Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-23
BAKER BOY PICKED
TO DEFEAT fluffy
Winner of Scrap on Friday Is
Entitled to Battle With
Sharkey.
BIZ SPARROW McGANN.

n YEW YORK, December ga
banner attraction bringing to-
VI gether two outstanding heavy
4 weights marks the close of the
current years entertainment
at Madison Square Garden next Friday
night. Johnny Risko and Tuffy Grit
fiths are the principals, and the out
come of the contest will lift load OF
the minds Of those who are at their
wits ends seeking q heavyweight capa-
BILE of attracting big gate at Miami
in the Spring, with the voluble Jack
Sharkey playing the other half Of the
bill.
Rumor has it that vittorio Campolo,
the giant from the Argentine, who is
now on the high seas to fulfill his con-
tract with the Madison Square Garden
Corporation. has already been selected
to oppose Jack Sharkey. This observer
is unwilling to believe that, for Campolo
is too crude to be pitted against fin
ished workman like Sharkey. Phil Scott,
the phleglmatic champion Of Great Brit
ain, beat Campolo, and to pass up
worthier opponents for Sharkey would
bring howls from fight fans.
There Is a possibility that Paolino
Uzcudun may get a chance to horn in
on the big money during the first week
Of January, as match with Tommy
Loughran IS in progress Of making.
Taking it all In all, the winner Of the
Risko-G rifdths scrap is entitled to the
big chance. depending, Of course, on the
quality Of their work.
Won't Risk Another Flop.
Risko was deprived of his chance last
year. His general record was far better
than Young Stribling's. A 15-round de-
ctSjon over Jack Sharkey entitled him to
m hf1t f1r. e. ~ 1Nak
Miami Beach was a new undertaking Of
unknown possibilities, requiring the pres
ence Of Southerner In the ring against
the Northern man, It is almost certain
that Risko would have been selected 20
oppose Sharkey. As 1t was, the gate re-
ceipts were far better than expected,
and the fight was just what it was pre-
dicted it would be. The Garden people
have q five-year contract to promote
fistic entertainments in the playground
Of the South, and it Is safe to assume
that they will not risk a repetition of
last Springs dismal affair.
Risko has indeed surprised the fistic
world by coming back after being on
the down-grade. Johnny gave Crit
nth q stubborn battle in Detroit until
one of the Clevelander's blows landed
in foul territory. Then came rous-
ing battle against K. o. Christner, q
victory over Ernie Schaaf. This last
Tight convinced the fans that Risko Is
Is good as he ever was. On the verge
OF knockout In the tenth, Risko came
On to win In hair-raising finish.
Grifiths' Work Sensational.
Grinhths' work during the past year
has been as sensational as RiSko's. TUT
~ reversed a loss to Leo Lomski in q
hard-fought engagement and then set
out to make his mark In the heavy
weight ranks. Tackling Risko called
for unlimited confidence in his own
ability, but Tuffy came through with
flying colors. Several more scraps and
the Sioux City lad was sent in against
DR.. Ludwig Haymann. The German
champion lasted but two rounds When
it is remembered that it took Paolino
nine rounds to conquer the German,
Grifnths' feat will be fully appreciate
ed. Tuffy's victory over Paolino in 10
rounds climaXed his work and earned
him the right to consideration as one
Of the outstanding young heavyweights
Of the season.
The free-hitting Grifaths was not con-
sidered ring-wise or polished enough to
mingle with the smuggling Basque. All
faced the. young Midwesterner was by
far the best conditioned Paolino the
ring has seen in a long time. Paolino
was fighting for his place in the sun
and was in prime shape for Grifiths.
The latter boxed confidently and care
fully, and when the going was hot
test Tuffy surprised the elite of box
ing by increasing the pace and finish
ing in front.
Grifiths has no fear for the Risko
wallop. Risko fears no man in the
game. Both are born sluggers and
love to fight. It will be o case Of two
men walking into each other, banging
away for an they are worth. The lion
hearted Rlsko Is pictured TO blast his
way to q hard-earned victory over his
youthful rival.