BOXING

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25304, 2 October 1947, Page 3

BOXING

U.S. RULING AFFECTS ROCKY GRAZIANO

DISHONOURABLE DISCHARGE FROM ARMY (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

(Rec. 8 p.m.) NEW YORK, Sept. 30. The Illinois Boxing Commission ruled to-day that any professional fighter who has had a dishonourable discharge from the United States armed forces will be barred from Illinois prize rings. The National Boxing Association announced that it concurred with the Illinois Boxing Commission’s ruling. The ruling is primarily aimed at Rocky Graziano, the National Boxing Association’s middleweight champion. According to the War Department, Graziano was dishonourably discharged from the. Army in 1942 and served a 10-montfcs’ prison sentence for absence without leave. He was listed in the Army under his real name, Rocco Barbella. He was absent without ieave from February 21, 1942, to June 2, 1942, dut-ing which period he fought eight bouts in Manhattan and Brooklyn without detection by the Army. He was suspended by the New York State Boxing Commission in February, 1947. for failure to report an alleged bribe offer. The National Boxing Association’s president (Mr Abe Greene) said to-day that Graziano would be given every opportunity to establish his innocence, but the association would reject any boxer who had not fulfilled his trust to the country.