Evening star., 1951-02-11
kidd|eweight Classic
In Chicago May Draw
Gate Of S150,00O
BY the Associcted Press

oT INV >ssoS'0'Sa 'feSS
CHICAGO, Feb. 10.-Sugar Ra,
Robinson, worlds welter-weight
champion. will attempt to annex
the middleweight crown next
Wednesday night in a bout al.
luringly called THE Battle of the
Year"
Robinson seeks the title held by
durable Jake LaMotta. only boxer
ever to defeat the rhythmic
Negro from New York's Harlem
section in the fabulous Robinson's
120 ring engagements.
The contest, the sixth between
them, is scheduled for Is rounds
or less in Chicago Stadium. Rob-
inson. flawless fighting machine
is rated a 3-to-1 favorite. pre-
sumably because of his four pre-
yious triumphs over LaMotta.
Robinson and LaMotta art
scheduled to start swinging (a'
10 pm. EST before an estimated
10000 to $4,000 ringsiders. Ths
gate may reach s150,000, of which
LaMotta gets As per cent anc
Robinson Is. plus 81 500 each from
television rights. Tickets sell from
SIS to $40. Few choice ringside
locations are left.
Bout to Be Televised.
The contest will be televised anc
radiocast nationally, with million.
viewing or listening to its exciting
ring drama.
In the ring. Robinson ano
LaMotta are distinct contrasts
Robinson, called the fighter of the
age. pound for pound. is crafty
rhythmic. perfectly co-ordinated
He moves with the artistry of a
ballet dancer. The bull-like La
Motta is the epitome of determina-
ton. He is a plodder who always
wades in close and never lets up
until his firepower crumples and
fiattens his opponent.
Since he started boxing pro-
fessionally in 1910, Robinson. born
Walker Smith, has won 100 battles
and only lost one. LaMotta dealt
Robinson his only defeat in De-
troit February S. 1943, winning a
10-round decision.
LaMotta Never Downed.
In their five previous engage
ments, LaMotta twice has crashed
through Robinson's defense to
floor him. On the other hand.
Sugar Ray never has been able to
send Jake crashing to the canvas,
nor has any other boxer. Robin
son became welterweight cham
pion in 1946. If he beats LaMotta,
he must surrender the 147-pound
title under a ruling by the Ma
tional Boxing Association.
LaMotta won the middleWeight
title from the late Marcel Cerdan
in Detroit on June 16. 1949. The
Frenchman was forced to surren-
der because of a shoulder injury
Not long afterward. Cerdan was
killed in an airplane crash in the
Azores while en- route to the
United States for a return en-
gagement with LaMotta.
Later Jake successfully de-
Tended his title, also in Detroit
knocking out the French challen-
ger. Laurent Dauthille. in the 18th
round.
During his career LaMotta has
won 79 battles, lost 13 and twice
has been held to draws.
Excess Weight Bothers LaMotta.
The problem of excess weight
has bothered LaMotta. He has
been picking up poundage in the
last two years and finds it difficult
to remain within the 160-pouno
limit.
LaMotta demanded and re.
ceived permission from the Illi'
nois Boxing Commission to weigh
in at 10 am. Wednesday. If HI
is overweight, he will be allowed
two hours in which to melt CT
the extra poundage. If he canno'
make the prescribed 160 pound:
by noon, his championship will
automatically be awarded to Rob-
inson regardless of the outcome
of the fight. LaMotta. if he
chooses, can step on the scales
naked.
LaMotta. however, insists he
will make 100 pounds precisely
He has been training under the
watchful eye of DR.. Phillip Bru-
nori, New York physician, who
watches his diet and who also
will be in the ring as one of his
seconds.
Robinson Won't Predict Kayo.
Robinson has no weight wor-
ries and figures to scale 154
pounds. He has refused to pre-
dict a knockout victory and saie
he would be glad to settle for {
decision.
The estimated $150,000 gate
will be far below the indoor rec
ord established by Tony Zale anc
Rocky Graziano in July, 1947
when the fans paid $422 1000 II
see Rocky snatch Zale's middle
weight title. The bout, however
will be. the top indoor promotion
of the sponsoring 1nternationa
Boxing Club.
More than $50 newspapermel
will cover the bout, includinI
writer's from France and Soutl
America.
Robinson and LaMotta bot
will wind up training Monday.