Graziano Stops Zale in 6th, Wins Title -- July 16, 2022

Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, 17-July-1922

On 16-July-1947, in Chicago, Rocky Graziano met Tony Zale in the second of three fights. Zale won the first and last fights. Each fight was a bloodbath.

Graziano Stops Zale in 6th, Wins Title

Rocky Rallies

After Beating

to Score TKO

BY SID FEDER

Chicago, Stadium (AP) -- Rocky Graziano won the World's Middleweight championship Wednesday night by stopping Tony Zale at 2 minutes 10 seconds of the sixth round of their scheduled 15 rounder before a crowd of 18,547.

Graziano, a 7 to 5 underdog in the betting, weighted 155 1/4; Zale 159.

Referee Johnny Behr, coach of the 1936 American Olympic boxing team, stopped the fight with Zale down for the first time, half in and half out of the ring, after absorbing terrific punishment.

The end came after five rounds of the same fierce action that marked their first fight last September when Zale retained his championship by knocking out Graziano in six rounds.

This time Graziano was floored in the third round for no count, had his left eye ripped open and his right eye virtually close tight from the early beating.

Round One

Graziano landed a hard left hook to the chin and staggered Zale with a smashing overhand right. Zale held after being tagged with another right. Zale crossed a tripping right to the chin. Zale drove a left to the face. Zale drove Graziano into the ropes with a vicious right. Zale took a hard right to the face in return. A hook drew a red mark on Graziano's eye. They exchanged short rights to the head. Zale fired left and right to the face and took a hard right in return. Zale drove Graziano into the ropes. Each landed a left on the chin. Zale dug his right to the body and shook him with a left. They were fending at the bell. Zale's round.

Round Two

Zale shook Graziano with a right to the face and took a hard left in return. Zale landed a short right hook to the head then was straightened up with a behind the ear. Graziano connected with a short left hook. Zale bounced a hook on the nose as Graziano was wild with a right. Graziano drove twice to the face. Graziano smashed a right to the mouth. Zale drew a trace of blood from Graziano's left eye with three straight jabs. Zale landed a hard right to the face. Zale was sent back on his heels with a right to the chin. Zale threw his rights to the body. Zale threw his rights to the body. Graziano landed two lefts and a right. Zale dug his right to the ribs at the bell. Graziano's round.

Round Three

Zale jabbed twice to the face. Then threw left and right to the body. A right hand dropped Graziano for not count and blood spurted from his right eye. They stood toe to toe slugging. Zale dug his right deep in the mid-section. Zale jabbed three times to the face. Zale threw left and right to the body. Graziano just missed and then connected high on the head with a left. Zale fired his right to the body and his left to Graziano's eye. Rocky covered up. Zale whaled away with Rocky against the rope. Graziano landed an upper cut to the face. Zale caught a hook to the chin. Graziano's eye was bleeding badly. Zale jabbed twice to the face and took a left to the body. Zale drove hard rights and lefts to the body. Zales's round. The State Athletic commission doctor, Dr. John Drammis was summoned into the ring but allowed the fight to continue.

Round Four

Graziano bounced a right to the head. They traded lefts to the body. Zale fired a left to the body and right to the face. Zale drove both hands to the body then jabbed to the face. Zale dug his left to the head. Graziano landed a left jab. They traded jabs as the pace slowed. Zale's jab connected but he took a hard right to the ear. Zale spun around almost to his knees as he missed a right swing. The blood bothered Graziano's vision. Graziano smashed a right to the ribs. Graziano landed two left jabs. Zale did the same. Zale connected with a short right and took a left to the head at the bell. Zales's round.

Round Five

Zale landed a jab as Rocky missed a hook. Rocky bounced a right high to the head. Rocky fired a right to the ear. Graziano threw a right to the body. They traded soft jabs. Graziano landed left and right to the face. Graziano fired a right to the head and took a short right to the ear. Zale dug both hands to the body. Graziano fired both hands to the head. Graziano's right eye was almost closed from the punishment. His left eye had stopped bleeding. Graziano connected with a hard right and a short jarring hook. Graziano staggered Zale with a left hook. Zale opened Graziano's eye and jabbed away at the face at the bell. Graziano's round.

Round Six

Graziano jabbed twice to the face and received some of the same. Graziano sliced a hard right to the body. Zale jabbed to the face and took a hook to the body. Zale was staggered with a smashing left and right to the head. Graziano sent Tony into a corner with a vicious right. Another vicious right sent Zale into the corner and the referee stopped the bout as the former champion stood helpless and unable to raise his arms.