Evening star., 1939-10-31

SulAICIl VIC AlOIlcSIy u OCIlIHcllIR
or Galento. Possibly they didn't
know the tight was In the bag-if
1t was. and thought it q well-earned
and richly deserved triumph when
Thomas battered bulk sagged to
the canvas.
Lewis Has Clean Record.
Now, If they weren't in on the
fix the fight wasn't wholly dis
honest. They, at least, were doing
their best, even though Thomas
and his manager had sold them
selves to the selfish interests of
other parties. But here again
Thomas hits a snag, for his agent
was none other than Nate Lewis
of Chicago, who has been in boxing,
man and boy, nigh on to a half
a century, and If there is a cleaner,
more honest man in boxing he
hasn't been located.
Even the most calloused and sor-
did characters in boxing will tell
you Nate Lewis is as honest as a
dollar bill. His ring reputation is
as spotless as freshly laundered
collar, and the few dollars he could
make by arranging a tank job for
either Schmeling or Galento would
hardly compensate for the long,
lean and arduous years he has
been connected with the sport.
Heinie Miller. president of the Ma
tional Boxing Association, scoffed at
the idea Lewis was in on a business
deal, and Heinie's association with
the dapper little Chicagoan dates
back to the time Willie Fitzgerald
fought Charley Neary at the old
Calumet A. c., at Blue Island, Ill.
Heinie fought Tony Sacco on the
same card and Lewis was the referee.
Lewis was generous to a fault out
side the ring. but when 1t came to
boxing he wouldn't give beggar q
kind look.
Thomas Puzzled Lewis.
Lewis told Heinie op the occasion
of his last visit here that Thomas
complained Of bad pain in the back
early In the Schmeling bout, and
was goofy three or four rounds after.
Lewis couldn't understand why
Thomas got into boxing in the first
place. He was a ball player. and
had played for Pacific Coast
League club before donning the
padded mittens. He was supposed
to be we'll heeled, financially. owning
a farm. home and a nice bank ac-
count. but he wanted to box, so Nate
took him in hand.
Lewis will have no trouble obtain
ing a few hundred character wit
nesses, and Mike Jacobs. the pro-
moter who staged the Schmeling-
Thomas bout. and Joe Jacobs, who
handled both the German and
Galento. already have denied any
completely in the alleged deal. That
makes 1t Thomas against the world.
and it's herd thing to prove you
took a dive to another man when
he gave his best and thought he
won fairly.
Sticking His Neck Out.
Along rue de la Caulifower the
boys say Harrv's still hearing the
brides from the shellacking Louis
gave him. Maybe. so, but at any
rate he Is sticking out his neck
when he tries to prove two frame
ups.
The N. B. A. has received a white
paper from George Pace. Cleve.
lands colored bantamweight who
is scheduled to take over the crown
Thursday, affirming his statement
he'll be fighting champion A
bout with Johnny Kayo Morgan
has been tentatively arranged. and
then Pace (oh. he'll take Morgan,
he says. wants to box the winner
of the Lou Salica-Tony Oliveri bout
Oliveri, incidentally, is an unbeaten
batam out of Oakland. Calf. who
knocked of abdicating Titleholder
Sixto Escobar recently.
From Lima, Peru, comes word of
angry fans tossing chairs and other
bric-a- -brac into the ring to show
their dissatisfaction with the Ignacio
Ara-Kid Tunera bout. The latter
name will sound a nostalgia note
in Ken Overlin's memory. for the
Kid spoiled Overlin's well-hatched
plans back in the days when Overlin
was fresh out of the Navy.
Overlin had sailed to France with
the idea of whipping Morcel Thil,
reigning French middleweight king,
and succeeding to his No. N. B. A.
ranking and the title For a warmup
bout he took on Kid Tunera, an
unknown, and the Kid gave him a
sound thrashing Now they're throw.
ing chairs at him. LIZA.