The Wilmington morning star., 1941-01-17
ARMSTRONG, ZIVIC MEET TONIGHT
HENRY IS FAVORED !
BY BETTING BOYS
Ex-Champ Wants to Regain
Title He Lost and Quit;
$4,000 Fans Expected
BY SID FEEDER

- OoA3 VI
probably the last time in his ca
reer, the miracle man of boxing,
Henry Armstrong, tries to do it
again tomorrow night.
Deadly intent on r~egaining his
world welterweight championship
because he wants to quit at the
top'-the Little Hammer tangies
with Fritzie Zivic for Is rounds or
less in Madison Square Garden,
and the chances are the biggest
crowd of the indoor season, posi-
bly, more than $1,000, will be on
hand to wish him hail and fare.
well.
Although most of the evidence
points to a repeat victory for Fritz
lie, not even the betting men are
willing to give up on iii Mer-
petual Notion" The only warrior
to hold three championships stimuli
taneously, he has done, more thar
once before, what everyone thought
was impossible.
Despite his defeat last October
at the hands of the youngest O.
the five Flying Zivics-a defeat in
which he toppled on his face, a
beaten battler, as the final gong
sounded-Hennery the Hammer re.
manned a surprise 5 to 8 favorite
in the wagering today. The ex.
perts, however. generally picked
Zivic, largely because the Pitts
burgher has been particularly i'm
pressive in his training Will e
Henry has been somewhat less
than terrific.
This corner also strings W i h
Fritzie. Zivic has just as much
incentive as Armstrong in this
bout. While Henry is shooting at
the goal of retiring as a champion,
Zivic remembers seven years OF
kicking around Fistiana's b u S h
leagues for coffee and cake money.
He likes the heavy sugar" and
won't give it up easily.
Fritzie will have a weight pull
of five pounds, and, while this is
strictly nothing new in the way of
a handicap for Henry, it's telling
no secret that he is over the
hump" now and nearing the end
of the trail. Finally, Armstrong is
trying a new style.
He is certain an "old dog" can
be taught new tricks but it just
isn't his way of fighting He is
standing straighter and is thinking
of defense, a totally foreign thought
for the little fellow who knows no
other way of battling but just to
walk out there and throw punches.
Just what Henry is going to do
from here on in, not even he is
quite certain, although 1941 defin,
itely will be his last year in action.
If he wins. the chances are he'll
return his poetry writing and mu-
sic. He has nothing to worry about
financially. If he loses by a close
margin, he'll be back later for an
other crack. If he is badly beaten,
it is doubtful if he'll try again.
Missing from Armstrong; cor
ner for the first time since he sky
rocketed out of the West to rule
the featherweight, lightweight and
welterweight divisions will be his
manager, Eddie Mead. Large Ed
die is recovering from a heart at
tack. In his place will be Ray Ar
eel, generally regarded as the top
man among ring seconds.
The preliminary card is featured
by an eight-rounder between young
Kid Mccoy, highly-regarded De-
troit welterweight, and Aaron CAD
Smith of Los Angeles, Who bowed
into the Garden a few weeks ago
by knocking out Irish Eddie Dunno.
The main 60 is slated for 10 pm.
(E.S.T.). l