Imperial Valley press., 1931-05-16
By JIMMY GREENE

lhere were vacant seats at the
boxing arena last night. which
means that some of the fans missed
out on a cracking fine car6-one of
the best seen in quite a few weeks.
Last week We had q great time
panning Bill Tackett for slovenly
work. but it gives us much more
pleasure to slip him a bouquet this
week for good work through each
OF last nights fights. and partieu-
larly for his decision in the main
event-a draw between Young Da-
vid and Claude Richards of San
Diego.
That was a tough decision TO give,
but it was about as right as a refe-
rec could be in fairness to both
boys
/. For the first five rounds of the
battle Richards made a monkey out
OF David, giving him a boxing les
son that showed the local boy up
bad. He didn't seem TO know what
it was all about and couldn't get
past a straight left which Richards
kept in his face, varying his tao
ties with 4 sweet right-hook that
connected time and again.
Not until the sixth round did Da-
vid begin to get anywhere and by
that time he had found out Rick
ards doesn't like them down below.
Any time they got in close the San
Diego boy showed it by bending
over double and carefully guarding
his stomach.
Having sensed Richards weak
spot, David played for it. AND he
connected. A couple of his punches
were inadvertently low. but did not
damage Richards any, but one
square in the stomach did. The
coast boxer went down for the nine
count and was very lucky TO be able
to scramble to his feet in time to
avoid the fatal 10.
David beat him in the seventh
and eighth rounds, which left the
count five and three, but that nine
count knockdown loomed very big
in checking up the result. 1t stuck
out like a lighthouse at sea and in
view OF it and the advantage David
had in two additional rounds, it
would have been unfair to give the
decision against him. And for the
trouncing he had given David in
the early part of the fight, it would
have been wrong to call the decision
against Richards. We hope they
can get these boys in again.
David looked to be having ar off
night. He never looked any worse
in the local ring, but then he was
up against a clever boy who has
everything, with the possible excep-
ton of a punch. He may have that,
too, but he didn't show it. Richards
is about as nice a boxer as one can
find and the boy made lots OF
friends here last night
Paul Is Winner
Battling Paul, the Brawley color
ed boy, making his first valley ap-
pearance in four years, set the
crowd wild with technical knock
out over Bobby Ratcliff in the Sec
ond round of the semi-final. Ma"
Wade Of Brawley nearly had con-
niption fit she was SO happy for
Paups fine showing. Paul being an
other one of her boys"
The colored boy, Lean as a pam
ther and quick as a c.y, got going
right from the start. Many OF the
crowd do not know the physical
handicap this boy carries with him
and they'll not learn it from US. al
though it is no secret. He's fast.
smart, and brothers what a Wallop
he has.
Ratcliff is q free swinging, hard
puncher, but he hit the canvas just
before the first round ended, taking
a count of nine and giving a fine
exhibition of a seal doing his stuff
as he floundered around the ring
trying to clear his brain after stop
ping terrific wham to the body.
He got Strengthened out during
the rest period but went down again
shortly after the second round op-
ened and he was never clear-headed
after that. Wild-eyed and reeling,
he floundered around the ring un-
able 10 keep his balance, with Paul
chasing him. Driven to a neutral
corner, Ratcliff was going back
against the ropes off balance, with
Paul seeking to put home the fin
ishing punch. when the coast boy
unleashed a wicked swing that drop
ped Paul TO one knee He was up
in a flash and had Ratcliff out on
his feet. The coast boy went 10 the
floor again, and Tackett stopped
the fight. It was a great comeback
for Paul and we don't mind saying
he deserves 1t.
Art Monroy made a liar out of
the writer and Bill Tackett by CIV
ing Luis Reyes an artistic trouncing
g., Ia cnacial auent oct Mnnk