ZALE KNOCKS OUT GRAZIANO: REGAINS TITLE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22662, 12 June 1948, Page 5

ZALE KNOCKS OUT GRAZIANO: REGAINS TITLE

(N.Z. P. A.—Reuter—Copyright.) (10 a.m.) NEW YORK, June 11. Tony Zale, list. 4jlb knocked out Rocky Graziano. list 411 b, the holder, in the third round of a contest for the world middleweight title last night. When the scheduled 15-round fight began, both men exchanged lefts. Then Zale went after Graziano, landing lefts to the face and body and sending the champion down for the count of four. Zale followed up his advantage over the befuddled Graziano and drove him to the ropes. Graziano battled back to the middle of the ring and the fighters swapped left hooks and jabs. Zale drove a hard right to Graziano’s body and pinned him to the ropes. In the second round, they exchanged hooks and jabs aain, Zale scoring with his left Then Graziano came at Zale, hitting him on the head with solid lefts. Zale countered with a beautiful left and right to the head, staggering Graziano. The round ended with the men mixing it furiously. The third round saw Zale speeding the attack. The pair exchanged hooks and Zale then staggered Graziano with a left to the head and a right to the body. Zale pinned the champion against the ropes and floored him for the count of seven with a left hook to the body. When Graziano rose Zale sent in a series of blows to the body and head and Graziano went down for the full count.

In 68 seconds of the round, Zale had regained the championship in another fireworks display. Zale was guaranteed 60.000 dollars or 20 per cent, of the gate. Graziano was guaranteed 120,000 or 40 per cent. About 25.000 witnessed the bout and the gross takings are expected to be 350,000 dollars.