Evening star., 1951-01-13
Charles DisgruntIed
by Fans Reaction 10
|TK0 Win Over 0ma
BY the Assoeioted Press

NEW YORK, Jan. 18TH keep
on fighting and I'll keep on win
ming and then maybe the people
will give me full recognition as
champion"
Puzzled and somewhat bitter,
Ezzard Charles, heavyweight
champion of the world. made the
statement shortly after he had
stopped veteran Lee Oma of Buff
falo in 1:19 of the 10th round of
their 15-round title bout in Madi-
son Square Garden last night.
Maybe I'll show 'em more the
next time" said the Cincinnati
Negro.
The next time is going to be
late February or early March
against Jersey Joe Walcott in De-
troit, Miami or St. Louis. All that
is expected to be ironed out today
at a conference at the Interna-
tional Boxing Club. Charles won
his crown by whipping Jersey Joe
in Chicago June %, 1949.
Right now Charles is running
ahead of Joe Louis record time
schedule. His defeat of the "a
year-old Oma was his sixth de-
fense of the crown. That leaves
Ezzy six down and 19 to go to tie
the Brown Bomber.
No Knockdown Scored.
Five of his title defenses were
won by knockouts or technical
knockouts and his triumph over
Oma was almost according to the
script. He methodically wore down
his playboy rival with soaring body
punches and Oma ran out OF
gas" as predicted. It could be
that Oma, arm-weary by the 10th
decided he was going to take nc
more punches than necessary.
Referee Ruby Goldstein halted
the often hulliSh bout with Oms
still on his feet-he never was
knocked down during the evening
but reeling around the ring from
a barrage of Furnishing lefts anc
rights to the head. Oma was or
the verge of a knockdown wher
Goldstein stepped in.
The odds were fully justified
although Oma put up a better ex.
hibition than figured. Charles
who was outweighed, 1913 to 1876
was a 6-to-1 favorite to win anc
a 2-to-l choice to stop his foe.
Yet, despite the victory, Char'e!
felt disturbed and disillusioned by
the boos and catcalls that came
from many of the 11,504 paying
fans. The booing was provoked
by low blows, punches that cost
Charles the fifth and eight,
rounds. e.
No Alibi for Loser.
Of the low blows that cos
him the two rounds. Charles said
"Oma carries his hands low ane
my punches kept glancing off.
don't think they hurt him.
Oma had no alibi. ,,.
Il just ran out of gas, that
ALL" said Lee, who was unmarked
except for few bruises aroun,
his left eye. 49,
Asked about the low blows, Om'
said, THE last one really hurt
But the others didn't bother me
I know he wasn't doing it in
tentionally. He's a fine guy ant
I'd like to fight him again"
Outside the 10th there wasn'
much to the fight. Oma surprised
by not using his hands down
walk-away style. He led otter
and mixed it up with Charlie!
on many occasions.
Charles led with his right con.
stantly during the early rounds
and missed several haymakers as
Oma slipped away from the
punches.
The champ then concentrated
on short punches to the body anc
he soon had Oma's midsectior
turning a pinkish color.
Oma in Good Shape.
The two rounds he took away
for low blows were the only
rounds Goldstein scored for Oma
He gave the champion the Other
seven. Judge Charley Shortel
had EZ ahead, 6-3, while Judge
Frank Forbes had it even ir
rounds, 4-4-1, but had the victor
ahead on points, IA.
Oma was in good shape when
he left the arena. stopping tc
shake hands with many we'll
wishers. He earned $9,456 as his
share of the $54,185 gross and his
$2.250 cut on the television-radio
money. But he won't be able to
spend it right away in his usual
carefree manner. Several attach
ments have been made on his
purse, according to Harry Mark
son, managing director of the
IBC. Charles collected $18,722
The show was broadcast ma
tionally and telecast.
An estimated audience of 25,-
100000 heard or saw the bout via
the airwaves.