Evening star., 1952-07-07

Heat Places Premium
On Stamina as Turner
Seeks GaviIan's Title
by the Assocfcted Press


PHILADELPHIA. July o.
Steaming heat may put the pre-
MUM on stamina tonight in the
welterweight title bout between
Champion Kid Gavilan of Havana
and Gil Turner, the 21-year-old
challenger from Philadelphia.
Will the 26-year-old Keed from
the Cuban canebrakes wilt under.
the fury Of Gil's swarming at
tack? Can Turner carry his pace
over the 15-round route against
the indestructible Gavilan?
These are the questions to be
answered in vast Municipal Sta
dunn where 10000 fans are ex-
pected to pay 100000 to see the
latest home town sensation bid for
a worlds title at 10 pm.
Gavilan weighed 146 pounds,
Turner 1441a, at the official State
Athletic Commission weigh-in this
noon. Turner weighed about two
pounds less than had been ex-
Ipected.
With prospects OF hot. muggy
weather and daytime temperature
around 95, this could build up into
another Sugar Ray Robinson-Joey
Maxim duel Of survival. How
ever, there will be no glaring tele-
vision lights at ringside because
radio, TV and theater TV all have
been barred.
Perfect Record at Stake.
Unbeaten Turner, with IS
knockouts in 81 straight wins.
brings a sensational record into
the ring. But he must face an
experienced veteran of SO fights
who has been knocked down only
once in his 10-year-pro career.
Gavilans record of 82-12-4 lacks
the glamor of Turner's perfect
score but it reflects the Keed'S
willingness to fight 'em all.
Gavilan has fought the best.
beating Middleweights Paddy
! Young, Laurent Dauthuille, Rocky
Castellani, Eugene Hairston and
Walter Cartier. Robinson wasn't
able to floor him in Is rounds
(two fights. In fact, Ike Will
liams in 1948 was the only man to
put him on the deck. He got up
at eight.
Turner's path has been much
easier. Brought along slowly by
Manager George Katz. he has
knocked off Beau Jack, Charlie
Fusari, Bernie Docusen and Ike
Williams-after they were past
their peak. He is confident he Is
ready for the big test. Only two
fighters knocked him down
Fusari and Irish Jimmy Sanders.
Each time he got up and knocked
out his man.
Nobody Neutral on Turner.
| Folks who have known Turner
since he was a kid in the Straw
berry Mansion section Of town
think he's cinch. Others rate
him strictly a product Of a build
up. Nobody is neutral. They're
either for or against him.
Early odds lowered close to pick
'em but the price swung back to
!; make Gavilan to 17-to-10 choice.
Gavilan no longer does his
rhumba step. His bolo punch has
become only foil. In his most
recent fights he has been fighting
flatfooted, zinging solid punches
out of a semi-crouch. He knocked
out Cartier with a savage furry
and knocked down Bobby Dykes
| with a right hand.
And Turner has shown himself
vulnerable to right hands. Even
Vic Cardell hit him with ease. But
his ace card is not defense and
never was. Young Gil wades ip.
throws punches in a steady series
and never stops. That is how he
score his knockoutS.
This is Gavilan'S third defense
since he beat Johnny Bratton for
the title May Is, 1851. Many
thought he lost his crown to Billy
Graham last August when the
Keed copped one of his specialties
"a split decision. He won anoth-
er split verdict from Dykes at
Miami February 4.