Evening star., 1938-04-05
LEWIS FALSE TIP
CROSSES REFEREE
Miller Thinks Round Done,
Fails to End Bout as
Pilot Enters Ring.
BY FRANCIS ]. POWERS.

CHICAGO, April SIN the records
Of boxing it will be related that Joe
Louis knocked out a certain Harry
Thomas in five rounds. Actually, and
by the rules of boxing Louis won in
three.
Late in the third round Louis drove
. terrific right to Thomas head that
sent the Minnesotan reeling in gro
tesque steps along the ropes, definitely
out. although still on his feet. Referee
Dave Miller sent Louis to his corner
and, turning to watch Thomas, heard
Nate Lewis, crafty manager of the ex-
engineer. shout, THE bells rung."
From the other corner came the clamor
Of Louis seconds, directing the cham
pion to complete his kill
The bell on the Chicago Stadium
ring is small and tinny and Miller,
thinking he might have missed the
gong, went to the opposite side of
the ring and asked Joe Triner, chair
man of the Illinois Boxing Commits
sion, if the round were over. Triner
shouted negatively and Miller turned
again toward Thomas.
Automatically Disqualified.
Old Nate Lewis, in the meantime,
had climbed into the ring and had
his man Harry seated on a stool.
Since the round was not over, Lewis
presence in the ring automatically
disqualified Thomas.
Miller contends he did not see Nate
Lewis push the stool into the ring
and Louis seconds did not imme-
diately protest, for they thought
Thomas was quitting. During the
tntermission Miller asked Louis to
continue for the sake of the spectators,
which he did without any risk, for
Thomas went down three times in the
fourth and twice in the fifth.
In his last two fights, Thomas had
been down II times-Schemeling hav-
ing dropped him six-and now is
qualified for membership in the ele-
vatormen's union.
Louis fought well enough for the
occasion, but there were observers who
believe he must be better against
Schmeling. Thomas awkwardly pat
termed his style after the German,
and, while the result was crude, STU
dents Of boxing form saw in the cham
pions defense weakness against such
right hands as Schmeling throws Louis
worked cautiously against Thomas
makeshift Schmeling style for two
rounds, but, after catching Harry wide
open in the third. reverted to his GUS
tomary pantherish fury.
Thomas Greatly Overmatched.
Thomas was greatly overmatched,
and, if he was leading Schmeli1g, six
rounds to two, when the fight was
stopped, the German must have been
very rusty, or gone back tremen-
dously. Thomas had little but stark
courage, but plenty of that. Few
would have survived Louis right-hand
blow in the third round or come up
four times to meet more paralyzing
punches. That jolt in the third
jerked my neck out a foot" Harry
ruefully admitted after the fight.
Louis is $16,659.65 nearer his first
million and now will go to Michigan
farm to continue light training for the
June match with Schmeling. Mean
time. Mike Jacobs will return to Chi
cago this week. to make survev of
Soldier Field, which makes it more
evident this city will be the scene of
the summer battle. Schmeling is
scheduled to arrive in the United
States April 30, and Jacobs will want
his plans we'll under way by that date.
Meanwhile, Chicagoans are wonder
ing if Uncle Mike had foresight when
he scheduled the Louis Thomas bout
for April Fools Day.