The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-05-25
Leonard Holds Key To Senators Pernant Bid?
.SEV0LD, BAKSI. RETURN BATTLE
 REOPENS GARDEN
(nneclal to The Denlocrat)

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 New York, May 25 = Last March 10 Lee Savold, Paterson, N. J., heavyweight, and Joe Baksi. Kulp- mont, Pa, turned in one of the most exciting matches of the season at Madison Square Garden, Savold an- nexing a close decision.
 Tomorrow these same two heavy weights clash again. Their re-match marks the return of boxing to the Garden after an absence of eight weeks, during which time the Gar den has been occupied by Q circus. The March meeting between Savold and Baksi was Q ten-round affair Tonight's bout Is scheduled for twelve.
 savold's triumph in the first clash came as Q surprise to most boxing experts. Baksi was Q strong favorite before the fight as he had just de. cisively beaten Tami Mauriello Sa- void had twice been outpointed by Mauriello.
 But against Baksi, Savold exhibit ed the best form of his career, punched sharply, boxed cleverly, finished strong to win the verdict. The victory was Savold's first in five main event trie at the Garden.
 Close Tussle
 At that 1t was a narrow squeeze for him since one of the officials cast his vote for Baksi. In the total round score of the referee and two judges. Savold earned IS rounds, Baksi IA, and one was even. It was as close as that.
 But having overcome his Garden jinx, Savold is confident he can re- peat over the younger and aggres- sive Baksi. Just as he was for the first fight, Savol dis in excellent physical condition.
 Baksi himself is in better shape for the bout than he was for the March encounter. He spent three weeks at Bey's Camp in Sum- init, N. J., and boxed total of 59 rounds in the gym, twice as many as he had ever boxed before in preparation for a fight.
 He realizes he made a mistake in training for the Savold fight last March, apparently feeling at the time that the flattering stories written about him after he had beaten Mauriello would suffice to carry him past Savold. He was wrong.
 Baksis head was too big for his hat when he entered the ring against Savold. The bumps placed on Joe's noggin by Savold both ag- gravated and remedied the situation for when these bumps disappeared Baksi's hat-size was back to nor- nal.
 And so now, in the return match with Savold, Baksi is out to prove that his victory over Mauriello was no fluke. that he really is the best heavyweight in action today. So diligently has he trained and so impressive has he been in gymna- stum sparring sessions that Whitey BimStein, his trainer, expects him to register a knockout triumph.
 Baksi planned to weigh about 206 at today's weighing -in session, well under the 210 1-2 he scaled for the first Savold bout. Savold, who hit 198 for the March clash, expected to weigh about the same today.
 Matchmaker Nat Rogers has ar- ranged a supporting program of four stx-round events and an open- ing four to back up the Savold- BakSi twelve-rounder.
 Big Boys
 Tn the semi-final six Freddie Schott, of Akron, Ohio, tanRles with Walter Hafer, Dayton, Ohio. These two lads are rated among the most promising heavyweights In the country. Schott. a Stablemate of Savold and managed by Bill Daly, is unbeaten in IS starts as a profess sional, most of his victories com- ing by knockouts. He has registered two kayoes in previous Garden starts. Hafer is making his first Garden appearance.
 Other six-round events bring to- gether Wallace Cross. Newark heavyweight. and Irish Johnny Flyn. Rochester, N. r.: Jimmmy El- lott, Baltimore middleweight and Johnny Carter, Philadelphia; Jim my Gardner, Philadelphia light heavyweight, and Johnny White, Jersey City. Matched in the four round curtain-raiser are Tommy Pope, Harlem light-heavyweight. and Bennetto Payne. Windsor Can