The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-03-06
RAY OUTB0xES
HEAVIER FOE
To WIN FIGHT.
Harlem Boxer FlOOred
In Seventh For The
Count OF Eight
BY RUSS J. COwANs


Jacob LaMo;ta. a relentless and
seemingly tireiess m:ddieReighi7
smashed the perfect boxing records
ef Ray Sugar Rob nSon, James
Edgar and Chaney Hayes n the
rInz al Olympia.
Jake, = rugged type Of scrapper
gained his victories over tn shtee
fighters by driving them into nc
ropes an then ,ssh.ng tier bod as
and faces with haTd leather He
dropped Robinson for 4 count OF
nAie IN their second bout after he
had driven Ray INTO the ropes and
then connected with a left hook 10
The stomach.
He Knew Better
Ray later SAID that he should
have known better than 10 get
caught against the ropes by La
Mot;s. Il know I'm spoulng Jake
Is pounds or so, SAID Ray, and
know tina, | can't let him wrestle
m, because ne could tire me. Also,
! know that the best way 10 pre-
-eeHiA4n fEom-gculng- Close Is not
10 let him corner me or back nc
into the ropes He'll have tough
time tagging me out there IN The
open"
Robinson followed this procedure
In ms bout las; Friday night wlit
LsMotis, and as a result OF apply
ing the plan he had chsrted before
the battle, ne was awarded the
unanimous decision over LsMotis.
wIplng out the sting OF the one De-
feat in his boxing career.
Ray made one mistaken the
seventh round-when he failed to
move fast enough 10 evade a hard
left that landed high on his face.
He was felled by the blow for a
count OF nine. but regained his
po.se and was outboxing Jake As
the bell rang.
Master OF Situation
From the opening bell to the ANAL
round Ray was always master OF
the situation as he kept jaboing
lsMotta with q left. and then LASH
ing his body with uppercuS as the
sturdy Bronx middlewe4ght rushed
forward in an effort TO drive Ray
into the ropes. Robinson then tied
him in knots in tie clinches 10
avoid body punishment.
Robinson's big round was the
fourth when he stabbed Jake with
q hard uppercut that spun LaMotta
around and left him target Tor
furry OF lefis and rights as ne
reeled into the ropes in a grogsy
manner. The crowd OF 1919 that
had paid $50. 1850 10 see the battle,
iesped up with q roar, but TIE big
climax which they were expe@lns
did not happen. LsMotts eYsded
the knockout punch and Neame
through with only cash ovet his
left eye. ..
Referee Sam Hennessey and
Judge Frank Fisher gave Robinson
ak rounds, two 10 LsMotts and
called two even. Joe Lenehan, the
other Judge, gave Robinson eight
LaMotta one and called one even.
Prolonged Boos
There was desienlng and pro-
ionzed booing after tie decision,
but this was attributed 10 those
who had wagered on LaMotta who
scaled 1901 10 Robinsons l45. II
was their contention that Jake
should have been awarded the ver-
dict because OF the knockdown in
the seventh round. and that he was
the aggressor in every round.
However. these LaMo,is support
ers ignored the fact ;kat while
LaMotta was the a2gressor IN the
fzht, ne was also on the receiving
enc OF some hard blows. in addi-
ton, Jake cid not land more than
seven solid blows on the elusive
Robinson who MADE the Bronx
middlewe. sht look IKE a novice.
In the first bout in Olympia De-
tween the two hgnters, Robinson
iran, out Of gas after the seventh
round, and ne took severe skel-
lacking in the ninth and tenth This
tine Robinson Mas n-iop Condition
and the knockdown IN the seventh
old not slow nm up.
Dan Merritt. Cleveland heavy
EIGHT. oefes-ed Gilbert S;fom-
ouist, New YORK. IN SIX rounds.
Sromqulst weighed 25l pounds ana
lowered s feet 8 inches. Merritt
had him down for coun. Of n.ne
In the fourth round.
Gus Levine. New York feather
weight and stsolems,e OF ROBIN
son, decisioned EDDIE Scott, Ann
Aroor, in four rounds, Charley
Hayes, Ferndsle mido!ewe sht, won
sx-round decision over FRANKIE
Best, New York.
Walter Thomas, New York Ign,
heavyweight, defeated warren
Jones, New York. IN SIX rounds
and Pete Mead. Grand Rap.5s, md
dleweight, won from Johnny Ryan
of Detroit in six rounds.