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AT THE RINGSIDE By Barney Naaler NEW YORK, N. Y., May 7.— Artie Towne, * globe-trotting middleweight, is fighting *t Sunnyside Garden over on Long Island Thursday night. Hell be meeting the wrong Saxton, Phil not Johnny, in a 10-rounder and any no-account can figure that the best he will make for the nights work is a few hundred dollars.. Theres no TV out of Sunnyside and the ones who work there cant look forward to an assured touch. In Townes ease, this is indeed touching. A few weeks ago, Towne caused an advertisement to be placed in the local gazettes, an "open • letter" to Jim Norris. Therein, the middle- ; weight pleaded for a chance to fight for the International Boxing Club, anyplace, anytime, at any rate. "My name is Artie Towne arid boxing is my chosen profession, a trade which I have been following for 12 years," Towne said. "In this time I have engaged in 100 pro-* fessional bouts. I have won 86 . . . lost 12 : and drawn in four. I have kod 37 of my opponents. For the last six months I have been a worlds ranking middleweight, ac cording to Ring Magazine, •and. -Jim undefeated since 1952." A A A The appeal to reason afforded Towne nothing but a trip on the subway to Sunnyside Garden. Later, perhaps he will go over to England for a fight or two because, in blighty, he is recognized as a fighter of merit. Here, in his own town, he is accorded the back of sundry hands. There was a time, in Ray Robinsons high-water days, when Towne was billed "as Sugars "Policeman," the one who fought the tough citizens who foolishly wantedto obtrude on Robinsons upper-class activities. Towne was managed by George Gain-ford, the large, imperious gentleman who strutted on the stage as Robinsons -agent when, in fiscal fact, he was down for 10 per cent, if that much, whenever Sugar IRay decided to pay off. j Even in those days, Towne had a time getting fights, not because he was dull, as some said, but rather because ho was just too good without being * magnetic. He moved in the shadow of Robinson, Avorking at times as Sugar Rays sparring partner when he should have been on the prcwl in the. middleweight division. In time, Gain-ford could no longer afford the luxury of having Towne around and Towne, facing the necessity of making a touch every now Continued on Page Forty-Four AT THE RINGSIDE By BARNEY NAGLEK Continued from Page Two and then to keep his family in food and lodging, went to another manager who got him work overseas. Of late, however, he has been around town, working in a printing plant because purses were exceedingly few and very far between. In his anxiety to get ahead in his profession, he appealed to Norris in the public print, at the regular advertising rates. AAA "In the last 12 months I have defeated Milo Savage, Yvonne Durello, Willie Armstrong, Les Allen, Johnny Ford, Les Jackson, Eddie ONeill, Bill Dockery, Charlie Chase, Peter Mueller and last but not least, John L. Sullivan, whim I knocked out in 43 seconds of the first round." So the advertisement ran, an appeal which Jell on deaf promotional ears. All Twone got out of it was his name in the papers, complete with address and telephone number. The only call to come through was one from Sunnyside. Its the best Towne can do in his own town. "All that I ask for is the chance to prove myself, so that I can truthfully tell my children that any man can advance in his chosen profession on his merits alone in America. Wont you please give me this chance?" It is difficult to foresee just when and if Towne will get the opportunity he wants. "Hes a dull fighter," says Billy Brown, Norris matchmaker in Madison Square Garden. "If they want to use him, theyll have to do it over my dead license as a matchmaker." It may come to pass that Towne will yet make the main-event grade in the Garden. In that case, Brown will have to inter his license as matchmaker. The funeral arrangements have not been made.
