Evening star., 1953-02-10
Gavi|an Unconcerned
But Tension Mounts
|nCha||enger's Camp
BY the Asseeioted Press


Kid Gavilan, a confident 13-to-5
favorite, is looking past tomor-
rows welter title defense against
Chuck Davey to an excursion
into the middleweight ranks.
In the camp Of unbeaten Da-
vey. the Michigan State grad
with the record of 81 wins and
two draws in 80 pro starts, things
are tense. Nerves are growing
more taut. Handsome Chuck is
on edge.
This sprawling metropolis boils
with fight fever. Cab drivers
sing Davey's praise. Professional
bettors respect Gavilan's proven
class. An advance sale of $780,
900 is reported by the Interna-
tional Boxing Clubs Truman
Gibson. keeper of the Chicago
Stadium treasury. TV statesmen
offer a $25 ringside seat for free
at 10 pm. on the CHS network.
There will be no radio broadcast
from ringside.
The gym work is finished.
Gavilan belted over a sparmate,
AL Niang, with left to the body
yesterday in his final workout
at the Midwest A. c. Davey, al
ready under the 147-pound-class
limit, took a hike through Lin
coin Park.
No Weight Trouble Seen.
Although Gavilan's handlers
attempt to cloak his weight in
mystery, the 27-year-old champ
expects no trouble. Il come in
at 1854" he said yesterday.
Gavilan has no intentions of
giving up his crown on the
scales, a possibility suggested by
Livingston Osborne, Illinois Ath-
letic Commission chairman.
In fact. Gavilan is uncon-
cerned, period. He prefers to
talk about what comes next.
II wait until there is a new
middleWeight champ" he said.
Then Gavilan challenge the
champ"
Who does he think the new
champ will be?
Randy Turpin, sure thing"
he said. "Bobo Olson? No. I
saw him fight. He not a hard
hitter. Turpin best man. like
to fight him"
This may sound pretentious
for a fellow on the eve of a
light that has stirred Chicago
like no scrap since the classic
Tony zale-Rocky Graziano re-
match in 1947.
"Hit, Run and Jump"
Gavilan dismisses Davey as a
hit. run and jump" fighter with
a funny" left-handed style. He
likens' Chuck to Johnny Brat
ton, the man he beat for the
title. although Johnny is no
southpaw.
II know this kid very fast"
he said. "Gavilan fast too any
time he wants. Long time ago,
Gavilan bounce and punch, bang,
bang-all the time. Now he set
and punch better. More conf
dence. Gavilan now champion"
This probably will be Gavilan's
biggest pay day-perhaps as
much as 100000. He gets 40
per cent or $50, 900 Of the $780,
600 net house guaranteed by the
TV sponsor. And he may get
another $4,000 if the crowd is
big. Davey also gets his biggest
purse-$40,000 and 20 per cent
over 100000.
Actually, there is only one
hight that really interests Gavi-
nn-a third shot at Sugar Ray
Robinson, now retired.
MY best fight was my second
with Robinson Robinson won a
15-round decision) -" he said. "He
hit me left hook and right
hand the hardest I ever hit. 1
bounce up and down but never
go down. Always I dream of an
other fight with Robinson.
Maybe he come back on
special trip just for Gavilan."
One at a Time for Davey.
Davey isn't looking past Cav
ilan. He is making his plans one
fight at a time. Right now.
Gavilan is the only one that
counts. It represents his goal
a coveted shot at the title.
I think I will win in 49,"
Davey said. II wouldn't go into a
fight If I didn't think I was
going to win. was little appre-
henSive about the Graziano fight.
He could win anytime with one
punch. Gavilan doesn't punch so
hard. I feel different facing
him."
1t was the Graziano win, Sep
tember II, that gave Davey a
short cut to the championship
bout, bypassing such challengers
as Johnny Bratton, Johnny
Saxton. Gil Turner. Billy Graham
and Joe Miceli. At the age of
rs, it's now or never for the
likeable Davey.