Evening star., 1937-07-21
WILLIAMS WEIGHT
EDGE PROVES SLIM
So Slight Only Advantage in
His Favor Is Gone for
Battle Tonight.
BY BURTON HAWKINS.
THE trend toward Steele in the
local fstic market rocketed to

local fstic market rocketed to
new heights today as Freddie,
world middleWeight champion,
prepared to enter the ring tonight
against Charles (HobO) Williams at
Griffith Stadium, a prohibitive fa-
vorlte in their l0round non-title fuss.
Hobos only advantage was con-
ceded to be the matter of weight, but
even that slithered into oblivion yes
terday when Steele balanced the beam
at 1912 pounds, only a quarter pound
less than Williams. Hobo and Freddie
were to weigh in again today at noon,
but little change in those figures was
expected.
Freddie's weight is mute testimony
TO Ray Arcels ability as a trainer
Seldom has Steele scaled more than
l56 pounds. but he especially was
keen to tip about $50 pounds for Will
liams. who Is forced to make l63
pounds by contract. Hobo probably
will bounce back to l66 pounds by
tonight. having dried OUT for two
DAYS but his anticipated weight margin
has been sliced more than half.
Large Crowd Expected.
POsTPONED from last night due to
weather conditions. the entire
card will hold over. Brisk ticket sales
have presaged a crowd which is ex-
pected to reach about 10000, with an
inticipated gate of about $4,000.
Steele now shades Hobo in every
respect. Williams, who was expected
to- weigh approximately IL pounds
more than Freddie and thus boast a
decided edge on infghting, has been
stripped Of that dubious advantage
and now comedies punching proves
experience. ability and cleverness to
the champion.
Greetings exchanged between the
featured fighters at the Veighing-in
ceremony were brief and somewhat to
the point The personable Steele
walked over to Hobo. shook hands and
said, How are you?" Williams replied
20 K, thanks and that was that.
The Variety Club, which is spon-
sorlng the fstic festival in order to
obtain funds for underprivileged chill
dren and mothers Of the District, de-
layed postponement of the show until
the last possible moment. and, ironi-
cally, the skies cleared shortly after
officials had reached their decision
Hobo Forced to Fast.
THE postponement was expected to
have little, II any, effect on Steele,
but forced Hobo to watch his weight
for another "a hours in order to come
in under 1853 pounds He will absorb
q steak, milk, etc, shortly after the
duplication of the weighing-in and
probably will pick up four or five
pounds before crawling through the
ropes.
Although Buck Everett former Dis
trlCt heavyweight champion. scaled in
under the light-heavyWeight limit of
IT'S pounds, the District Boxing Com
mission waived rule in order to allow
him to fight Eddie Hogan, 224-pound
New Yorker, in an eight-round pre-
liminary. Everett has been fighting
heavyWeights lately and his weight
was somewhat of a surprise.
Harry Gentle, talented Connecticut
featherweight, who is scheduled to mix
with joey Archibald, current favorite
here by virtue of four successive SEN
sational performances, appeared in ex-
cellent physical trim for his l0-round
semi-fnal tiff
Archibald, however, was his usual
confident self and pranced about sans
clothes under the admiring gaze Of
his manager, Al WE'LL, who also pilots
Lou Arnbers. world lightweight champ
Joey rules a slight favorite to trim
Gentle despite the fact he twice ran
out on Harry.