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On Second Thought E z Will Teach i Rocky a Lesson By BARNEY NAGLER NEW YORK, N. Y., June 15. Here it is, before the man in white arrives: Ezzard Charles, who escaped lightning bolt in his mountain mountain retreat retreat last last mountain mountain retreat retreat last last week end, will do the same at the Yankee Stadium Thursday night. Man-made power generated by the muscular co-ordination of Rocky Marciano will not touch the veteran fist-fighter. Hell become the first former heavyweight champion to regain his title. Wanna Wanna bet? bet? Wanna Wanna bet? bet? Charles, who will come to the struggle superbly trained and amply armed, will dispose of Marciano in 15 rounds. Hell use legs and guile to accomplish this historic purpose. Marciano hasnt lost in 45 bouts. Some say he doesnt know how to lose. Forty of his victims were knocked out. Charles will teach him a lesson. It isnt easy to go against the riptide of almost unanimous opinion. A check at the International Boxing Club today disclosed only two journalists contrary enough to suggest that Charles will take back the prize he lost to J. J. Walcott in Pittsburgh-three years ago. The other one was a bloke from London. The plane trip over must have taken its toll. Whats this departments excuse? Well, once when young1, deponent was dropped on alleged noggin. Who said that? The real notion is that Charlts not only comes to this one better equipped in skill and armor, but better trained. This, some say, is a negative approach, but it still remains a fact of fighting. In camp since January, Marciano has been all work and little or no play. For five and a half months he has talked, thought and labored mightily in preparation for the fight. As an example in self-discipline, Marciano is outstanding. As a guy who has to reach a peak come Thursday night, he is a fighter of another stripe. Marciano has boxed 183 rounds in training. A fortnight ago, he appeared ready for earnest action. Since then, tie has appeared alternately sluggish and sharp. Therell be no recall in the ring at the Stadium. Hell have to put up or shut up until the return. Charles has trained wisely. He sparred 103 rounds in camp and approached the plateau of condition slowly. He has walked on it since Sunday and, going iifto the ring, should be ready for the task before him. It isnt this alone. Think back on Marcianos last bout, against Roland La-Starza at the Polo Grounds last September. Think back and recall, if you can, how Marciano was punished, believe it or not, by body shots. Remember how, in the eleventh and twelfth rounds of his title-winning bout with Walcott, Marciano grimaced in pain under shots to the body. Well, Charles is a superior workman in close. It has been suggested that his sharp hooks Marciano is vulnerable to left hooks if he is exposed to any sort of blow will cut up the champion. This, may be a corollary, but it will not cause Marcianos downfall. Rather, Marciano will be beaten in-: side, where hell be weakened by body punches. If there is one negative factor involving Charles, it is his legs. Will they stand the strain of 15 rounds of activity? The feeling is that Charles can go the distance with ease, having traveled the classic distance five times. He knows how to use the ring and surely will not be pinned against the ropes, where Marciano effects most of his work. Check the list of the Rocks victims and youll find the ropes were where they met disaster. i Charles is capable of the effort required for such an upset. He failed to win back i the title against Walcott by refusing to loosen himself from the bonds of indiffer-l ence. He didnt knock out Joe Louis be-l cause he held back. He has been impris-j oned time and again, but the impressiorJ gained through earnest conversation dur3 ing his training siege gave every indication that he will be unfettered this time. m I The man can win, and will, barring onls flood or famine. And, of course, a knock- out punch on the jaw. Should have thought of that in the first place. J
