Evening star., 1938-05-25
WAS RATED EVEN
AGAINST ADMIRAL
Howard Horse Is Fortunes
FootbaI|-Big Fights
Have Many Angles.
BY GRANTLAND RICE


NEW YORK, May 25.-Which Is the
toughest pick-Armstrong and Ross
seabiscuit and War Admiral-Louis
and Schmeling?-is a question that
has had sports fans agog this spring.
Unfortunately, Seabiscuit finally
caught up with himself After travel
ing over $4,000 miles-after running
over Is tracks-after taking all the
worst of racing luck for two years,
with over $500, 900 looking him square
ly in either eye-$300,O00 he has
missed or blown-this part of the
argument fades into the mists of what
might have been. For Seabiscuit Is
out.
still think the Seabiscuit I saw
run against every odd of racing had
at least an even chance of beating
War Admiral. And War Admiral is
no goat. But you can't run with bad
iegs-because legs happen to be the
main part of running Did you ever
try to gallop with a charley horse?
I tried it twice. When I was young.
1t can't be DONE Not even by a Jesse
Owens.
Seabiscuit at least will finish with
one world record-the most unlucky
horse that ever came out of a barn
or stall. With just a shade in the
break of luck-the vital in all COM
petitive sport-Seabiscui might easily
have been 100000 ahead of the field.
He might easily have set an all-time
record. For don't overlook this one
fact-Seabiscuit was a great compete
tor-a great race horSe-a fast, game
oattler against odds and the breaks of
the game
Odds Are Disputed.
The present odds on the fights, as
you may know, are 7 to that Ross
wins and to l that Joe Louis wins.
Ross and Louis are favorites. but
we can't agree with those Odds Odds
don't win contests. They simply re-
fleet the majority opinion, which. in
these cases, is not an overwhelming
majority.
Ross VS.. Armstrong will be the first
Of the two big shows, opening tomor-
row night at the Long Island Bowl.
Here we can't see 7 to on Ross.
1t is an even-money bet, figured In
The way of fighting odds.
We can't see the angle Of a good
little man meeting a good big man.
Armstrong is just as big, just as we'll
puilt-above the waist-as Ross hap
pens to be- He is just as strong ARM
strong has spindly >.gs, but so have
War Admiral and a deer-and both
can move around in hurry.
Armstrong can outpunch Ross. Ross
Is the better boxer. But one of the
main angles of skillful boxing is bal
ance.
doubt that Rosa smart, game,
skillful boxer-can keep his boxing
balance against Armstrong; whirl-
wind style Gene Tunney was a first
class boxer when he first met Harry
Greb, but Gene soon found that box
rig was no great help against an at
,nosphere full of leather, coming in
from all directions. You can't remain
scientific with a face full of gloves.
Two Weak Spots.
Armstrong; weak spot is a ten
dency to hit low in the act of throw
ing so many punches. He isn't foul
fighter in any sense, but there are
times when his control is spotty. He
may lose rounds on this account if the
contest goes the route
Ross weak spot is his inclination to
fight about 40 or so seconds of each
round. He is smart enough to know
that the crowd only remembers the
Gnish-not the start-of round. You
can Outright an opponent the first two
minutes and then have him get a draw
Or better on the round with fast 30
second rally.
don't think Barney will have this
chance against Armstrong. Armstrong
gives you three minutes of action for
every round. He doesn't use any
Breathing spells, and he doesn't allow
any opponents that privilege.
I think Armstrong will hit Ross
more punches than Ross can land
and I think Armstrong; punches will
carry more Furnishing force.
ouis-Schmeling Outlook.
The Louis-Schmeling fight now is
almost month away. It is one of the
hardest of all heavyweight fights to
pick, as there are so many angles to
cover.
AS far as one can figure from this
early spot. I can't see Louis as any 2
to favorite against the man who beat
him so badly two years ago. It is a
fight all tied up in physical, psyche
logical and mental tangles-full of un-
known quantities-replete with the So
called imponderables.
There is time enough to take up Louis
and Schmeling after Ross and Arm
strong have put on their show.
Copyright, 1888. by the North American
Newspaper Alliance, Inc.)