The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-10

gills only chances of victory was to score knock out.
 0 O O
 Almost Stopped PcttinGilI.
 Claude Wilson, in his quest for his place in the sun''-with the Dixie bantamweight field as the horizon came within ono good right hand sock to the jaw of winning in most decisive fashion. py knock k-out. In the eight round of their bout last night, which was one of the speedlest and most whole- souled staged at the B. A. c. in months, Wilson had Pet tingill in such shape that Al was holding on desperately to avoid as much punishment as possible, and kis manager and seconds were pray ing for the bell as their groggy charge sagged about and wabbled across the ring in .,zzy fashion.
 In that eighth, Wilson had opened up with a slashing, in-fighting at tack that forced Pettingill to the ropes, and a series of short right up- percuts soon had Al dazed and sag ging. Wilson tried to hold his man off. and vainly awaited an opening to land his right with all the force of his young body behind it. Pet tingill. who retained bit of meth cd in his dizziness, just managed to evade the full force of the blow each time the sock came over, and when ti.e gong sounded, he returned to his corner very groggy young man, but still on his feet.
 Theeighth was the best session Of the fight, but the others were not far behind in spectacular battling. Wilson was placing his blows well and Pettingill, while always behind q bit, was still close enough to keep Wilson on a continual lookout.
 In the ninth, Wilson again sent Iii .Nr.1- h n hh slipped through perfectly timed right hand smash to the chin. Pettin- gin closed in, fighting furiously, anu saxed himself by his very agressive- ness.
 A SIuEging Finish.
 It was in the tenth that the crowd was forced to it's feet, as the two young scrappers squared off for the final session. Pettingi1l came from his corner with a rush. and his right started swinging the second Al was in range of Wilson's body. It was then that Claude turned the tables, upset the dope and completely dum- founded fandom. Al is noble slug ger, and probably not one in ten fig ured Wilson would stand up and punch matters out. That was exact ly what Claude did. and his wonder fuI timing and placing of his blows soon slowed Pettngill down to nor nal pace, which is just bit behInd that of Mir. Claude Wilson.
 Wilson stood toe to toe and slugged 1t out in that tenth round, and it is only fair to him to say that he landed more and often than Pettineill, and his blows were just as solid.
 When the bout was over, there was nothing for Referee Evans to do ex- cept raise Wilson's hand, and the fair sized crowd filed out of the B. A. C. gym cheering the show and the won derful showing of Wilson.
 By rounds, Wilson won six and four were even. Claude took the second. third, fifth, eighth, ninth and tenth, while the others were even.
 Wilson was in superb form. His timing was excellent, while he was all over Pettingill on in-flghting. Wilson used short right hand chop and uppercut to good advantage, while PettingilPs chief threat was his long right swing.
 Al made anything but a bad show ing Monday night. Wilson was just too good last night, and that accounts for his win over the New Orleans boy