The Washington times., 1934-01-29
Willie Is So Steamed
He'd Fight Once More
To PrOUe BeyOnd Doubt

Petrolle's legs may be gone, but
not his pride. william and his
manager, Jack Hurley, are burned
up over imputationS that Barney
Ross went easy on the Fargo
fighter last Wednesday. And they
are particularly sore because Ross
and his co-managers, Sam Piar
and Art Winch, lent credence tc
the story, by inference, when they
refused to discuss it. They feel SC
keenly that the lightweight cham
pion and his pilots should have
issued a vigorous denial at once
that Hurley is moved to make
them the following proposition
through this column:
"Dear Bill: 1 know that you
were not the first to print the
story that Ross was kind to
PetrOIIe the other night. But
you did ask your readers to
comment on the ethics of such
a situation. AS a newspaper
business, so 1 am not panning
you. It's a good stunt.
"But am sore at Plan, Winch
and Ross for permitting the
fans to think that Barney might
have knocked Bill out if he
hadn't felt kindly toward him.
They all know better. Nobody
ever did Bill any favOrs in his
IL years of fighting and he
never did anybody any. Inside
the ring, 1 mean. Nor did any
body, including the referee, do
him any favors the other night.
Classy Fighter
cross is sharp, smart, classy
young fighter, but he has yet to
see the day he could knock Pc
trolle out, or even down. If
Barney himself, Pain and
Winch think differently, here's
a chance for them to make
$4,000 like breaking sticks.
I say S35, 900 because 1 see that's
what they are offering Jimmy
McLarnin for a fight next sum-
mer. They won't get Jim for
that and 1 don't, personally, see
why they want him at any
price.
"But if Ross can knock Pc
trolle out in 10 three-mlnute
rounds, then here's an OppOr-
tunity for them to double their
offer to McLarnin at our ex-
pense. In other words, they
can get $4,000 and a shot at
the weIterweight title.
"Today, tomorrow, any time'
and at any place they may
select, we'll post a $4,000 GER
titled check against the $4,000
they are willing to put up for
the McLarnin fight, that Bar
ney can't knock Bill out In 4O
rounds.
"The fight can take place in
a gymnasium, or in an arena
any way, anywhere they like.
We don't want any money for
it and if there is a gate wen
donate our end to the milk fund.
We aren't seeking any publicity
either. PetrOlle is definitely
through with the ring and SO
we don't need any further pub.
licity. We have had our tuH
share, thanks to the kindness
of the neSwpaper boys.
Bonafide Offer
81 think everybody who knows
me in the fight business knows
when 1 say a thing l mean II.
Ask MIR, Johnston. This is
bona-fide and serious offer. Bill
is through and both Of us know
it. But rather than quit with
the public thinking that any
body had to be nice to him.
he'll unfold that blanket one
more time.
"There it lies, gentlemen
what do you say?
"With kindest personal re-
cards from PetrOlle and myself
am. -
Yours Very Truly.
JACK HURLEY.
Benny Leonard's viewpoint:
"DeaI BiII-Just walked in
on my pal, PER-. Charles, and
he, splashed your column OF
today in my face and said'
what's your answer? So here
1t is.
"In the first place, I'm sure
Barney Ross did all he could
to stop Billy PetrOlle, and even
though he didn't do that, it
was a truly marvellous victory.
/ wish Barney was here now
and I'm sr-e he'd tell me ex-
actly the same. Billy is one
tough bird.
Now to get back to the Nc
Larnin thing. OF course, box
ing is way behind me- now.
It's a thing of the past and 1
don't claim to be a hero. That
was in my kid days. This is
old man Leonard speaking
the business man.
All in the Game
''But between you and me,
Bill, If McLarnin had been kind
FRSU corun,. fonooua NeIu York