The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-02-18
(Reg. U. s. Patent Offlce)
Nv Jack CTDDY

UNITED Press star CoFrespondent)
New York, Feb. Io--(UP)--Nat
Rogers, the ''Fall Guy for Mike
Jacobs, was IN his glory last night.
Lake an elated lad on q surf board,
he rode the waves Of praise and
back-slapping from the treacherous
night mob, convened at full strength
for the annual boxing writer's din
ner.
Rogers, q middle-sized, bespec-
tacled chap with timing black hair,
was the ilndercover toast Of the
beak-busting fraternity which had
gathered to pay tribute to Corp
Barney Ross.
Even the boxing writer's greeted
Rogers with unprecedented respect.
And the managers, who had 'talent9'
TO sell, clapped him on the should.
ers and went all out with saluta-
tons like this: "H'ya Natl How's
da Misses2 How's do family?"
Along 40th Street - 0ladiators'
gulch--the "AGisses" and the "fain-
ily" usually are so far In the back
ground that the nondescript in~
hahitants rarely know whether one
has wife or kids. Only when one
apparently rises far above the
pugilistic pack is enough attention
paid to determine II one has q "ball
and chain" and Glitter" Inquiries
about the welfare Of the aforesaid
are proof positive that the person
backslapped has attained q status
Of Importance.
Well Done
Rogers, matchmaker for Mike
Jacobs 20th Century Club, defln.
itely has risen to that stratum. He
Is recognized as being '"'lip there"
for three major reason: ~ All
Of the Garden shows during the
current iadood season have drawn
good money, (2) He matched sgt.
Jackie Wilson and Ray Robinson for
tomorrow night when most Of the
experts hooted at the very idea,
and 90 yesterday he closed q SEEM
ingly impossible match that pits
Former Lightweight Champion
Sammy Angott against Feather.
weight Champion Willie Pep on
March 10.
Rogers has succeeded as "fall guy'
or matchmaker for Jacobs after two
far more experienced men lost out
Veteran Tom McCardle and that
great student Of styles, AL Well.
The current appreciation Of Rog-
efs' matchmaking ability Is amaz-
ing, indeed, because It is the policy
Of the Goth Century Club to credit
Mike Jacobs when q match pleases
the fans and draws q big gate, and
to blame the matchmaker when the
bout smells" or fails to attract the
customers. Moreover, the match
maker is responsible for the entire
preliminary card at each show. He
must bring together lads Of nearly
equal ability from the far corners
Of the country, or be blamed for
the boos.
Promising
Tomorrow nights lO-round well
terweight contenders' battle between
Sgt. Jackie wilson ana Ray Robin
son shapes up now as one Of the
most promising lights Of the year.
But when Rogers closed the match,
Wilson had made q poor showing
against Middleweight Jake La Mot.
to, whom Robinson already had
beaten impressively. But Rogers
knew that Wilson was q much better
fighter than he appeared to be
against La Motta, who hwas allowed
to come In with l6-pound advan-
tage. He knew that Robinson pre-
viously had forced La Motta to make
weight.
Accordingly, when La Motta en-
joyed somewhat similar 16,pound
weight advantage and licked Robin
son at Detroit on Feb. s, Rogers
matchmaking for tomorrow night
approached pure genius.