The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-05-28

The huge crowd, a virtual who's
who of society, business, entertain
ment, sports and ordinary fellers,
will witness the third attempt of a
lightweight champion to capture the
147-pound bonnet since the welter
division was born back in 1892.
If sleek, raven-haired Ross knocks
the crown from Jimmy's brown locks
he will be the first to hold both
titles. And if McLarnin, the Dublin
Dynamiter, Trims Barney, he will
have broken the Welter title jinX.
Before Jimmy came along, eight
weller champs in a row lost the
crown in their first defense. The
Oakland (Cal0 soap manufa cturer
is making his first defense tonight.
S285,OOO Gate Expected
This bout has so many attractive
angles that the advance sale last
night had exceeded $4,000. Repre-
sentativeS Of the milk fund, and pro-
motors, said this indicated Sellout
of about $285,000. Ushering in the
renaissance of post-depression box
ing. it has attracted more attention
than any fight since the second
Sharkey Schmeling heavyweight
title braWl. 1t is the greatest meet
ing of little men since the last
Benny Leonard-Lew Tender fight in
1923.
1t brings together one of the
hi
tory, and a brilliant Jewish boxer
regarded as the greatest lightweight
since Benny Leonard. The racial
angle alone in New York, which
has probably the largest Irish and
Jewish populations of any metropo-
lis in the world, made it a natural"
Particularly because McLarnin has
>been poison" to Jewish fighters.
His ghetto graveyard lists Kid
Kaplan, Sid ferris, Ruby Gold
stein, Joe Click, Joey Sanger, Al
Singer and the fading Benny Leon
ard. Barney may be the avenger
of these fighting sons of Israel.
McLarnin, to 5
1t also is one of the biggest
betting bouts in years. More than
100000 is estimated to have been
wagered already. McLarnin was
quoted to 5 favorite in the over
night betting, and may enter the
ring at to 5.
McLarnin'S supporters quote the
old ring adage, "A good big man
can always beat a good little man."
Jimmy had agreed to weigh 145
pounds at noon or forfeit $4,000,
although the official class limit is
lat pounds. He expects to enter the
ring at about 1862. He should have
at least eight pounds advantage.
In addition, McLarnin is the
hardest hitter the WelterWeight
division knew since Joe Wolcott. He
is 26 years old and has been fighting
since he was II. Although the rec
ords have him listed for only sixty
nine fights, his manager, Pop Foster,
admits he has been in more than
200. He has a great advantage in
experience over Ross, who is boxing
in his sixth year, and has had
fifty-five professional fights.
No Recent Action
The big question is McLarnin's
condition. He had two minutes and
46 seconds of actual fighting since
beating Sammy Fuller in December,
1882, year and a half ago. He won
the weller title from young Corbett
III in the first round last May.
However, Foster and his admirers
claim he is in excellent shape be-
cause of informal training and
boxing. They say he has not lost
speed, accuracy or timing.
The Ross hackers point to Bar
ney's two victories over Tony Can
zoneri, a great little fighting man,
and to the battering he gave Billy
Petrolle, once a great welter. There
is no question about Barney'S con-
dition. He has been fighting stead
lily, is ready to step fifteen rounds,
and displayed binding speed in
training. He never has been knocked
down nor out. He possesses one of
the best left jabs in the business and
has thirteen knockoutS to attest
punching ability. Barney is two
years younger, and apparently i'm
proving every day.
Two of the most ardent rooters
at the ringside will be McLarnins
father and Barney's mother.
Jimmy apparently has little fear
of losing the title because he and
his manager plan to sail for Ireland
few days after the fight, and it
is understood he has been dickering
to defend his title over there against
Jack Hood, the British weller
champ.
1t is difficult to make a prediction,
but figure McLarnin should win
by a knockout before the tenth
round.