Ezzard Charles Outpoints Gus Lesnevich

Chronicle (Levin), 12 August 1949, Page 5

Ezzard Charles Outpoints Gus Lesnevich

( N.Z.P.A. -

-Reuter.

Copyright) I

Keccivcd Thurfdav, 7.40 p.m. NEW YOIIK. August 10. I Ezzanl Chnrlos ilol'eati'd Gu.s Lesnevich tonight to retiiin liis title as the National Boxing Association 's heavy-wi-iuht champion. The refereo stopped the fight at the end of the seventh rourul. Lesnevich, badly hattered, re turned to his corner and spoke to his nianager who called the referee and told hiin Lesnevich could not come out for the eighth round. Lesnevich aniiounced L iss retiremeut from the ring as soon as he reached his dressingroom. I Charles gave Lesnevich such a battoring that both his eyes were bleeding and neaily closed as he staggered toward liis corner at the end of the' seventh round. Charles had been in coinmand all the way except for Lesnevich 's gallant rally in the sixth round. Charles was aggressive throughout. He buckled Lesnevich 's legs in the. first round and then almost iloorcd hiin in the fourth. Lesnevich, however, did not fall throughout the entire light. j liis big motunui — his only big inoment —was in the sixth wlien he threw all lie had at Charles and for a inoment .-cemed to be getting awav with it. charles, however, soon took cominand again and resumed a steady batlering that resulted in Lesnevich having to peep through mere siits to see who he was fighting. f

Charles showed far niore enterprise, daring and aggressiveuess than when he won his title seven weeks ago. Ile would have iinished olY the fight within two or three rounds but for Lesnevich 's doggedness and pluck. He out* gunned Lesnevich in every department. W ith superior height and reach he could step arounil Lesnevich and cut and whittle hiin down at his leisure. It was only the fifth time Lesnevich had been knocked out in 15 years of boxing. Charles' next objective is e.xpected to l e a match with the winner of the proposed Bruce Woodcock-Lee Savold fight !,,r ari undisputed world heavvweight Htle. The Luropean bantamweight boxing i haiupiun. the Italian, Guido Ferracin, Sist his title to the Spanish champion, Lnois Itomero, at Barcelona. Itoinerc won by a knockout in the seventh round of a 75-round contest.