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■ ■ JOHNNY BRATTON ► s . ■ —i Bratton, Del Flanagan Clash In Television Scrap Tonights Rate Chicagoan 9-5 Choice * Oyer St. Paul Trickster in Madison Garden 10-Rounder By BARNEY NAGLER Staff Correspondent NEW YORK, N. Y., May 22.— A couple of citizens skilled at discouraging fight fans brought up on blood-and-thunder action mess with each other in Madison Square Garden tomorrow night and, strangest part of it all,* their meeting can produce an interesting evening. Johnny Bratton, slickster from Chicago, and Del Flanagan, trickster from St. Paul, Minn., clash in a 10-rounder of considerable seriousness among welterweight contenders. Bratton is the favorite, largely because of *he hasnt learned how to cause total dismay among his supporters, and is the pick here to offset Flanagans speed, but its awfully difficult typing with fingers crossed. " Last time -Bratton worked in our town, against Rocky Castellani in the Garden, he fiddled away an opportunity, losing in 10 dull rounds. He is a dolt of the ring when he isnt interested, which is why he cant be more than a close choice to take Flanagan into camp. The bout, which will be telecast at 10:00 p. m. EDT on the NBC network, will be interesting, if nothing else. Flanagan is not quite as clever as Bratton, but. is considerably faster. He is, by indirection, a stable-mate of Willie Pep in the barn of Lou Viscusi and has adopted many of the ex-champions ring mannerism. He runs and twists and turns. Beat Arthur King at St. Nicks In his last appearance in these parts, at St. Nicks, he easily handled Arthur King, the Canadian. Flanagan was in betting disfavor going in against King, so theres little reason to believe hes disheartened by the odds, 9-5 in Brattons favor. Fighters do know about the venturing price, you know. Brattons purpose, as financed by his manager, Hymie "The Mink" Wallman, is to lure contender Bily Graham into the ring in an effort to regain his role as leading challenger for Kid Gavilans welterweight title. First, of course, he must do a job on Flanagan. Earlier this week, by way of removing tonights fight from under a bushel basket, Wallman offered to guarantee Graham 5,000 for a bout with Bratton, who held the NBA welterweight championship momentarily, or until Gavilan exposed him as a guy who may be very bad on any given night. It is not known whether Grahams owner and operator, Irving Cohen, is paying much, if any mind," to Wallmans offer, but Bratton can insure some interest by flailing Flanagan. Graham is regarded as the No. 1 welterweight contender in New York, although Gil Turner is getting first crack against Gavilan in Philadelphia July 7. Flanagan can intrude on the title scene. Hitherto, he has been regarded as a lightweight. He was a mere 130-pounder when he upset featherweight champion Sandy Saddler some time back. He has been -regarded as a lightweight until, recently. Now he wants to go in against the 147 pounds. His project for tomorrow will be to keep Bratton busy. The Brat loves to loaf. He want to fight every fight at his own leisurely pace. He has trouble when the party of the second part is uncooperative and steps on the throttle. Flanagan is capable of doing this. Inasmuch as it is an important fight to both they may be provoked to rousing activity. If so, it will be a revelation.
