Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-03
STR|BL|NG CHOICE
IN. CLASH TONIGHT
Battle Is Germans First
Defense of Title Since
Sharkey Go.
BY CHARLES DUNKLEY,
Associated Press Sports Writer.

100000 to 100000
The powerful German lad who some
what resembles Jack Dempsey in facial
features and ring characteristics. will
battle Stribling IS rounds or less for
the title in Clevelands S3,000,000 con-
crete and steel stadium on the shores
OF Lake Erie. 1t will be the Germans
first defense of his crown since he won
it on a foul in four rounds from Jack
Sharkey a year ago.
Stribling the challenger. remained a
3 to 2 and Z to S favorite to win the
tite with very little betting on the
result of the battle. chiefly because
there was very little Schmeling money
in sight.
May Take Loss.
Estimates today were that a crowd
of $4,000 or less would witness the en-
counter. This figure was based on
optimistic forecasts of a last-minute
demand for tickets, which is expected
to develop between now and the time
Stribling and the champion enter the
ring. Conservative predictions were
that not more than 10000 spectators
$500. 900. new low record for heavy
weight battle since Tex Richard began
the era of million-dollar gates.
On the basis OF a 100000 gate. the
Madison Square Garden Corporation of
Ohio. promoting the bout, may face a
loss or at its best, realize only slight
profit.
The battle may develop into stir
ring fight or into dull. uninteresting
spectacle, depending upon the warriors
tactics. Both Schmeling and Stribling
will step into the ring as well-matched
physically as any two heavyweightS
who ever fought. There will be less
than three pounds between them IN
weight. They will have practically the
same reach and the same height. Both
finished their training strong and in
perfect condition Stribling outmatches
the champion almost in everything ex-
cept aggreSSiveness.
Max Would Keep Busy.
Schmeling will depend upon two
things for VICTORIAN aggressive attack
and Earring right hand, punch that
is damaging when it lands. The Ger
man has trained himself to fight the
only way he knows-to crowd in and
punch at close range. If he elects to
remain away from Stribling, and at
tempt to outlook him, he may be out
claSse6, but by charging in and forcing
the issue. he hopes to keep Stribling SC
busy on the defensive that the Georgian
will have little opportunity TO start an
offensive of his own.
Stribling possesses greater speed and
superior boxing skill than the German;
far greater experience in ring craft and
cunning. He is better left-hano
hitter either to the head or body anC
has a right-hand that also carries dyna-
mite. But the Georgian has the repu-
tation of having displayed at times a
faint fighting heart, and there is no
way of judging his mental attitude Tor
tonight's engagement. Stribling has
yet to prove that he can come through
with the pressure of championship at
stake. He must realize that tonight Will
be his last big shot unless he wins. and
that his whole ring future depends on
the outcome.
Radio Studio damned.
Amid a perfect bedlam of commands
by photographers to face this way.
face that way" smile and shake
hands" Schmeling and Stribling weigh
ed in last night in the studio of WTAM
Cleveland broadcasJlng station, With
the proceedings going to listeners
throughout the Nation over an N. B. G
network The weights were officially
announced as 1867 pounds for Strlb-
ling, with Schmeling scaling l89. Ii
was the first time in the history of box
Ing that a weighingin was broadcast.
TIE studio was packed to the point
of Suffocation with sports writer's coat
less and with their shirts soaking wet
with perspiration. joining celebrities OF
the ring that included Primo Carnera,
the man-mountain of italy; Jim Cor
bett. who at one time wore the world S
heavyweight championship belt; George
Blake of Los Angeles, the referee OF to-
nights title contest.
The crowd was so big that police had
TO be called in to clear the center OF
the studio so that photographers could
get a few shots. Schmeling wore black
trunks, trimmed with red. Stribling' S
trunks were white. They grinned at
each other, shook hands and exchanged
a few words, but nobody could hear
much of what they seid. Somebody was
talking into the microphone. but no.
body In the studio was paying any at
tention to the speech going onto the
air There was much pushing and
showing as the spectators began crowd
ing Stribnng and Schmeling.
Pray for Rain.
ut doesn't make much difference to
me what l weigh" remarked Stribling
as he jumped on the scales, first. Then
he turned to Schmeling and said with
grin, We're going to fight anyway,
aren't we?"
While Stribling and Schmeling we're
resting in quiet retreats today, prayers
went up from the fight fans for rain,
for cooling breeze. that would release
them from terrific heat that has baked
and parboiled Cleveland. The weather
remained oppressively hot, but with in
dications that the heat wave might be
broken by thundershowerS before Strib-
ling and the champion climb into the
ring a few minutes after 10 o'clock to-
night. The battle will be held as
scheduled, unless there Is a terrific
downpour forcing a postponement until
tomorrow night.
It was so warm with humidity that
was all but eXhausting that not one
in one hundred men wore his coat as
they sat in hotel Hobbies patiently wait
ing the fistic conflict. Shirts were drip
ping wet and there was no formaiity
of dress when it came to combating
the heat and blanket of humidity.
Will Fan Fans.
AS special trains began to pour in
the influx of familiar faces at ring
sic from Chicago, New York. Detroit,
Pittsburgh, Atlanta and Ohio cities,
carpenters worked striving to finish
their tasks that the stadium might be
entirely ready to receive the crowd
The ring was pitched over second base
OF the DaSe pail OldillOIlu, oVeI9oPptu Wy
80 flood lights, each of 1,000-watt ca
pacity. On each corner of the ring
were public address broadcasters. from
which every word spoken in the ring
will drift back into the crowd. On
top of the stadium's highest rim we're
$50 flood lights each of 1000 watts
capable of spreading daylight over the
field to its most remote corner
Four huge blower fans were ar
ranged above the ring to sweep out
the humidity and the June bugs,