New Britain herald., 1926-05-21
LATzO WINS TITLE
 IN SLASHING BOUT
Walker Loses Grown in One Of Most Bitter Battles Of the Ring

Scranton, Pa, May q tP'-Minors of the Wyoming valley home of Pete Latzo, went into the earth to- day with smiles and bulging pock- ets-the fruits of an amazing con- quest.
 Many Of them had not slept, yet faced their tasks with eyes that glowcd with joy. They could not speak above q whisper, their threats torn by hours Of cheering, but there was no need to speak what every body knew.
 Last night Pete Latzo, g year old son Of the mines, became weIter- weight boxing champion of the world,
 Mickey Walker, doughty little battler from Elizabeth, \. J., who had sat upon the throne for three years. fell in as bitter a fight as modern rings have known. before 12,0oU spectators. most Of them friends Of Latzo, in the Colonel Waters armory here.
 Ten seethins rounds were fought toe to toe by the youngsters, one the product Of the city, the other of the mine country lashcd out at each other. first one and then the other seeming 10 have the advantage.
 Latzo had met Mickey Walker be- fore and suffered. Other men had beaten him-Franliie Schoell, Will lie Harmon, Morrie Schlaiffer, Ber- mandsey Bill Wells--but he had avenged those defeats. Last night he faced Walker knowing that the Greek Orthodox churches of the valley had said prayers for him on sunday. that his wife stood by stauuchly ever insistent on the "hunch" that he would win and that many slender purse had been staked on his chances.
 In the very first round the cham pion's fists drew blood from LatZos nose but before that round had end- ed Walker knew that he was in q fight
 Close in, Latzo soon learned that he was fighting the champions way and shortly he began 10 step away, ito rush in and out with stabbing iolts to the head which time after time drover his adversary 10 the ropes, as the battle went on both were rocked often in the exchanges.
 Again in the fifth Walker scored. a short right opening cut under the chalIeneer's left eye, but Latzo rained blows upon him and drove him to q corner. flashing out with a right that drove the champions head back just before the bell. | From that time the miner ap- rppared 10 gain strength and courage. Every charge was met with q shower of Iolts although he accepted terrific punches 10 head and body. II was in these late rounds thaF the title came to Tatzo and the 12,0Qo spec fators. sensing the cTowning of new king. loaped to their chairs and remained in a continuous roar.
 The last two rounds We're terrific with both boring in to settle inc yer dict the final bell found them slug .ing away al each other with the referee trying to pry them apart, Both judges voted for Latzo and the conseusus at the ringside gave him five of the ten rounds, Walker thre" and two even.
 i I.uzo entered the ring under th" name of "Goung Clancy" seven years ago, for the Latzo name at that time meant little 10 the sporting public Ialthough he had several pugilisttc- tally inclined brothers. He won many contests and soon returned 10 his real name. He climbed rapidly but Was set back when Walker defeated him in 1923.
 Walker outpomtsI old Jack Brit ion for the title in 1923 in l5 round contest in New York. He has had few matches at his own weight. the principal one being with Davr Shade Of California last year in which he gained the decision. He IoutpoinioI Mike McTieue, then light hcaNywrigbl cbampiou in a bout in New Jersey and was beaten by tIarry Greb hy decisions last sum- nor.