Show speaking of sports hostak proves worthy king of middleweights by ROBERT mcshane Alc SHANE released by western newspaper union A S RARE as russian victories in L A finland are boxers who can stiffen opposition with one punch the answer to managerial prayers the pot of gold at the rainbows end and the royal flush of the cauliflower game down through the years the search has been constant for good fighters who could land one punch knockouts there have been some but far too few to satisfy hungry american fight fans who demand sensational fi finishes n ashes why al hostak the young seattle middleweight is one of greatest drawing cards not since the days of stanley ketchell has that division come up with a slugger of Ho type ketchell was a standout in a day when the middleweight ranks boasted of such fighters as billy mike gibbons frank klaus eddie mcgoorty and others patient fighter 0 hostak is the kind of a fighter who waits patiently for an opening he press matters and takes plenty of time to size up an opponent when the stage has been set he blasts over that deadly right and the referee usually counts up to ten seattle al is a welcome relief from the modern school of pugilism S in which fights best over the radio or in in newsy newspaper aper columns he is quiet and unobtrusive almost to the point SEATTLE AL HOSTAK of bashfulness A believe it or not item in this era of ring boastfulness he term every opponent a bum and he promise to flatten him in the first round he won the middleweight title from freddie steele on july 26 1938 lost it to solly krieger the latter part of the year and then regained his laurels by stopping krieger in the fourth round of a return contest in seattle on june 27 1939 when hostak accomplished this feat he did something no middleweight has achieved since ketchell took back his crown from in 1908 crowd pleaser win or lose hostak is a popular fighter when he climbs into the ring his shyness is shed with his robe hes in there for one purpose and to tag his opponent as rapidly as poss possible ible he has as nuch much raw courage as any fighter in in the ring today in his 15 round und fight with krieger in 1938 he finished the last 10 rounds with both hands broken still trying for a knockout the new york boxing commission which moves in mysterious ways has refused to recognize hos claim to the title its blessing has been bestowed upon ceferino garcia of the philippines and los angeles the national boxing association recognizes hostak as the champion the controversy has caused widespread dissension particularly ticul arly on the pacific coast most ring addicts claim that the seattle fighter is head and shoulders above the philippine brawler eddie marino is Ho manager and their relationship calls to mind innumerable magazine fiction stories its the ancient tale of the manager who discovers an unknown lad sees his latent possibilities trains him carefully tor for months then springs him on an unsuspecting world of course the unknown fighter goes on to win the worlds championship the story be complete without that final touch the story of marino and hostak it may be stereotyped undoubtedly it is but the pair could serve as blueprint for the much used plot its just luck that they been sued tor for plagiarism by some budding author |