The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-06-15
KNOCKOUT MAY
Be RECORDED
IN SUGGEST

Two Of boxing's most effective
punchers, Henry Armstrong. Of Los
Angeles, and AL Davis, Of Brooklyn.
pit their hitting skill against each
other tonight at Madison Square
Garden. Most boxing men believe
the contest, scheduled for ten
rounds, will end short Of the dis
lance.
Armstrong and Davis boast linz
Eeach has kayo percentage Of
close to the 900 mark. Each repre-
sents different school Of punching,
Davis is the exponent Of the left
hook. He is a 'one punch knocker-
outer" The Armstrong method Is
based on the accumulative effect OF
many punches.
1t is interesting to note, in look
ing over Armstrong; long ring rec
ord. that he has never met q Davis
type left hooker. He has, of course,
met dozens of great punchers. But
all of them have been right-hand
specialists such as Ceferino Garcia
and Lew Jenkins.
Many Of his opponents have, to Be
sure, used the left hook but none
with the devastating power Of q
Davis. The Brooklyn lad is regarded
as the best left hook artist Of recent
years and he has achieved PRACTICAL
ly all his knockout triumphs with
this punch.
That's why Armstrong considers
tonight's fight one Of the most dam
gerous Of his career. Henry has
never been counted out and doesn't
expect to be tonight. But he. has q
healthy respect for Davis, knows all
about the smashing Davis victory
over Bob Montgomery in SO seconds
OF the first round in the same Car
den ring only few months ago.
Early Starter
He also knows that Davis Is at
his best in the early stages Of
contest. that most of his kayo VIC
tories have come within the first
few rounds. Henry himself Is what
Is known in sports as a slow
starter" It usually takes him sew
eral rounds to get warmed ups
even though he always engages in
Is to 80 minutes of shadow-boxing
In his dressing-room before a fight.
Armstrong and Davis are Gomez
back-fighters. Henry quit the ring
few years ago after losing the well
terweight title, last of the three
championships he held. But the re-
tirement didn't stick. He returned to
ring warfare in June, 1912, and
since then has taken part In So,
bouts, scoring 81 knockout victories,
winning 13 decisions, losing five de-!
cisions.
Davis came back to the ring after
receiving medical discharge from
the Army. He has had Is matches
since then, registering 16 kayo
triumphs. He has won two decisions,
has boxed two draws, has lost five
decisions.
Davis will have a slight weight
advantage over Armstrong tonight.
Brownsville Al expects to weigh in
at about 142, close to the mark he
has hit for most Of his recent fights.
Armstrong may scale Just under l4O.
Indications are that receipts VIII
go well beyond $4,000 with the at
tendance likely to reach 1900. The
advance sale has been heavy.
WILDLY VS.. ROache
Matchmaker Nat Rogers has sign
ed Ham WILDLY, Jamaica, L. T.,
featherweight, and whistling Willie
Roache, Wilmington, Del, for the
siX-round semi-final. WILDLY is un-
defeated in six Garden appearances
and is rated one of the best 1876
Founders in the country. Roache
has made several stirring fights in
the Garden ring.
Freddie Dawson, crack Chicago
lightweight, is down for six
rounder against Rudolph Dusty
Brown, Of Philadelphia. Dawson
comes here with an excellent repu-
tation, having compiled a splendid
record in rings throughout the
country.
In other six-rounders Rudy Rich
ardson, Harlem weller weig ht,
tangles with Ray Rovelli, West New
York, N. j.: and George Torpedo
Reed, of Los Angeles, opposes Tom-
my Collins, waterbury, Conn.
The curtain-raiser Of four rounds
brings together George Cooper, Har-
lem featherweight, and Pete Virgin,
Garfield, N. j.