The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-02-22
DAVIS GETS BIC
CHANCE TO co
PLACES IN RING
NOn-Title Bout With Ann
bers Tomorrow Night
Provides Acid Test

Especial to The OemOcrat)
New York, February ~. - with
a welterweight title meeting against
Henry Armstrong as his prize if he
wins, AL Davis, Brownsville welter,
tomorrow night engages in the most
important contest Of his career, a
ten-rot1nd meeting against Lou Am
bers, world lightweight champion, at
Madison Square Garden.
Less than year ago Davis had
still to make his first main event
appearance at the Garden. He made
his initial start as a feature bout
performer at the Garden last March
II, defeating Mickey Farber in ten
rounds. Since then his rise has
been spectacular and today Davis
stands out as one Of the foremost
challengers. in the country for 147-
pound division honors.
Stopped Canzy and Larkin
He followed his victory over Far
Der with q triumph over Eddie
Brink. Last November / he tangled
with Tony Canzoneri and knocked
out Canzoneri In three rounds, first
time in Tony,s career he had ever
been stopped. Six weeks later Davis
returned to the Garden to face the
clever and hard-hitting Tippy Lar
kin. Here again Davis,s mighty fists
asserted themselves, the Brownsville
Bomber flattening Larkin In five
rounds.
Since he began his professional
career close to three years ago
Davis has engaged in 81 contests
and has still to taste defeat. Twenty
two Of his victories have been
achieved by knockouts. He has
won thirteen fights on decisions and
twice he has been held to a draw.
But at no time has his streak
been in greater jeopardy than 1t will
be this evening. For Ambers Is in
topnitch fighting form and has
vastly more experience than Davis.
The Herkimer lad, twice holder of
the world lightweight title and cur
rent champion, has had 95 fights in
his career, ha Supposed virtually
every leading lightweight and many
crack welterweights; while Davis
has but recently started to mix with
front-rank opposition.
Standing out In DavisS favor, Of
course, is his mighty punching
power. Pound for pound, he has the
hardest punch in boxing today and
his left hook Is rated the best punch
Of its kind since Charley White
was In his prime. His right hand,
too, packs plenty Of power and Is
plenty dangerous.
Then, too, Davis will carry a big
advantage in weight. He planned
to scale las or 146 for tonight's
tussle while Ambers Is expected to
weight In at about 1877 or 1873.
But against Davis's superiority in
punching prowess and his edge on
the scales, AmberS will pit his speed
and cleverness and all-around box
ing ability. Ambers Is not a knock
out puncher but he is a Furnishing
hitter and his blows bruise and cut.
Ambers has never been halted in his
career and has seldom knocked
down. When he is floored he arises
with fighting spirit renewed.
Regardless Of the outcome of to-
nights event, Ambers will retain
possession Of his lightweight crown,
which is not at stake. A defeat,
however, will prove serious blow
to his prestige. For Davis, a VIC
tory will practically guarantee him
lucrative shot against Armstrong
for the world welterweight title.
Ambers and Davis are In excellent
condition for the fray. The light
weight champion prepared for the
fight at Madame Bey's camp in
Summit, N. J. Davis did two weeks
Of preliminary work at Lakewood
N. j., but for the past ten days he
has been conditioning himself at
Charley Beecher's gymnasium in
Brownsville, where he has trained
for every fight he has had.
Indications are that q crowd OF
close to sell-out proportions win wit
ness the contest, long talked about
by New York fight fans and enthu-
siastically awaited by them. Tickets
are priced at $3.50, $3.50, $500, $5.75,
and $l1.50 for reserved seats, with
the general admission price set at
$l.15.