Evening star., 1939-01-25
1erp Rook Has Tough
Task Of Battling
Veteran Bunsa
Proves Natural Scrupper
And Always Does His
Best Work in Pinch
BY BURTON HAWKINS.

BY BURTON HAWKINS.
Heinie Miller, the University of
Maryland boxing coach, who has
made it his business to be an au-
thority on Marquis of Queensbury
etiquette for more seasons than he
relishes recalling, has worked him.
self into mild lather over the
native fistic talent of one Frank
Cronin, upon whom may hinge the
result of the Catholic University
Terp tiff Saturday night at College
Park.
Until this year Cronin's chief
asset in athletic endeavor was run
ming, branch of sport popularized
In boxing by Bob Pastor in his re-
treat from Joe Louis. Having run
his quota of three years and still
feeling the urge to exercise, Cronin
turned to the ring and currently is
experiencing the ecstasy of swat
ting the other guys chin before the
opposition nudges him.
Fits Into New Sport.
Cronin, who captured Southern
Conference indoor and outdoor 440-
yard dash championships in addi-
ton to providing more points
through pole vaulting and anchor
ing crack mile relay team, made
the shift from track to boxing in
smooth fashion. He was termed
natural by Miller shortly after he
laced on his first glove and appar-
emily he is justifying the praise.
A veteran" of three rounds of
collegiate combat, Cronin now Is
faced with the unenviable prospect
of exchanging wallops with Joe
Bunsa, a highly explosive package
representing Catholic U. in the 155-
pound division. This bout may be
the turning point of the match,
for, on paper at least. Maryland
figures to capture the four lighter
division battles and have its troubles
from there in.
Cronin Is Not Worried.
But Cronin is unperturbed. He
likes to fight and won't quake at any
odds offered against him as long
as his foe is patterned along the
same proportions. He figures to
be an underdog against Bunsa, but
Maryland followers say he will shine
in the role. They like his courage.
Miller also cherishes that quality,
but, more than that, he likes
Cronin from a more technical
standpoint.
IT like the way he PAGES him.
SELF" beams Miller. Most mex
perienced boys wear themselves out
in the first round, but Cronin is
willing to wait until the other
fellow makes a mistake. And right
now you can't make many mistakes
against him or you'll find yourself
waking up.
HE needs polishing, of course"
continued Miller, "but I think he
could go into ring right now
against rough, tough professional
middleweight preliminary boys and
give them all they could ask.
think he has a wonderful chance
to beat Bunsa."
Is Tough Assignment.
Beating Bunsa is no small as
signment. Only once has that been
done in IL collegiate fights and on
that occasion it was a hotly dis
puted decision. In addition to his
experience under capable Coach
Eddie LaFond at c. u, Bunsa put
in four years with Staunton Mill
tary Academy boxing teams.
Bunsa, of course. has intestinal
fortitude. Last year he spent
months abed and subsequent weeks
on crutches as the result of COM
plications due to a football injury.
Only last Thursday did he return
to boxing Saturday night he dis
posed of his Temple foe through
the medium of a technical knock
out in the first round.
Joe is no green pea to the boxing
game. He hits hard and, for a
college boxer, is smooth from a
mechanical standpoint. His weak
ness may be lack of condition due
to the brief training period he has
had. Cronin plans to test that
possible flaw to the breaking point
and the developments should be
interesting.