The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-09-11
(Reg. U. s. Pat. Off,, RY JACK CJJDDY

(Un1te0 treSS StdH NOEECSpOHuCuSJ
 New York, Sept. 11-(UP)-Fritzie Zivic's non-title 10-round victory over World Welterweight Champion Freddie Cochrane gives the loud pedal to one of the major questions in war time sports. Shall we have stand in champions" in the boxing divisions in which title holders are unable to defend because of their war asSignmnts?
 Zivic's manager, plHmp Luke Car ney, resurrected the issue with great gusto immediately after veteran Fritzie had won the unanimous de- cision over red-headed Cochrane of the Navy before 13,259 fans at Mad ison Square Garden last night in an over-the-weight match.
 Sounds Of
 Carney said:
 "Cochrane won the 147-pound title from Zivic a year ago last July and enlisted in the Navy almost i'm mediately, although the United States was not at war then. Coch- rane had a contract with Us to give Zivic a return title shot, but he never did. At last he gave Zivic this return bout-but without the title at stake-and thousands of fans saw Fritzie lick him by wide mar gin. If the bout had gone the championship distance of IS rounds, zivic would have kayoed Cochrane. I don't believe any one in the Gar den would disagree with me on that statement, because Cochrane was out on his feet in the 10th round. So-I'm going to claim the title for Zivic until such time as Cochrane can defend 1t. That is, until the war is over or the Navy department permits Cochrane to make a title defense"
 Carney said he would take the matter up immediately with both the National Boxing Association and the New York Commission, empha- sizing these facts. 1. That zivic had return title bout contracts with Cochrane; 2. That Cochrane had been ordered by the Navy to report immediately to Pearl Harbor, Ha- waii.
 Carney's proposal is important be- cause the war Department last week gave the green light to war time boxing by sanctioning a return title tilt between Sgt. Joe Louis and Pri- vate Billy Conn in New York-prob- ably Yankee Stadium-on Columbus Day, Oct. 12.
 The green light was the brightest beacon to shine on 49th Street Jacbs' Beach-since war was de- clared. For 1t indicated that top strata army officials recognized shows as helpful to civilian morale as well as stimulating the conductive spirit of the millions of men in uni form.
 Not Much Money
 To add zest to leather-tossing boxers must have something to fight for, because none of them are get ting much money since most shows I-particularly those involving serv- ice men-are for benefit of the vari- ous war reliefs. And with the champions of the four divisions all ready in service-LouiS in the Army Light Heavyweight Champion Gus Lesnevich in the Coast Guard; Mid dleweight Champion Tony zale ir the Navy, along with Welter King Cochrane-those titles may be taken out of play at any moment.
 Carney recalled that Lesnevich the light heavy king, was training for a title defense not so long ago when suddenly his furlough wal cancelled and the fight was called of.
 Carney proposes that proper in Iuulries be made to determine If champion in service will be permit ted to defend his crown within reasonable time. And if he can then let a stand-in champion rul' the division until the real chaml can defend.
 For that reason, Carney nov claims the welterweight crown fo Zlylc-or at least the "stand.i champlonShip"-while the genuin ruler Of the itT.pound division Coehrane. heads for Pearl HarboF. |