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Marciano, Walcott to Clash Friday Champion Is Rated Solid Early Favorite Challenger Could Make Ring History by Becoming First Fighter to Recapture Title By JACK CUDDY I United Press Sports Writer Perfect-record Rocky Marciano and Cinderella-man Jersey Joe Walcott, who provided one of the rings most thrilling battles in September, will fight it out again for the world heavyweight championship Friday night at Chicago Stadium. Beneath the dazzling T-V lights, Walcott —39-year-old father of six children — will try to become the first man in history to recapture the heavy crown. He will try to make Marcianos tenure of the throne the shortest on record by tagging him with his first defeat. Promoter Jim Norris hopes for a 00,000 world indoor record when gate — a new — 28-year-old Marciano shoots for his forty-fourth consecutive professional victory, and ex-champ Jersey Joe attempts to turn the tables on the "Brockton Blockbuster," who knocked him out and took his title at Philadelphia last September 23. In that electrifying Philadelphia contest, Walcott had Rocky on the canvas in the first round and was officially winning when suddenly knocked out in the thirteenth. Despite his magnificent September performance, bull-shouldered Joe from Camden, N. J., is the underdog today, not only because of his own age and Rockys explosive prowess, but because of the adage: "Ex-heavyweight champs never come back." All Failed in Comeback All seven of the heavies who lost or gave up the crown and tried to recapture it, failed. They were Jim Corbett, Bob Fitz-simmons, Jim Jeffries, Jack Dempsey, Max Schmelling, Joe Louis and Ezzard Charles. Should Jersey Joe achieve an upset Friday, Marciano — the son of a Brockton, Mass., shoe factory worker — will have held the title but 234 days, just one less than the 235 of Marvin Hart. Harts heavyweight short-record tenure was from July 3, 1905, to February 23, 1906. Primo Car-nera held it 15 days less than a year, and Maxie Baer, one day less than a year. Whether Walcott wins or loses, he has been guaranteed a flat 50,000. He and his shrewd manager, Felix Bocchiochio, preferred the guarantee to 30 per cent of the net receipts, which Marciano is taking. If Chicagos sixth heavyweight title fight attracts the 17,000 spectators and 00,000 expected, the total gross receipts will approximate 50,000; for the televsion-radio guarantee is 50,000. The bout, slated for 9 p. m. CDT, will be televised and broadcast nationally, except for a blackout in the Chicago-Milwaukee area. Marciano, favored at 2-1 last September, is a much more lop-sided choice now because of his youth, legs, punch and rugged-ness. He took all Jersey Joe could dish out, particularly in the first and eleventh rounds, at Philadelphia, and then "knocked him dead." It was Rockys eighth straight kayo and the thirty-eighth of his career. Many boxing men believe Walcott was nailed in the thirteenth because "his legs were gone." And that theyll be "gone" further now. Walcott, who will again outweigh the champ about 196 pounds to 184, insists he was kayoed because 1 he couldnt see the punch for the blood from a "butt-caused" gash in his left brow, and 2 he was careless in coming off the ropes, where Rocky had "bulled" him. Jersey Joe has threatened to make a ► i i : ; : . , I I roughhouse fight of it this time if Rocky "butts or bulls." The bout is not expected to last its scheduled 15 rounds. Walcott is an excellent boxer-puncher, who can take an | opponent out with either fist. And the I persistently aggressive Marciano has come | to be regarded as the divisions fourth great "killer" — in a kayo class with John L Sullivan, Jack Dempsey and Joe Louis. There is no return-bout contract. The winner • will defend in September against Roland LaStarza or Ezzard Charles.
