The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-02
CHAMPION VILLA GETS UNEXPECTED DEFEAT IN BOUT
Little Scrappers Stage Fur ious Finish in Battle
 for Title

NEW YORK; March t.-The Amer. ican flyweight boxing championship title returned to it's native shores tonight in historic Madison Square Garden, where a capacity crowd saw Frankie Genaro take it from Pancho Villa, tho Filipino who won 1t from Johnny Buff in Brooklyn last sum- mer. The decision was of the hair line variety. Newspaper critics wcrS divided in their opinion of the jus tice of the decision. Those who fa- Nored were not enthusiastic and those against were bitter in their de- nunciaticn.
 The crowd became demonstrative to an extent that worried the po- lice, and squads of bluecoats had difficulty in clearing the aisles. It was evident from the start that Genaros friends were in the ma jority, and they booed Villa when he was escorted to his dressing room. For two-thirds of the way the fight bordered on sloth, but in the last five the mixing was so furious that the spectators were In almost constant uproar.
 Caution was the order of the early rounds. The little wiry fellows pos Ing for long stretches, moving now and again like animals about to spring, and frequently they did leap like cats, but the early damage was negligible.
 Villa Aggressor.
 Villa seemed the more aggressive and his punches seemed as steaming as his challenger's, but he was warned more often than the winner Tor objectionable tactics, and once or twice the crowd booed him.
 lnft two handed digs to the ribs Villa employed, toward the end of the bout, the rabbit punch.
 on the whole, Genaro was the more cautious than his opponent and i'll the constant exchanges the Fili- pino seemed at an advantage But the New Yorker was not so tired nor did he show the effects of punish men that Villa did. Even so the difference was small. Genaro used his right effectively and though he missed frequently his accuracy was greater than Villas.
 The last round probably gave Ge- naro the title. Twice he hit and caught the Filipino squarely on the Jaw and the champions knees sag sed; But Pancho came back and after cllnch was in furious exchange when the bell rang
 Round One.
 Genaro was first to land, a right to the jaw. Several times the New Yorker sprang in like terrier, rush. ing the champion to the ropes and sinkins his left in the ribs. They exchanged left sailings to the head. Both men were cautious and Genaro took what offensive there was.
 Round Two. They clinched, Genaro swung wild ly several times and then tucked away from the champions lead. Villa was the az gressor in several body exchanges which were even and then bounded off the ropes when Genaro shot left swing to the jaw.
 Round Three.
 Villa sprang away when Genaro leaped for him. Genaro sunk his left in the Filipinos stomach after a body exchange. Villa was reprimanded for throwing Genaro against the ropes. Villa led furious exchange in Genaro's corner.
 Round Four.
 Villa landed left jabs to stomach and head and catching Genaro along the ropes, pummelled his kidneys. The challenger was warned for but ting his head on Villas chin. Genaro rushed Villa across the ring and the champion toppled outside the ropes. The challenger sent the champion back on his heels with left to the head. Villa replied with left that plunged into Genaros stomach.
 Round Five.
 Both took hard lefts to the head and clinched. Genaro rushed Villa to the champions corner with re- beating left to head and body. The ! champion landed a fusillade on Ge- naro's torso Villa shot his left to the challenger's jaw. Both were missing frequently.
 Round Six.
 Villa caught Genaro in "a clinch and pumped both fists into the chal- lengers ribs. The Filipino had the best of several other exchanges. Ge- naro rocked him with q left to the jaw, but Villa came back with two-fisted attack to the head and