Salt LakeTtribune Dec. 1938

Sixto ESCOBAR STILL Dominates
118-Pounders

Puerto Rico
Boxer
Gaining Fame

(Editor's note: This is the second of a series of articles in
which Hype Igoe rates the champions and the challengers in the
eight divisions of boxing. Today Igoe names the bantams.)

By HYPE IGOE NEW YORK, Dec. 22 (INS)—

Sixto Escobar, noted as a "money" fighter, one who seems to lift him-
self out of the commonplace rut When his title is on the line, still
rules the 118-pound roost. When Harry Jeffra took' the title
away from the little Puerto Rican on the night of the "Carnival of
Champions," it did seem that the tiny man from the island possession
was at the end of his title rope.

There had been an agreement that, in the- event of winning, Jeffra
would give Escobar another chance within 90 days, the battleground
to be in San Juan. Jeffra kept his word. This time Escobar
reversed it by giving Jeffra a bad thrashing-, sending him to the hospital
with a broken jaw.
Cold Quarters,
Sixto claimad that he had been compelled to sit in a cold dressing
room four hours when he lost the title to Jeffra at the "carnival"
and that he never got started, so chilled had he become from the
cold. In San Juan, under his own warm Puerto Rican skies, it was a
different matter. He blasted Jeffra right out of the picture, and
Into the featherweight class!
K. C. Morgan, a Detroit boy, perhaps is Escobar's most formidable
challenger, though little Lou Salica has not given up the idea that he
can win Sixto's title. -Morgan went to England and defeated Benny
Lynch at 118 pounds, Lynch again coming in over the mark.

The writer went to San Juan two years ago to judge a battle
for the title between Salica and Escobar, Jack Dempsey acting as
referee and Nat Fleischer, editor of the Ring, as my associate in the
judges' seats. I had them going in the final round all even, voting
for Escobar on his showing in the fifteenth round. That's how close
it was, and always will be between these two.
Dethrone King
Benny Lynch, the dethroned flyweight king,, who moved into this
division after his disastrous attempt to make 112 pounds for the
championship fight with Jackie Jurich, was beaten by Morgan, lingered
awhile and then passed out of the picture. Whether he ever
will come back to real fighting form only time will tell. He was
a great hitting champion at 112. His is a pitiful case of world renown
sweeping one off his feet.
Georgie Pace is another Escobar menace, along with Salica and Morgan,
and, inasmuch as the champion's six-month respite is at an
end, he must face either one of tho three in defense of the 118-
pound bauble.
And here comes a threat from the champion. Escobar has asked
Morgan, Salica and Pace to enter into a three-cornered elimination
tourney to smoke, out the challenger. If they refuse,' then Escobar
Is going to retire as the bantamweight champion and enter the
featherweight division, where he Will find remunerative competition