Riot At Boxing

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30822, 6 August 1965, Page 13

Riot At Boxing

(N.Z. Preet Assn.—Copyright) NEW YORK, August 5. Spectators rioted at Madison Square Garden last night after Flash Elorde (Philippines), the world junior light-weight champion, won a split 10-round decision over Frankie Narvaez, Associated Press reported. Cries of “robbery” came from irate Narvaez backers. The rioting lasted for nearly 25 minutes and quelled when special police turned fire hoses on the spectators. Narvaez had been favoured at odds of 7-5. No-one could recall any similar outbreak in the 40-year-old history of the present arena.

Chairs and other objects were thrown, seats were torn out and tossed into the area, the organ in the side arena was pitched over, and the railings in various parts of the Garden were torn and smashed. Parts of the historic arena looked as if a hurricane had swept through it. Entire sections had their wooden chairs turned over or smashed. Three people were slightly injured, officials said. The referee and one judge each had Elorde the winner by five rounds to four, with one drawn, and the other judge scored 7-2 for Navarez.