Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-01-06
|Marciano Planning
To Test Nose Before
Title Bout Decision
BY Jack Hand
Associated ptsss Sports Wsliss

-
By Jack Hand
Assoeiassd Press Sports Wsitss
NEW YORK, Jan. 6.-Rocky
Marciano plans to make q few
appearances In exhibition bouts
to test his nose before he makes
up his mind about an April or
June defense OF his heavyweight
title.
Rocky viii go to Grossinger's
Sunday to begin prelimin-
airy training" Manager Al WE'LL
said last night on his arrival
from Miami. IT the nose (cut
in the second fight with Ezzard
Charles) Is ali right, then wen
make definite plans. I'd like
to have him fight twice this
year"
Well said he had San Fran-
cisco. Los Angeles and Las
Vegas under consideration as q
possible April site If Marciano
is ready. It was learned, how
ever, that Promoter Jim Norris
Of the international Boxing
Club. also has Chicago in mind.
The rumor mill says Britain's
Don Cockell win be the oppo-
nent.
Norris and Well were to meet
for preliminary discussions Of
the champions next fight, but
nothing definite was expected
to result.
Marciano was knee deep in
offers yesterday, with Charlie
Johnston offering 100000 for
him to defend against Archie
Moore, the light heavyweight
champ, any place, any time. :"
Johnston said the fight was a
sure thing to draw a 81 million
gate.
From johannesburg, South
Africa. came an offer of $500, 900
and four round trips for Rocky
to defend against Cockell in
London in late April or early
May. The offer was cabled to
Well by Jack Solomons, British
promoter currently visiting
johannesburg.
Nat Fleischer, Ring Magazine
editor. returned from Havana
with a $250.000 bid from the
Cuban government, through Col.
Miranda Fernandez, chairman
Of the National Sports Commits
sion. for Marciano to defend
against Cuban Nino Valdes at
Havana.
Norris answered the Cuban
bid before Well returned. He
said he had hoped to promote
q Marciano-Valdes bout in
Miami in February. but present
indications were that Marciano
wouldn't fight before April, If
then. That would be too late
for the Cuban season.
The way is cleared for Johnny
Saxton to defend his Welter
crown against Carmen Basiliosat
Syracuse April /, now that ex-
champion Kid Gavilan has with
drawn his claims to an imme-
date rematch with Saxton.
Under terms Of an agreement
signed by Gavilan and Norris
yesterday, the Cuban Is promised
the Saxton-B asilio winner with
In As days and also gets the
February % date at Miami with
Sugar Ray Robinson as q pos
sible opponent. It all depends
on Sugar Ray and his comeback
bouts whether he meets Gayilan
for the third time.
Yamil Chade, superintendent
OF Cuban Bank, is Gavilan's
new manager under terms Of an
agreement being negotiated with
Angel Lopez. his old manager.
Chade said Lopez win get a per-
centage Of Gavilan's earnings
until June, 1857.
Sam Silverman, Boston pro-
moter, in New York trying To
lure Saxton or Jimmy Carter,
the lightweight champion, into
an over-the-weight match with
Tony De Marco in Boston for
early February. j. Saxton boxes
o non-title match January II
at Akron against rugged Ronnie
Delaney. q bout that could pro-
vide an upset. :. Charlie John
ston has been offered the Febru-
AIRY IS Madison Square Garden
date for Sandy Saddler to risk
his featherweight title against
Red Top Davis. As soon as TV
details are cleared up. the match
viii be made.
The Bobo Olson Archie Moore
bout for the light-heavy title, in
the works for 3 New York ball
park in June, is closer than you
think. Norris told Johnston yes
terday he thought he could make
the match after talking to Sid
Flaherty. Olson.s manager.
Billy McNeece out Of action foi
o month or two due to injuries
received In q New Years auto
accident.
4 .