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JOE WALCOTT r — : ■ ■ r w , EZZARD CHARLES Walcott Underdog Against Charles Challenger 12 to 5 Favorite To Regain Heavyweight Title Jersey Joe to Scale 194, ] Ez 191 for 15-Round Bout In Philadelphia Tonight By BARNEY NAGLER Staff Corresvondeni PHILADELPHIA, Pa., June 4.— Under a June moon, and in full view of osme 35,000 persons loosely assembled in the far reaches of cavernous Municipal Stadium tomorrow night, Jersey Joe Walcott, the aged world heavyweight champion, defends his title against the man from whom he rudely seized the gaud, Ezzard Charles. The betting is 12 to 5 against Walcotts retention of the championship. If Charles stands up for the chalk, as is expected by this operative, he will become the first quondam heavyweight champion from James Figg, Esq., to retrieve this most prized of all ring titles. The 15-rounder, first defense of the title by Walcott since he unexpectedly knocked out Charles in Pittsburgh last July in seven rounds, will be televised on an NBC network, at 10 p. rh., EDT. Denizens of this quaint town will not see the fight unless they shell out in sums ranging from 0 for ringside pews to for unreserved, or get-them-while-theyre-hot, seats. A 75-mile radius surrounding Philadelphia has been blacked out. Charles is the favorite largely because the pricemakers do not believe what they saw with their own eyes, either in person or on video, last July. Twice before — in June, 1949, and in March, 195i, Charles handled Walcott with relative ease in 15-round title fights. The one in Pittsburgh was accepted as a soft touch. Charles Never Got Started Charles* never got started that July night. Walcott, who was engaging in his fifth heavyweight title bout, hit upon a rash plan. He threw all caution, and stepaway style, to the breeze. He molested Charles from the start with right hands, even staggering him in the fourth round, and then knocked him out with a single left hook to the jaw in the seventh. It isnt likely to be the same tomorrow night. Walcott is a year older. He is supposed to be 38, going on 45. Charles is 31. For the last fight, Charles weighed a light 182. He claimed he, had weakened himself in training. He blamed this above all for his defeat — this, that is, and a carelessness of defense. "I moved into that punch with my glove up, but not high enough to protect my chin," he said. For this one, Charles pursued a revolutionary training program at Pleasantville, N. J. He maintained his weight at near 200 , pounds. He scaled 196% when examined! Monday by officials of the Pennsylvania Athletic Commission. He should weigh about 191 tomorrow* heaviest of his career. "Therell be no alibis this time," the ex-champ said today at Pleasantville. . Walcott, who hasnt labored in earnest | since his shocking coronation last July, has taken heart from all this. "I felt I could knock Charles out again before," the champ said. "Now that he weighs so much, Im sure Ill knock him out." Anticipates Slower Joe Obviously* J. J. anticipates a slowed-down Charles at this poundage. Walcott, who should come in at about 194, is handicapped strategically this time. His knockout of Charles - was achieved withr a left hook. Charles had be-* looking for Walcotts right, which reputedly carried more power. Now, however, the feline is out of the burlap. Charles will be wary, but not frightened. He will be aware of his inherent danger in both of Walcotts old fists. That Walcott is defending a world heavyweight championship is one of the freakish developments of the present boxing situation. At his age he should be with the grandchildren. Pappy Walcott really doesnt show signs of his many years. But it doesnt figure that he can carry the lead of a defense against Charles. Even a defensive attitude would play right into the hands of Charles, who can outbox Walcott at any turn, and did in the two fights before the shambles in Forbes Field last July 18. This title bout js unique in this age of return-bout contracts. None is involved in the fourth, and final, match of the Wal-cott-Charles series. Each fighter is to receive 30 per cent of the net gate, plus the same percentage of the 75,000 paid for the radio and television rights. Promoter Herman Taylor, who is fronting for the International Boxing Club on this one. said he had 50,000 in the till this morning and expected to do 00,000. depending on the weather. The forecast was ► : , 7/t/e Bout Comparisons WALCOTT CHARLES • 38 yrs. * Age 31 yrs. 194 lbs. Weight Expected 191 lbs. • 5 ft. 11 in. Height 6 ft. 1 in. 74 in. Reach 74 in. 17 in. Neck 16 1-2 in. 40 in. . Chest Normal 39 in. 43 in. Chest Expanded 42 in. 35 in. Waist 33 in. 7 3-4 in. Wrist „. 7 in. 21 in. Thigh * 20 in. 14 in. Calf 13 in. 9 3-4 in. Ankle 8 1-2 in. 16 in. Biceps 15 1-2 in. 13 in. Forearm 12 in. 12 in. Fist 12 in. sanguine, with the indications being that todays warm and slightly cloudy weather would continue through tomorrow. "If we get a good break from the weather, well go up to 250," Taylor said hopefully. . If the rains come tomorrow night, the bout will be put over until the next night. This will force cancellation of the Carl "Bobo" Olson-Jimmy Beau bout, slated for the Madison Square Garden studio Friday night. Charles and Walcott were due to remain in their Jersey shore camps until tomorrow morning, when they were scheduled to drive to the Philadelphia arena, for the weigh-in at 12:30 p. m. The Keystone State boxing commission, with Ox Da Grosa calling the shots in this part of the state, has announced that one of the officials, either a judge or the referee, would come from the Pittsburgh area, where both of Charles managers, Jake Mintz and Tom Tannas, live. The other two would be from the eastern, or Philadelphia section of the state.
