FURIOUS BOXING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 June 1938, Page 7

FURIOUS BOXING

BARNEY ROSS MERCILESSLY BEATEN. WEATHERWEIGHT TAKES SECOND TITLE. NEW YORK, May 31. Henry Armstrong, the featherweight boxing champion, added the welterweight title to his collection by taking a fifteen-round decision from the former champion, Barney Ross. Ross weighed lOst 21b, and Armstrong 9st 7Jlb. The fight opened at a furious pace. After losing the first two rounds, Armstrong opened his account, and from then on, boxing with complete abandon, dominated the rest of the bout. Ross received terrific punishment from the sixth round onward, and by the thirteenth the spectators were calling “stop it.” Ross struggled on feebly on defence until the end, and lost like a champion after one of the most merciless beat-

ings ever witnessed. The Los Angeles negro is the first boxer in history, to wear two crowns simultaneously. He will now meet Lou Ambers, the lightweight champion; and thus may even hold three championships:. In the dressing-room Ross announced his retirement. He said, “I was beaten by a better fighter.”

Most critics are amazed that the referee allowed the fight to continue after the eleventh round, and even more amazed that Ross survived without being once floored.