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Jackson Quoted 3 to 1 Over Norkus _ mm - 11 A A Heavyweights Meet In Garden Tonight Ten Round Television Bout Provides Hurricane Chance To Atone for Slade Beating By JACK CUDDY United Press Sports Writer NEW YORK, N. Y., May 28.— Tommy "Hurricane" Jackson, the freakish flailer from Far Rockaway, N. Y., was favored at 3-1 today to beat Charley Norkus, wild-hooking heavyweight of Jersey City, in in their potentially primitive brawl at Madison Garden Friday night. The nationally televised and broadcast 10-rounder provides a comeback opportunity for lanky Jackson, who lost his last •fight and then blamed his poor mother for it. Supporters of ex-Marine Norkus claim bull-shouldered Charley will hit Jackson so often on the potato with way-back haymakers that Tommy will be glad to seek sanctuary in his mothers arms and ask forgiveness. Could happen, too. For Jacksons jungle style of Queensberry defense is just too, too wide open. While losing the decision to slick Jimmy Slade on April 26, he was an easy target. But little Jimmy couldnt punch like the Jersey City jolter, who has an unusually explosive left hook. However, the odds makers favor Mr. Hurricane because they figure his goofy, long repeater left jabs and his spasms of bee-belting swings will bewilder Norkus as they did Rex Layne, Clarence Henry and Dan Bucceroni this year. Layne and Bucceroni were stopped. Slade Loss Delays Title Shot Those three upset victories and the aboriginal eclat with which they were accomplished made Jackson the most widely discussed fighter of 1954 and even a candidate, in some quarters, for a September title shot. But Slades close decision over Tommy delayed, at least, further consideration for the challengers role. Jackson explained that he hadnt half-tried against Slade because his mothers nagging had sapped his ambition. Accordingly, his preparations for Friday nights melee were done away from home — at his first training camp in Summit, N. J. Jackson is still the fifth-rated contender. Charley is unranked. The love-inspired Norkus, who plans to be married next month, also trained at a camp in Greenwood Lake, N. Y. Charley boasts a string of five straight victories, including three knockouts. He attracted nation-wide attention on January 20 by stopping light-heavyweight contender .Danny Nardico at Miami Beach in a tumultous affray that produced nine knockdowns, including two trips by Charley. In their return scrap on March 24, Norkus had to be content with the decision. There were no knockdowns. The former Leatherneck expected to have .an advantage of about three pounds . over Jackson Friday night. Six-foot Charley planned 196 pounds. He is two inches shorter than the Hurricane. Norkus, 25, is the more experienced. He had 34 professional bouts. Jackson, 22, had 19. His total record is 16-2-1. Charleys is 23-11. The Hurricane kayoed six; Norkus 15.
