Evening star., 1939-02-19
Keen Battling Likely
AT All Weights in
Columbia Ring
Clemson Enters Entire
Team in Title Defense;
.Terps Best Since '36
BY ALDERMAN DUNCAN,

COLUMBIA, S. c., Feb. 49,
Southern Conference pugilists will
battle here next Friday and Satur-
day IN the annual boxing tourna-
ment, with rivalry for individual
and team honors keener than ever.
There is a possibility that full
complement of 81 boxers will be
listed for the drawings and every
weight division has at least two
good fighters. Some divisions are
assured of three-way scraps among
capable glove throWers.
Clemson, South Carolina, Mary
land and the Citadel have entered
full teams, but the number of Duke,
North Carolina, Virginia Tech and
North Carolina State is uncertain.
Clemson's defending champions,
once more with a well-balanced,
hard-socking squad. has only one
regular from last year. The Tigers
have slightly favored role but
Maryland and South Carolina loom
especially dangerous.
Terps in Fine Fettle.
The Old Liners, with good men in
every weight except the heavy,
claim one of their best teams, with
the possible exception of the 1896
conference champions. South Car
olina's Gamecocks battled Clemson
to a draw, beat Duke and North
Carolina State and tied Florida and
Georgia.
Clemson, besides the tie with
South Carolina, drew with Loyola
at the Sugar Bowl boxing carnival
but beat Florida and the Citadel,
which also figure in the picture.
The Cadets, runners-up to Glenn
son last year, tied Tennessee and
beat North Carolina.
The only 1888 champions will be
Maryland's Benny Alperstein, who,
however, will not be defending his
weight title. He has moved up from
125 pounds to the 135-pound divi-
sion where he was national cham
pion in 1897.
Alperstein, however, has lost a
close bout to Capt. Chuck Kasick of
Duke, whose prestige rose accord
lngly. Another good man in this
weight Is co-Capt Lou Carleo of
South Carolina, but he also lost to
kasick.
Sophomore Billy Austin of Vir-
glnia Tech appears the favorite in
the 120-pound class by virtue of a
convincing string of victories.
In the 127-pound division, ANDY
Gennett of North Carolina and Dick
Bagnall of the Citadel look good
Gennett beat BagnaI.
Allen Legare of South Carolina
stood out in the 145-pound weight
because OF his experience. Ed Dick
erson Of North Carolina also is
favored though this is his first year.
Co-Capt. Jerry Hughes of South
Carolina has an impressive string
Of knockouts and is highly regarded
in the 155-pound division. although
Frank Cronin of Maryland has
beaten some of the best men in
the South. Jimmy Woolwine of
Virginia Tech also looked good in
this weight.
Baxter Is Favored Heavy.
Hughes was also eligible for the
165-pound division. in which Glenn
sons formidable Capt. Bill Cason
fights. Cason will be seeded No. l
in all probability since he decisioned
Capt. Jack Lyons of the Citadel,
finalist in the division last year.
Linwood Duncan of the Citadel,
Warren Wilson of Clemson and
Eden Red" Sanders of North Car
olina were outstanding In their
175-pound light heavyweight divi-
sion.
In the unlimited class, Dick Bax-
ter Of South Carolina will be the
faVOrita h,t No-+-
Carolina, a 1893 semi-finalist and
unbeaten In the conference this
season, must be considered Roger
Harshbarger of the Citadel is
another powerful scrapper.
Officials will be Walter Short Of
Baltimore, who has officiated in
$500 bouts since 1922; Ed Brockman
Of Baltimore and Ralph Cresswell of
North Carolina.
This will be the first time a con-
ference tournament of any kind has
been held in South Carolina.