The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-05-22
Bostonians Believe
Bartolo Has Even
Chance For Crown

Boston, May % - Back In the
gaudy 1905 a great Shouldered,
walrus-mustached man known as
1.-THE Boston Strong Boy used to
walk into saloons, bang his first on
the bar and announce, II can lick
any man in the world" His name
was John L. Sullivan and he was
the first worlds champion to hail
from Boston.
There wasn't another Boston
champion until IS years ago, when
Honey Melody, from the Charles
town section, won the welterweight
title from Joe Walcott. There has
MT been another since, although
hospitable Boston town claimed
former heavyweight champion Jack
Sharkey for its own. Sharkey, now
the boniface of popular local
tavern, actually came from Bing-
hamton, N. Y.
Boston may have another worlds
champion late in the evening of
June when the worlds feather
weight championship match be-
tween Willie Pep, present title
holder, and Sal Bartolo comes to an
end at Braves Field. Bartolo, the
challenger, was born and raised in
East Boston. Although Sal was
brought up playing rough and ready
games on the brawling streets across
the river, he is personable, quiet
hammered, curly-haired boy, very
different indeed from the clustering
Bostonian who held the heavy
weight title in another century.
Fight experts give Bartolo at
least an even chance to win. If he
does, he will be featherweight
champion of all sections except that
narrow strip of New York known as
Jacobs Alley, which Is bounded on
the west and south by Madison
Square Garden and on the east and
north by Lindys Restaurant. The
denizens of this swat street say they
will not recognize Bartolo as cham
plon If he wins. They are perturbed
because Boston's ebullient and re-
sourceful Eddie Mack stole the
match right from under the nose
Of their patron, Uncle Mike, for
whom the alley Is named.
Loud Laugh
The fact that the habitues of this
narrow thoroughfare have made
such pronunciamento seems to
have afforded the boxing world the
biggest laugh 1t has had since Bat
Ting Sikh was throwing right hooks
at New Yorks Finest and Phaint-
ing Phil Scott was rolling in the
resin of our better rings.
The Massachusetts Boxing Com
mission, composed of Lieutenant
Colonel Samuel o. Smith and G.
Desmond Wadsworth, has an
nounced that 1t will recognize the
winner as champion. That makes it
official since the bout will be held
in Massachusetts,.
Whether or not delegation from
Jacobs Alley comes up for the
Braves Field bout, Promoters
O'Brien and Mack are predicting
that the fight will break the at
tendance and gross gate receipts
record for this city. The present
mark was set in the match between
AOlIi 11CCllCy dllu OAIIl MdAOIlcy, WHO
drew $4,000 back in 1929. That
fight was also promoted by Eddie
(Old Sarge Mack. O'Brien and
Mack claim they will gross no less
than 100000 on the night Of June
%.
That is rosy prediction, but
there is logic behind such optimism.
Pep and. Bartolo are the two out
standing featherweights of the
world. Pep has broken every record
In teh featherweight division for in
door gate receipts at Madison
Square Garden. The pair drew $780,
300 in their first match at Boston
Garden. That was a 10-round affair,
indoors. The June battle Is a IS
round affair, outdoors.
And every man and woman IN
this section who loves to hear the
slap Of leather on bone and muscle
will be out In the hope that, after
IS long years, Boston will have
new words champion.