Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-02-04
ST Million Gate
Anticipated by
Rocky, WaIcott
TV Rights to Fotten
Heavyweight Match
At Chicago April 10
BY the Associated Press

NEW YORK. Feb. 4.-Both
Heavyweight Champion Rocky
Marciano and Jersey Joe Wal
colt, ex-champ, are licking their
chops today at the prospect OF
a million dollar-plus gate for
their April 10 title rematch at
Chicago Stadium.
Jim Norris. president Of the
international Boxing Club. an
nounced the bout yesterday after
six weeks Of wrangling about the
site. The final agreement was
made with Angela Malandra. at
torney for the ailing Felix Boo
chicchio, Walcott's manager
Each fighter will get 80 per cent
of all receipts, as provided In
their return bout agreement
Rocky signed before f1attening
Joe.
"It should draw over q million
dollars, counting television, "
Norris said. I'VE have not signed
a TV deal yet, but we have had
several preliminary conferences.
April 10. you know. is Friday
night, our regular Gillette night.
The bout will be seen on home
television and we expect to get
between $25O,O0O and $500, 900
for the rights, with Chicago and
Milwaukee BACKED out.
Marciano Already Training.
Marciano, already training at
Grossingers, N. Y, wasn't sur
prised to hear the news. The
Brockton (Mass.) blockbuster
even started boxing last week
end.
II expected him to sign be-
cause I knew he wanted to fight
as soon as possible. It didn't
make any difference to me
whether it was indoors in April
or outdoors in June. But AL
WE'LL CHS manager) and ] were
so sure he'd sign that I've been
up here training for three weeks,
II weigh 1911 and expect to be
down to 1856. That should be
better than last time when
found 1874 a little too light.
expect to train at Grossingers
for three more weeks and then
probably will go some place closer
to Chicago"
WE'LL said Marciano may go to
Chicago for the official signing
February Is and. then Feturns to
Grossingers until a month before
the fight. He will inspect train
ing sites at Holland. Mich. and
the Tam O'Shanter Country Club
in Chicago while in Chicago for
the Chuck Davey-Kid Gavilan
fight next Wednesday.
WalcOtt In Good Shape.
Dan Florio, Walcott's trainer,
said the old pappy guy from
Camden, N. j. is mot too far
off" from top shape right now.
He said he weighed about 207
and would come in at 1876
pounds. Florio said Jersey Joe
would go into preliminary train
ing next week at Mays Land
ing, N. j.. for road work and bag
punching. The site of his perm
anent camp has not been deter
mined but it probably will be
in the vicinity Of Chicago.
Norris said the IBC will ask
permission of the Illinois Athletic
Commission for a $50 top on
tickets. If granted. he will scale
the house for an $3.50, 900 sellout.
The stadium now has IRE de-
partment permission to take care
OF. $4,000 people. including stand
ing room.
This probably will be the end
Of the Marciano-Walcott series,
no matter what happens. II
Walcott wins he will fight the
winner of the February Is Ro-
land La Starza-Rex Layne bout
in June, possibly at Yankee
Stadium. At least Norris, who
is aware of Bocchicchio,s license
problems in New York. said he
would like to promote the bout
in New York-if and when. Ma
landra produced a 1916 seconds
license held by Felix in New York
to prove he once was licensed.
II Marciano wins, Norris said
he thought the champ probably
would want to wait until Sep
TENDER for a fight with the
Layne-La Starza winner or Ez-
card Charles. the ex-champ.
Final agreement on the match
(Cnn T1TrSTYr ra-~ - ~