The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-08-20
CUDDY THINKS
AMBERS WILL
REGAIN CROWN
Upholds Decision But Says
He Was Sold on Wrong
Plan of Fight
By JACK CUDDY
Copyright 1893 bv United Press

NEW YORK, Aug. 20. tUP).--
When AmbcrS tanglcS with Arm
strong the next time he'll
"moidcr" him.
Henry Armstrong, Los Angeles
negro, wrestlcd the lightweight
championship from Lou Ambers
Wednesday night by virtue OF a
split decision at Madison Square
Garden. Ninety per cent of the
l9,2OO persons in the garden dis
agreed with the decision. And
they booed Armstrong to the
skies when he left the ring pos
ScSSing the fcathcrwcight, light
weight and wcltcrwCight cham
pionships. The fact that he had
hammered out a brand new chap
ter in pugilistic history by be.
coming the first man ever to hold
three title sat the same time
meant nothing to those garden
fans.
They didn't believe that ARM
strong had won the l31-pound
title from Ambcrs. But the ma
iority of boxing writer's at the
ringSidc agreed that the decision
was just. Most Of the writers
wondered how if could have been
split decision.
believe the decision was right.
say this although Ambers is my
warmeSt friend among active
fighters. go further in stating
that AmbcrS was lucky to last the
full Is rounds. Because | be-
licvc he fought the wrong kind of
fight to beat the Los Angeles ne
gro.
Ambcrs gamblcd with tn"
suicide" plan of battle. He lost
the title but he won respect from
the public for the first time since
he pulled on gloves more than SIX
years ago.
Manager AL Well, Trainer
Charlie Goldman and Assistant
Trainer Whitley Bimstein sold
Ambers on the suicide PLAN
On the theory of keeping close to
Armstrong and matching punches
with him-instead of evading him
with AmbcrS' usual dancing,
jumping-Jack style.
The Suicide plan worked out
all right, in the final analysis.
Except for the fact that Ambers
lost his title. And titles do not
grow on weeping trees. The "sul-
eide plan" enabled Ambcrs to
make the best showing of his ca
rcer. Yet it wasn't winning
showing.
| have been arguing for two
long days with WE'LL and Gold.
man and Bimstein about Ambcrs,
tactics Wednesday night. | did
not argue with Lou because
knew that Lou knew | was right.
Lou would have fought his own
fight. if he hadn't received ord
ers. And he would have won.
| insist that AmberS with his
speedy footwork, his elusive body
movements and his rapid-fire
counters-with left jabS and two
handed uppercuts - should have
stayed away from Armstrong
during the first six or seven
rounds of the fight. He should
have made Armstrong wear him.
self out waving at the air with his
vicious swings. Then, when Arm
strong started to tire, he should
have started to move in-startcd
to batter the fatigued Armstrong
with uppcrcutS to the chin. Had
he followed such plan of battle
Lou would not have b n
floored in the fifth and sixth
rounds. He would not have lost
the first six or seven rounds by
tryin~ to swap punches with the
greatest punch-swapper the ring
has seen in years.
Despite the wrong technique
that Ambers pursued in the early
portion of the fight, his rugged
ness and stamina enabled him to
carry on and make a close fight
Of it. He had the great" Arm
strong on the verge of kayo at
the final bell.
When they meet again. this
winter, AmberS will beat Arm
strong | am sure, because he will
stay away from him in the first
half of the fight - making the
plunging. hooking negro look like
a monkey-and let him wear
himself out by betting at the air.
Then he will move in.
And when Ambcrs moves in
this time, maybe he will match
Armstrong; elbowing, butting
and low blowS-movc for move
because this Ambcrs is probably
the toughest kid in America. He
is one who learns from experience
and always beats his men the sec
ond time. Tony Canzoncri and
Pedro Montanez can tell you that.
Don't worry, little Lou Ambcrs
will recapture the lightweight
crown from Armstrong. And
L L. hp