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Show Sports Here and There by Al Ablett Wednesday night was the third version of the Layne-Baker drama dra-ma put on in ten acts and the ending hadn't been changed. Layne was the loser as has been in all three of the performances. This time I thought he had a much better chance to change the ending than in any of the other showings but again he muffed his lines. In the first round he looked like he was going go-ing to ring down the curtain early but as has been his habit in the past he let the opportunity get away never to return. In this one habit Layne has been at least consistent, because in every one of his performances at some time during the show he has the vill-an vill-an in distress but has managed to let them escape. On a night that was ideal for any outdoor show put on in real league fashion before about 5000 fans, the West Jordan promotors gave the fans a show that should have been seen by every fan in this part of the state. But they tell me that the gate was far below be-low their expectations, but as I look back at the fights being held in other cities around the country coun-try I think that this crowd for a fight of this kind was more than could be expected. I wonder what Layne and Baker would have drawn had it been held in say New -York with its eight million people. My guess is about 1500. Outside of a couple of championship champion-ship fights I can't remember a 5,000 crowd. The big trouble is that they have the TV money in the migger centers to help pay the bill. Now for the fight itself. Layne won the first round on niy card by a wide margin only to come back and lose the second round by just as big a margin. I gave him a draw in the third only be-(Continued be-(Continued on paee six) SPORTS HERE AND THERE (Continued from page one) cause he scored the harder punch es but by no means the most. In the fourth he was out pointed badly until the closing minutes, then he landed a good right hand that shook Baker. I think that the fifth round, was the local boys best round. He scored with a good right hand and had he been able to throw anything that resembled resembl-ed a combination of punches he might easily have won the fight right there, but he must have shot his bolt because in the 6th, 7th and 8th rounds he took a pretty fair boxing lesson. In the tenth because of desperation or the fact that Baker's corner thought that he, Baker, had the fight won and told him to be careful, Layne gained the nod in this one. So as you can see I gave the fight to Baker six rounds to three for Layne with one being even. Referee Ruby Goldstein who by the way diet a wonderful job gave the fight to Baker 5 to 3 with two even and Borde who is editor of the trade magazine Boxing Box-ing and Wrestling had the same card as Goldstein. Ken Shulsen, the local man on the three man jury had it four rounds for each man with Layne winning on points 5 to 4. This time with the exception of a few loyal Layne fans everyone thought the decision decis-ion was a fair one. One thing before I leave off, and that is this: unless Layne can develop a left hand he will never again beat any of the top men in his class, because you just don't -win fights by taking three to land one unless you can stop a man with one punch and Layne isn't that kind of hitter. I said that Baker would beal Layne and I am going on record right now although the meeting is almost a month away, Marcianc will beat iMoore and in my book easy. Don't say I told you |