New Britain herald., 1930-01-10
BATTALIN0 kAY0ES
 VERDE IN THIRD
FeatherWei6ht Champion Shows
 Brilliant Form in Bout

New Haven. Jan. 10.-Bat Batta- weight champion. returned 10 the wars last evening for the first time since winning the title from Audr" Routis last year in Hartford. SCOT ing q sensational knockout over Phil Verde of Rochester in the third round of the feature bout Of the show staged in the Arena ny Match maker Al Wein. The bout was spectacular while il lasSed. with the title holder displaying brilliant form and it was evident almost from the first square off that the bout was go- ing 10 end in a knockout,
 Battalna appeared 10 h" waiting for an opportunity to land a few of those famous punches of his to end the fight. and he absorbed what seemed to he unnecessary punish ment in the first round. while he felt out his opponent. When he took several punches. and realized that there was nothing to fear from that source, the Hartford boy started to work in earnest. and it didn't take him long 10 convince Verde and tho crowd of over 4.000 that ii wouldn't be long. Battalino was using left hook to good advantage, and those who know Bats style Of fighting realized that he was merely joclloy- ing Verde into position for the kii when the opportunity presented it. self
 The first real chance cam" in the second round. after two minutes had gone and Battahno lashed out with a solid right hand smash flush on the jaw that sent Verde on his launches. He got into a sitting. and then kneelimg position. aftor the knockdoWn. and rose at the count of nine. Battalino was on him like a lion. ready for tho kill. and Verde ran into barrage of lefts and right which sent him reelng into Bats corner. Then a wicked right handler came out from nowhere. and Verde went down
 
 was going to stay there. However, during the confusion Of the mo- meut, the bell rang as Referee Con way reached the count of four, anl Verde was saved at least tempor- arily.
 When he came out for the third round. the Rochester hoy didn't look any too kosher. as Lip Wciu- stein and the boys say. and Bat talino went after him again. firmly convinced that the end was near Verde. though. went down fighting and was game to the core. He man. aged to last out two minutes and some seconds of the round. but Bat talino hooked him off the ropes will [ a couple Of left handlers and found Nerde's guard down. so Inc lrt nN with crucifying right that landc, just behind tho point Of the jaw. Verde went down like a fcllcd los and he stretched full length on tn, canvas. As the fatal seconds wcr, | being tolled by Referee Conway Verde made a gallant effort to rise He rolled over twice. with the Spiri willing. but the flesh unequal 10 tn | task of getting him on to his feet 1 When ten was reached, BattalinC and Conway picked up the fallcI and badly beaten Rochester boy ant carried him to his corner. Th' crowd went wild. particularly thu large Hartford delegation, in ar claiming the champion for his groa battle.
 The fight proved two importan things. among many others: Tha' being the fact that Battalino is stil disastrous punched with botl hands and also that his hands which had to be made over recently have come through and they appar ently are stronger than ever if tn, results obtained last evening are any criterion.
 Scmi-Final Bout
 ! The semi-final, put on after the star bout because Of the lateness O the hour. found Armando Schellel Of Belgium winning the decision over Eddie Lord Of Waterbury il eight rounds. The bout was onl! 1 fair. with Lord making the mistalS, of undercstimating his opponent an' allowing him to talk" away the pla, from him. At times, Lord stood per fcctly still and permitted Schekels t' hammer at him at will and then fal into a ClnCh.
 Johnny Scalzi of Bridgeport tool i the verdict over Lou Murrclli 0 | Torrngton in a Slashing eight roundcr. Murrclli suffered | cut ol the top of his head in the sccono round and was considerably handi capped by this injury. HoWeve'
 he fought a whale of q fight an, came mighty close to grabbing tn decision. Scalzi. though. was tot experienced for him. and manage 10 get in some solid smaclls, Whici resulted in his victory. When tn
 boys left the ring, SCalzi was round ly boocd for his style of fighting while Murrclli was given q rousin: cheer for his efforts.
 Pat Duffy of Bridgeport won fou out of five rounds from Rocky Ray
 of Hartford in the third bout of tn evening. but Referee Conway gay
 the decision 10 Rayo. A great rall
 in the final stanza, when Rayo SCOT