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Rumanian Sports Events Marked by Anti-jewish Outbreaks

September 8, 1936
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A crowd of anti-Semitic demonstrators sought to mob Motzi Spakov, Jewish heavyweight champion, when judges announced a decision in his favor at the end of an exciting ten-round bout Saturday night.

A similar outburst at a football game at the Ciocan grounds Sunday morning between the Maccabi team and the anti-Jewish Students Football Club was avoided when the students won the match 2-to-0.

At the boxing contest troops and constabulary used tanks of identifying colored liquid designed to spray agitators. Throughout the fray, hundreds of spectators shouted, “Down with Jews,” Since a description of the battle was broadcast, the taunts were heard all over the country.

As soon as the result was announced, the hostile crowd, whose shouts had not prevented the fighter, Spakov, from exhibiting his skill, rushed the ring. The tired boxer was rescued and escorted to his dressing-room by a few husky friends. It is understood that as a result of the disturbances, Spakov is determined never to fight again in Rumania. He had successfully defended his heavyweight crown for the eleventh successive time.

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