The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-02-10
EXPRESS WILL
HEADCARD0
FEB. 2S HERE
Opponent For North Dakota's
Contender For Champion.
ship Not Named
WILL BE BOY FROM WEST
Greatest Card In Western His.
tory Planned by the Mys.
terious Promoter
By J. G. MeCRECOR

By j. G. MeGREGOR
Billy Petrolle, the North Dakota
boy who ended the myth Of Cham.
pion Sammy Mandell's invincibility
with one well-dirscted left hook to
the liver, has been signed TO fight
m unnamed opponent in Bismarck
on Feb. 28.
The Fargo Express. who is hailed
by fight experts and fans the na-
tion over % the next lightweight
champion Of the world, signed . con-
tract late last night on the eve of his
bout with Russie Leroy, old stable
mate and friend, with whom he will
clash for the first time before the
public tonight in Fargo.
According to tho Mysterious
Promoter. the contract calls for 10
three-minute rounds against an op.
ronent Of high calibre and it will Be
the final set-to on the greatest box
ing card ever sponsored in western
North Dakota.
Opponent From West
It seems almost certain that Pc.
trolle's opponent will be q western
Ivy who is willing to gamble on fu-
ture greatness by meeting the
punching Dakotan in . make-or-
break affair.
"until I have the signature Of
Petrolle's opponent on . contract, !
will not name him." the Mysterious
Promoter said today. ut cost me
over 500 in telephone and telegraph
tolls alone to find him after / had
searched all Of the leading fight cen
ters Of the middle west"
"Hurley laughed ut me when ]
first asked him how much he want
ed to show Bill herr" said the Slopes
boxing benefactor. sf
IT do not want to insult you by
telling you what Petrolle is worth.
as he receives more money for his
shots than . show would draw in
Bismarck" These were the exact
words Of Hurley.
Guarantees Bill $500
But the Mysterious Promoter has
great faith in the sporting blood Of
the boys who live where the West
begins and countered with the state
ment that he was willing to guar
antee Petrolle 81 500 and 25 per cent
of the gate il Hurley would bring the
nations greatest lightweight to Bis
marck. ).
again Hurley laughed and called
me crazy and said you are heading
for the poorhouse, said the un-
known sportsman.
One week after the first converse.
tion, Hurley called and said he would
bring Petrolle to Bismarck Il the
Mysterious Promoter could find IN
opponent and stated that the light
weight field was chary Of the Ex-
press and bouts seemed few and far
between until tho coming. summer,
when Hurley expected the hope Of .
re.match with 4andell.
Boys AVOID Petrolle
In vain Hurley has attempted TO
match the little, Italian gentleman
with Sid Terris, Phil McGraw. Jackie
Fields. Jimmy McLarnin, Honeytoy
Finne9an, and. other so-called con.
tenders for Mandell's title. All Of
them baked at the prospect Of 2
clash with petrolle, who has gained
= reputation for running contenders.
Fight fans in bismarck today who
heard Of the match prior to publ.
cation stated that the Mysterious
Promoter has accomplished the Inn
possible and called It . great piece
Of matchmaking. They agreed It IS
the outstanding promotion In the
ring annals Of North Dekota.
THAT $500 guarantee = some-
thing but the 36 pr cent of the gate
is ridiculous, !" Hurley statsd. II viii
show Petrolle in Bismarck because
he win b fighting for his greatest
hackers, the boys who have stood be-
hind Bill in his long, slow climb to
championship recognition: because
Bill must keep in condition until he
meets Mandell again; and because ]
admire the courage Of the Myster-
ious Promoter. He r. risking some
real money and i know i. ! only
hope that fight fans in the western
(Continusd on page ewo)