The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-05-07
JESSUP RATED
FORMIDABLE FOE
FOR EX-CHAMP
Ten Years Difference in
Ages of Negro Light
weights

Boston, May 7.-(UP)-TommJ
Jessup, a comparative unknown who
sings IN a Springfield Baptist church
choir, gets a chance at boxing glory
tonight when he battles veteran
Henry Armstrong in scheduled TO-
round bout at Boston Garden.
Armstrong will be making his
150th start in II years of ring cam
raigning and ruled a 7 to 5 choice
to finish off the 21-year old country
boy despite an 18-month layoff,
a serious eye operation and his &c
years.
Both are Negroes, both love tc
light and for both it will be an i'm
portant battle. For Armstrong, for
mer triple champion, it will be an
other milestone on the comeback
road to return match with light
weight champion Beau Jack. For
Jessup, who has registered % knock
outs in 20 fights, a victory would
guarantee an ultimate shot at the
lightweight crown.
( JesSup is made to order for Arm
strong, using a continual, boring in
aggressive style. He claims that
armstrong is made to order for
him, however, since the Californian
has little, if any. defense.
Trigger Tommy Jessup, Spring
field, the clouting choir-boy will
either become million dollar baby
o. bust in the space of 40 min
utes, or less, tonight at the Boston
Garden when he squares off with
Hammering Henry Armstrong, Los
Angeles.
Trigger Tommy, pride of Spring.
Held and points west, came from
Summit, N. j., where he spent the
past ten days at Madame Bey's
camp, tuning up against the fore
most sparring partners to be OBJ
tanned He is fit and fixing to
beat Hammering Henry and cause
an upset which will be heard all
around the realm of fiStiana tomor-
row p. m. in the 10 round feature
OF Boston Boxing Association
pageant which may jam the Depot
to the Orders.
Manager Confident
He is in superb condition. He
can't miss" said Homer Rainault,
who gave up his role as foreman
OF the Valley Arena in Holyoke in
order to master-mind for Jessup.
He knocked a dozen Spar-mates
cold in the past week and looked
great. He had them walking in
wingiilg like Armstrong does and
he wrecked 'em-an even dozen Of
EN-"
That Jessup can hit is attested
by his record which reveals "a k.
o. wins in % stars. He kayoed
Henry Vasquez in four stanzas. Bob
Montgomery was extended to win q
10-round decision over the same
Vasquez only last Monday night.
In Jessup's favor is the fact that
he doesn't CULVER and shake with
fright at the mention of the name
Armstrong. He admires the former
3-in-1 champion to the point of
idolization but figures it a shame
that Hammering Henry has to be
the one to be blocking his path to
the top. He has a this s-going
to-hurt-me-more- than your atti-
tude towards tomorrow nights ex-
jlosion 1t the Garden. Armstrong
has got to be blasted out of his
route to gold and glory and Jessup
is not going to spare the horses.
Jessup is young (he's 81, Arm
strong 81; he's hungry; he's got
one of the most devastating punches
displayed among little men since
Billy Petrolle was stretching 'em
out. Jessup is on the short end
of 81 betting but there's an upset
in TIE air and he's roady to make
it a reality.
Kelly Jessup, Tommy's brother, vs.
Ike Williams; Red Doty VS. Johnny
Jones; and Joe Sulick VS. Terry
Gibson, are three 8-rounders on
the Boston B. AS bang-up support
ing program. Gibson, Armstrong
protege, and Sulick are sparring
partners of the manufacturers; Doty
is the slugger who stole" the last
B. B. A. show by kayoing Phil Nor
man.