Evening star., 1938-06-17
BY GRANTLAND RICE.

NEW YORK, June l7.-Whether he
wins or loses his second battle with
Joe Louis, Max Schmeling will 60 down
in the book as one Of the most re-
markable fighters the ring ever has
known-and one Of the things for
which he always will be remembered
is that he never was out OF condition.
If Louis wins-and the betting con-
tinues to be that he will, in spite of a
growing sentiment in favor Of Schme-
ling-nobody will be able to charge
him with having beaten q hollow shell.
Schmeling may lack the fine CO.
ordination Of mind and muscle he
displayed the night, two years ago,
when he knocked Louis out. He may
not be able to trap Joe into leaving an
opening for . right-hand punch-and
then whip that right hand over with
perfect timing. Or, even, II he gets
1t over. 1t may lack the devastating
power 1t carried two years ago.
But. win, lost or draw, it will be q
magnificently conditioned schmeling
who climbs through the ropes ut the
Yankee Stadium one week from to-
night.
Never Out of Condition.
Max always Is in shape for his fights
and he manages that by never being
out Of shape between nights. That
doesn't mean merely that he doesn't
drink or smoke or 90 at night where
the lights gleam brightly when he has
no lights in view. Other fighters have
lived cleanly between fights-but I
don't know Of any who observed q
spartan mode Of living all the time.
The others, without dissipating be-
tween lights. relaxed. took things easy.
indulsed themselves At least sparinsly
In the foods they had to avoid when
in training. They lived softly at least
for little while, going to bed late
and getting up late, lying around, seek.
Ing harmless amusements-putting the
ring and all its demands upon the
body behind them for a time.
But not Schmeling. Not Unser Max.
the copy-book German, endowed with
the methodical nature always asso-
ciated in every ones mind with the
Teutonic race. Max is 4 fighter. and
ne never has considered himself as
anything but that. To be q fighter. he
must be In the best condition for every
night. His body must be hard, but Il
must not be hardened at the expense
Of his stamina. He must not leave his
night in the gymnasium, because he
has had to train too arduously to take
on weight accumulated by easy living
between fights.
Weight Varies Little.
The theory, cherished by many
fighters. that they must have some
thing to work on when they 20 to q
training camp, has, no place In his
scheme. His weight seldom varies by
~ much as three pounds. The day he
arrives IN this country. from four to
six weeks before an important fisht.
he Is practically at fishting weight.
Thus, he has to undergo no wearing,
tearing, weakening training Grind. He
does not have to hammer down pound
after pound on the road OF deny him.
self. strengthening foods for fear Of
putting too much weight on his frame
and 80 slowing himself. His road work
consists OF walking, his gymnasium
work Of exercising designed to keep
him supple and to sharpen his eye, his
timing and his judgment Of distance.
All this is accomplished easily be-
cause Of the routine he follows every
day the year round. His diet between
lights is the same as that to which hi
adheres when he IL In training: Fruit
juices ana green vegetables. bfotled q