The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-08-21
AMbERS MAYBE EVEN MONEY IN
 FIGHT TUESDAY
Henry Armstrong No Bet- ter Than $ Today to
 Retain Title
BY LESLIE AVERY
United Press Staff Correspondent

United Press Staff Correspondent)
 New York, Aug. 21-(UP)-Henry Armstrong, who is used to entering the ring a topheavy favorite, was no better than 7-5 today to retain his lightweight crown against Lou Am bers tomorrow night, and the price may be even money when they climb through the ropes.
 Not since Benny Leonard and Lew Tender tangled in 1923, has there been such a lightweight natural" as this return Armstrong -Ambers bout, and some 35,000 fans are ex- pected to pay around $150,000 to see the 15-round brawl.
 Ambers closed so fast and came so near retaining the l35-pound crown against Armstrong a year ago that there was public demand for a re- turn go.
 When the match was signed, Armstrong was a 1895 favorite, but the uncertain condition of his brit tie hands flushed plenty of Ambers greenbacks in the melting marts.
 Both End Drills
 Both concluded their boxing workouts yesterday, and will do only roadwork or light limbering-up ex- ercises today.
 Because of the closeness of their last fight, and the uncertainty over the outcome of this one, 1t is big betting fight. Armstrong's 147-pound welterweight title will not be en- dangered because of New York's ruling against two titles being at stake in one bout, and because of a contest calling for Armstrong to defend his Welter crown within 60 days against Ambers-if-Lou wins the lightweight tiara.
 No fighters fists ever took any more punishment than Armstrong's. The little east St. Louis Negro, who moved to the west coast because of hunger, has won 46 straight fights feather, light and welter- weight title bouts, with an unceas- ing barrage of blows to his oppo- nents' heads. He earned the name of the rings perpetual motion ma chine, and justly, for no man ever threw such a continuous stream of blows. But, his left hand gave way against Davey Day last February, and he aggravated the injury in his last fight against Ernie Roderick in London last May.
 His Dukes have been pronounced in good shape by the necessary medical authorities, but Henry has been training with big gloves and all the tape and bandage he wanted. It may be different when he pulls six-ounce mittens over a minimum of tape and gauge at Yankee stad- lum tomorrow.
 It seems significant that Arm strong has planned a deliberate body attack, in contrast to his usual head assault, but Henry's handlers VOW that the reason is not because the body offers less danger to Henry's fists, but because Ambers' body is his one vulnerability. Am- bers has the most durablbe chin in the business, and he came back from two knockdowns to almost kayo Armstrong in their first fight.
 Lou Prepared for 20
 A renowned slow starter, Ambers plans to shadow box five rounds in his dressing room before he enters the ring, and his manager, Al Weill. says that Lou is fully prepared to go 20 rounds, but he does not think Armstrong will be around for Is rounds.
 Eddie Mead. manager of Arm strong, has his alibis already pre- pared in case Henry loses the title. Two weeks ago he announced that 1t would be too weakening for Henry to try to make the 135-pound weight limit. and that he would ask the commission to forfeit the light weight title and allow Henry to defend the Welter championship.
 Within the last few days, he has begun to fear" that Henry would be "jobbed" out of his title.
 Armstrong scaled 134 after yester- days six furious rounds against sparmates at his Pompton Lakes, N. J., camp. Dr. Alexander Schiff, New York commission physician, pronounced Henry "the best condi- toned boxer" he had ever seen.
 Ambers also had the medical okay Of his personal physician, Dr. Louis Rosati, who watched Lou box two rounds Sunday. He's in top physi- cal condition, and the rest of the story will be told in the ring" he said. The Herkimer hurricane weighed 134 1-2.