The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-03-25
To-day's Sport
Parade
BY HENRY McLEMORE
UNITED Press star Correspondent

New York, March 25-(U. P.) -
A second or two before the gong
sent them out for the twelfth round
one of his managers, from a COM
forable seat in the third row, sent
work to Bat Battailno, prize fight
er to "go out there, drop your
guard, and fight like hell"
You should have seen Battalino
when the message was relayed to
him by q swab chewing second.
Across the bridge Of his fractur-
ed nose was a cash an eight of an
inch wide, through which the bone
showed. From his ears to his waist
he was coated with half-dried
blood. Blood poured from cut
over his left eye-and eve that,
like Its brother, was swollen and
bruised. And even as he sat, his
legs trembled with exhaustion.
Then somebody smacked the
gong and Bat got to his feet. He
obeyed orders. With both hands
cooked in a position that afforded
the maximum attack and the min
imum in defense, he plunged across
the ring toward Billy Petrolle and
cut loose with looping right. He
took left hook square on his
smashed nose. And as he rocked
back on his heels, shower OF
rights and lefts splattered his face.
On his last legs now. Bat took
his first backward step of the fight.
As he retreated Petrolle rained him
with short wicked punches that left
him hanging over the top strand
like a wet shirt, and just as help
less.
That was the finish.
Refere Gunboat Smith, who
through all the eleven bloody
rounds Had showed about as much
concern as man fixing a blowout,
waved Petrolle to his corner, and
helped Battalino to his. A few min
utes later the Connecticut boy was
stretched out on q rubbing table,
he'd do to Petrolle in "the next
round"
A few more beatings like he took
more next rounds" for the former
fsatherweight champion, for more
than eleven rounds-34 minutes
caught and took all the punches the
world could throw. Blessed with no
real punch himself and almost a
novice at defense, Battalino had to
rely solely on a great fighting
heart. 1t was all he had. 1t earned
him thundertribute to his game
ness when he was helped from the
ring, but-and this just as sure as
you're born-it'll earn him Job
cutting paper dolls unless he de-
velops something to 60 with 1t.
The fight should have been stop
ped as early as the fifth round
\. hen 1t was apparent that the cut
on Battalino's nose was not going to
yield to treatment. But as one of
the ringsiders observed, the crowd,
having paid eight dollars q head to
get In, would have yelled to high
heaven, had the judges and referee
stopped 1t when Battalino still had
enough strength to wade In and at
tack. That. Of course, doesn't ex-
cuse the officials for allowing q pub
lie massacre.
Petrolle, save for q slight cut
over his right eye suffered in a
head on collision, was unmarked.
While he dressed, the old through
express talked Of nothing but his
opponents gameness.
"That bird" said Billy, lis the
earnest guy they ever tied q glove
on. II he ever asked any quarter
or gave any, I didn't hear or see
him do It. I hated to hit him there
at the last but couldn't help 1t. As
long as you're In there between
those ropes, you've got to look out
for yourself. Lawdy, he's got a
heart"