Evening star., 1957-04-27
Bdssey Victor,
District in Line
For Title Bout
BY JOHN SEGRAvES

The boxing fraternity had
someone new to talk about today,
someone they had never seen
before. and someone they ap-
parently had written of before
they ever saw him at work.
He's Hogan (Kid) Bassey, Brit
ish Empire featherweight cham
pion from Nigeria. who by his
one-sided beating of favored
Miguel Berries last night at
Capitol Arena. earned the right
to meet Cherif Hanna. French
champion. for the vacant 1866
pound crown later this spring.
Berries. who had become a
favorite Of television viewers
through several action-packed
appearances and his defeat Of
Carmelo Costa in the first phase
of the elimination tournament,
opened lukewarm 7-to-5 favor
ite. then scared to almost 3-to-1
by hight time.
However. Bassey made the
odds look more ludicrous as the
bout wore on. After sizing up
Berries in the first three min
utes. the heavier, taller and
more experienced battler had
matters his own way in every
department. He sliced open a
cut on Miguel's left eye-lid in
the seventh round. after having
him near a knockdown in the
fourth and belabored him into a
semiconscious state in the 18th
round and final round.
Ahearn Working
The question now is when and
where Bassey viii meet Hanna.
While Goldie Ahearn. who pro-
NOTED the bout last night under
international Boxing Club aus
pices, trying to land it for
Washington, there were reports
of offers from Nottingham
England: Paris. and New York
Jersey Jones, American pro-
prietor for the British champion
said after the bout. that Reg
King, British promoter. had
offered s35.000 for the bout in
Nottingham. while Gilbert Ben
aim wanted it for a big outdoor
promotion in Paris.
However. Jones said the IBC
would be given preference II
President Jim Norris meets the
foreign offers.
Personally" said Jones, 81
would like it outdoors in New
York ball park and not too fai
from now. Hogan wants to gel
home to see his wife and Z
month-old baby. That's all he
talks about"
Norris is expected to meet with
Bassey. Jones and George Bid.
dies. the Britisher who manage.
Hogan in England. and Hanna.
handlers.
Harry Markson. IBC director
said Washington will be consid.
cred among several American
cities. and said I'VE hope to have
1t ironed out next week"
Hanna is scheduled to meeI
one-time contender Bobby Bel
next Tuesday in Montreal.
Bassey FI0ored
Ironically. it was Bassey. ar
easy victor on all three ofIicia
cards. who suffered the only
knockdown of the bristling bout
At the outset of the 10th round
Hogan shot a left hook. missed
1t and went slightly off-balance
Berries then caught him with {
left hook on the cheek and h,
went down. Bassey bounced uy
Immediately. but was forced 3,
take the mandatory eight count
Miguel never was able to follow
1t up.
Otherwise. Berries fans haC
little to cheer about. The littlI
Puerto Rican was outgunned, ant
possibly would have been knocked
out had the bout gone anothe
minute or two longer. He wa
taking a vicious beating on tn,
-opes in the final two minutes a
the crowd of some 1000 roared
Berries was several times hi
old aggressive self. attempting B,
pour his favorite left hooks :,
the body. but on almost each Or,
hitting Basseys elbows or fore
arms or nothing.
II was Bassey's saith victor,
against 10 losses and two draws
Referee Charlie Reynolds an,
See FIGHT, Page Al
a. =