Evening star., 1937-06-20
IFS, BUTTS MIDDLE
CHOICE OF VICTOR
Louis Generally Is Favored
to Beat Braddock-CIaSh
Full of "Angles."
BY ALAN GOULD.
Associated Press Sports Editor.

~H1CAGO. June l9.-The bat
tie Of the scrapped contracts" !"
involving Champion Jim
~ Braddock and Challenger Joe
louis in . small-scale reproduction
OF the crowning event in heavyweight
fisticufing held here 10 years ago,
brings the latest upheaval in the
boxing industry to climax next Tues
day night, under the lights At South
Side Comiskey Park.
The circumstances. the fanfare and
the gladiators themselves represent q
far cry from that gaudy affair in
September, 1927, when Jene Tunney
arose from the celebrated long count"
to beat of the challenge OF Jack Demp-
sey, but the current conference Of
pugilistic capital and labor looks a
highly profitable evening for all con-
Cerned.
Strange as 1t may seem, the Louis
Braddock match. with prospective
gate" OF $75O,o0o and crowd Of &C, 1000,
may return nearly as much profit to
Its promoters as did that famous
battle at Soldier Field, where upward
of 100000 cash customers contributed
to the all-time record receipts of $2,-
$4,000.
Financial Success Certain.
THE late Tex Rickard. after paying
approximately $l,500000 in guar
antees and otherwise lavishly pro-
ducing his 1927 spectacle. got back
to New York with less than 100000
for the directors of Madison Square
Garden, who now have nothing but
a series of legal knockouts to show
for their attempts to block the latest
shift of the heavyweight industrial
conflict to the big town of the Ameri-
can midlands.
The first mixed match in this coun-
try for the heavyweight title since
1910, when Jack johnson knocked out
Jim Jef1ries in IS rounds at Reno,
not only Is assured Of financial sue
cess but. in the view Of critical ma
the championship heights in 27 years.
jority, may elevate the first negro to
Already pronounced favorite in
the betting, which has been chiefly
conspicuous for its absence, the a.
year old Negro. whose punching
prowess has stimulated three-year
flstic revival, polled substantial plu-
rality today in expert selections.
Louis no longer enjoys the status
of 4 super fighter" such as was
accorded him before he was nat
tened just one year ago tonight by
Max Schmeling, the German, who has
been sidetracked in current proceed
ings. Faced by so many angles" the
tight experts themselves have shown
a pronounced disposition to hedge"
their predictions, but = ma jority still
feels Louis has the weapons, at least,
with which to beat Braddock or any
other American heavyweight.
Both Tireoome In Training.
RRADDOCK'S gameness, his ex-
perience. and the fact he can
well afford to shoot the works" after
costly two-year lay-od, may COM
bine to spring another Of the up
sets that marked his comeback. He
. hasn't fought for two years and he
wasn't particularly spectacular the
night he outpointed Max Baer for the
title IN the Gardens Long Island
City Bowl. He's nine years older than
the challenger and not the puncher
that his rival Is, with either hand,
but its just AZ wei to remember the
same arguments were being used
against Schmeling's chances last
June
The dehation of Louis, in his bouts
with Schmeling and Bob Pastor,
match Braddock's age and inactivity
IN most pre-battle arguments. So
called insiders" have spread stories
that neither fighter "can lose" No
heavyweight title night would be COM
plete without such rumors or con-
siderable suspicion on the part of
many railbirds. Dempsey couldn't
lose" here 10 years ago.
The training processes Of both
champion and challenger have been
slngularly mediocre and monotonous.
Comparing notes, from day to day.
most experts have agreed both fighters
looked terrible" They report that
Louis. remembering Schmeling's blast
is "right-hand shy" and still ex-
tremely vulnerable to high shot to
the temple-the spot that Schmeling
tapped with such telling effect.
Trainers Insist Joe Is Right.
THE Negro's handlers insist he has
recaptured his confidence and in
centive. They say his heart is set on
becoming the first of his race to gain
the championship in more than 4
quarter century. They throw out"
the Schmeling and Pastor fights as
consequences OF overconfidence, over
weight. and inexperience.
Braddock, though less Of q mystery,
still is the plodder type. He relies
mainly on his left jab, his ring judg-
ment, and ability to keep his head
under fire. His right hand Is dan
gerouS, but not as explosive as Schmel-
ings. No greyhound on his feet, the
champion is nevertheless shifty.
A scattered few, having in mind
the recent history of pugilistic upsets,
have gone so far out on the limb As
to predict knockout victory for
Braddock, but there is no logical
basis for figuring Jim to win on any
basis but points, If the bout goes the
l5-round limit. The title holders
popularity in the trade, his come back
from the relief rolls, and his fight
for financial security now, have com.
bined to give more sentimental than
convincing touch to his support.
Farr Fight for Winner.
REGARDLESS of the outcome,
there's a profitable path In pros
pect for the winner. Plans are afoot
for the victor to defend the crown
against Tommy Farr, British cham
pion, in London, late In July or early
in August. Schmeling doesn't figure
In current calculations, since he left
this country inlA hun over Brad
docks alleged ''run-out," but it won't