Evening star., 1952-01-24
BeafingGonlaI|es
May Bring Gene
His Big Chance
D. c. Feotherweieht
Wins in Third on
One-Punch Knockout
BY George Huber

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knockout has put him IN line for
some good paydays fighting in
New York, and his manager Is
optimistic enough to envision
the featherweight championship
for him by midsummer. Sandy
Saddler is the current titleholder.
Smith. 30 year old District
Negro, removed any doubts about
his ability to make his way In the
big time by the manner in which
he stopped corky Gonzales Of.
Colorado, the eighth : ranking
featherweight,. before 5000 ct
Uline Arena last night. Smith,
himself ranked ninth OF long
string Of victories, the majority
by knockouts. ended the fight with.
a solid smash to the head after
46 seconds Of the third round.
AL Well on. Hand.
Immediately afterward there
was talk of a big future for Smith.
AL WE'LL, matchmaker for the In
ternationaI Boxing Club, was
those moving in with con-
gratulations. Its hard to get
good featherweights, and he looks
to me like q boy with a bright
future. I'm going to do all I can
to help him. ! think maybe In
two or three weeks / can put him
in st. Nick's and after that we'll
see what we can see. But ! def
nitely think he's got it."
Irving Cohen, Smiths manager,
seemed doubtful at first that the
fight was over so soon.
It didn't believe it at first," he
said. "I've got all the confidence
in the world in this boy, but I
knew that Gonzales was tough,
plenty tough. After all, he's never
been knocked out before in 60
fights. and anybody who can stop
him has to kick like q mule.
! expected a long, hard
evening, with Smith getting the
fight Of his life. I thought he'd
win, but I was expecting it to go
ID the way"
Cohen said he had no fight in
particular lined up for Smiths
1ext venture, but sal that from
acre on In he'll 60 after the big
Wants Title Bout Here.
"If he continues to go along the
;ame lines, and I'm sure he viii,
le'll be fighting for the cham
,ionship by midsummer" the
said. II hope to have
he title fight right here in WASH
ngton. That's where it should
oe, right in this boys home town.
He deserves to win the title before
;he home folks, and the people
lere who have followed him de-
serve to see him. do It,"
One final accolade came from
Whitley Bimstead. Smiths trainer.
Tt was just like an artist at
work" Whitley said. "It was a
perfect fight all the way. Gene
lsed the same punch in the second
'ound to hurt him and then
Knocked him out in the third. Al
'eal artist. that boy.1
The end Of the fight, witnessed
oy thousands over q 56-station
;elevision hookup. came with sur
suddenness. Gonzales
outboxed the overanxious Smith
through the first round and by
midway through the second. had
raised small welts under Genes
Eyes. But late, In the second
Smith got In a solid right smash
10 the head that set Gonzales back.
That still was no indication the
end was in sight, but early In the
third round the same kind of
solid right shot across and
Gonzales to the canvas.
He shook himself to his feet at
the count Of five, but was so
yroggy he fell again. He was up
rs Referee Ray Bowen tolled the
10 count. but In no condition to|
fight.
28th Pro Victory.
Gonzales now has lost i've
times in go pro battles. He lost
twice before on technical knock
puts, once with q cut eye and
once with an injured shoulder.
For Smith. it was his 28th pro
victory and his 22d by Knockout.
Del Hanlon, Gonzales manager,
had no excuse. ''It came right
out Of the blue" he said. "I
can't say anything except that
Corky was really hit. He was in
good shape and had never been
knocked out before. Anybody
that can do that to Corky has to
be good"
Best Of the preliminaries was
featherweight fight in
which Eddie Ojeda of Mexico
earned q narrow margin over
Coffee Wilkinson In sin rounds.
Another six-romder between
welterweights went to Al Avant
over Sam Kelsey, while in q four
rounder Ludwig otte, light-heavy-
weight. outpointed Ray Butler.
There was one preliminary knock
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