The Peroón government recalled three of its diplomatic representatives from the U.S. last week. They were Heavyweight Boxer César Brión, Lightweight Boxer José Gatica and Gatica’s manager, Nicolás Preziosaall auxiliary consular officers of the 6th grade, attached to the New York consulate.
Like other muscle-minded Argentines before them,* the three athletic attaches had been sent to the U.S. with an official subsidy “to facilitate their sports activities,” i.e., win championships for Argentina. But they had failed. Brión lost a listless ten-round bout to fading ex-Champ Joe Louis. Gatica was chilled in two minutes, nine seconds by Lightweight Champ Ike Williams.
Gatica, who was already in disfavor with the consulate, got hurry-up orders, and at week’s end was back in Argentina. Brión was granted a few weeks’ leeway, got an ordinary visitor’s visa, and planned to try one more fight before going home.
* Notably, handsome Lightweight Justo Antonio Suárez, who held rank equivalent to First Secretary of Embassy when he fought Billy Petrolle, the old “Fargo Express,” in 1931. First Secretary Suarez lasted nine rounds.
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