The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-05-17
Ho.O MandeH McLGrnin
Shape Up For Title
Battle Tonight
IN James d. kiIgaIIen

BY James 1. KiIgallen
NEW YORK, May II Sixty
thousand persons, paying $685.
900 or more at the gate, are
expected to view the scheduled
I5zround battle at the Polo
Grounds tonight between
Sammy Mandell, the Rockford
l1H.) shiek, z and Baby
Face Jimmy McLarnin, of the
Pacific. coast, for the light,
weight championship OF the
world.
ii promises to be- the most inter-
osting lightweight battle in four
years-since he night Of July %,
1854, when Benny Leonard whipped
Lev Tender in the same ring. n
Both Champion Mandell and Me-
1.arnin are supremacy confident Of
victory. They are trained down TO
fine point and ready for the bell.
Ehey have naotored to New YORK
CITY from their training camps in the
rn,intry and will weigh In at the
offices OF the State Boxing Commls-
,xIot1 at O'Clock this afternoon,
Nefther boxer is likely to have any
ANTIQUITY scaling below lS5 pounds.
Heavy betting on the outcome
was reported today, with Man
dell {; 10 5 faVOrite. 1t was free
n nredicfed, however, that the
lighters will enter the ring AT
even money. Many thousands
az dollars have been Wagefed.
The betting has been heavier
than on any fight hereabOuts
4 since the Dempsey thriller.
The fight has all the elements OF
u natural" 1t brings together
hrainv. resourceful and game boxer
an Mandell and Knockout puncher
in McLarnin. 1t brings a champion
into the ring who has lost some OF
his popularity because OF his war;
ness in selecting opponents against
the tremendously popular McLar'
min. whose recent one.round knock
out of the sprightly Sid Tefr1s
amazed the fight fans of New YORK.
1t will be the first time Mandeli
will have really risked his light
weight laurels since he won the
crown from Rocky Kansas In Chi
cago on July 8. 1926. Since that
time MandeIl has boxed often
.enOugh-about 80 times-but most
Ut his opponents were set-ups.
He did, however, fight three nrst-
rate boys-Jackle Fields, Phil Nc
Graw and Billy PetroIle. The Fields
fight. which was very close, was a
no-decision affair and the title was
not involved McGraw, who had
seen his hest days. got shot at
the title but blew it. although he
gave Mandell hard scrap. Pc
trolle had Mandell on the floor. but
Sammy got up to beat him.
49, McLaFnin has not fought rs
often as Mandell in the last
two years, but he has engaged
In sitter battles and his per-
-fOrnnances have been spectacu-
lar. In his last three i'm
.portant bouts he stopped the
rough and tough Kid kaplan,
OutpOinted Billy Wallace in a
nO-decisiOn affair and flattened
ferris. These three victories
eclipse anything Mandell has
done In recent months.
Many smart observers think that
AicLarnin will have TO win by a
knockout within 10 rounds or lie
oatpointed by the clever Mandell
There are many fans who think
Baby Face" can put over the
cfIsher much sooner. lie has a
pieton-Iike right which ne con
stantly holds in cooked position,
nd shoots at the first sign of An
opening. What he did TO the agile
Tprris, a ia st moving target, is still
flesh in the minds of New York
fans.
Bat Mandell. will be no mark for
a right hand. He is too smart TO
lead with his chin. And, contrary to
the popular belief. Sammy is good
hitter as we'll as one of the smart.
est boxers since Benny Leonard.
His best punch is a short right
had chop TO the chin. He jabs and
!, hooks well with his left. and il he
Noses his title he is certain to -go
Gown fighting. He's game.
4If the coIorful McI1arnin should
w8n the title tonight many ring
idhalists will view the victory as a
ragitalizer OF the lightweight di.
vision. which has gone somewhat
III seed. The coast boy has qualifi.
cartons that would rank him with
other great hghtweights. perhaps
eyen with champions such as Jimmy
9ftk. Battling Nelson. Joe Cans. Ad
Vofeast. Willie Ritchie. Freddie
welsh. and Benny Leonard.