The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-02-19
Government Challenged By Track O1Oners
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FAVORITE over
WILSON TON|TE
Negro Welters May Draw
$4,000 at MSG; Horne
in Senli-FinaI

New York, Feb. 19-(UP)-Ray
(Sugar) Robinson Of Harlem is q
1875 favorite to lick Sgt. Jackie
Wilson of California tonight in
their long-awaited welterweight
contenders' brawl at Madison
Square Garden.
Robinson Is favored because of
his record, his youth and his speed
in this east-vs.-wes match bring
Ing two Negroes together in a Gar
den main event for the first time
In four years.
The winner will be regarded as
"uncrowned king" of the welters,
since both principals are rated gen.
orally as superior to the current
147-pound champion, Freddie Coch-
rane Of the Navy.
For the first time in his career,
Ray Robinson enters ring to-
night knowing the bitter taste of
defeat. The aura Of invincibility
has disappeared-it vanished sud-
denly in y ring at Detroit two
weeks ago when Robinson, winner
Of SO consecutive amateur bouts and
40 professional, went down to de-
feat at the hands Of Jacob LaMotta,
middleweight.
Disagree
There are those in the boxing
world who believe that that defeat
spells the end Of great fighter,
that not only Robinson's imposing
string was broken but his spirit as
well. Others disagree, pointing out
that some fighters are even better
after q setback (liKe Joe Louis aft
er his knockout by Schmeling).
Robinson, they are certain. belongs
to the latter category.
The answer will be provided at
Madison Square Garden this eve
ming when Sugar Ray opposes the
most formidable welterweight foe
he has ever encountered, California
Jackie Wilson, sergeant in the U.
8. Army Air Corps and stationed
at Mitchell Field, l.. I.
For more than a year boxing men
have looked forward with eager an
ticipation to meeting between
Wilson, best welterweight from the
west, and Robinson, best in the
east. There is no slight intended
here to Freddie (Red) Cochrane,
but virtually all boxing authorities
rate Wilson and Robinson as tops.
Wilson was disappointing in his
initial Garden appearance several
weeks ago when he suffered q de-
feat from the same Jacob LaMotta
who outpointed Robinson In De-
troit. But Wilson went into the
LaMotta contest on short notice
GIVE days., was able to get in only
two days Of hard training. It was
not a fair test.
For tonight's bout, however, Cali
fornia Jackie has been permitted
to do practically all his condition
ing in q New York gymnasium and
he has had plenty Of time to work.
He is in superb shape and prepared
to give Garden fans (and Robin
SOM a real demonstration Of his
fstic talents.
Lost but Four
Like Robinson, Wilson Is a pc.
tent puncher. In "a professional
matches he has registered 80 knock
out victories. He is also a master
full boxer and has lost only four
times in his career. Three of these
defeats he reversed In return
matches. If given the opportunity
of facing LaMotta again he Is con-
fdent he can erase that defeat as
well.
But his immediate concern is to
prove. against Robinson, that he Is
the fighter he has been cracked up
to be. zone Of us Is the better
fighter" says Wilson, land I hope
to prove I'm the one"
While Joe Louis refuses to go out
on the limb in connection with TO-
nights fight, he expressed his opin-
ion this way: Wilson has the stun
to whip Robinson. Sugar Ray is
facing a great fighter, the best he's
ever met at his weight"
The difference in poundage be-
tween Robinson and Wilson will be
insignificant. Robinson plans to
scale about las, Wilson less than a
pound under that figure.
A share of the proceeds for to-
nights show will be turned over to
the National Foundation for Infan-
tile Paralysis. This is the second
time Robinson has boxed in a bene-
1T show for the Paralysis Fund
Last year he met Make Berger for
the same cause. Robinson, Incl
dentally, is making what will prob
ably be his last New York appear
ance before going into the Army.
George Sonny Horne, Niles. Ohio,
middleweight. and Marvin Bryant
of Dallas, Texas. are paired in the
eight-round semi final this evening,
Horne and Bryant are two of the
best young 160-pound prospects in