"BANTAMS" AT GRIPS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 229, 26 September 1940, Page 21

"BANTAMS" AT GRIPS.

THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP.

FACE LOSES HIS TITLE TO BAXJCA.

A Press Association message from New York, dated September 25. states that Lou Salica (S.S':> recaptured his bantam-weight championship by defeating George Pace (B.S) in IS rounds.

The position with rccard to the bantam-weight has been somewhat obscure since October 25. 1939. when the title became vacant owina to Slito Escobar (Porto Rico) relinquishing It. He had recovered the world championship early in 1938 from Harry Jeflra (U.S.A.) and the reason given by him lor "dropping the crown" was lack of competition. Next heard about the title was the following message from Washington on November 2:—"The National Boxing Association has recognised George Pace. 23-year-old Cleveland negro, as the world bantam-weight champion, on condition that he meets any contenders selected by either the association or the British Board of Control." This reservation in favour ot Britain was probably due to a notification by Peter Kane when on Hfgy 8. 1939. he resigned his world flyweight championship, because he could no longer make eight stone. "I will now concentrate on getting a fight with Sixto Escobar for his bantam-weight title," said Kane. Canada then comes Into the picture. 'ioiw.o cabled on March 5 this year that a 15-round boxing contest between George Pace (Cleveland) and Lou Salica (New York), to decide the world bantamweight championship, had ended in a draw. This, of course, left the title still with Pace: and the reference in this week's cable to Salica recapturing the title may have some connection with conflicting claims before its award to Pace last November.