The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1954-06-17
Charles Bucks
Odds In Second
Try At Regaining

BY MURRAY ROSE

NEW YORK R-Ezzard Charles
bucks the explosive power Of
heavyweight king Rocky Marciano
and a A.year-old tradition of the
ring tonight in a final try to be-
come the first ex-champion to re-
gain boxing's most priced crown.
The odds are 5-18 that he fails.
"Its now or never for Ezzard,"
said co-manager Tom Tannas.
HE knows it's his last chance and
he's never been 50 determined be-
fore. He's right on edge. / hope
we don't get any rain to spoil it,.
The forecast is for fair and
warmer although an earlier pre-
diction by the weatherman called
for a threat of Intervening thun-
dershowers. But possible postpone
ment which could force a weeks
setback of the 15-round title fight
in Yankee Stadium was upper
most in the minds Of the principals
and promoters as they anxiously
peered at the sky. A canopy was
placed above the ring to keep the
canvas dry.
The promoting international Box
ing Club said it will 60 up to the
ball park this evening with $400, 600
in the till. Promoter Jim Norris
is looking for q 10000 crowd and
$500, 900 at the gate with a break
from the weatherman.
In addition to the gate receipts
the fighters will share (Marciano
40 per cent, Charles 20) in close
to $500, 900 from the coast-to-coast
theater-television, SIS, 900 from the
ABC network radio broadcast, and
a possible bonanza from the NOV
les if the fight is sensational.
There will be no home tele-
vision.
The bout will start at $3.50 pm,
EST.
While the 32-year-old Charles
will be seeking to accomplish what
eight former champions, including
himself, have failed to do, the g.
year-old Marciano will be facing
a less potent heavyweight jinx.
Only S of II heavyweight rulers
have been able to get by a third
defense. This is No. 3 for the
Brockton Bruiser.
Charles was outpointed by Jer-
sey Joe Walcott in Philadelphia,
June S, 1852, in his first effort to
regain the title.
How does he intend to fight the
Marciano, who has won 40 OF his
IS bouts by knockouts? That's the
big question. Charles is the enigma
of this production. Everyone knows
the muscular, power packing
Rocky will come1out swinging, try
ing to end It with every punch he
throws. m
His power is 50 respected that
he's rated SIP choice to stop
Charles. It's 81 that Rocky won't
be stopped.
VIII Charles elect to box, hoping
to hold off Rocky's bulling drives?
Or will he try to match bombs
with the bomber?
Naturally he won't tell. He did
say, "I've had the idea for a long
time how I'll fight him."
Rocky has fought a total Of IL
rounds since he won the title by
flattening Walcott in IS rounds in.
Philadelphia Sept. q, 1852. He
racked up Walcott in one round in
Chicago May Is, 1853, and then
needed IL to stop Roland LaStarza
In New York Sept. "A, 1858.
In the same period of time,
Charles fought 104 rounds in 10
scraps. Two of them were 10-round
losses to Nino Valdes and Harold
johnson. He followed the defeats
with a 10th-round kayo of Coley
Wallace and a two-round blasting
Of Bob Satterfield.
Charles has scored IS knockouts
in 81 fights. He has been stopped
by Lloyd Marshall and Walcott.
His overall record is S6-1O-1.
Rocky. in seven years of uro