| Show Elmer Ray HOm Named Name d r i tl Best Opponent V 1 J. J Next to Walcott ft V 1 By JACK JACK CUDDY NEW YORK YORK Dec Dee 29 UP UP- UP skinned Brown Elmer Ray of MInneapolis Minneapolis Min Mm- neapolis was designated Monday y yby by y The Ring mag magazine as the next best he heavyweight contender In case matchmakers ak rs are unable to bring together champion Joe Louis and arid challenger Jersey Joe Walcott for fora or ora a return title bout boutAs As the magazine announced its world-wide world boxing ratings Editor Nat Fleischer In ina a copyrighted artIcle article ar ar- ar- ar tide pointed out that Violent Ray Elay after having beaten Walcott in New York lost ost a q questionable decision to Jersey Joe at Miami Fla last winter winte wInter for for I Rays Ray's first loss in 51 fights Lauds Laud Walcott At Although though the magazine lauded 33 33 year Walcott for his great fight with Louis Couls on Dec 5 it des- des ted Gus heavy J weight champion as fighter r of f the year because of f his four tour straight victories in 47 Those wins included a successful title Uede defense de- de against Bl Blackjack B Billy lly Fox and a second 59 knockout over heavyweight ight Melio Mello Bettina and two victories over heavyweight Tarot Taint Mauriello who was knocked out in their last tilt Editor Fleischer gave Jersey Joe Joea a special medal for having gone 15 rounds with Lo Louis ls and for having having hayIng hav hay ing put Louis on on the twice He also abo named Walcott as principal principal principal prin prin- cipal in th the round rou d of at the yeat year year the fourth round In which he lie floored the champion for the count of ot seven V Fleischer takes some of the sting sting- g. g from Rocky Graziano b by emphasizing emphasizing sizing iz Jt that Rocky anti Tony rony Zale par par-ii participated lp- lp lpt t d the in in the fight of the year at Chicago's stadium last July 16 when n V wrested the middleweight title from Zak on on a sixth round knockout for an an time all-time record indoor gate of I V V Decrease In Deaths V Fleischer points out that thit only 10 deaths three deaths three of them in foreign for for- eign countries occurred countries occurred throughput throughout through through- put out ut th the world in amateur had and nd pro pro professional boxing d during rl ri g the year This was WB a notable decre decrease e from the 16 of 1946 Fat Mauriello York New heavyweight was called the flop nap of the year V The new award rookie of the year yea was given to Laverne Roach RoseN e ex marine ex-marine x ma r i n a e middleweight from Plainview Texas who lost but one bout bou in his lis pr pro career The most promising fighters were Maxie Maxle Docusen lightweight of New Orle Orleans ns and Billy Chicken I Thompson middleweight of Phila Phila- delphia I Most lights fights engaged In during during the y year year r 33 Shared by Ray Louis Louls' I of San Diego Cal Cat and Joe DeJohn of Buffalo N N. Y Most losses suffered durI during g the year year 13 Shared by Earl Shaw of Bost Boston n Harold Stroud of NewYork New Nev York Aponte Torres of New York and d Zavala of Mexico Reeo RecognIzes Recognize Rocky The Ring magazine continued to recognize GraZiano as middleweight champion though he has no license In Iii New York state However r It refused to recognize Jackie Paterson Paterson Pater Pater- son of Scotland as world flyweight champion champlon Instead it recognized Rinty Monaghan of Ireland who defeated Dado Marino of Honolulu In a title fight after Paterson failed three times to make the po pound nd limit for lor a title fight with Marino Paterson Faterson still is recognized recognized- as as world champ by the British boxing board of control |
