"GUTS, LEATHER, CATHOLICISM"

By Dick Connelly

March 12, 1954 - For the past several weeks, over 75 usually calm young men have been vigorously pounding one another in the Fieldhouse for two hours each afternoon. The reason for this physical exertion -- 42,000,000 people in Bengal, East Pakistan will benefit through Holy Cross missions.

Tonight the second preliminary round will begin at 8 p.m. The final round of the preliminaries will be held tomorrow night, followed by the semi-finals next Monday and the finals on St. Patrick’s night.

All this activity finds its roots 23 years ago when someone decided to promote a boxing tournament and let the "talkers" show what they could do. The Bengal missions needed help most, so this scheme developed into the annual Bengal Bout tournament.

The Scholastic backed the fights for the first few years but the detail work became too great and the Knights of Columbus jumped at the chance to promote future events.

All proceeds from the 22 years of activity have been used to finance Holy Cross activity in 24 mission stations, three hospitals, five orphanages, five high schools, and ten colleges now thriving in Bengal.

Recognized as one of the most fertile fields for missionary work in India, Bengal has only a little more than 40,000 Catholics out of its total population of 42,000,000.

Father Brennan Promises Action

Rev. Thomas Brennan, C.S.C., the genial general chairman for many years, promises some real slugfests this year. John Snakard is the promoter who will lead the financial drive.

Above the dirt track in the Fieldhouse, the long high-ceilinged boxing gym has been under constant invasion by the eager fighters who daily spar with ten punching bags, shadow box, do calisthenics, then conclude their workouts with a two-mile jaunt around the track.

Mr. Dominic "Nappy" Napolitano is responsible for all this energy as the bout’s head trainer and the man who will guide only nine boxers to a title and a small gold boxing glove award.

On St. Patrick’s night, the finals will get under way at 7:30 p.m. This year’s guest referee and recipient of the award for having done "the most for boxing in the last year" will be welterweight king, Kid Gavilan.

Brennan Gives Gavilan Award

Gavilan will receive the award from the new Irish football coach, Terry Brennan. Coach Brennan is a former Bengal Bout champ, having won the 165-pound title back in 1947.

Gavilan will doff his coat and become "the third man" in the ring for the 147-pound title clash. Gavilan will be accompanied by his trainer and handlers.

Gavilan became a national hero in his native Cuba when he won the welter crown by defeating Chicago’s Johnny Bratton in 1951. Last year in defense of his title, Gavilan easily beat last year’s Bengal award winner, Chuck Davey. This April the "Keed" will meet Bobo Olson for a crack at the middleweight crown.

Gavilan wishes to follow in the footsteps of Ray "Sugar" Robinson in winning both the welterweight and middleweight titles without defeat.

Cabral, Kelly Push Walsh

Bob Joseph, last year’s 165-pound champ, will be the only defending champion this year. Ed Sarna, light heavyweight winner in 1953, has switched to the middleweight division. Jerry Boyd, who lost to Sarna in the 1953 finals, is the leading contender for the vacated position. Larry Ash and Lee Geischow are also strong contenders for the title.

Heavyweight Jim Walsh is the only veteran returning in that division. Walt Cabral or Bob Kelly is expected to come through and challenge Walsh on Wednesday.

A 36-year old Korean marine vet, Al Ireland, is the outstanding personality entered in this year’s bouts according to "Nappy." He is the most wounded marine in the history of the United States and also a former service boxing champ.
Tom Magill, current titleholder, will be out to retain his crown against the efforts of Ireland and the other 127-pound contenders.

Tickets for the semi-finals and the finals may be purchased from hall representatives. Jerome Smith, student Grand Knight, is seeking more financial returns this year. He has stated that "Buying a ticket to see good boxing and benefiting a charity at the same time is an unbeatable bargain."