Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-08-11
Gan1eUnderFire
As He Triumphs
Over Lesnevich
Els Youth and Speed
Tell as Gus Quits
After 9TH Round
By Jack Hand
Associated Pres. Sport. Writer

| AsSoetofeo Ffess Spons WrHef
NEW YORK. Aug. 11.-Ezzare
Charles has sold himself to New
York as the best of poor lot Of
heavyweights.
The lean Cincinnati Negro still
lacks New York State recognition
as world heavyweight champion
but he rules the other At States
Most of the 16,630 sweltering fan.
who saw him make Gus Lesnevicf
surrender at the end of sever
rounds last night at Yankee Sta.
dunn seemed willing to accept him
The next move is up to Eddie
Eagan. chairman of the State Ath-
letic Commission
Maybe it's best to hold off until
28-year odd Charles meets the
| winner of the oft-postponed anc
still vague Bruce Woodcock-Lee
Savold title" fight in London
That's what Eagan plans to do
But for all practical purposes
Charles is the champ.
The doubling Thomases who
still hold out are looking for an
other Joe Louis. Brother. there
just amt another Joe Louis
around. You might as well get
used to Ezzy, for he may be with
you for a long. long time.
Charles Can Take Punch.
It is hard to criticize Charles
for his performance in stopping
Lesnevich. Certainly, he was hit
and hurt when durable Gus made
his one last stand in the sixth
round, but he fought back garnely
under fire. At the end Of the next
round. Gus manager. Joe Vella
asked Referee Ruby Goldstein to
stop it.
This Charles is a pretty fair
fighter who has youth and speed
on his side. He takes a pretty
good punch. He did last night
when Gus clipped him on the
chops with the same right hand
that hattened many others.
Charles is no "tiger." but he
moves we'll, Snapshots for open
ings and is capable OF Furnishing
an opponent. The knockout punch
seems to be lacking. That's his
major shortcoming.
The International Boxing Club,
promoting its first New York fight
since buying out Mike Jacobs.
must thave dropped bundle on
the show which crossed only $75,-
1872, plus $17,500 for radio rights.
Each fighter gets Is per cent af-
ter taxes are deducted.
What they lost on the show,
they figure to gain on their in
vestment in Charles. The NBA-
recognized champ may do better
at the gate next time.
Next Fight In October.
Tentative plans call for Charles
to box in either Chicago or De-
troit in October with no opponent
yet named. The next major bout
will be with the Savold- Woodcoek
winner. but it probably won't
come off until next summer out
doors.
Lesnevich shot his bolt in one
fiurry-the sixth. Before and af-
ter he was beaten man. In fact.
he took such a slashing around
the eyes that it may well have
been his last fight.
Gus wife. dabbing away tears
as she stood outside his dressing
room. said this was his last start
Lesnevich said he would make an
announcement "in a few days"
The fight went Just as it figured,
with young Charles absorbing
early punishment. but opening the
old scar tissue around Gus eyes.
| Apparently Charles was deter
mined to make a good showing in
New York. He met Lesnevich's
first round rush with sustained
attack that made Gus knees
buckle. 1t was the same story in
the next three rounds until the
fifth when Gus landed stiff right
hand.
Gus Spurts in Sixth.
Good old Gus. the 34-year-old
former ELECTROMAGNETIC king
from Cliffside Park. N. j.. put or
his only squirt In the sixth. Rush.
ing from his corner. despite egg.
sized Jumps under both eyes anc
cuts around the left eye, Lesne-
vich shook up the champ with 9
stiff right to the head. Charles
seemed to wilt under pressure ant
slowed down, but he had CRU
missing badly at the bell.
The fight suffered from the In.
tense heat of the hottest day Of
New York's hottest summer. i
figured to hurt Gus more thar
Ezzy and probably did.
Most everybody. including TIT
judges. had Charles out front. 6-1
in rounds at the end when Veil,
told the referee that Gus wouldn'
come out for the eighth. UndeI
New Lork rules. the fight is LISTED
as ending in the seventh. Charlie
weighed $50, Lesnevich 1872.
}. Almost lost in the shuttle wa
the fact that Charles, defending
his title only 10 days after he eau
tiously outpointed Jersey Joe Wal
colt at Chicago June %, brok'
Louis old record for quick defense
Joe waited 50 days after beltin,
out Jimmy Braddock and then h,
had q rough night with Tomm,