Scrapbook 3: Europe Might Watch Floyd Tiff by Telstar

12-15 Minutes Possible

Europe Might Watch Floyd Tiff by Telstar

LONDON (UPI) — The world heavyweight championship fight between holder Floyd Patterson and Sonny Liston at Chicago Sept. 25 may be “bounced” live off Telstar to television viewers in Europe.

Announcing the possibility, Sheldon Graff, top man of the Los Angeles group which holds ancillary rights to the fight, added: “There’s one big snag, of course. We’ll get only 12-15 minutes of the fight in because Telstar’s position at the time has to be taken into account.

“This means we may get the start of the fight away, but not the end. But it’s a chance worth taking.”

Graff’s group—himself, David Reiner and Martin Smith—paid $2 million for the rights and hope to gross $6 million in American and worldwide sales through television, radio and movie coverage.

Graff was to start negotiations Tuesday with the British Broadcasting Corporation and the commercial television authorities here. Highest bidder wins. Then on to Paris, Stockholm and Rome, where he will conduct talks with the continental networks.

“Even the Russians are interested in this one,” Graff says.