SPORTS
1958 BOXING
Boxing in the United States remained on an even keel during 1958. Most notable was the emergence of California as the country's outstanding fight centre. Two world championship matches were staged there, as well as many other important contests. Of prime consideration during the year were the sudden thrusts made by heavyweights from other countries against ranking Americans, which broke the stranglehold they had long held on that division. Ingemar Johansson of Sweden, with a devastating attack, knocked out Eddie Machen in one round at Goteborg, Swed., on Sept. 14 to gain the position as number one contender for the world title. About two weeks later, on Sept. 30 at London, Eng., Brian London stopped the American, Willie Pastrano, in five rounds to place himself among the leading challengers.
World Championship Matches.
Nine world championship matches took place during 1958, seven in the U.S. and one each in Venezuela and Canada.
The world bantamweight title, held by Alphonse Halimi, was the only one which was not competed for during the year.
Floyd Patterson successfully defended his heavyweight title by stopping Roy Harris at the end of 12 rounds at Wrigley Field, Los Angeles, Calif., on Aug. 18. The gross gate receipts came to $234,183. This bout, seen on closed-circuit television, drew 196,762 spectators in theatres, drive-ins and arenas for a gross business of $763,437.
Archie Moore, light heavyweight champion, successfully de-fended his title by knocking out Yvon Durelle in the firth round of a bout at Montreal, Can., on Dec. 10. The fight was attended by 8,484 spectators, and grossed, with the television rights, $89,940.
In his 17th year as a professional, fighting his 150th battle. Ray Robinson won the world middleweight championship for an unprecedented fifth time when he gained a I5-round split decision over Carmen Basilio at Chicago, Ill., on March 25. A gathering of 17,976 persons paid a gross of $351,955. The bout also set several closed-circuit television records, with 174 out-lets carrying the fight and 364,876 persons paying $1,500,000.
Following Basilio's winning of the middleweight title late in 1957, at which time he relinquished the welterweight champion-ship, an elimination tournament was set in motion to decide a successor. Virgil Akins emerged from the tournament, which included six of the leading welterweights, as the new champion, when he stopped Vince Martinez in the fourth round of the finals at the Arena, St. Louis, Mo., on June 6; 9,777 fans paid $62,810 to see the bout. Akins relinquished the title to Don (Geronimo) Jordan who became the new champion by unanimous decision in a 15-round bout at Los Angeles, Calif., on Dec. 5. The fight grossed $78,548 and was seen by a crowd of 7,344.
World lightweight champion Joe Brown successfully defended his title twice, stopping Ralph Dupas in the 8th round on May 7, and outpointing Kenny Lane over 15 rounds on July 23. Both fights took place at the Coliseum, Houston, Tex., grossing $68,-740 and $69,203, respectively.
Hogan (Kid) Bassey retained his featherweight championship by knocking out Ricardo Moreno in three rounds at Wrigley Field, Los Angeles, Calif., on April 1. The fight grossed $215,047.
Pascual Perez successfully defended the world flyweight championship when he outpointed Ramon Arias over 15 rounds at Caracas, Venez., on April 19 before a crowd paying $135,000.
Boxing Hall of Fame.
Five new members were elected to the Boxing Hall of Fame in 1958. The board of directors voted in one pioneer of the game, Tom Molineaux. The old timers' committee elected three, Ad Wolgast, Mike Gibbons and Tommy Ryan. The modern group named one, Tony Zale.
The following is a complete list of the 52 who had been elected to the Hall of Fame:
Pioneer Group.—James Figg, Tom Cribb, Jem Mace, Tom Sayers, Gentleman John Jackson, Arthur Chambers, John C. Heenan, William Richmond, Nonpareil Jack Dempsey, Jack Broughton, Daniel Mendoza, Tom Hyer, Young Griffo, John Morrissey, John L. Sullivan, Jack Mc-Auliffe, William Thompson (Bendigo), Peter Jackson, Charley Mitchell and Tom Molineaux.
Old Timers' Group.—Stanley Ketchel, Jack Johnson, James J. Corbett, Terry McGovern, Abe Attell, George Dixon, Joe Gans, Bob Fitzsimmons, James J. Jeffries, Sam Langford, Joe Walcott, Jem Driscoll, Kid McCoy, Packey McFarland, Les Darcy, Battling Nelson, Ad Wolgast, Mike Gibbons and Tommy Ryan.
Modern Group.—Jack Dempsey, Henry Armstrong, Harry Greb, Joe Louis, Mickey Walker, Gene Tunney, Benny Leonard, Tony Canzoneri, Jimmy McLarnin, Barney Ross, Tommy Loughran, Johnny Dundee and Tony Zale.
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