The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-11-25
CHAMPION MAY BE 2-1 CHOICE
 IN TITLE BOUT
BettOrs Lay 6 to l Against K. O By Garcia Gate
 Over S1OO, 900
By HARRY FERGUSON United Press Sports Edltor)


 ;New York, Nov. 25-(UP)-Dis- regarding the old one about how a good big man can always lick good little man, the citizens of New York and way stations made little Henry Armstrong practically a ? to 1 favorite today over big Cerefino Garcia in their 15-round fight for the welterweight championship to- night.
 It was a far more eloquent tri- bute to Armstrong than the tough little negro ever heard in blood spattered ring-tflis before-the-bat- tie betting in which, truly, money talks louder than words.
 For the customers are stringing along with Henry; the hammer in 8 fight against 8 bigger, heavier man. Garcia stands almost two inches taller than Armstrong, he will out weigh him by approximately nine pounds and he will bring into the ring a twisting right uppercut, which is called 8 bolo punch and is almost as deadly as the Philippine cane-cutting knife for which it was named.
 Why all this Armstrong money then? Because the cold calculators who bet on fights like Henry's eter- nal drive and will to win, like the courage he showed against Lou Am bers when he swallowed a quart of blood and took so much punishment that he was an added man and started for the wrong corner when the referee told him he had won the decision.
 The odds-8 to 5, to be exact may shorten before nightfall, but it seems certain that Armstrong is going in there the favorite. Garcia's packers can't figure why. They tar- que that much of the Armstrong money has been put up because lots of people will string with a cham pion until he is beaten, and though his weight is closer to that of a lightweight than welterweight, Henry is the welterweight champion.
 This one was to have taken place three weeks ago, but Armstrong started doing some shadow boxing for the camera men and the first thing he knew his shadow had f1oored him. He slipped on a mat in the Hippodrome and injured his back so badly physicians said it would be impossible for him to fight. There was a lot of talk that, Henry's back wasn't as badly injured as his hps-the same lip chopped up by Ambers, a 14-stitch wound that, per- haps, needed more time to heal. No matter the talk. He goes in there tonight with the doctors saying he is fit to fight a buzz saw, if neces- Sary.
 That's what he may find. Garcia, broad-shouldered Filipino, has gone into the ring 10 times since January 1. He has scored nine knockouts and won the decision his bolo punch cutting sugar cane once. His lifetime record shows he has lost only IA out of 93 bouts and has won AZ by knockouts.
 The story is that Garcia developed in the Philippines with 8 bolo. The cutting motion is said to be similar to the way he brings the right up- percut through to the jaw. Many people backing Garcia can't swear to the story because there is not a single sugar plantation on the whole of Manhattan island. But they know their man can punch and are betting that way.
 The odds quoted against Garcia scoring knockout are to l and there is a brisk business on that , wager. Garcia's packers fear that unless he wins by a knockout, Henry the hammer will do neat job of carpentry on him and win the de- cision.
 The one man who is not going to lose is Promoter Mike Jacobs. He has $lO0,000 in the till right now and the attendance may reach 20,- 900, capacity at Madison Square Garden. If it does, the gross may reach $130,000.