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* V IIMMllll ifll"£rl% s lit: M JB Gavilan Made Favorite Over Bratton Welterweight Title0 Is at Stake Tonight Chicagoan Will Haye Share Of Followers in Garden Go Off His Fine Power Punching «y BARNEY NAGLRK Staff Correspondent NEW YORK, N. Y., May .17.— Bplo-f lushing Kid Gnvilnn, the Imvuim lluwk, gets his second chance nfc the world welterweight championship In u lG-roundcr with NBA-anointed Johnny Umtton, of Chicago, :t Madison Square Garden • tomorrow night. Gavilan, who fizzled trying for the 147-pound title against Kay Robinson, now abdicated, back in July, 1949, In Philadelphia, is the 2 to 1 man-to-inan favorlto to accomplish his regal purpose. The bout, first for a title in the Garden since EzKird Charles disposed of Leo Oma in a heavyweight grab-bag last winter, is expected to lure customers assaying at more than the 4,185 magnetized for that championship clash. Jim Norris, International Boxing Club bossman, was speaking in terms of a 0,-000 house today, providing the sale of medium-price ticket pick-ups. Inasmuch as the top tariff is 0, as contrasted with the 2 for Charlcs-Oma, the crowd should top the 11,000-odd for the heavyweight title bout. Tale-of-the-Tape Kid GavlUn Johnny Bratton 25 Yrs. A*e 23 Yrs. 147 Lbs. Expected Weight 147 Lbs. 5 Ft, 10 In. Height 5 Ft. 10 In. 71 In. Reach 69 In. 36 In. Chest Normal 38*4 In. S9H In. Chest Expanded 40 In. 32 In. Waist 27 In. 20J4 In. Thigh 20 In. 13Vi In. Calf 15 In. 14 In. Biceps 13 In. 11 In. Forearm . 11 In. 1614 In. Neck 15H In. 9U In. Ankle 10 In. 7?iln. Wrist 9 In. 11 In. Fist H14 In. As usual, the main bout will be videocast on CBS Channel 4, where manV more millions than the comparatively paltry thousands in the place will see Gavilan employ sizzling last-second rallies to offset Brattons concededly superior punching power. The pick here is Gavilan in 15 rounds. Bratton edged into the match by clabbering Charlie Fusari in a sizzler in Chicago in March. He dropped Fusari twice, but couldnt keep him down, and was pressed in the last five rounds. The triumph gamed NBA recognition as 147-pound champion, but the New York Athletic Commission, in a dissenting opinion, ordered a tournament involving Bratton. Gavilan and Billy Graham. The winner tomorrow night will be accorded sport-wide recognition as champion, but must defend against Graham within 60 days. Each posted a ,500 forfeit to bind the championship culmination. Both Bratton and Gavilan have, in the past, tickled the imagination of experts and public alike as playboys. However, 25-year-old Gavilan and 23-year-old Bratton seemingly have come upon more intellectual days. They have given up cutting capers for zealous endeavor in the business of cutting up the opposition. In consequence, both trained diligently for their meeting. Gavilan worked at Ehsans Camp, Chatham Township, N. J., while Bratton labored at Greenwood Lake, N. Y. Each should be close to 147 pounds. Gavilan has been chided this past ballyhoo week because of his predilection for eye-winning rallies in the last 10 seconds of each round. Brattons supporters have underlined this in an effort to offset its effect on the official eyes. Gavilan, who is a spray hitter, depending for power on an overgrown uppercut, better known as the bolo punch, will be forced to carry the fight to Bratton, who is the Cubans counterpart as a counter-fighter. Gavilan hasnt had much success against counter-fighters, with especial emphasis on Doug Ratford, v/ho twice subdued . the Cuban. However, the burden also Is on Bratton, who will be under compulsion to come and get the title, This is a double-edged handicap. Gavilan comes to this one with a record of eight straight, after a series of in-and-out performances. Bratton lias v/on five in a row/, Including knockouts of Bobby Dybes a, Don Williams 4 and tlie decision conquest of Fusari. The welterv/eJght event Js the first title bout in that division In the Garden since , Itoblnson gained the title by outpointing Tommy Bell, December 20, 1940, In that • one, as in tomorrow nights event, there was no champion, involved. KID- GAVILAN JOHNNY BRATTON
