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A roundup of the sports information of the week
BOXING—Middleweight Champion Sugar Ray Robinson, not one to be stampeded into precipitous action outside the ring, got New York Supreme Court temporary restraining order against State Athletic Commission rather than honor the commission's ultimatum to sign by last Wednesday for title fight against suitable challenger, i.e., Carmen Basilio, or give up the crown (SI, April 13). Robinson, who has not fought in 12 months despite commission's one-title-defense-every-six-months dictum, said the commission "unfairly" rejected his magnanimous offer to defend the title against Gustav Scholz of Germany, fourth-ranking contender.
Sonny Liston, Philadelphia heavyweight, dropped Houston's Cleveland Williams twice in third round in Miami Beach, was awarded 17th straight victory in round by referee while Williams hung unhinged in neutral corner. Justified Liston, who got bloody nose and few points in first round: "He treated me rudely."
HORSE RACING—Kentucky Derby fans, trying for a prescient focus on the May 2 finish line (see page 16), got a fuzzy image during week in which: early favorite First Landing won by three lengths in $7,500 Greenwich Bay Handicap, lost by¾ length to Derby ineligible and 64-to-1 shot Manassa Mauler in $88,100 Wood Memorial. In same race Intentionally, later withdrawn as Derby candidate, ran poor fourth while Atoll ran sixth. Other Derby hopes fared better, as Tomy Lee set Keeneland 7-furlong record winning $6,000 Stepping Stone, On-and-On won Keeneland 6-furlong allowance, Finnegan won $35,000 California Derby at Tanforan, Rare Rice led all the way, won $29,500 Chesapeake Stakes at Laurel.
Mainstay, winner of My Lady's Manor point-to-point steeplechase week before, at Monkton, Md., set second jewel in Maryland's point-to-point triple crown by taking Grand National at Butler, Md. by 10 lengths under hands of Benjamin H. Murray (above), is expected to start in decisive Maryland Hunt Cup this Saturday.
HOCKEY—Toronto Maple Leafs, who raised eyebrows and faint hopes when they presumed to push up from bottom of NHL to play Montreal Canadiens in sacrosanct Stanley Cup playoffs, let plot get out of hand, let Canadiens rewrite fairy-tale ending and take cup for themselves in Montreal for fourth straight year (see page 65).
PHOTO
MAINSTAY JUMPS IN GRAND NATIONAL
