The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-02-19
Eda4SySs|!R!,e.rt A,raA.
+ 8 WIZ
reg. U. S. Pat. Off,
BY JACK GUENTHER

United Press Staff Correspondent
New York, Feb. 19.-(UP)-Along
hammers Lane these days the wise
men of boxing are whispering the
name of Melio Bettina with degree
of respect normally reserved for
such subjects as black plague, hood
ed cobras, race track tips and the
income tax Bettina, 1t appears,
has blossomed into what is known
within the trade as a menace.
Other heavyweights cross the
street to avoid him when he passes,
promoters pretend that he just
doesn't exist and managers are so
shaken with fright that mass cpl
demic of nervous breakdoWnS may
be expected. For Bettina shapes up
as no ordinary menace He is the
most sinister specimen to appear
since Harry Wills was stalking about
in 1926.
This sWarthy italian who has
been bringing home the bacon to
Beacon, N. Y for several years
doesn't look his part. He is on the
short and squat side and SO far as
I can determine he doesn't bite, pull
hair or gouge. His only sin is that
of being left-handed in his ap-
proach. More colorfully put, he is a
south-paW or port-sider.
Confusion
Such an offense may appear mild
to the layman but within the box
fighting business it is a crime of
great magnitude. Bettina jabs with
his right and crosses sharply with
his left. These unorthodox gestures
tend to confuse his opponents. When
confused, they must resort to their
wits. Such desperate groupings US
ually prove fatal.
Because of his peculiar offense.
Melio has been party to more run
arounds than May pole. He and
his manager a -practicing mag
ic1an and hypnotist named Jimmy
Grippe. have challenged practical
ly everyone in boxing but the re-
Spouse has been unanimously mega
tive. From Joe Louis to the career
buns, boxing wants no truck with
Bettina.
The Louis case is a simple one.
Joe has never been faced with a
left-handed opponent. He would be
forced to invent a defense for the
peculiar Bettina stance, and he
never has shown to good advantage
when the job required mental GYM
nastics. For instance there was Bob
Pastor And Max Schmeling and
Arturo Godoy (All the first time.)
And Tommy Farr.
There are any number of men
who would be willing to bet that if
Melio ever did meet Louis he would
have the champion on the floor at
some stage of the evening. Whether
or not he could win is a moot point.
He has been knocked out before
and chins seldom get more rugged
with the passing of years. But he
has punch of his own-and it is
a good one.
Not So bad
AS accurately as I can compute
it, that punch has chilled some 30
rivals since Bettina began brand
ishing it six years ago. The most
prominent kayo victims were Buddy
Knox Fred Apostoli and Tiger Jack
Fox. -Melio also whipped, but
couldn't knock out, Red Burman,
Solly Krieger and Gunnar Barlund
1t Is a fairly creditable record.
Not many heavies have done bet
ter. Bettina lost twice to Conn in
1889 but the bouts were hard and
fairly close. Conns handlers today
would much rather tackle Lou Nova
than take on the Bettina that is a
full-blown heavyweight. The other
big boys are just as shy except Gus
Lesnevich, who will fight anyone If
he can earn some loose change.
Ordinarily, am dubious of men,
aces. They are built up slowly until
the public begins clamoring. Then
some smart promoter makes the
best of a good thing. In these cases
there can't be build-up. There
isn't time. Bettina is due for induc-
ton into the army in about two
months. That is why he wants his
shot at Private Barrow right pronto.
Louis has met only one man of
the Bettina type before--a boxer
with both punch and a confusing
OffenSe. That was Schmeling. who