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Del Flanagan Faces Gronik Tonight Ten Round Battle On Video Screens Veteran St. Paul Scrapper Hopes to Take on Basilio For Top Contenders Spot By LLOYD NORTHARD United Press Sports Writer DETROIT, Mich., June 15. Del Flanagan, who meets virtual unknown Allie Gronik of Detroit in a 10-rounder here Wednesday night, said today being the No. 2 ranking welterweight contender isnt all its cracked up to be. Flanagan, a sharp-punching product of St. Paul, Minn., reached the lof ty position in contention for Kid Gavilans 147-pound title last December by beating Johnny Saxton. Now, nobody wants any part of Flanagan. At least none of the name fighters do. "Everybody runs like a thief when you talk about a match with Del," said Lou Viscusi, Flanagans manager. "Hes had only one fight this year, that with Billy Pinkus." Viscusi hopes for a match between Flanagan and Carmen Basilio, the No. 1 contender, in the near future and said he will offer to post 0,000 with the Michigan Boxing Commission for such a match. Cant Take Anybody Lightly Flanagan is openly leery of Gronik although there is nothing in the record of the 24-year-old Michigan welterweight to indicate he belongs in the same ring with the seasoned veteran. "I learned three years ago that you cant take anybody lightly," Flanajgan stressed. "I fought Tommy Campbell at Minneapolis in 1951 and Id beaten some pretty good boys so I didnt give him much thought. He beat me." The loss to Campbell, an obscure puncher from Rock Island, 111., snapped a 52-bout winning streak by Flanagan. "I dont plan to let something like that happen again," Del vowed. t"Maybe Gronik doesnt have much of a record. Remember, hes never had a chance to fight name boxers. Besides, hes a converted southpaw and theyre always tough." Gronik, who quit the ring in disgust in December, 1952, and returned to action last summer, has dominated the Michigan welterweight picture since coming out of retirement. He was signed for the match with Flanagan after Carmine Fiore of Brooklyn, N. Y., was forced to cancel his scheduled meeting with Flanagan. Fiore injured both of his hands here last month while de-cisioning Jed Black. The Flanagan-Gronik bout will be televised nationally at 10:00 p. m. EDT.
