Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-07-11
Favored Over bettini
In 15-Round Title
Fight Thursday
CoIorful Youth, Still
In School, Possesses
Powerful Left Hand
BY LEWIS F. ATCHISON.

BY LEWIS F. ATCHISON.
Billy Conn, as modest youngster
as ever flecked Pittsburgh cinder
from his hair, bids for the world
Interchangeable championship on
Thursday night at New York, where
he engages Melio Bettina, holder of
the New York title copyright, in a
l5-round bout, and the experts say
he's cinch to win.
Already they are tabbing the
young Irishman as another Grebb,
another Tommy Loughran and an
other Bob Fitzsimmons. They say
he bears marked characteristics of
the three, and, if these attributes
ever come to the surface simulta-
neously, the lad certainly will be
one of the greatest fighting men of
all time.
A frank and unassuming young
ster, who prefers boxing to working,
Conn family resembles Grebb when
the enemys best shots explode in his
midsection, ricochet off his chin and
bring purple puffs to his eyes. When
the going gets tough and the situa-
ton looks desperate Conn takes a
hitch in his belt and fights his way
out of difficulty.
Left Is Best Punch.
1t is his knack of manipulating a
left hand that causes some obServ-
ers to compare him with Tommy
Loughran, the old spear master. All
OF his previous opponents have found
their vision blurred by steady flow
of lefts that descend on them and
sting like swarm of bees. This is
his best punch and the tip-off that
Conn is a boxer and definitely not
a puncher.
Billy would be booed Justify in
Washington, probably hooted out of
town, because of his inability to kayo
men, but his supporters counter
with the point that he takes every
thing his rival has to offer, absorb
ing punishment like a bath sponge.
They like him in New York because
OF this amazing ability to withstand
the shock of a Sunday punch and
come back with the left to drive the
foe almost crazy.
Those who would call him second
Fltzslmmons are referring to his
weight, or lack of it. of course, and
skinny build. But Billy is growing.
He outgreW the lightweight, welter-
weight and middleweight classes in
quick succession. Currently he is
eating his way into the light-heavy-
weight division 072 pounds wiring
ing wet after full course dinner)
and after he has achieved this goal
his supporters say he will grow into
a heavyweight and box the ears of
Joe Louis if he's still around.
Grew Up Too Fast.
Conn undoubtedly is headed for a
lucrative future in the fist-flinging
amphltheater. He is colorful. has a
lighting heart, and has been brought
along sloWly-so slowly he's still in
school according to Manager Johnny
Ray. Only 81 years old. Billy was
nursed through three divisions to
a shot at the 175-pound diadem for
merly owned by John Henry Lewis.
1t was a peculiar build-up for a
hght-heavyweight title fight. but ma
ture made it so. Just about the time
Conn was ready for a bout with
ranking fighter in a lighter bracket
he'd turn up overweight. He grew
too rapidly to cash in on the expe-
rlence cleaned in each succeeding
division.
Finally he was trapped in the
awkward state of being too heavy
for the middleweight class and too
feathery for the light-heavies and
it was while in this weighty quagmire
that they showed him in against first
Solly Krieger, N B. A. middleweight
champion. and Fred Apostoli, New
York titleholder. He beat them botr
taking everything they had, ar /
walking back in with his left pls T.
ing tattoo on their eyes and war ed
mouths. With this evidence att ind
the powers that be decided he was
ready for a crack at the 175-pound
title, and he gets it Thursday night.
Shocked Louis Encourage.
Bettina is southpaw with
punch. Now, southpaw without a
punch is obnoxious enough, but
when he can hit he's annoying. Bet
tina Wooed and won New York State
acclaim by flattening dusky indi-
vldual known as Tiger Jack Fox.
The Tiger was fighting man who
went around making threats against
all of the lightweights and few of
the poorer unlimiteds. He dared
John Henry Lewis to meet him, but
Lewis wasn't taking dares at the
time.
Thus, when Bettina put the chill
on the Tiger ring fans thought they
had something. Now comes Conn
with his increasing string of VIC
tories, increasing prestige and popu-
larity, and increasing weight. and
they have something better. When
the wise ones are willing to get out
on the limb like they've done for
the young Smoky City fighter he
must have something.
After Bettina comes Gus Lesne-
vlch, who disposed of another quar-
relsome Negro by the name of Dave
Clark. 1t was quite a shock to the
Joe Louis encourage. which controls
Clark, when Lesnevich belted Dave
out In round one, but Gus left no
doubt as to the better man. Lesne-
vlch and the Conn Bettina victor
(Bettina can win, you know will
reign supreme as the undisputed
champion of the world
and that's too bad because the divi-
sion was just beginning to get in
teresting.
EASTERN SHORE LEAGUE,