Evening star., 1939-02-05
Bantam in No Trim
To Defend Crown
In Time Given
Custer Of Lieht-Heovy
Due If He Persists
In Fighting Abroad
By BURTON HAWKINS.

The National Boxing ASSoclatloh,
which prides itself on never having
stripped a champion of his title,
probably will alter that policy short
" and declare vacant both the ban
tamweight championship, owned by
Sixto Escobar, and the light
heavyweight, belonging to John
Henry Lewis in the opinion OF the
N. B. A., it was learned yesterday.
Escobar, who hasn't defended his
title within the required six months
in fact in SO weeks-was warned
six weeks ago by the N. B. A. that
he must fight one of three challeng-
ers within a period OF 80 days or
suffer the consequences.
Since Sixto has displayed no zeal
to ieopardize that championship
within the allotted time, the N. B. A.
has no other recourse than to vacate
the title and stage an elimination
tourney involving Kayo Morgan,
George Pace, both of whom have
trounced Escobar in overweight
bouts, and Henry Hook to determine
who should inherit the 118-pound
top spot.
Illness Stalls EscObar.
The real reason behind Escobar's
semi i-idleness and recent mediocre
showings is traceable to a malady
which requires constant treatment.
His unwillingness to risk his crown
has been mirrored in the prohib-
itively low guarantee and grant of
one round-trip ticket instead of the
customary two to challengers in
offering them to crack at the cham
pionship in Puerto Rico, his native
land
Morgan. now rated in the No. l
challenger's berth by the N. B. A.,
has been dogging Escobar's steps
for months seeking a title tiff. He
has an old score to settle with Sixto,
who nearly fractured Morgan's jaw
in dressing room brawl after
Morgan had whipped him in the
ring. Pace is ranked second, with
Lou Salica third and Hook fourth.
Escobar captured the crown in
1895 from Tony Marino, lost it to
Harry Jeffra on the Carnival of
Champions card at New York in
1887, and regained it at Puerto Rico
last year, breaking Jeffra's jaw in
the process. He hasn't defended 1t
since beating Jeffra last February
18, and in an overweight bout here
failed to win a round from Al
Mancini.
Lewis Seeks Foreign Fights.
The Hght-heavyweight situation
Is more complicated. Lewis. recent
ly iced by Heavyweight Champion
Joe Louis in the first round, no
longer Is recognized as world cham
pion in New York due to his per-
sistent refusal to meet Tiger Jack
Fox. Melio Bettina, who kayoed
Fix Friday night at Madison Square
Garden, has been stamped as New
York's version of the 175-pound
champion, with Al States dissenting
Since Lewis, in the opinion of the
N. B. A., still is capable of making
the 175-pound weight limit having
scaled only 1909 pounds for the
Louis bout. the N B. A. still is will
ing to string along with him as
champion. Lewis, however, is not so
certain he wants to string along
with the N. B. A.
The N. B. A. wants John Henry
to meet Bettina in a title scrap, but
Lewis would prefer taking his title
to Europe for a few bouts. In the
event he decides to 60 through with
the latter threat he will have no
title to take abroad, for the N. B. A.
will relieve him of his laurels. He
either will sign to face Bettina
shortly or the N. B. A. will with
draw recognition of him as cham
pion.
That would leave the N. B. A.
lacking champions in four divis-
ions. the flyweight, bantamweight,
featherweight and Ight-heavy-
weight. joey Archibald is recog-
nized as featherweight champion
by New York, while the middle
weight division is ruled by Fred
ApostoN In New York's opinion and
Solly Krieger in the mind Of the
N. 3. A.