New York, Feb. 23-Pennsylvania boxers will make a strong bid for berths in the finals of the 12th annual Golden Gloves tournament next Monday and Tuesday night.
Led by Bill Speary, of Nanticoke, national 112 pound champion, Pennsylvania placed seven men in the semifinals. Speary defending champion jumped into the limelight by sending Tony Palamara, of the Trinity AC down for the count in one minute and 37 seconds in the opening round.
Neil Miller, of Wilkes-Barre, middle Atlantic A.A.U. 147-pound sub-novice titleholder, was eliminated by Mike Drabin of Hudson, New Jersey, after winning his afternoon about with Salvatore De Nota of New York by a knockout in 1:17 of the second round.
In the third round of the 175-pound sub-novice class, Joe Betterly of Freeland, Pa. stopped Wallace Johnson of Newark NJ in 22 seconds of the second round.
Jack Walsh of Larksville, Pa. was eliminated in the fifth round match of the 160-pound sub-novice class, losing the decision to Tommy Adams of Newark NJ.
FREELAND BOY WINS
Each of the leading teams had its leader. Joe Beitel, of Freeland, Pa., won two bouts yesterday, one in the afternoon and one in the evening and proved himself a lethal puncher by winning one bout on a technical knockout and dropping his man twice in the other.
In all 34 boys in every class of the sub-novice, novice and open divisions except the heavyweight class entered the semi-finals.
The three performances of the 12th annual tournament, which is sponsored by the New York Daily News Welfare Association, drew well over 16,000 fans with 5,773 on hand to watch last night's 68 quarter-final bouts.
