boxing Title Bout Lasted Two Minutes

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 September 1946, Page 5

boxing Title Bout Lasted Two Minutes

Mauriello Battered into Submission NEW YORK, September 18. Joe Louis retained the heavyweight boxing championship of the world in New York to-night, by knocking out Tami Mauriello two minutes nine seconds after the beginning of the first round. It was the second quickest knock-out in the history of the heavy-weight title. Mauriello entered the ring at the Yankee Stadium full of bounce and vigour, waved excitedly to the crowd and exchanged mock punches with his seconds. A little more than two minutes later he left the ring clinging limply to his seconds’ arms. Mauriello dashed out at the beginning, as had been expected, with his arms flashing. Louis staggered across the ring undoubtedly hurt by a savage right that tore into his face. He bounced against the ropes,blinked, and came out slowly to meet the challenger. The champion knew he had to go to work immediately, and that is exactly what he did. He retaliated with a right which floored Mauriello for the count of nine, and was relentless until the knock-out. Louis tore in with a right, another right, and a left, hurting Mauriello, who hung on. The champion next’ drove a terrific right to the challenger's ribs. Mauriello took the final count on one knee with his left eye broken open and his forehead resting on his left glove. While the bout lasted it was fireworks all the way, and the crowd was kept roaring. When the knockout came, the crowd, estimated at 29,000, cheered loudly, but the spectators were disappointed at the shortness of the fight. One thousand left their seats without awaiting the subsequent bouts. The gate receipts totalled 300,000 dollars. Mauriello’s only comment after the fight was:'“Me got too damned careless.” The attendance at the fight was 38,494. The gross receipts were 335,063 dollars. Louis takes 40 per cent, of the receipts and Mauriello 15 per cent. West Coast Men for Dominion Tourney The 1946 New Zealand amateur boxing tournament will begin in the Auckland Town Hall on Monday evening. Entries have been received from 90 competitors, representing 24 I boxing associations throughout the I Dominion. ‘ Two of the three West Coast competitors have been drawn to fight on Monday evening. In the featherweight division B. Eder (Dobson) will meet M. Whittingham (Manawatu) < and in the welterweight section M. Tuck (Greymouth) will fight H. Hanson (Wellington). No draw for the lightweight class in which J. Boddy, of Greymouth, will compete, has been announced.