Evening star., 1937-01-23
FEAR ODD FIGHTER
WILL PUZZLE Joe
West Coast, Where Make Is
Quite Popular, Taking
Bout Seriously.
BY LAWRENCE PERRY.

n EW YORK, January 23-Los
Angeles Is taking the projected
Joe Louis-Maxie Rosenbloom
battle with a seriousness
which New York boxing enthusiasts
fail to understand. even granted that
the metropolis in its time has fallen
for many things as bad if not worse,
than the Los Angeles project.
AS matter OF fact, Julian Black,
who came here to install the Bomber
in training quarters at Pompton Lakes
for the Pastor bout, is not too cheer
full about the West Coast affair. Louis
has a tendency To be bothered by the
unorthodoX, and in Slapsie Max he
will be meeting the very archetype of
the flstically bizarre and pugilistically
unusual. Julian SAYS he is not sure
what will happen, but he fears that
Joe will fully earn the 100000 they
are going to paw him for encountering
this human blizzard.
Suey Welsh, who keeps an accurate
finger upon pugilistic affairs IN
Southern California, writes that the
promoter, Tom Gallery, will be able
to pay Louis the promised guarantee
and in addition have quite lot left
over. The gate. he predicts. will
surely exceed sl50,0oO Louis. Of
course. is the big attraction. But let
not the fact be overlooked that Make
can draw EN- in. TOO.
Make Popular on Coast.
A RESIDENT of Los Angeles, the
former New Yorker enjoys un-
rivaled distinction as public hero No
out on the West Coast. Training at
the race courses and the night clubs.
he nonetheiess maintains the winning
habit. In his recent victory over
King Levinsky he performed the
amazing feat of dumping the Kingfish
upon the canvas. thereby demonstrate
ing one OF two things-either that
LevinSky is beginning 10 lose his sense
OF equilibrium or that Makes WELL
known slap has acquired some mys-
terious dynamic element
His ring methods, so splendidlv
adapted to making more serious fight
ers look foolish when opposed 10 him,
long ago deprived him of any as
surance of livelihood in his profession
in this vicinity Managers VINO have
a natural interest in the success and
continued prestige Of their fighters
want none Of him.
Even out on the West Coast the
hackers of that most promising young
heavyweight. Bob Nestell. refuse even
TO discuss the idea Of sending him into
action against a combination of clown
and windmill, who, in the course OF q
single round, would have the profess
Sionally inexperienced former Frisco
gloves champion so confused. bemused
and otherwise bewildered as to insure
his swift transition from white hope
to a laughing stock.
No RoSenbloOm Ego
T OS ANGELES likes Make as he
rollicks through life, laughing at
himself as readily as at any one else.
His clowning has an engaging lack OF
ego. wherein it differs from the horse
play of that other illustrious Max
(Baerl, whose comedy was built upon a
theory, or, at least, practice. of per-
Sonal exploitation. Make has no
illusions about himself and seeks to
establish none.
And he likes Los Angeles as well as
the city likes him. So far, any fights
he has been called upon to make have
not found him over-matched; not that
this would make any difference with q
"slapsie," who, in fact, has a fighters
heart as well as a comedians instincts.
He dearly loves his occasional and
well-paid appearances before the cam
era in Hollywood and he finds motor
car dealers there just as willing to
take back an automobile which he has
used for a week and grown tired of as
they used to along the Great White
Way.
Maybe when he enters the ring
against the bronze bomber, who in all
probability will not feel disposed to
endure the hurricane of slaps and
cuffs any longer than Is necessary.
Makes lotus eating days may come to
an end. Or maybe not For Joe may
be the victim, as he succumbs TO sheer
amazement.