Evening star., 1941-05-12
Challenger in Superb
Trim for 15-Round
Battle Tonight
Champion, Despite Rumor
Of Not Being at Best,
Favored Over Route
Ey LEWIS F. ATCHISON.

Harry Jeffra, whose ring saga has
had more curious twists than
milady's hair-do, will be the odds-on
choice to retain his claim to the
world featherweight crown in his
l5-round bout with joey Archibald
tonight at Grifith Stadium, but
sudder- shift in sentiment has raised
the hopes of Joeys followers and
played Ned with betting figures.
Out of Baltimore has seeped word
that Jeffra is not at his best for the
third and rubber" match between
the pair and this is liable to find
the current champion on the short
end when all the ballots are counted.
It may be merely another rumor,
such as the one that got around
yesterday that Joe Louis jaw was
fractured by a sparring partner,
but 1t seems to have more weight
than the usual caliber of gossip.
The weisenheimers say Jeffra will
win the duke if it goes the full 15-
round distance, but TO look for the
half-pint Irishman's hand to be
raised in token of victory If 1t ends
in a knockout. Jeffra may have
the advantage in experience, skill
and ring generalship, but Archibald
still Is the young anarchist OF the
126-pounders, looking for a good
spot to drop his sticks of dynamite.
Jeffra's Sunday punch doesn't COM
pare with Joey's.
Jeffra After Early Win.
Jeffra, according to his chief
stockholder and agent, Max Wax
man. is going out to win by kayo
within 10 rounds, maybe even S. The
longer it goes the tougher 1t will
be for the former caddie, who isn't
any newborn babe in the biting
business, and he likes to save his
legs as much as possible. Waxman's
announcement of strategy caused a
knowing wink and wise nod along
the Rue de la Cauliflower, where
the citizens still recall how Jeffra
stretched Archibald for nine-count
In their second fight. but couldn't
finish him. Not only couldn't finish
him, but was running down in the
closing rounds while the kewpie |
clouter was getting stronger and |
beginning to turn the tide of battle.
Some even say Archibald can win |
the decision, pointing to his come
back in the second battle as evi-
dence of his durability and ability
to cope with the champions clever
tactics. This group would toss out
the first fight on the grounds that |
Archibald really wasn't ready for
1t and not at his best. The result
of the second they trace to the So
called lucky" right that left Joey
with the impression footpad had
conked him from the rear with a
crowbar. tr---
Archy in No Hurry.
But Archibald will take an oath
Jeffra doesn't pat him with the
right tonight. He's confident Harry
won't lay glove on him after they
shake hands. joey is inclined to
believe stories of Jeffra's condition
are so much chatter for Sweeney,
but if he finds his opponent off his
feed 1t will be a gala night for the
Providence clan for the challenger
Is fairly bursting with good health.
Jeffra has been winning con-
eistently and against a top-notch
grade of fighters, which tends to
strengthen the theory he'll be too
much for Archibald to handle. but
Joey's last fight here, in which he
outpointed Billy Banks, proved he
hasn't gone back since dropping his
title and that he still has a lot of
argument in his Sample-size heavy
weight system.
Archibald wants Jeffra to lead
tonight while he takes to his bicycle
for few rounds to warm up to the
business at hand. He merely wants
to stick around until 10 rounds have
elapsed and then 60 to work on the
champs chassis with both paws.
Jeffra doesn't stand up too we'll
under sustained body punishment,
which Is Joey's strong suit, but his
ong reach has kept recent oppon-
snts from reaching him through
this channel and Archibald is
another short-armed Oscar. Thus ,,
Joey's reason for trying to tire
Jeffra before wading In to pump
few well chosen shots at the mid
-iff.
Challenger i'm Superb Trim. !
The challenger is in superb con- j.,
tition and has the heart of lion (
md with the luck of the Irish be-
hind him, which seems to be un-
Usually strong in Washington for
he rates chance to-
night. joey hasn't lost a decision .
IN 20 fights here, although fumi- {
gators still are trying to suppress
the malodorous whiff of the verdict
he was handed two years ago at the
stadium. That means something
Just what, we don't know.
The supporting card is nothing to
shout about. Pedro Hernandez
boxes Henry Hook in the 8-round
semiwindup. Billy Banks meets joey
Stack in 6-rounder, Jabo Kenner
fights Jim Swimmer over the same
distance and Jim Collins tangles
with Oscar Wright in an opening
six