Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-05-05
WIN, LOSE OR
'DRAW ;, FRANCE, ,r.pp
A Page From Rocky's Book

IN INDIANAPOLIS the Fairgrounds Coliseum
almost empty when Brian London walked into Heavy
weight Champion Floyd Patersons dressing room long
after their fight.
81 don't know If it's customary in your country" the
big Brtisher said I'd appreciate If you would give
me your gloves Souvenirs of the match, yknow."
Patterson stole glance at his manager but Gus
DAmato occupied and the decision FloydS alone
Il usually keep all my gloves" he began slowly but
here, take EN- He thrust the sweat-soaked weapons
into the hands of the grateful Englshman
For 10 rounds and ST seconds, of course Patterson
had giving London his gloves only with his fists in
them That's the kind of fight Ito be charitable it was
on Derby eve an exhibition tnseed with the IL
day bayhoo of world title fight Everybody would sleep
soundy perhaps If he could be as certain the sun
would rise in the morning as Patterson was sure he'd
retain his crown
STILL THERE WERE PEOPLE who earn their coffee
and cakes in boxing the racket who feel that
DAmato at least vaguely justified in staging Patter
sonLondon On the way from indianapolis to Louisville
for the Derby, said
in my book that work moves Patterson up big for
the Johansson fight If had come of six months ago.
it wouldn't have meant very much But it two
months before Floyd fights the Swede and it will sharpen
him. 1t beats punching bag in the gym At least Lon
don breathing"
Al WE'LL, who managed Rocky Marciano to the world
championship, concurred, although Wells connections
with DAmato such that Aphonse could not be con-
sidered unbiased by any
Patterson needed this fight with London, WE'LL said
After ALL he hadn't done any serious work since last
August Look don't think London is bum. I'm thinking
of buying his contract myself
AS he spoke WE'LL turned in what he felt must be
the direction of England and raised his chnS Somebody
unknd enough to this salute to the Empire by
saying why you buying him. AL? You figuring on OPEN
ing meat market?"
ACTUALLY, WE'LL HIMSELF has done precisely
what DAmato did last week in foisng this title fight
on the poor innocents of Hoosierdom Indeed, WE'LL
Don CockeI from England for Marciano Alphonse
picked Francisco whereas DAmato shyy settled
for Indiana, where championship match OF any de-
Scrpton had been held since Benny Leonard defended
his lightweight title against Rocky Kansas at Michigan
City in 1922
London was hand picked by D'Amato and paid by Gus.
too His sparring partner Dusty Rhodes was on lend
lease from DAmato and Brians chief corner man.
Bill Baf The referee Frank Sikora of four men
DAmato stipulated must grace the occasion.
AS it turned out Skora had nothing to do. But If
Patterson had broken hand Londons head or elbows
Sikora duty would have been plansee to it the fight
went Even with hand Patterson had to outspeed
and outpunch the clumsy Briton.
This was how it was when WE'LL promoted the Mar
ciano- Cockell affair in San Francisco.
ROCKY, YOU MAY REMEMBER, had sustained
novel and interesting bloodetting wound in defending
his title against Ezzard Charles One of Ezzards short
punches caught the Rock coming in and 10 and behold it
parted the Marciano schnoz right up the middle until
Rocky had nose for each noStr.
1t p ny if not critically serious wound, and WE'LL
and his troops pGthf the stricken champion
well enuogh that he couo dispatch Charles by knock
out But there was stitching job follow and months
to wait for time to heal this wound like all Others
Eventually Marciano had to fight. But to throw
Rocky against sasher not knowing how his retreaded
nose might stand up inviting trouble in Wells mind
Therefore it behooved Alphonse to find specimen OF
suitable dimensions who unlikely to dethrone Mar
ciano understate it. and yet capable OF giving
Rocky passed for formal test Cocke fitted the bill
nc tn instructions
Under circumstances stop the fight Even If Rockys
knocked completely of his face Marciano
sooner or later would take out his
INGEAdAR JOHANSSON, as nice looking and clean
cut young man to grace the boxing scene for long
time watched ringside, wearing
his shoulder like tourist from Iowa. 1t is
See WIN, LOSE OR DRAW, Page D.