The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-09-28
Zole Stops Groziono To KeepTitIe

New York, Sept. 28-CUP)-Under the dazzling ring lights in frenzied Yankee Stadium, new superhero of the roaring 1940's was reborn last night-Tony Zale. middleweight champion of the world.
 The name Zale can now be men, toned in the same breath with past great middleweights: Stanley Ket- chel, Mickey Walker, or Harry Greb. Zale earned such mention by last nights electrifying knockout of young Thomas (Rocky) Graziano at :43 of the sixth round.
 The mouSe-haired champion from Gary, Ind, became an immortal last night before 39,827 fans by triumph ing over a series of handicaps, in- cluding one semingly hopeless trip to the canvass. Also an injured right hand.
 Fight See-sawed
 The artery bursting brawl attract ed the biggest gate in the history of middleweight competition, $342,- 497; and every fan got his or her moneys worth.
 In this terrific brawl, Zale hit the canvas once and Graziano was deck ed twice And the fight was see- saw throughout.
 Zale climbed through the ropes 6 13-5 underdog in the betting. He had been out of serious competition for four years and seven months. He was 32 years old, and not expected to improve. Graziano was M and riding a string of seven straight victories, including six knockouts. He was the rings new golden boy" who had drawn $684, ,659 into Madi- son Square Garden for those seven | bouts.
 In this see-saw battle, challenger Rocky was on the floor in the first round; Champion Zale ate resin dust in the second; and Rocky was on the canvas for keeps in the sixth. Meanwhile both principals had been blazing away with all guns; and Champion zale had taken the worst beating-a beating that seemed hopeless.
 Rock Recovers Quickly
 Zale, with his terrific right-hand- ed shots to the kidney, and his fol- lowing combinatio blows to the head, indicated that he would tag Graziano with his grst knockout in the first round. With left hook, he hoored Rocky for a count of four. Rocky came back at the end of this round and had Zale groggy.
 The script changed for the sec- ond round. After Rocky had batter ed the champion about the ring, he floored Tony with long, straight right. The referee counted 1.-two" as the bell rang ending the round.
 Rocky had an edge on the third round after hitting his swaying, staggering opponent with every thing except the American Flag. But zale, the beautifully -proportio blond Pole came back near the end of the round to stagger Rocky.
 zale had begun to bleed from 8 cut upper lip in the second round {; GraAano was bleeding from his nose in the third.
 Fourth, Fifth Reversed
 Zale took the fourth round, stag, gering Graziano three times witk his combinations of body and head punches. Graziano took the fifth giving Zale a terrific beating. Zale was staggered from side to side as if about to bow out.
 Rocky continued to press the at tack in the sixth round. They ex- changed furious1y and Rocky forced Zale into a neutral corner. Zale barged out, forcing Rocky across the ring. He drove Rocky toward the ropes. Then he sank right into Rocky's belly; and as Graziano was paralyzed forward, he exploded two left hooks on Rocky's chin.
 Rocky was dumped to the can- vas in a squatting position, with one hand on the lower ring strand. AS Referee Ruby Goldstein count ed him out, he reached for a high CT rope. He regained his feet almost simultaneously with the count of "10"; but he was 'out." He tried to charge Zale, and it seemed that there might be free-for-all; but the police quickly calmed everyone. Graziano made no later protest.
 zale, who out-weighed Graziano 160 to 154 pounds, was scheduled to leave for Gary, Ind, today to have his right hand reset. He said he injured it in the second round.