Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-10-24
Fullmer Cut, Bleeding


straight ring engagements. met
defeat in the eighth defense OF
the crown he had won in this
same city by a 14-round knock
out over Carmen Basilio Au-
gust 2e. 1859.
Fullmer fought the last AZ
rounds In q familiar FullmeT
pattern. He was cut and bleed
ing from gashes over both eyes,
but he was still fighting, fail
ing away with both fists at the
final bell. Most even gave him
the final round.
Fullmer has told friends he
will retire if and after he suf-
fers back-to-back defeats.
He. is at that crossroads to-
day. He will meet the 33-year-
old Nigerian January 10 In Ell
ther Bozeman, Mont, or Las
Vegas.
Does he think he can return
and whip Tiger in the rematch?
eff I feel like I can't. there
won't be one," Fullmer said,
quite simply. Right now I
don't feel I can't.
Disagreement Over Butt
snow I'm the champion I
think I'll stay the champion, "
was the response from Tiger.
A modest fellow, Tiger had
praise for Fullmer. After three
or four rounds I knew I was
tangling with the champion"
There was a disagreement In
another area. Fullmer said he
was butted accidentally in the
ninth round. It slashed open q
small cut inflicted in the sec.
ond round.
Tiger claimed the ninth,
round cash. which brought
blood pouring down to Full
mer's shiny white trunks, came
from q solid smash with q right
hand.
Fullmer, it developed. waived
any chance of winning on an
accidental butt by insisting the
fight continue. Actually, he
wouldn't have won since he had
to be ahead on points and
wasn't.
81 wouldn't want to win q
fight on a butt, accidental or
not" Fullmer said.
Changes Tactics
Fullmer admitted that after
four rounds he changed tactics.
He switched from the brawling
aggressor to the boxer, retreat
ing, moving in and out. Tiger
was the relentless stalker, the
man waiting for an opening.
F'ullmer called Tiger q "go
ahead counterpuncher."
Referee frankie Carter had 1t
1911, Judge Jack Downey 9-5
and Judge Vern Bybee Us un-
der the California system Of one
or more points to the winner
of a round, none for the loser
and zero for an even round.
Fullmer had no quarrel with
the referees version. 81 never
keep track. The officials do
what they think is right"
Perhaps the first fellow Nj
gerian to rush into the ring
after the decision was Hogan
(Kid) Bassey, ex-featherweight
champion and the first Of his
land to win a world title.
1880 See Fight
Tiger now is the second Nj
gerian to claim a world title,
one he must share with Amer
ica's Paul Fender, who is rec
ognized in Massachusetts,, New
York and portions Of Europe.
Fender stakes his share of the
title next month at Boston
against Jose Torres of New
York, but New York won't rec
ognize it as a title affair.
Tiger. whose real name is
Richard Ihetu, has been boxing
since 1855. His record now is 46
victories, IL defeats and two
draws.
He is married and has three
youngsters.
An estimated 1900 paid a
gross of SOL 900, some $4,000
shy of the break-even figure.
The net figure was not an
nounced. Tiger was guaranteed
$25, 900 and Fullmer As per cent
of the live receipts, plus 66 %
per cent of the revenue from
the closed-circuit theater tele-
vision, shown in 48 cities.