Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-03-22

Twas q Night
For BIood-Letting
Bv MORRIS SIEGEE

Los ANGELES, MAR. 22.-In the same ballpark where
the Dodgers were unable to bring off title last
year, three were won here last night in fiesta of fist
fighting which emphasized "Cays" ana kayos
For Engish-speaking fighters it was a desultory
evening Emile Griffith, native Of the Engshspeakng
section of the Virgin Islands, and Davey Moore native of
the English speaking section of Lexington Ky, were
knocked off their perches by couple youngsters who
gave Free Cuba its finest hour
Luis Manuel Rodriguez, ploddng, retreatng Cuban,
backpedaled his way to unanimous 15-round decision
over Griffith to become the welterweight champion
His eountryman, Ultimito sugar) Ramos followed with
stunning if tragic 10-round knockout over Moore to
win the featherweight title
Moore later collapsed in his dressing and accord
ing to doctors has little chance to live He's in deep
coma today after taking sudden and fearful beating
To complete the Spansh-speaking round-robn,
Roberto Cruz of the Philippines knocked Mexican
Raymudo Torres for the junior welterweight crown in
free-swngng brawl which ended in the first round.
Ironically, the Mexcans put their biggest invasion
since Pancho Villa was zgzaggfng across our borders,
but they had to go away disappointed The good
neighbors from Tajuana and East Los Angeles who
prised the bulk of the crowd of 2642 to root for
Torres, their native son. .,....
THE FIRST "ARRIBA" hardly had been uttered when
Torres was knocked fatter than dried-out enchiada
However Torres lost in characteristic fashion All 81 Of
his previous fights also had ended in knockouts but Ray
mundo, the Ripper from Reynosa, won AZ of them.
The big fight was supposed to be the Griffith
Rodriguez scrap Two judges and the referee voted unan
mously for Rodriguez but majority of the audience
thought it should have been a scoreless tie.
The closest Rodriguez to getting hurt after
the Ramos-Moore fight Rodriguez had to tusse with
stadium cop to enter the ring and congratulate the
dynamic little Ramos for his kayo of Moore.
Rodriguez, who dropped disputed 10-round verdict
to Griffith two years ago in New York. must have been
reading Cassius Clays press book Asked why Griffith
didn't beat him, Rodriguez through interpreter took
page from clays script because I'm the best he cannot
beat me-"
Rodriguez, who appears to have stopped number of
line drives with his nose said he originally decided to
knock out Griffith but later changed his mind and decided
only to whip him. II didn't want to knock him out
because would hurt him." he said with indisputabe
piece of logic.
Only Griffiths feelings we're hurt In clipped English
the Virgin Islander maintained THE crowd rooted Rod
rgaez to the title He fought only the last 10 seconds
Of every round. don't know how fighter can win
championship running away, but you saw it." Griffith
indicated Los Angeles may be for the Dodgers the Angels
and Rams, but far he was concerned the city's
fight officials we're strictly for the birds
GRIFFITH, WHO RECLAIMED the title almost year
ago the Inflated stand against Benny Paret admitted
all he thought about during the unspecacuar hereunder
keeping his He also said all Rodriguez must
have been thinking about holding on TO Griffith,
which Luis did very we'll
There was no question about Rodriguez running but
IN Dodger Stadium runners appreciated. 1t was In
these same premises that Maury Wills did most of his
running route TO the base-seaing championship last
year.
The Moore Ramos duel lightning all the way
Each gamecock seemed TO be going for the fence with
every punch The first round alone saw them exchanging
head-shakng uppercuts They provided action in
few seconds than Rodriguez and Griffith supplied in their
entire is rounds.
Rodriguez was presented Free Cuba flag before the
bout His trunks carried the Free Cuba coors Of white
with red and blue piping. At stage Of the fight
Griffith let 90 with low blow that appeared 10 land
somewhere between Havana and Key West but II didn't
bother Rodriguez. He too busy demonstrating he
could fight better retreating than he could advancing
With the dethroning OF Moore champion there are
only two American titleholders left Sonny Liston he
with the bum knee, is the heavyweight king and Pha-
dephas Harold Johnson is the nght-heavy ruler other
wise, bookings tteholders bear such household
Pone Kingpetch Carlos Ortiz Rodriguez and Dick Tiger
II this keeps up, States won't have 10 kill fight
Ing Our fighters are doing pretty good Job Of
eliminating II themselves.