Evening star., 1949-07-12
Robinson Eyes Middle Title After Beating Gavi|an
Would Give Up Weller
Crown for Crack at
La Motta, Ray Says
BY the Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA, July 12.-Ray
Robinson still is king of the well
terweights, but he would readily
give up the crown for shot at
Jake La Motta's middleweight
title.
If there ever was any doubt that
Sugar Ray is the best of the well
ters, he erased that impression
last night with clean-cut, unani-
nous victory over Kid Gavilan
of Cuba.
Robinson had no more than
reached his crowded dressing
room than he announced he was
perfectly willing to continue fight
ing in the 147-pound division.
But would gladly give up my
title for a chance at the middle
weight championship. I want to
fight La Motta again." he said.
He whipped La Motta four out
of five times before Jake won the
160-pound title.
Making the weight this time
was not too tough a task. I felt
that I was in the best condition
of my life and paced myself well
over the Is rounds. But it is easy
for me to put on weight and I feel
the middleweight title should be
my next objective.
Robinson weighed exactly 147
for last nights bout while Gavi-
Ian tipped the scales at 1441a.
No Protest on Decision.
Even Gavilan's stunchiest sup
porters (and there were many
in the crowd of 27,805 at Mu-
nicipal Stadium couldn't find
any fault with the decision. Some
of them and the kid himself did
take exception, however, to the
wide margin of victory.
Judge Harry Lasky and Ref
cree Charley Daggert each gave
the champion rounds and Gava-
lin 6. Judge Frank Knaresbor-
ough scored the fight IL for Rob-
inson and for the challenger.
Il do not understand how the
officials gave so many rounds to
Robinson" said the Cuban as he
stretched out on his dressing
room table. Il thought won 8
rounds"
The fight drew a gross gate of
SITS, considerable more than
the promoters eXpectations-with
Robinson collecting 40 per cent
and Gavilan 1872 of a net of
$128,435.
Angel Lopez, co-manager of the
Cuban, pretty much told the story
of the fight when he said:
Robinson was master fighter"
The Harlem flash, with only the
defeat by La Motta to mar
string of SO fights since turning
pro in 1910. punched sharply and
met Gavilan's two-fsted rushing
tactics with a beautiful defense.
The first five rounds were pretty
much give and take. But in the
sixth Robinson started moving
away. 1t looked as if he would
finish the, fight in the eighth
when. after taking a mild pound
ing on the ropes, he caught the
Kid with a sharp left to the
mouth. He followed up the blow
with a right and another left.
And Galivan was in trouble.
Galivan Rallies Briefly.
Gavilan rallied briefly in the
ninth. but the champion took
complete command again in the
10th, punching with deadly &C
curacy and catching many of
Gavilan's swings on his gloves.
Robinson showed his contempt
of Gavilan's punches in the 18th
when die leaned on the ropes and
rolled with blow after blow swung
by the Cuban.
He Stung me a few times in
the early rounds, but I knew by
then he couldn't hurt me, so I
decided to have some fun" Robin
son said in his dressing room.
AL WE'LL, matchmaker for the
New York International Boxing
Club, offered Sugar Rays man
ager, George Gainsford, a choice
of either a title fight with Charlie
Fusari, Irvington, N. j., or a non
title bout with Middleweight Chal-
lenger Steve Belloise of New York.