Evening star., 1935-09-29
KEEP LOUIS AWAY
FROM CHAMPION
Joe Is Anxious to Battle
Braddock, but Managers
Are Business.Wise.
~ the Associated Press.

-
"A YEW YORK. September 2S.-Joe
Louis says he is anxious to
VI tight James j. Braddock for
i the world heavyweight cham
pionship. The Brown Bomber" is
ambitious to be the first Negro since
Jack johnson to reach the top of the
pugilistic heap.
There is little or no doubt he can
beat Bradd0ck, If and when they meet,
but the Negro's handlers for the time
being are in no hurry to send him
into . title match. Louis is just as
big q drawing card as the "uncrowned
king" Of the heavyweights. In fact
he's in q better strategic position
without the championship so long as
opponents can be produced for him.
It's q well known pugilistic fact that
the heavyweight champion Is handi-
capped. Promoters do not like to build
up more than one title match a year
among the big fellows. Jack Dempsey
was idle for three years while cham
pion. Moreover, since Gene Tunney
retired, undefeated. in 1928 the heavy
weight crown has been tossed around
so much that 1t no longer means as
much as once 1t did.
johnson Stands Alone.
T OUIS could restore the titles pres
- tige. He might rule the fighting
roost for q good many years. II he
nights Braddock at all for it, however,
It will not be until next September. 1t
is conceivable. for political as well as
business reasons, that the Negro's shot
at the championship will be put off
until 1897. It may disturb his vanity,
but 1t won't affect his income.
At one time. or another all the i'm
portant fistic championships have been
held by Negroes. but only one. john
son, ever assembled the heavyweight
heights. Since then it has been
virtually an unwritten law among
promoters that no mixed match for
the heavyweight title could be held.
The aftermath Of the Johnson-Jef1ries
fight at Reno was disturbing. Subse-
quently johnson got into difficulties,
became a fugitive champion and
finally yielded the crown to Jess Will
lard at Havana in 1915.
Color Line Drawn.
DEFORE and after Johnson's reign,
- as q matter of fact, the color
line" was drawn for various reasons.
The first of the great Negro heavy
weights, Peter jackson, challenged
John L. Sullivan unsuccessfully. He
fought round draw with James j..
Corbett, but that was year before
Corbett knocked out Sullivan. Sam
Ianeford, the Boston Tar Baby.
ranked among the great heavyweights
of all time, but he got no title en-
couragement.
For years, after the war, Harry
Wills loomed as a challenger for
DEMPSEY. The Brown Panther was
the first Negro heavyweight to gain
oficial backing. He was rated the
No. l title contender by the New York
boxing authorities. Tex Rickard, how
ever, refused to promote a Dempsey
Wills match. As q consequence he
was forced to take the first Dempsey
Tunney bout to Philadelphia in 1926.
Louis, 1t appears. has wiped out the
last vestige Of prejudice, real or i'm
aginary. The Detroit Negro not only
has been q life-saver for the fistic box
ofices, but he has become tremen-
dously popular. His manner and per-
sonal background, as well as his ex-
traordinary fighting ability, have COM
bined to bring this about. He has so
far outclassed all his opponents to
such an extent there is no room for
argument.
No Reason for Fears.
I'M 4 As};e fondoyo bored hy q S1lc-