Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-09-01
Doctor Reveals
Case Of kul1lps
|kaYoed Gavilan
Fight Now Expected
Sometime in @ October;
Substitute Lined Up
BY The Assoeioted Press

WelterWeight Champion Kid
Gavilan. kayoed by illness ~
hours in advance Of his sched-
uled title fight tonight against
Johnny Bratton, was found to-
day to have a case of plain, old
fashioned mumps.
His illness cropped up so sud-
denly last night that 1t left a
complete blank In the usual
Wednesday night television fight
schedule across the country.
Nine hours before fight time,
promoters came up today with a
substitute bout. Promoter Her
man Taylor announced at noon
that "in order to keep faith with
the fans he has arranged a 10
rounder featuring Feather
weights Ike Chestnut Of New
York and Bobby Bell Of Youngs-
town. Ohio.
The telecast at 10 pm. wash
ington time) win be carried by
the CHS network. ct viii be
seen in Washington over WTOP-
TV.)
DR.. Samuel Swetnick disclosed
the nature of the Cuban Keed's
ailment. He said Gavilan has
mumps on the left side, that his
condition is not serious, and that
he win be moved to his New York
home by auto this afternoon.
Quick Recovery Expected.
Gavilan should be ok. in a
couple Of days." the doctor
added.
Saxton was plainly unhappy
over the loss OF his title shot,
now likely to be postponed
again-until some time in Oc-
tober.
Gavilan's illness "cost me the
title" Saxton grumbled today.
contending that he was in top
shape and would have won al
though Gavilan was a heavy IA
vorite.
Must Refund $4,000.
Taylor said he would refund
about $4,000. starting Friday or
Saturday. The veteran pro-
moter said the twice postponed
scrap would be held sometime in
October. probably in Convention
Hall.
Gavilans promised Taylor that
he would go through with the
fight then. Frank Wiener, chair
man Of the Pennsylvania Ath-
letic Commission. who was sum-
moned from his home last night,
said that the champion would be
placed on the unavailable list"
until be went through with the
fight.
Originally. Gavilan and the
24-year-old Brooklyn challenger
were to have met in Connie Mack
Stadium July IA. but the cham
pion got a postponement because
Of an, injury to his right hand
an injury he said he suffered
while losing ID Carl (Bobol Oh
son, middleweight champion, in
their bout in Chicago April 2.
Went Through Eight Rounds.
Gavilan's manager. Angel Lo-
PEI, said the Kid had a lump on
the left side. Of his face yester-
day morning, but insisted on GO
ing through eight rounds Of exer-
else to bring his weight down.
He had scaled 155 pounds for
Olson. Lopez said the champion
weighed 1859 when he flushed
the workout.
Lopez said Gavilan had his
dinner and then complained
about 7 pm. that he wasn't feel
ing well. DR.. Swetnick, Gavilan's
personal physician was sum-
moned.
DR.. Swetnick said then that
Gavilan was suffering from a
virus infection. had q temper
allure Of 101 degrees and an in
fiamation Of the left parotid
gland (near the earl.
Commissioners Called.
Wiener and his two fellow
commissioners. George Jones and
John. Holohan. were called hur-
riedly to Gavilan's suite along
with Taylor, Matchmaker Pete
Moran and Saxton's manager
Frank (Blinky) Palermo.
just to make sure that there
were no angles" as he put it
Wiener called on two other
physicians - DR.. Milton Kroun-
gold and DR.. Alfred Ayella, jr.-
to make independent examina.
tSee GAVILAN, Page ca
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