The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-02-24
BAKSI FACE TO
FACE WITH BIG
OPPORTUNITY

new YORK, req. "a - All set 1or
his major league debut, Joe Baksi,
Kulpmont. Pa, heavyweight, OPP
poses Tami Mauriello, of the Bronx.
in scheduled ten-round bout at
Madison Square Garden tonight
More than three years Of hard
campaigning in various arenas
throughout the Eas. have establish
ed Baksi as one of the country's
foremost heavyweights. Boxing
men praise him highly. But the big
test comes this evening when Baksi
steps into the ring against an op-
ponent generally considered one
two among the heavyweights now
active.
Baksi is not a stranger to Garden
fans. Early in his career he whip
ped Frank Poreda in the Garden
ring and drew with Al Hart. Some
months ago he took on the then
highly -touted Jimmy Carollo and
he handed Carollo a thrashing.
The tough heavyweight from the
Pennsylvania coal mines has also
performed in highly creditable fash
ion in other rings. He has engaged
in 43 contests since he had his first
contest as a professional in June,
1940 He has lost only two, one in
his first year OF boxing, one to Gus
Dorazio, Philadelphia heavyweight
over whom he also boasts vic
tory.
Hard Hitter
Baksi has also beaten many other
second string heavyweights, among
them Buddy Walker, Herb Marshall,
Lou Brooks, Johnny Shkor, Dan
Merritt. More than a third of his
victories seen knockouts, atteSting
to his punching ability.
He possesses many other attri-
butes of a good heavyweight. AL
though he weighs about 210 pounds
and stands six feet, one inch, he is
fairly fast. He is rough and rugged,
takes punch well. He has an ag-
gressive style that makes for ex-
citing fights. He has plenty of STAN
nina, world of courage. He is %
years old. He Is ambitious and
he Is confident he can take the
measure of the favored Mauriello.
Indeed he has ben asking for a
Mauriello match for more than a
year but his handlers insisted on
waiting until they were sure he was
ready. Now they are sure.
A surprisingly large number of
So-called ring experts predict this
comparative newcomer to top-rank
heavyweightS will best the seasoned
Mauriello. They base their predic-
ton on the fact that Mauriello,
while apparently in good shape, has
not trained with all the vigor and
enthusiasm that marked the early
days of his career.
They think that Tami may be
inclined to underrate the prowess
of BakSi, that he may become a vic
time of his own over-conf1dence
They point out too that Tami did
not look his best even in winning
over Lee Savold at the Garden last
November, that he did not look as
impressive as he might in defeating
Mike Alfano in st. Louis and Bud
dy Knox in Providence during the
past few months.
It may be that these experts are
wrong, that Mauriello really does
have considerable respect for Joe
BakSi. These two heavyweights were
scheduled to meet in December and
again in January but Tami begged
of each time on the ground that
he needed more time to get into
condition for Baksi. According to
AL Silvani, his trainer, Mauriello is
now in condition and was expected
to weigh in at noon today at about
1876 pounds.
Matchmaker Nat Rogers has ar
ranged a supporting program con-
sisting of three six-round events
and an opening four. Another pair
of heavyweights come together in
one of the sixers They are Lee
Owa. hard-hitting lad from Detroit,
and Wallace Cross, of East Orange,
N. j. Oma has compiled a long list
of kayo victories in the past several
months.
Joe Carter, Home, N. Y, middle
weight, has Joe Reddick, of Pater-
son, N. j., as his opponent in a Sec
ond six. These two are rated among
the leading middleweights in the
country. In a third six, Freddie
Schott, also of Paterson, takes on
Ernest Williams, of Newark. Schott
is regarded as a highly promising
heavyweight youngsters, but he
faces rough test in Williams.
Saverio Turiello, Italy. and Car
men Notch, Pittsburgh, clash in the
final six They are welterweights.
The four-rounder opener has john
ny Guarino. Brooklyn weller, fac
ing Murray Abrams, East Side.
Tickets for tonight's show are
priced at $1.15 general admission;
$3.50, $3.50, $3.50. $5.75, and SITS
for reserved seats.