The Wilmington morning star., 1940-02-09
LOUIS. GOD0Y TO MEET TONlCH]
CHAMP IS l T07
FAVORITE TO WIN
Chilean's Style And Body
Punching In His Favor; 9Th
Defense For Joe Louis
BY SID FEEDER

NEW YORK, Feb. S.-LR-Joe
Louis makes the ninth defense in
his record-breaking run as worlds
heavyweight champion in Madison
Square Garden tomorrow night, and
at this writing not a creature was
stirring who would predict Arturo
Godoy of Chile could take the title
away from him:
A crowd Of between $4,000 and
5000 customers is expected to sit
in on the proceedings, contribute
to a gate of over 100000, and
thereby make the fifth straight
appearance for Louis in the Gar
den with a "pot" running into six
figures. The first preliminary is
slated for $3.50 p. m. (E.S.T.) and
the big doings at 10 p. m.
The Brown Bomber is 1 to z to
continue bombing against the Chill
can fisherman where he left off
against Bob Pastor in Detroit last
September, and most betting is on
just how long the rough, tough
South American way can last be-
fore becoming the dusky Destroy
er's eighth straight knockout vic
tim. Since Joe won the champion
ship from old Jim Braddock in 81.
only Tommy Fa-r, the durable
Welshman, has gone the 15-round
derby distance against Louis.
Godoy, as long as he stays in his
crouch, will be fully conscious of
the evenings proceedings. Tony
Galento showed that a crouching,
bobbing fellow can enjoy himself
with Joe. However, the first time
Tony ''came to the surface" last
June, the roof fell in on him. So
with Arturo-and this department
picks him to stay submerged-and
on hand-for one-third Of the
route, with Louis flattening him
any time after the fifth.
Both fighters were as confident
tonight as Babe Ruth calling his
home run shot. Louis, who has
made a few predictions since Max
Schmeling made him eat his words
in their first fight, said his usual
brief piece about the fight ending
"jes' as soon as T tag him a solid
punch"
More voluble was Godoy, who
has trained hard through eight
long weeks for this shot. Il am
confident I'll be the first South
American to take the champion.
ship" he told the folks.
Chief interest in his chances
centered in Godoy's body-punching.
He is better than fair betting at
the other guys m~id-section, and
the Bomber's tummy has never
been seriously tested before Us.
ually, his opponents haven't had
time to try.
The punch-tossers slept in their
respective training camps - Louis
Pompton Lakes, N. j., and Co.
10y at Summit, N. flor the last
tonight. They break camp to.
morrow morning and will be in the
at noon for the weigh-in
ceremonies.
There was a possibility that Louis
might be heavier than he has ever
been. When he wound up his box.
ing work yesterday, he scaled 204
pounds and was not expected to
take off any of that before he
,urns up for the official %poundage-
He weighed an even 200
FOR Pastor and 200 IA for Galento
n his most recent starts. Godoy
to scale between 202 and
203.
SO certain were all concerned
that Deadpan Joe would finish on
.op tomorrow that Promoter Mike
even has announced his
next opponent-or victim" This
will be Johnny Paychek, the scant.
haired Des Moines hopeful, and
he fight probably will be held in
The Garden April 3 for the benefit
If the Finnish relief fund.
The fight will be broadcast in
both English and Spanish (for
South America). The NBC-Blue
network will be doing it for the
States.