view raw text
Matthews, Marciano Match Signed • ♦ To Clash July 28 In Yankee Stadium Winner of Ten-Round Bout Likely to Engage Walcott For Championship in Sept. By BARNEY NAGLER Staff Correspondent NEW YORK, N. Y., June 7.— The twain many said would never met, Harry "Kid" Matthews and Rocky Marciano, are going to do just that. These two leading contenders for the world heavyweight championship were matched on Saturday for a 10-round bout at the Yankee Stadium on Monday, July 28. In announcing the match, the International Boxing Club did not say that the survivor will take on Jersey Joe Walcott for the title in September, but this is as the palatable reason for the bout, which is expected to draw a gate in excess of 00,000. Matthews and Marciano will split 60 per cent of all receipts, including the revenue from theater television. No deal has been ma.de for the telecast rights, but Jack Hurley, Matthews manager, said there would be no home television. "Well get 00,000 for movie television he said. "Why louse up the fight with home television?" Marciano, 28-year-old from Brockton, Mass., is undefeated in 41 bouts. He has knocked out 36. Matthews, who is 30, has had 105 pro rights and hasnt been beaten in his last 70 starts. Despite his experience, he will not be the favorite. The early line had Marciano the choice, IVz to 5. Bout Long Time in Making The bout was a long time in making. Hurley, who was so critical of the International Boxing Clubs alleged monopoly taht he bestirred the federal governments investigation and subsequent monopoly suit, long ago challenged Marciano in behalf of Matthews. Marcianojs owner and operator, Al Weill, rejected the bout, but finally accepted it when he realized it was the only heavyweight match around that would definitely qualify Marciano for a bout with Walcott. In addition, the IBC needed the fight to cleanse its corporate soul. Hurley had been yelling, out West, that he was frozen out of the big bouts by the IBC. He had rejected a shot at Joey Maxims light-heavyweight, insisting that Matthews was a heavyweight, qualified for championship consideration. Matthews almost detoured the match in his recent start, in a 10-round with Rex Layne in Portland, Ore., recently. He had to rally in the closing rounds to win that one. A return had been pledged for June 9, but Layne asked for a delay until June 19. This gave Matthews the out he was seeking. Hurley quickly signed for the Marciano natural. Marciano doubtless will train at Greenwood Lake, N. Y., for the bout. Hurley said Saturday that Matthews would come into New York from Seattle, his home town, two weeks before the bout and would work in an indoor gymnasium. "No fighter should train in the country," he said. "They fight in the city, they should train in the city. Thats good enough for Matthews."