Evening star., 1934-01-29
RAY HOPES TO WIN
BY COVERING CHIN
D. c. Boys Foe at Portner'S
Tonight, Packing WaIIop,
Is Rated Favorite.
BY FRANCIS E. STAN.

~ OXINGS Oft-repeated, Dut
X seldom boring battle of the
l. boxer versus the puncher
will be enacted again to-
Ray Bowen of Washington and
night at Portner's Arena, where
young Joe Firpo, high-ranking
Penns Grove. N. j., scrapper, will
oppose In a 10-round Welter-
weight fight.
In this instance the puncher, Firpo,
viii climb through the ropes favorite,
possibly as high as 8-to-5, but it will
be Q confident ringster the New Jersey
Italian will be facing in Bowen. The
local youth seems at his best when
the underdog in the betting and more
over is primed for one OF the best
performances Of his career.
Although Firpo's forte Is body punch
ing, Ray Is convinced his only problem
viii be to keep his chin tucked out of
reach of his squatty foes devastating
fight mitt. He points to his great
stand against Wesley Ramey as proof
OF his ability as boxer capable OF
warding of any consistent style Of
offense Though Ramey Is ranked sew
eral notches ahead of Firpo, he was
forced to step all the way to earn a
recent decision over Bowen here.
Invader Has Fancy Record.
rIRPO invades with the scalps OF
several nationally known scrap
1ivo6 ic o a =
In the New Jersey ringman Bowen
visions a great chance to earn some
widespread recognition with victory.
A charging type of fighter, reminis-
cent of his namesake, Luis Angel Firpo,
the bullish heavyweight, Young Firpo
has beaten back such ScrapperS as
Benny Bass, frankie Hayes, joey Costa,
Henry Perlick, Jimmy Reed and joey
Harrison.
Firpo's squatty build Che stands less
than feet inches and has 161e-
inch neck) Is believed to be no great
hurdle for Bowen, who, though tall, has
been eminently successful against low
slung foemen. Tommy Bashara, Roy
Manley, Lou Raymond, Henry Jancoo,
Pete De Angels and Freddy Haverlak
have been only few of the shorter
fighters against whom Bowen has COM
peted successfully.
Protecting his sensitive chin is what
Is worrying Ray, for he's confident he
can hold of Firpo and outlook him. But
Rays mandibles long have been re-
garded as somewhat CLASSY, and Firpo
packs a mean wallop.
Tonight's fight will not be Firpo's
drst appearance here. The PennSgrove
clouter showed here about 18 months
ago and stuck around for six rounds
before rocking Jimmy Reed to sleep
with q pile-driving right to the kidneys.
Mays, Lowry Promise Action.
IAN ATTRACTIVE supporting card,
~ featured by an eight round tiff
between Bob Lowry of Northeast
Washington and Johnny Mays, a trans
planted Californian now soldering at
Fort Myer, will supplement the main
event.
Lowry, one OF the busiest and most
rugged club fighters In the city. will be
opposing perhaps the most formida PIE
foe Of his short career in Mays who
was awarded decision over Cary
Wright, stable mate of Lowry, in his last
start. Mays also has a siX-round kayo
over Roma La Bona to his credit.
Joe Green, Washington's undefeated
featherweight, will seek to add another
triumph to his growing string OF wins
in one of the trio of four-round pre-
Iminaries scheduled. Green is down
for q scrap with Earl Wise OF Baltimore.
The two other prelims are fairly promls-
ing. Sailor McKenna will meet Tom
Rock and Pete Guoniviri will tackle
Tony Coster.
Action will begin at $3.50 O'Clock.