivory Coast and Ghana, which finished 11-10 to Ivory Coast on penalties. However, that doesn't even come close.
According to Seamus McCann, "the longest European penalty shoot-out I currently know of was on November 28 1996 in the Turkish FA Cup match between Genclerbirligi and Galatasaray.
"The match finished 1-1 after extra time and Genclerbirligi eventually won the shoot-out 17-16," he adds. "Of the 34 penalties taken, only one was missed. Spare a thought for the poor Galatasaray keeper, Hayrettin, who saw all 17 penalties go past him.
"However, in the 1988-89 Argentine Championship, penalties were taken after drawn matches for an extra point. In the match on November 20 1988 between Argentinos Juniors and Racing Club, which had finished 2-2, 44 penalties were taken before Argentinos emerged as 20-19 victors."
HAS ANYONE PLAYED IN EVERY DIVISION FOR THE SAME CLUB? II
"Fulham's Sean Davis has played for the same club at senior level in all four divisions. Have any other players done this or does it happen all the time and I just don't know about it?" asks Adrian Gentry.
Last week we said that four Wimbledon players had achieved the feat: Alan Cork, Dave Beasant, Glyn Hodges and Lawrie Sanchez.
But Wayne Ziants says there are others who have played for the Dons in Division Four (82/3), Division Three (83/4), Division Two (84-86) and Division (86/87)."
"Lawrie Sanchez didn't do it - he was signed from Reading when the Dons were in Division Two - but Kevin Gage, Steve Galliers, Mark Morris and Wally Downes did," he says. "The first six even played in our first game in Division One.
"Although it is widely known that Cork scored in every division, Gage and Hodges also did, according to Clive Leatherdale's Wimbledon: From Southern League to Premiership, A Complete History."
CAN YOU HELP?
"I recently noticed that a Asian world cup qualifier between Turkmenistan and Taiwan had an official attendance of 20," says A.Wallace. "Is this the lowest for a world cup qualifier? What is the lowest in Europe?"
"Which boxer has fought the most World Championship rounds of boxing without ever winning a world title," asks Sim John.
"While browsing through the Scottish Third Division statistics for this season (how sad) I noticed that James McKenzie of Albion was sent off in each of the three games he has played this season," says Chris Haynes. "Is this a record for consecutive red cards? And who is the dirtiest player ever in terms of red cards per appearance?"
"I believe Burnley and Carlisle qualify, but are there any other clubs who at any point in their history sat atop the table in the Premiership (or old First Division) and at some other point in their history spent time at the bottom of the old Fourth / new Third Division?" asks Paul Fritsky.