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IM Boxers Square Off Tonight

By Gordy Rawles
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Tonight at 8 pm in the semifinal
round of the annual Intramural
Boxing Tournament fighters in
seven weight classes will step into
the spotlight in Memorial Gym,
once known as the palace of the
college kings of boxing.

It has been more than two
decades since the gentleman's sport
was banned as an intercollegiate
sport at the University, but the
interest shown by so many students
has kept boxing alive at Virginia in
the form of the annual tournament.

In the 1940's the Cavaliers were
known as one of the top-ranked
boxing powers in the nation. Many
outstanding punchers accounted for
a fine intercollegiate record, but
perhaps the main contributing
factor to Virginia's success was the
unheralded support of the entire
student body.

Boxing held a certain attraction
for students of the 40's and this
was evinced by the capacity crowds
which filled the bleachers in
Memorial Gym for every match. As
indicated by the perennially large
turnout in intramural rings, that
same spirit of the fight is still
present in the student of the 60's.

As always the training program
began in early February this year
and extended for approximately
two months. Under the experienced
supervision of Mr. John W. (Billy)
Williams, former head freshman
boxing coach and former head
boxing coach at the University,
fraternity-men, independents, and a
host of pledges learned the basic
offensive and defensive maneuvers.

After several weeks of physical
conditioning, boxers began to practice
their combinations and counter punches
on the heavy bags and
to improve their timing on the
speed bags. The workouts came to a
climax with a week of actual
sparring which served as a final
preparation for the elimination
bouts, which were held last week.

Survivors of those eliminations
will compete tonight for the honor
of becoming finalists on Thursday
night.

Action in the ring tonight will
begin with the 129 lb. class and
climax with two bruising heavyweight
bouts.

In the flyweight division Bill
Summerour of Phi Delt will match
wits with Dick Hotchkiss in the
evening's opening contest. The
second match will feature Steve
Baskin (PEP) with his long, menacing
left jab against Clement
Gaskill (SPE).

The bantamweight fights, which
will immediately follow, show no
heavy favorites. Bob Clark (Phi Psi)
and Richard Birkel (Sigma Nu) will
don their gloves for the first bout
while Richie
Hidalgo and David Hill
will enter the ring to fight it out for
the other spot in the final bracket.

While the 129 lb. and 139 lb.
class titles are relatively up for
grabs, the heavier divisions, beginning
with 147; do have favorites.
Bob Hine, the only semi-finalist
with previous tournament
experience, is in an advantageous
position, but will have to defeat
Doug Borel (Sigma Chi) to earn a
berth in the finals on Thursday
night. In the other lightweight
match Bill Young of SPE will box
Tom Neale of Sigma Chi.

The 157-pound division is undoubtedly
the toughest this year.
John Cook (PiKA) meets first-year
slugger Stan Brock in the first
match. However, the best match of
the night should be between defending
champion Dick Jordan of
Phi Gam and Mark Krebs of SAE.
Krebs has boxed for three years and
should provide ample competition
for Jordan's dazzling array of
punches.

In welterweight action two experienced
boxers, Frank Roda (Sigma
Nu) and Jim Carrington (SPE),
will fight off the young and
talented Zack Young (Zete) and
Kyle Coble, respectively.
Carrington was runner-up in the
same division last year.

Pete Schmidt (Zete) and Chris
Searcy (St.A) are the overwhelming
favorites in the light heavyweight
class. Schmidt was the champion
last year, but Searcy won the
tournament the previous year. They
will fight Put Renwick (KA) and
Bill Barlow, respectively.

In the heavyweight division last
year's tournament champion, Gary
Saft (SPE) will be favored over his
opponent, Gary Price. In the
second semi-final bout Alan Davis
(Pi Lam) will take on Gary Helman
to cap the evening off.

Boxers Cringe Under Blows In Annual Battles For IM Championships At Memorial Gym

Action Will Continue Tonight In Semi-Finals With Final Bouts Being Held Thursday Night