The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-08-04

- AN@'' ~3ehASAAAeS DOHiAASy III AVSO.
Abe j. Greene, president of
generally is the scene of the big
Square Garden is the mecca of
boxing never will have a uniform
front unless New York relents
and becomes a member of MIA.
If New York were a member,
the recent return middleweight
championship fight between
Rocky Graziano and Tony Zale
might not have been held. But
held it was and the outcome,
did more to scramble the UNI
healthy situation in boxing.
Chicago Gets Bout
Graziano last January had his
license revoked by the New York
State Athletic Commission for
failure to report 100000 bride
offer to throw fight which was
never fought. But the MIA fail
ed to recognize the revocation
and the bout went to Chicago
where it drew $4l5,l26, an all
time indoor fight record.
Greene says the bout would
have drawn $l,0OO,GOO in New
York.
New York's commission refuses
to take stand on the result OF
the Graziano-Zale battle until
such time as some situation is
brought before it necessitating q
decision on the title changing
hands. This can be brought about
only after Graziano seeks to have
his license renewed by appearing
before the commission and some
one comes along willing to pro-
mote third meeting.
Nothing New In Boxing
This sort of thing is nothing
new in fiStiana. In the last six
years, there have been five other
disputed championships. The
MIA once recognized Sammy
Angott as lightweight champ
ion while New York said Lew
Jenkins was the titleholder.
Angott announced his retire
ment in November, 1912, leaving
both the MIA and New York
without a champion in the 1856
pound ranks. Greene and Mike
Jacobs, the country's No. fight
promoter with headquarters in
New York. spoke on plans to get
a new champion. The MIA sub
mitted list to Gen. John Phclan,
New York State Athletic Com
missioner at the time.
Everyone agreed on a tourna-
ment that was to produce a new
lightweight champion. A week
later New York decided to de-
clare the winner of a Beau Jack
Tippy Larkin bout the champion.
Jack won by d knockout in the
third round. Meanwhile Angott
returned to the ring and beat
Slugger White to regain his title
in the eyes of the MIA.
Took Turns at Title
Jack and Angott took turns
losing the title but never to each
other. They once boxed a draw
when neither held the crown. An
gott lost his crown for the last
time to Juan Zurita in Mexico in
1945. Ike Williams of Trenton
beat Zurita to become MIA
champ. In 1914 Bob Montgomery
beat Jack in their third title
bout and has been New York's
champion since.
The lightweight question will
be settled in Philadelphia when
Williams faces Montgomery to-
night.
Among the other recent dual
champions were middleWeightS
Yale. MIA, and George Abrams,
New York: lightheavyweights
Gus Lesnevich, MIA, and Tami
Mauriello. New York; feather
weights Sal Bartolo, MIA, and
Willie Pep, New York, and ban
tamweights Manuel Ortiz, MIA.
and Lou Salica. New York
Greene points out that since
he has been MIA president four
of the five MIA champions have
beaten the fighters regarded as
titlehOlderS. The only case when
an MIA champ lost to New York
was when RartolO sustained =
Garden knockout at the hands of
Pen. The MIA. of course. &C
.cented Pep as chamrion.
"A fighter must win his title
in the ring" contends Greene.
''Trn MA is ALWAYS willing to
90 into New York with its cham
nio~ even if New York's man
won't come to another state. This
is not healthy condition for
boxing.
Sees Inconsistency
New York mas been very in
consistent in its Rulings. When
Marty Servo of Schenectady. n.