The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1929-12-21
QUICK KAYO
. HAL IS TOD
MORGAN
BY DAVIS J. WALSH

BY DAVIS J. WALSH
NEW YORK. Dec. II dNS0-
A Russian immigrant boy whose
real name probably can't be pro-
nounced without concertina is
the 13O-pound champion Of the
world today.
They call him Benny Bass, Just
to distinguish him from the
Sweeneys or something. but he is
ali fighter, this grave-looking
young man who first saw the light
Of day in the land Of the Ro-
manoffs, and he seemed to prove
it last night in knocking Tod Nor
gan rigid with, right 70 the jaw
in the second round.
They paid off with the decision
on this punch, but not with the
fighters money. This was ordered
withheld by Chairman James A.
Farley, Of the local commission,
who announced himself as being
dissatisfied with the fact that the
challenger was said to be as good
as S to / in the betting before the
fight. Farley declared that he
meant to institute an investiga'
ton of these circumstances, which
were so thoroughly sustained by
the sudden ending of the fight.
AS to that. Morgan was
down twice before the round
was 81 seconds old, but got
up only once. He was hit on
the chin with right crosses
each time and neither of the1n
was exactly refined.
AS a matter of fact, they looked
like rather diScourteouS punches
on the jaw. Morgan apparently
tried to get UP the second time,
lifting himself partly off the floor
as the count progressed, but pitch
ing back on his face just before
ten was reached.
The refusal to pay off with
the purses is almost uI1prece-
dented in this State, where here
tofore this action has been taken
only as a precautionary measure
when foul is committed. They
called all bets off from the ring
side the night Walker took the
WelterWeight championship from
Jack Britton. but the fighters
were paid without demur. Farley
indicated today that he might
have d definite statement 20 make
In regard to his announced In
ivestigation after next Tuesdays
meeting Of the board.
The fact that Morgan was
down twice in three minutes and
81 seconds Of fighting is no nov
lefty. Heretofore, the pitcher that
went to the well too often had
only one. rival and that was the
pitcher that didn't go to the side
door often enough. Last night,
lit would seem that they had
been joined by the champion
who went to the floor too often.
Morgan had held his title
flonger than any champion now
lin the lists. Crowned in 1925, he
made his sixteenth defense of the
championship last night, and in
NEARLY all Of these his troubles
were far from few.
He, in fact, appeared to be
forever climbing up from the
resin, and & seemed to be
only d question Of time until
some bright young man would
hit him and keep him there.
on the face Of things, the
young man In question was this
lqtIiet, deceptively harmless look
ling Plailadelph who, under
different circumstances, might
have made b very reliable man
Ifor the cloak and suit business.
But the commission refused to &C.
tcept surface indications.
Itcouldn't be denied that these
were interesting, however. The
1croWd was no bigger than 5000,
and there was less than $4,000
lin the till when the principals
lentered the ring, but the evening
was worth 3 million dollars in
excitement, starting with Nor.
gan'S rush in the opening minute
OF play and finishing with Chair
man Farley,S intercepted pass at
1.-THE box office.
For at least q full minute Nor.
gan left-handed Bass all over the
place and then began whipping
rights to the body. Suddenly he
shifted the attack and drove BEN
jarnin into the ropes with 3 right
to the chin. The latter 1nanaeed
to unsnarl himself but his Iegg
we're teetering and he looked Is
be q mark FOR the finisi1ing
punch. Morgan let It 70 SIT r.
missed by q foot. Bass collaused
into his chair at the bell.
The second round saw an
abrupt reversal Of the events that.
proceeded it. Morgan came o,It.
set for the expected s.kiIls ran
into q hard right cross d Tire law
and finished on his haircut ir the
middle Of the ring. True to his
record. he got up when the count,
reached nine then, blooeyI Il
1 was all over.