The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1939-12-12
Jim GARRISON
STOPPED IN 9TH.
|HOSTAK CHAMP.
Seattle Middle Shows
Killer Instruct Against
Seelig
BY JACK CUDDY
United Press Stafe CorresrONdentl

united Press STAN Correspondent
Cleveland, Dec. I2--(Up) Cham
pions AL Hostak Of Seattle and
Henry Armstrong Of Los Angeles
headed west again today with added
lustre and lucre after defending
their iniddleweight and welterweight
titles with knockout victories last
night In the Cleveland News Christ
mas fund show.
Blond rIostak, one Of the hardest
hitters ever TO be unveiled In the
midwest, Is still recognized as king
OF the worlds 160-pounder by the
National Boxing Association by vir-
tue Of his first-roui1d Knockout over
Eric seelig, German veteran, before
i0,oDS cash customers at the arena.
In his first appearance east Of the
Rockies, Hostak,s blond lightning
blows evoked plentitude Of praise.
And Armstrong, the bull.shouder-
ed little California negro who pos
sesses the worlds welterweight
crown had won whole-hearted ad-
miration because Of his technical
knockout over rugged Jimmy Gar
rison Of Kansas City in the seventh
round, despite Hurricane Hanks"
quite evident lack of fighting edge
on his 9th birthday.
Immediate plans for both gladia-
tors from the golden west were not
announced, but both seemed headed
for bouts In Chicago. Negotiations
were progressing for Hostak TO en-
gage In q none title scrap with
Tony Zale at the Chicago stadium
In January, and Armstrings man
ager, Eddie Mead, was considering
good offer for little perpetual
motion" to defend his l47-pound
Tiara again against Davey Day In
the Windy City.
Hard Hitter
Hostak, the sturdy northwestern
dynamiter Who never before had
ventured out Of his upper Pacific
coast backyard, lived UP TO all OF
the pre-flght advertising. In his
one minute and 81 seconds OF action
he proved 10 tho skeptical experts
that he Is one Of the fastest and
hardest hitting punchers In any
division.
Hostak came out cautiously In
that abbreviated first round OF
their scheduled l5-round bout. He
spared carefully with experienced
Sellig. Suddenly he launched his
attack. At first he was o bit too
eager for the kill and his blows
were missing badly. Then he found
the range. A left hook exploded on
Seelig's chin and his knees buckled.
Then came O thunderous straight
right that almost tore Eric's head
of.
Seelig slumped 10 the deck with
blood squirting from his nose, he
rose gamely at the count OF nine,
only TO be met with q barrage that
left deep, bloody cash on his right
brow and eliminated with a smash
Eric 10 the canvas. Seelig writhed
on the canvas and managed to re-
gain his feet Just after Referee Tony
La Branche had tolled the fatal 10
count.
Seelig, 2e years old and veteran
OF more than 10 ring battles, claim
cd no short count. No sir. He was
glad the bloody business was fin-
nished. He said In his dressing
room. that fellow Is the hardest
ppncher I ever met-and the fast
est. His fists come from nowhere.
You don't see them. was watch
Ing his right hand, when suddenly
his left got me, and I didn't re-
member much what was going on"
Armstrong was not so impressive
with Young Garrison. Homicide
Hank" plainly was not In peak con-
dition. He had not attained his
usual fighting edge, after q severe
cold In New York and only three
days Of training at Cleveland. That
New York cold has been 90 severe
that Armstrong had to cancel his
scheduled title defense against Lou
Ambers on Dec. !.