New Britain herald., 1927-02-05
JOE HOWARD ALMOST OUT
 SWINGS TO KAYO STURLNO
Connecticut Mddleweight Champion Wins Most Thrill ing Battle Seen Here - Hogan Fails to Appear Against LaPera - Johnny CHnch Scores Decisive Victory Over Charles Romano-Joe Zotter Knocks Out Pat Shea in Two Rounds.

in by his opponent, Joe Howard, middleweight amateur champion of Connecticut, beat Joe sturino. New York "Iron Horse" to the punch and knocked him out in the feature bout of the Mohawk A. c. amateur tour nament at the state armory on Arch street last night.
 The bout was the most sensational ever seen in this city and had the crowd of 2,0oo or more fans up on their chairs, delirious with excite ment for the four minutes and 50 seconds it lasted. Howard has been sent down from terrific body and face punches twice for the count of ino, killer in looks and actions, was measuring" him for the last blow, when, with that fighting in- stinct that comes in those foggy mo- ments, Howard through the haze of benumbed senses, dimly saw his op- ponent and swung.
 The blow landed on Sturinos button" and Sturino landed flush on his face where he strove might fly to rise but couldn't get to his feet. giving Howard a victory that belonged only to the man who hit first.
 The knockout came after a min ute and 50 seconds of the second round but those five minutes were the most exciting that ould be inn agined. Every punch in the bout meant a knockdown and the entire spectacle was an example of two punishing punchers standing toe to toe with each punch meaning knockdown.
 Both men went down for count in the first round. Howard caught Sturino flush on the jaw and Sur ino went down. He shook off the ''cob-webs' and came to his feet. He danced around out of harms way and then came down with terrific overland right and Howard hung on to him, out as cold as stone. He went to the floor but got up again and although he had4 Sturino again ''going West" the be1Aved him.
 Starting out in the Second round, Howard was in trouble from the start. Sturino knocked him down and after a count of nine. Howard got to his feet, Sturino jumped in to finish him and with powerful right chop, sent him reeling to the canvas again.
 Once more Howard took a count of nine and staggered to his feet. sturino used his left to tilt Towards head up for the last blow when un. expectedly. Howard let the fina! blow of the fight go and Sturino landed on his chin and remained there unable to get up. Howard was 50 far gone that when Sturino fell down. Howard stumbled over him and was barely able to get to tho other side of the ring.
 Frank LaPera of New York. fash ing . beautiful attack, scored a technical knockout over Joe Bard ol Hartford in the 1853 pound class. Ref cree Joe Wurst stopped the fight in the second round to save Bard from further punishment. Bard was no match for the New Yorker. He was substituting for Ray Hogan who tele- phoned to the promoters of the Mo- hawk A. C., late yesterday afternoon that he would not be in New Brit ain to meet the New York battler because he had developed a cold. The immense crowd was sorely dis appointed over Hogan's failure to show last night
 Johnny Clinch. New Britain amateur ace, meeting the toughest boy in his career, defeated Charles Romano in three rounds, having q wide margin on points for the vic- tory. They fought at 136 pounds Romano knocked out Ray Hall In Hartford last week and Joe Zotter in South Manchester Wednesday night, but he was unable to even hit Clinch last night.
 Joe Zotter, New Britain, won by knockout from Pat Shea Of Hartford In the second round. They fought at 140 pounds. Zotter show ed a lot of speed and a great deal of hitting power and knocked Shea down for the count before he fin- ished him. Shea was taken to his corner and was out for 10 minutes before he could be brought back to consciousness.
 Pancho Villa received very close and unpopular decision over Tony Pagoni of Springfield in their bout at 13S pounds. The affair was called a draw after the third round and Villa was given the decision after a slashing fourth round. Many were of the opinion that Pa goni had won.
 Johnny Mastro of Hartford, re- ceived the decision in four rounds over Tony Norman of Springfield in the 122 pound class. Norman apparently had easily won the fight in the three rounds, but the judges disagreed and the bout went four rounds. This decision was received with boos and cat-calls.
 Charles Pope of Springfield was given the decision over Joe Cote in three rounds in the 11S pound class. Pope scored an easy victory over the local boy.
 Del Pouliot in the curtain open CT at 110 pounds, took the decision from Ted Gauthier of Springfield in three rounds. There was little to choose between the two boys except that Pouliot landed tNc cleaner and harder blows.
 A capacity crowd which jammed the armory to the doors witkessed the card of fights. The next night in the tournament will be held by the Mohawk A. c. at the state armory two weeks from last night. X government inspection of the military companies stationed at the armory on next Friday night, pre-