The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-11-17
FRESHMAN MADE
 2-1 FAVORITE
 OVER LESNEv|CH
Conn Weak Puncher-JOe Plans Strong Body At-
 tack; Boxer vs. Slugger
By HARRY FERGUSON United Press Sports EditOr)

New York, Nov. 17-(UP)-The most important 45 minutes in the life of that fiashy, fancy fellow named Billy Conn start at 10 o'clock tonight when he ducks into the ring at Madison Square Garden to defend his world light heavyweight chan- pionship against that roaring, rip- ping Russian, Gus Lesnevich.
 When the bell rings Billy will be 45 minutes (15 rounds of three min- utes each) from gold and glory; 45 minutes from chance to march up into the heavyweight ranks; and maybe 45 minutes from shot at the crown that rests on the dark head of Joe Louis.
 Conn is a 3 to 1 favorite. He is the favorite because he seems to be the slickest boxer to come along in years, because he has a left tab that is poetry in leather and a shifty, graceful style that brings old timers up out of their seats cheering. If Conn wins, this may be his last de- fense of the light heavyweight title for he wants to go on into the heavy weight arena where the gold flows thicker and faster.
 Tonight Conn stands at the fork of the road. One sign post points downhill to defeat and long stand as a light heavyweight; the other beckons him uphill to the green pas- lures.
 If the Pittsburgh kid had a punch to go with his flashy boxing, he would be as to l choice. But on what he has>shown so far he can't pummel his way out of a paper bag. There is just enough steam in the hawless left jab and his right to low an op- ponent down and keep him off bal- ance. Stories pop up now and then that Conn, still a growing boy, is ac- quiring punch as lie takes on weight. We'll see about that when he squares of this evening.
 Can He "Take It"?
 Lesnevich ought to prove a num- Der of things about Conn. One of the most important is whether Billy can take 1t, particularly whether he can take a belting about the belly and still keep his speed. If anybody is going to get knocked out tonight 1t is going to be Conn because Lesne- vich throws 'em with either hand an done good one on the button would beenough to fog Billy's brain and leave him wide open for the kill.
 Lesnevich has an uneven record He fought great fight against Dave Clark. the sensational negro from Detroit who was one of the best looking prospects in years. Un- daunted by Clark's reputation, Les- nevich tore into him and pounded him to the canvas in one round. Clark may never recover from that beating. at least not enough to get back up on the ladder again. But on the other hand Lesnevich went to Australia in 1888 and dropped a fight to an obscure battler named Ron Richards.
 One curious thing about Conn is that the harder he fights, the less effective he becomes. He has quick Irish temper and rushes In and starts slugging when an opponent stings him. He is not equipped physically for toe-to-toe slugging match with men like Lesnevich and if Billy loses tonight that probably will be the way 1t will happen. If he stands back and boxes. he ought to win without too much trouble.
 Lesnevich has hit battle mapped out. He is going after Conn with body punches as soon as the first bell rings and he is going to keep ham, mering until something happens. He figures that he can sap enough strength from Conn to give him a shot for the jaw.
 It's the old, old argument of boxer vs. slugger that has been raging since Corbett danced around Sulli- van and tonight,s fight will be an- other chapter in the ancient con- troversy.