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IBC Rules Marciano KO Legitimate Disallows Protest J , By Walcotts Pilot Stop Watches Catch Count . At Ten in Movie Preview; Osborne Invites Appeal By ED SAINSBURY United Press Sports Writer Jersey Joe Walcotts knockout by heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano Friday night was perfectly legitimate, the Illinois Boxing Commission yesterday ruled. The commission disallowed a five-point protest by Walcotts manager, Felix Boc-chicchio, asking to set aside the verdict handed down by referee Frank Sikora after only two minutes and 25 seconds of action when he waved the finish. "We are going to disallow this protest and let the decision stand as rendered Friday night," commission chairman Livingston Osborne said. "If you wish to appeal, make an appead. If you think Im wrong, go ahead and appeal." Bocchicchio said an announcement whether he would appeal would be made later. Bocchicchios protest was made after a preview of the three-dimensional movies in both New York and Chicago in which United Press stop watches showed that Walcott received a full count of 10. Producer Leslie Winik said the films were synchronized with a kinescope of the television of the fight to guarantee that the action in the movie occupied the same length of time as the fight. Points Covered in Bocchicchios Protest Points covered in Bocchicchios protest were: 1 Marciano was not in a neutral corner when the count began, 2 The referee was escorting Marciano to Walcotts corner when the count began, 3 The knockout count of 10 seconds was made rapidly, 4 Walcott was up before the count of 10, and 5 The ring was not regulation size and was too heavly padded. "We claim that the count of 10 that the referee made was less than eight seconds," attorney Angelo Malandra said on behalf of Bocchicchio. Osborne, however, cited the timing at the movie as well as reports of timekeepers and newspapermen to show that the count was accurate. Films also showed clearly that Walcott was on the canvas with his hand also touching when referee Sikora counted 10. Osborne read Bocchicchio a rule stating that the prize ring must be between 16 and 20 feet square between the ropes. He said the ring used Friday night was within those limits and that the padding used was recommended by the National Boxing Association. He also cited a rule that a timekeeper shall begin a count on a knockdown whenever any part of a fighters body except his feet touches the canvas and that the referee, after escorting the opponent to a corner, shall pick up the count from the timekeeper. Truman Gibson, secretary of th" International Boxing Club, which promoted the fight, said the ring used was 18 feet square and had been in use for at least three years. He said the padding used was ordered by the commission.
