The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-16
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By JACK CUDDY United Press Staff COrTespOndent)

By JACK CUDDY
 United Press Staff Correspondent
 New York, Feb. 16 - (U.P) - Boxing is booming like a Broadway beanery. Not much meat, but jam ming 'em in.
 Madison Square Garden has scheduled more than half-million dollars worth of shows between now and April l. The supposedly dead fight city of Chicago provided a $94,- 130 gate for Wednesday nights Ray Robinson-G George Costner quickie.
 Abe J. Greene, president of the National Boxing Association, reports enthusiastic activity and prosper ity," throughout his territory. Phila- delphia probably will announce a lightweight title match today Scrappers of amateur or preliminary ability are fighting main events and buying sharp" suits for themselves and "jools' for their dolls-buying automobiles and homes.
 Managers Strut
 Even the loWliest handlers and Washed-up human punching bags (Spar mates) have folding money in their neatly pressed trousers. Name guys can walk into the gymnasiums without being touched for a deuce or fin. Managers strut about Ja- cobs' Beach nattily tailored, fresh- ly barbered and armed with pock- cts of stogies-on the outside, even Peddlers of fiashy neckties and Super-collared shirts do well with the fight mob around the Forrest Hotel lobby and bar If they ask nigh enough prices for their fancies There's plenty of cabbage in the caulifiower patch today.
 Refecting the boom, we find Mike Jacobs tanning shows into the Garden whenever he can grab a date. Two of them are "bunched" for tonight and Monday night. After that, every Friday - even Good Friday" is filled until the circus takes over the punch empor- ium on April l.
 More than l2.00O fans and a gate exceeding $40,OOO are expected to- night for 10-round bout between two little-known lightweights Danny Bartfield of New York and Humberto Zavala of Mexico City. Bartfield's chief claim to fame is that he Is a nephew of the grand old middleweight Soldier Fairfield. Zavala Is a busy "club-hghter," who has six children although only 24 years old. He started fighting early, being married at 13. Bartfleld is favored at 13-5.
 Pep } To
 Monday nights show brings to- gether Willie Pep of Hartford. Conn. and Phil Terranova of New York for a 15-round featherweight title brawl. Pep is recognized as cham pion in New York and affiliated states. Their meeting is expected to attract a crowd of 16,O00 and a gate of $70,O0O. Pep is a 3-l favorite, although his recent Showings against Cabey Lewis and Willie Roache indicated that Willie has lost much of his pep. Terranova, who once held the and lost the N. B. A. feather crown. is a much im- proved fighter and may score an up- set.
 The rest of the Gardens schedule includes: February 25-Ray Robin son vs Jake Lamotta; March 2 - like Williams vs Willie Joyce; March 9-Billy Arnold vs Rocky Graziano; March 16-Corporal Melio Bettina vs Jimmy Bivins: March 23-Lee Oma vs Tami Mau- riellO: March 3O-Bobby Ruf1in vs Chalky Wright.
 Gates for the Robinson and Oma-Mauriello bouts are ex- pected to approach $IOO.OOO each, and the others should average around &60.000. This Is mighty fine music on the cash register. despite the fact that the talent of some Of the musicians is questionable.