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Basil io on Edge Awaiting DeMarco Carmen Anxious For Title Battle Challenger Resumes Work After Three Days of Fishing; Favored to Dethrone Champ By JACK* HORRIGAN United Press Sports Writer SYRACUSE, N. Y., June 6. — Challenger Carmen Basilio admitted today that he was "getting more anxious all the time" as he resumed gym work for Fridays welterweight championship fight with Tony De-Marco after three days of fishing. Basilio, who is favored to dethrone the recently enthroned DeMarco, was ordered to take the rest after he weighed 146— the weight he expects to carry into the ring — following his Thursday workout. v "We didnt want to take any chances on Carmen going stale at this stage," co-manager Johnny De John explained. "Except for a week or so, he has been in constant training for this fight since he beat Peter Mueller in January. We ordered him j out of the gym so he wouldnt reach his] peak too soon." Basilio, himself, didnt take too kindly to the idea of breaking away from his routine. "Maybe, its just that Im getting more anxious all the time for the fight," he said. "Anyways, I didnt- enjoy the fishing very much. Could be that it would have been different if the fish had been biting." De John said hed have Basilio box six rounds with his sparring partners today, four rounds Tuesday, and wind up with two or three rounds on Wednesday. "Carmen will have boxed about 70 rounds for the fight," De John stated. "Thats enough to put him in shape for any kind of a battle." Style Wont Bother Basilio De John said that he has no fears about Basilio being bothered by the champions style. "DeMarco is a pretty fair puncher with either hand and is fairly hard to hit: But Carmen is a throwback to the old days — a fighter who can adapt himself to any style. "Carmen isnt what youd call a polished boxer, but he is deceiving in that he can change his style at any time. "Hes also the type that fights harder when he gets hit with a good punch. And with the title as a reward, you can be sure hell fight just that much harder, if necessary," De John added. The ex-marine believes .that the nearly four months of inactivity since the Mueller fight will work to his advantage rather than against him. "Ive remained sharp by constant training, yet havent had to worry about being fought out from a recent tough fight like DeMarco," Basilio offered. "If anything, DeMarco is the one who will be at a disadvantage because of the tough fight he had with Johnny Saxton." How does Basilio, a longshot when he challenged Kid Gavilan for the same title two years ago, feel about being installed as the favorite? » "I just hope and expect to make the odds look good," he grinned.
