The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1938-05-18

stolid, plodding opponent who
faces him. If Louis car. defeat
his fear of defeat he can easily
whip 'Schmeling, for he has
youth, the greatest gift Of all,
and he has the weapons.
Schmeling, it is said, seemed
to be more nervous in the pres
ence Of Louis when they met
to sign their contracts at the
offices Of the New York State
Athletic Commission than the
man he had previously de-
feated. That doesn't mean a
thing. Louis minutes of doubt
will begin when the gong rings
and he walks out to meet the
stolid-faced Teuton.
There will be a battle Of
strategy, which perhaps IS an
other way Of stating that there
will be a battle of wits. Louis is
at his best against an opponent
who comes to him. This has
been true Of most of our cham
pions since Jack johnson.
Schmeling is essentially a
counter fighter. He has the
phlegmatic calm to wait and
wait, as patient as time itself,
for his opponent to come to him.
At the right time Schmeling
will move forward. Study his
fights and you know this.
Better Chance
If Schmeling can outwait
Louis and make the Negro come
to him, he will have a far bet
ter chance to repeat his triumph
Of 1886 than if he launches his
offensive too early in the
battle.
Louis has one of the best left
hands in all boxing. He hooks
to the body or the head with
equal effect. He is master Of
the straight left hand lead. But
Louis, between the time he
fought Baer and the time he
bowed to Schmeling, developed
the fault of dropping his left
shoulder, especially when he
hooked with his left. He showed
this same weakness against
Mann and likewise against
Harry Thomas.
Both of these guinea pigs
belted Louis with right hands.
He gave every evidence Of be-
coming bewildered when hit.
It was one thing for Mann
and Thomas to belt Louis with
right hand punches. He had no
fear of them. He knew he
could whip them with one hand
tied behind his back.
Different Story
It will be something else
again If Schmeling starts tag
aing Louis with his right. The
bewilderment that was so evil
dent against the tune up fight
ers will be stronger. 1t will be
fear, or if not, it will border so
closely upon fear that there
won't be much difference.
Louis will see himself on the
canvas the first time he is
tagged on the chin by Schmel-
ing, and should that happen,
his course will run swiftly.
It wasn't so very long ago that
the good fans of Detroit were
writing letters to the editors of
the local papers. to Walter o.
Briggs, president Of the Detroit
Tigers, and to pretty nearly every
one who could read protesting
against the trade that brought
Vernon Kennedy to Detroit. but
sent Gerry Walker to Detroit.
"Cochrane is a bum," was the
eist of the composite letters.
Well. let's take a look-See at
the standings of the American
League clubs, and the batting
averages, etc.
Detroit Leads SOx
Detroit is ahead of the White
Gox in the percentage column
and has won 10 games.
Vernon Kennedy, who was
branded q bum in the winter
letters, has won just half Of
those games. He has no de-
feats. His pitching is 1000, or
Just .565 points ahead of the
Tigers, and $40 points ahead Of
the Chicago White Sox.
The fans are writing letters
again, but the tone has changed
q lot. Cochrane is a smart
manager, and knows the real
worth Of pitchers. Walker is
hitting only .306, give or take a
point or tvs, and is just another
ball player on the Chicago ros-
ter.
Take two of those victories
off the standing of the Tigers
and add two games to the losses,
and the Bang-alis would be
down fighting the Athletics for
seventh place.