The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-06-08
new YORK BODY
AND N.B,k. SPURN
BOSTON'S BOY
Pep IA to S FavOrite in
Sudden Odds Change:
Title Go $3.50
BY JACK CUDDY
UNITED Press Staff Correspondent


staged tonight at Braves field when
Wee Willie Pep makes his first de-
fence of the featherweight crown
against Boston's Sal Bartolo for a
guarantee of $4,000.
This $4,000 guarantee enabled
the Boston promoters, Jack O'Brien
and Eddie Mack, to wreSt the Is
round attraction away from Promo
ter Mike Jacobs of New York But
The guarantee also threatens the
Boston promoters with a financial
loss unless the bout lives up to ex-
pectations at the gate.
Promoters O'Brien and Mack op-
predict that this tilt
between the two young Italians will
draw a gate of $4,000 and a crowd
Of $4,000, figures that would es-
tablish new records for New Eng
land fights. Those figures would eX-
coed the New England record of "a
900 spectators and $4,000 registered
by the Jim Maloney- Ricardo Bertaz-
zalo heavyweight fight in 1929.
Going Up!
Pep had been favored to retain
his crown-recognized only in Mas
sachusetts and New York for the
past two weeks at 8-5. But last
night the betting mysteriously leng-
thened to 14-5, favoring Pep, there
by causing an investigation by Bar
tolo's manager, LouS Schiro who
claimed to have heard reports that
the bout was "in the bag" for Pep.
This put reverse English on the
usual expression of fear OF home
town decision; because Pep is from
Conn, while Bartolo is
the home town boy.
Pep, 81 is a natural favorite be-
cause of his brilliant record in
which he lost only one bout Ito
Sammy Angott) in 81
professional appearances. However,
close odds were expected because in
their first meeting-a 10-round
non-title contest on April Bar
tolo gave Pep such a hard fight
that the split decision went to Pep
after tabulationS of the three Bos-
ton officials totaled 285 points for
Willie to 284 for Bartolo. Pep won
by the scanty margin of one point.
Pep, who wreSted his titular laurelS
from Chalky Wright last Novem-
ber has speed and elusiveness, but
Bartolo has been we'll supported be-
cause of his superior punch-Which
had Pep dazed in the sixth round of
their previous meeting-and his
ability.
Three Champs
The Massachusetts, commission
of the New York and
National Boxing associations rec
ognizeS this bout as fro the title. The
New York fistic fathers refuse to
sanction it as title bout, insisting
that Bartolo never was approved by
New York State as No. l challen
ger. Hence-if Bartolo wins, the
featherweight division will have
three CHAMPIONSHIP in Massa-
Pep in New York and
Jackie Callura of Canada in Ma
tional Boxing Association territory.
The title tight is slated for $3.50
p. m. (EWT)-instead of the usual
1000 p. m.-because of dimout reg
ulation. There will be no broadcast
Willie Pep, featherWeight cham
pion of the world, is ready to make
the first defense of his title against
Sal Bartolo of East Boston in Is
round battle at Braves Field on
Tuesday night, and by the same
token, Sal Bartolo is ready to rip
the crown from the head of Pep IN
Boston's battle OF the century.
The champion and the challenger
methodically went through their
final heavy workouts yesterday,
while the clamor about the officials
who are to be assigned to judge the
bout continued undated. Schlro,
manager of Bartolo, publicly object
ed last week to Johnny Martin and
Jimmy McCarron, who had voted
against Bartolo by one and two
points respectively in their April
classic at the Garden. Lou ViscuSl'
manager OF Pep, countered the 1ol-
lowing day with an objection TO
Jack Watson, who voted against
Pep in their previous bout, and tc
Tommy RaWson, who was born and
brought by with Bartoldi in East
Boston.
Today the name of the veteran,
Jimmy Walsh was injected into the
picture as a possible compromise
refereee. Walsh won the bantam
weight championship of the Worlo
back in 1905 when he defeated
Digger Stanley OF England, and IN
a career Of dozen years, he fought
Abe Attell, Johnny Kilbane, Pal
Moore, Young Britt, Al belmont,
ard every outstanding little man OF
his time. He was Boston's greatest
referee during the golden years OF
the sport. He is head salesman II
the Boston district for Blackstone
cigars. and a man of the highest
character. And, what is more to
the point, he is available.
He's Willing
1--WE heard my name mentioned"
he admitted last night, land I'd be
willing to accept the assignment
simply because my old friend Eddie
Mack is running the show II
can help him, and at the same time
take the Boxing Commission out o.
an embarrassing position, I'd b.
glad to do SO. And if the Commits
sion has other plans. there's nc
harm done and no feeling hurt"
1t is known that both the Pep
and Bartolo forces would accept
Walsh as a referee, and it is con-
sidered quite probable that he Will
be the third man in the ring when
the champion and the challenger
square away at $3.50 on Tuesday
night.
The advance sale passed the $50.
600 mark yesterday and Dotq
O.Brien and Mack still insist thai
IL nm fnr Hi