The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-01-25
FAIRLY WELLFIXED
FINANCIALLY AFTER
BRILLIANT CAREER
CoIorfu| Fargo Express Out.
cIassed by Hard.Punch.
ing Champion
BUT NEVER NEAR KNOCKOUT
1908 Fans Pack Coliseum
and 5000 Others strug-
gle Outside


more Uncle Will Petrolle, a sturdy up
standing citizen, was back in the
ranks Of the unemployed Thursday,
a former prize-fighter, with nothing
to worry about except q bit Of bond
clipping now and then and that CT
gar store he owns in Duluth.
The old fellow folded his Indian
blanket and packed 1t away for the
last time, ready to accept as final
the 10-round beating Barney Ross,
Of Chicago, lightweight champion,
gave him in the Bronx Coliseum Wed
nesday night.
I'm going to send this to the
laundry now" he said. which was abb
solute proof that he never intends to
fight again.
A dozen years ago, back In Fargo,
N. D., and, Petrolle started ring
career that never quite carried him
to championship heights but did
bring him into conflict with the
greatest lightweights Of this decade,
as well as into possession of a lot Of
currency which he still has, in con-
trast to most ex-prize-fighters.
He got his blanket from some In
dian chief almost at the start Of his
campaign. He never would enter a
ring without it. And he never would
have it washed for fear the soap
would take out all the luck, as well
as the weird colors. Now he admits
that his need for the blanket is gone.
Tell Them I'm Through
Tell them I'm through, he said as
he shuffled down the ring steps in the
big barn in the Bronx Wednesday
night, thoroughly beaten by the bril-
liant little Ross. II can't fight any
more, so I'm not going to try"
Once before. several years ago, Pc
trolle retired because he thought his
career was over. He rested year or
so and came back, to rise to heights
he had never reached before. He
fought all the topnotch lightweights
and three times he tackled Jimmy
McLarnin. He belted Jimmy in scam
dalous fashion In their first match,
but lost the next two.
This retirement. however, IS dit
ferent. Petrolle Is % in years, but
much, much older as far as the ring
is concerned.
Against eager. dazzling Ross. he was
really an old man, lost in the bril-
lance Of a youngster who ranks with
the best his division ever has pro-
duced, floundering veteran with
the zip gone from his punches and
the speed departed from his legs.
He had only his inexhaustible cour-
age, and that was far from enough
against the master boxer, a sharp,
thudding hitter with either hand. In
only one round. the ninth, when Bar
ney obviously was coasting, was Pc
trolle able to work his way labor
iously to close quarters and gain the
upper hand. Barney beat him once
before in Chicago.
Every other round, and the unani-
nous decision Of the judges, the ref
cree and the 1908 Of the faithful
who journeyed far into the fastness
Of the Bronx for the battle, went to
Ross.
Never Near Knockout
Ross shook the veteran badly at
times, but never could floor him o.
bring him close to the knockout stage
His Jars, though, raised two large
welts under Bills eyes. The fact that
Uncle Will was in the last mile was
correctly guessed by the betters, who
made Barney 3-to-l favorite, des-
pite Petrolle's weight advantage. Billy
weighed 141 ~, Ross 1861.
New York hasn't seen such a turn
out in several years. Five minutes
after the show started every bit Of
space in the uptown barn was filled
and at least 5000 struggled with
mounted police outside to get at
ticket windows already closed.
After expenses and the fighters are
paid, the net profits on the $36,53O
receipts will be turned over to Z
Christmas fund charity.
Officials Of Madison Square Car
den, in the heart Of the fight district
downtown, gazed In awe at the as.
semblage. Garden fight shows re-
Gently have been drawing an average
Of about 5000 each.