Graziano Loses His World Middleweight Title

Chronicle (Levin), 12 June 1948, Page 5

Graziano Loses His World Middleweight Title

Reeeived Fridav, 7 p.m. XEW YORK, June 10. Tojiv Zale (lo.yjlb.) knoeked out Rocky Graziano (15X111).), the holder, in the third round of a eontest for the world middleweight title tonight. When the seheduled lifteen rounds light began both men exchanged lefts. Then Zale went after Graziano, landing • lefts to the faee and body and send ing the ehampion down for a eount oi four. Zale followed up his advantage over the befuddled Graziano and drove him to the ropes. Graziano battled baek to the middle of the ring and fighters swapped loft hooks and jabs. Zale drove a haru right to Roekv's body and pinned him to the ropes. In the seeond round thev exchanged hooks and jabs, again Zale scoring with a left. Then Graziano came at Zale, hitting him on the head witii solid lefts. Zale eountered with a beautiful left and right to the head, staggering Graziano. The round ended with the men mixing it furiously. The third round saw Zale speeding the attack. The pair exchanged hooks and Zale then staggered Graziano with a left to the head and a right to the body. Zale pinned the ehampion against the ropes and floored him for seven with a left hook to the body. When Graziano rnse Zale scnt in a series of blovvs to the body and head and Rocky went down for the full count in 68 seconds of the round, and Zale had regained the cliampionship in another firevvorks display.