Evening star., 1939-05-31
Lou Has Displayed
Greater Assets
In Training
Youth, Speed Stomino
In His Favor; Koyo
Mox's Main Hope
BY GAYLE TALBOT,
Associated PresS CoortS Writer

NEW YORK, May 31-Maxie
Baer, the playboy boxer who re-
formed a little late. and Lou Nova,
comparative novice with a world
of promise, clash in a 15-round fight
at Yankee Stadium tomorrow night
that might, just possibly, produce
the worlds next heavyweight cham
pion.
If Novas youth and speed and
stamina give him the victory. as
seems most likely. he will be hard
lJdiscourage in his quest of the title
now held by Joe Louis. He's a stub
born Young Californian. convinced
that he was cut out to be the cham
pion. His only obvious drawback is
his haste
AS for Baer, he has been champion
once. and, barring a couple of mira
cles, will not be king again. Max at
30 looks tired from his long train
ing siege, and even if he succeeds in
laying his famous right on Nova S
jaw and knocking him out. his
chances of regaining the crown must
be considered slim as a drugstore
sandwich.
Jacobs Figuring on Nova.
The winner is promised title shot
In September against Joe Louis or,
by some stretch of the imagina-
ton, Tony Galento, depending upon
the outcome of their engagement on
June %. Promoter Mike Jacobs. if
one may be pardoned for reading his
mind is stalking his hopes on a
million dollar" battle between Nova
and Louis.
1t will be a blow to him if Baer
wins this one-if the old night club
Warhorse comes back to cOnfound
his Critics-beCause the prospect of
another Baer-LouiS fight is not one
to gladden. the heart of a promoter
No matter how draStically Max has
reformed, the memory of his sur
render to the big Negro in their
other meeting still is too green.
Therefore, and taking everything
into consideration. the wiser choice
seems to be Nova to win. Not that
there has been any conniving. It's
JuoO blldb lS1IhC OdIOlDS Dl dItICdIIN
always gueSses right. He's a wealthy
citizen today because of an uncanny
faculty for sailing the turn.
A poll of newspaper critics shows
they are almost evenly divided. Half
think Make still has enough dyna
mite left in his Storehouse to blast
the yOungSter loose in an early
round. The other half are convinced
Lou Will wear Max down and punch
him Wobbly in the late rounds. The
betting virtually is even money now,
whereas Baer at one time was a
1-2 favorite.
Farr Comparison Favors Max.
The only direct basis for com
parlSon of the two was in their re-
spectlve ShOWings against Tommy
F'arr. Both licked the WelShman, OF
course. Max knocked him down
four times. Nova had him on the
verge of a knockout in the 18th, the
referee pulling strange maneuvel
that saved Tommy.
Neither Baer nor Nova had fought
since then, but the difference is that
Nova trimmed Farr almost a year
after Baer did. Max has been grow
ing ring-rusty for II months. The
ambitious Nova, though without a
fight since early winter, has been
training steadily and improving his
boxing skill. jim Braddock, who
has been working with him at
Nyack, N. Y, says LOUIS short right
has kick like muzzle-l loader.
Both took only light exercise today
and are ready to step on the Boxing
Commission scales at noon tomor-
row. Baer is expected to weigh about
209 to Nova's 203 Indications are
the gate will be around 500. 600.