Evening star., 1940-02-08
From the
PRESS Box
Louis Handlers Want
Gene to Pick Godoy
By JOHN LARDNER,
uoecioI Correspondent of The Star.

BY JOHN LARDNER,
Special Correspondent of The Star.
POMPTON LAKES, N. j., Feb. g.
Joe Louis showed no signs of his
knockout by Jack Dempsey. His
face was unmarked, his eyes were
bright, and he piled his knife and
fork at dinner like an educated wolf.
Less than two weeks ago, through
the agency of Gene Tunney, pro-
moter and stakeholder, Joe was
knocked out by Dempsey in the first
round. This thrilling hypothetical
fight was reported by Mr.. Tunney
for a magazine. With Tunney's
help, Louis foored Dempsey a
couple of times early in the round.
Then, with Genes friendly assist
ance, Mr.. Dempsey knocked Louis
cold with rabbit punch.
II didn't even feel it," admitted
Mr.. Louis. "It must of been quite
a punch"
At the same time, Joe was pleased
to hear that he had f1attened the
old mauler couple of times before
the dreadful end
Takes quite a man to knock
Dempsey down." he reflected. II
don't know my own strenth."
But for the Dough They'd
leove Fighting to Gene
Rebounding from defeat in re-
markably fast time, the champion
will defend his title tomorrow night
against Arturo Godoy. His man
ayers have been trying all week to
get in touch with Mr.. Tunney, to
learn how the fight is going to come
out. If it were not for the cash
involved-a matter of slightly more
than 0,000-they all would stay
home and let Mr.. Tunney do the
fighting for both parties.
I understand this arrangement
would suit Senor Godoy fine. The
Chilean is not nervous type, but
If they undertake to deliver SIS 1000
at his door the next morning, he
would be glad to take Mr.. Tunney's
word for it that Louis knocked him
out with left to the body and a
right to the head in the third round.
Louis, for his part, has great re-
spect for Mr.. Tunney's Judgment.
He said Smellin' would beat me
the second time" Joe recalled. sit
ting here in his training quarters
among the lakes of Jersey, land he
would Of, too, If I didn't hit him
first"
The only man around the camp
who fails to agree completely with
the manly Marine is Jack Black
burn, Louis trainer, veteran of
hundreds of fights with glove and
razor.
Never mind Tunney," said Mr..
Blackburn, scratching an early razor
scar. He knocks us out on paper,
but he never could. of knocked us
, out no other way I know a lot of
men could of beat Tunney.
And BESIDES" added Mr.. Black
burn, stroking sabre wound which
, dated back to the old Prairie avenue
! campaign, or perhaps the battle of
. Armour avenue, "all these has-been
heavyweight champeens goes around
pickin' fight winners, and they never
guess right. Look at Jim Corbett."
, This is a good point. The late
great James j. Corbett, in the days
Of his retirement, used to pick
winner faithfully before every i'm
portant fight. The gamblers waited
for his selection. AS soon as they
heard 1t, they fell all over them
selves getting to a bookmaker to
bet the other way.
I have mislaid the records, but I
think Mr. Corbett's fielding average
was about 976 wrong. This is
good working percentage, and you
cannot blame the betting men for
regarding Mr. Corbett as the great
est reverse tout of his time. He
practically took the guesswork out
Of fighting.
After Gentleman Jim left the
field, the gamblers had great hopes
for Mr.. Tunney. He appeared to be
the heir of the mantle of Corbett,
and his first few ventures in fore
casting came up to every expecta-
tion. Weighing the issue thought
fully and carefully, he was wrong
8 times In his first 10 tries.
"Just like mother used to make"
said the gamblers, licking their lips.
Gene, Occasionally Guessing
Right, Upsets Market
! Then, however, Mr.. Tunney be-
gan to weaken. His form became
erratic. He guessed right from
time to time. This raised hob with
lthe market. "The guy is unsound," :"
grumbled the layers. Tunney's aver
age still was about 800 wrong, but
that's not enough percentage to
satisfy the average professional. You
might almost as well be playing the
horses.
!. 1t saddens me to report that Mr..
Tunney has lost all his following
among the gamblers. They think
of him as flash in the pan, q
morning glory, a man with promise
who lost his stuff. Not so with Mr..
Jack Blackburn. He still has faith
In the old marine.
IF Tunney had Dempsey beatin'
Chappie, said Mr.. Blackburn,
pointing at Louis, "he still is one
thousand per cent wrong. 1 only
wish he would pick Godoy this
week. That's all need to know"