The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-12-22
pITTSDURCHER RECAINED IRISH
 RING PRESTIGE
Bettina Beaten Twice By Champion; Galento
 Stopped Nova
By JACK CUDDY
United Press stan Correspondent

New York, Dec. 22.-(UP)--Billy Conn's brilliant achievements fea- tured boxing during 1889, Q year of great activity on most fronts dur Ing which titles changed hands in Ave of the eight divisions.
 Out of Pittsburg came handsome young Conn to captivate the world of wallop with his personality, ring artistry and love of battle. He resur- rected the light heavyweight divi- sion, of which he Is now champion, and revived Irish fighting prestige,
 Billy the Kid" was just another middleweight when he first invaded New York on Jan. 6 to register a surprise victory over Fred Apostoli of San Francisco in Q non-title 10 round bout. Apostoli then was rec oRniZed as middleweight champion byt the New York commission, In another non-title l5-round bout on Feb. 10, Conn whipped Apostoli even more impressively,
 Earlier in February, Melio Bet tina of Beacon, N, r., became light heavyweight champion by knock Ing out Tiger Jack Fox, Spokane negro, in the final of on elimina- ton to determine the successor to John Henry Lewis vacated crown. Conn challenged Bettina and wrest- cd the l75-pound title from him on July i3, Billy gave Bettina chance to get 1t back in Pittsburg in Sep tember, and again gave Melio Q sound i5-round trounoing.
 Gus Learned
 Then came Q challenge from Gus Lesnevich Of New Jersey, who had knocked out formidable Dave Clark in one round, Conn accepted the challenge immediately and gave Lesnevlch a l5-round boxing lesson in November, Ambitious for other fields to conquer, Billy then turned to the heavyweight division and will start his campaign in thiS class on Jan. 10 when he meets Steve Dudas of New Jersey.
 This same Dudas, an apparently fading veteran, registered a major upset last week when he won Q sur prise eight-round decision over young Patrick Edward Comlskey of Paterson N. J. whose knockout feats were Q feature of the years heavyweight activities, Before suf- fering his first defeat against Dudas Comiskey had knocked out a of 24 opponents. He stood out as tho most promising young contender for Joe Louis heavyweight crown. Comiskey broke one hand and bruised the other with DudaS, which may have accented for his DOT showing.
 Meanwhile Heavyweight King Louis retained his crown against four challengers. The Brown Bomber kayoed John Henry Lewis at New York in January, Jack Roper ct Los Angeles in April, Tony dalento at New York in June and Bob Pastor at Detroit In Septem- Der, Arturo Godoy of Chile Is now at Summit, N. J., training to fight Louis on Feb. 0.
 The most electrifying moments Of the boxing year came on that June night when 0alento staggered Louis In the first round and fioored the champion in the third, But m avalanche of red leather beat dalento Into bloody helplessness in the fourth. Pastor gave jolting Joe an unexpectedly hard fight in Sep- tember, but was belted out in the iith.
 Nova stopped
 Qalento provided the major ups set of the year in September when he launched q comeback by stop ping young Lou Nova of California In the i4th round ct Philadelphia. Nova. fresh from Q knockout vic- tory over Maxie Baer in June. was moving rapidly toward 6 title scrap with Louis when he encountered dalento, the 4-i undcrdoe. Nova took such e terrible beating that night that he hasn't fought since, dalento also has been inactive since because of an injured eye, which he claims is healed now,
 Other grand come-backS were staged by Ceforino Garcia. Al Hos- talk, Lou AmbefS and simon Chavez,
 Garcia Of the Philippines waged q successful mlddlewelght campaign that was climaxed by . knockout victory over Fred Apostoli in Octo- Der. giving Garcia New York states recognition aB world champion. Meanwhile Hostak of Seattle res gained National Boxing association recognition as titleholder by knock ing out solly Krieger Of Brooklyn in their return bout ct Seattl ein June, Thus far attempts to match Garcia and Hostak to clear the title have been futile. Garcia is making his first defense this wek against Glen Lee at Manila, where Jack Demp- sey has flown to referee Hostak made his first venture east of the Rockies this month and knocked out Erie seeiig in the first round at Cleveland,
 Fouls Costly
 Lou Ambers of Herkimer N. Yp regained the lightweight champion. ship from Henry Armstrong in their return bout ct New York In August, after Armstrong lost Ave rounds oil fowls for low blows. Armstrong still holds the welterwcight crown, which he successfully defended against Baby Ar!zmcndi, Bobby Pacho. Davey Day, Ernie Roderick and c few others. AinberS and Armstrong were matched for c third bou on Dec. l. in which Armstrong was to defend the welter diaden, but illness prevented Hammering Henry from keeping the engage rnent. He recovered sufficiently to knock out Jimmy Garrison ct Cleve. land last week, although not in good shape for the bout. Some experts believe Armstrong is approaching the end Of the fistic trail, He is slated for another title defense against Pedro Montanez of Puerto Rico at New York late next month.
 simon Chavez of Caracas, Vene- zuela, made notable comeback beating c half-dozen opponents irl- ciuding Featherweight Champion Joey Archibald and the outstanding United States challenger, Petey Al.