Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-13
S5OO,OOO House Due
For Yankee Stadium
Title Bout Thursday
By the Assceioted Press

opponents, rules I-CO-Z IaVOr-
tie to convince Ezzard Charles
"they never come back" when
he defends his world heavy
weight title against the 32-year-
old former champion Thursday
night at Yankee Stadium.
The 15-round match, Sched-
uled for 1890 pm. washington
time) will not be seen on home
television although it will be
beamed to 81 theaters in As
cities outside New York on a
closed TV circuit. It will be
carried on radio (ABC). In case
of postponement. the fight will
be held Monday. June 81.
(The bout may be seen in
Washington at the Lincoln
theater, 1915 u street NV,
and the Hillside drive-in
theater, 600 block of the
Marlboro pike)
Because advance sales have
been higher than for the March
ano-Roland LaStarza match last
September, the international
Boxing Club talks about a
$500, 900 house and about 10000
fans-in-the-flesh. Approximately
100000 are expected to see the
theater-TV version.
Charles Missed Big Chance.
The record book says Charles,
a former champion must fail
again as Jim Corbett, Bob Fitz-
simmons, Jim Jeffries, Max
Schmeling, Joe Louis. Jack
Dempsey, Jersey Joe Walcott
and Charles himself have failed.
It's a stern rule of the prize ring
that no man ever regained its
richest prize.
Actually Charles missed his
big chance when he lost a deci-
sion to Walcott in Philadelphia,
June S. 1852. year after Wal
colt had knocked him loose
from the title in Pittsburgh.
Many thought Charles beat Wal
colt in their last fight but few
were inclined to argue that he
deserved it because Of his over
cautious approach.
Since the Walcott series,
Charles has been more agrees
sive. showing a little tiger" in
an all-or-nothing campaign. The
comeback was derailed last
summer when he lost to both
Harold Johnson and Nino VAL
DIES, but knockouts over Coley
Wallace and Bob Satterf1eld
earned him another title shot.
Charles weighed 191 pounds
after a six-round workout to-
day at his camp at Monticello,
Ez hopes to weigh 1877 for the
fight. He appeared sharp in the
drill but Trainer Jimmy Brown
said the challenger would box
again tomorrow and also Tues
day.
Same Relentless SIugger.
Rocky has been living at his
GrosSinger. N. Y, camp since
shortly after the first of the
year. running over the hills and
INDUCING in his favorite sport
work. Three weeks ago he looked
ready for battle. An attempt to
present new" Streamlined
Marciano was abandoned mid
way in training and the Rock
remains the same relentless
Slugger of yore.
Marciano's perfect record of
As victories in As fights with 40
knockoutS speaks for itself. The
champion has been en- the Geek
only once, when Walcott foored
him with a left hook in the first
round Of their fierce battle at
Philadelphia. September %, 1852.
the night he won the title. At %,
he still is improving and has de-
veloped solid hook to the body
that may crumple Charles. He is
working on a string of 10 ST. aight
knockouts.
Charles is a veteran of 81 pro
nights, dating back to 1910, and
his record is 86-1O-1. He has
stopped SO opponents and has
been knocked out twice, by Lloyd
Marshall in 1913 and by Walcott.
He has fought IL championship
fights, including nine defenses.
Because of the income tax stu !
alton and the lack of opponents
who would draw big money, Mar
ciano has not been an active
champion. Since he knocked out |
Walcott in the 18th round of the
gruelling 1852 brawl, he has
fought only IL rounds. He needed |
only one round to finish Walcott |
in the rematch at Chicago, May
Is, 1858. and wore down La
Starza in II rounds at the Polo |
Grounds last September "a.
Vulnerable to Master Boxer.
The pride of Brockton, Mass,
Is vulnerable to a master boxer
because his reach of 81 inches is
the shortest of any heavy cham
pion in history. An opponent
who moves from side to side
bothers the Rock but he usually
catches up with his man sooner
or later, weaving and bobbing as
he applies relentless pressure.
There is authority in Charles
fists when he decides to volley
in combinations, rather than
wait for the one perfect punch
ending. The Cincinnati Negro
has been training as though he
means to try to push of Rocky
to keep him from getting inside.
Ezzy still remembers how Wal
colt nailed him with a hook
when the two weren't a foot
apart.
It is not an easy matter to