The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-04-02
THOMAS PROVES
 TOUCH BUT JOE. WINS BY KAYO
Challenger Stopped for First Time in so Bouts;
 End in Fifth
BY STEVE SNYDER 'nited Press Staff Correspondent

(Un1ted Press SCaII COrrcSpOHuchtJ
 Chicago, April 2-(UP)-Heavy- weight Champion Joe Louis, the un- smiling executioner, laid away his fistic bombs today after a fifth round knockout of courageous liar " Thomas and began to dream of the June night when he hopes to avenge his defeat by the only man who laughed at his prowess and made it stick-Max Schmeling.
 Thomas, an awkward but rugged heavyweight from Minnesota, had all the heart of Schmeling but the boxing ability wasn't there.
 Sung by the fury of the chal- lenger's constant, dangerous flail- ing, Louis stunned Thomas with a left hook behind the ear at the end of the third round, dressed him for the kill by flooring him four times in the fourth round and ended it with two merciful left hooks after another knockdown in the fifth.
 The end came after two minutes, 50 seconds of the fifth round. Thomas, battered senseless by the vicious assault, collapsed as Louis calmly drew back his left fist to strike again and slid slowly to the canvas. His glazed eyes stared at the floor without seeing it as Ref cree Davey Miller counted 10 over him for the first time in his career of 80 fights.
 It was just what Louis wanted a good, tough fight before he meets Schmeling a second time next June g. Everything was set but the place for the million dollar return match.
 Now I know I can beat that Schmelin' ". the bomber grinned in his dressing room. T always did think could beat him but he just happened to beat me that time.
 T know how to do it too. I'll step out and set the pace"
 Thomas, who was stopped in the eigth round by Schmeling, said, I'll bet my purse tonight that Joe will knock the German out. His punch es got 'snus.' That's Norwegian for umph.'
 True to his word, Thomas went after the deadly bomber as he said he would-as if Joe were just an- other fighter. He spared evenly throughout the first round and landed the most severe blows all though he took more by volume in return as Louis contented himself with flicking his straight left into Harrys defenseless face.
 In the second, any advantage was Harry'S. He flung his roundhouse rights and lefts at Louis chin but still the bomber jabbed cautiously and withdrew from range when Thomas grew too bold.
 Except for the last 50 seconds, the third round was the best of the fight for Thomas. The 10,468 fans rose from their seats as the swing ing challenger forced Louis to cover up time after time under a heavy rain of blows.
 But near the end Louis stepped up his pace. He lashed suddenly at Thomas with left hook the chal- lenger never saw, landed it behind Harry's right ear and spun him around in his own corner. In the confusion, Louis dropped his hands, thinking the bell had rung but it did not until after both fighters had dropped to the chairs in their corners.
 It was the end of Thomas. No matter how hard he was hit in the remaining rounds-he went down for counts of nine, three, seven and nine before the end of the fourth round-he staggered back to his feet and raced at Louis with both hands flying.
 Louis floored him again with right to the point of the chin for a count of eighth in the fifth and ended it with his two left hooks near the end of the round.