Evening star., 1940-01-17
en Crashing Upset Of Eastern Throws Shooboy Title Race Wide Open
The
SPORTLIGHT
Louis Lone Ring Champ
Seen Set for 1910
BY GRANTLAND RICE,

BY GRANTLAND RICE,
Special Correspondent Of The Star.
LOS ANGELES, Jan. II (N.A.
N.A0.-On a summer night, in a
Chicago ring, Joe Louis hammered
the heavyweight championship from
the stubborn grasp of James j.
Braddock. That was in 1887. The
shadow of Max Schmeling, who had
knocked him out the year before,
still lay across him, but he moved
out from under that shadow in
1898. Now, as he enters 1910, he
still has so firm grip on the title
that there is no reason to believe
he will lose It this year.
First on the list tor him this year
Is Arturo Godoy, the Chilean, whom
he meets next month.
If he disposes of Godoy, as he
should, Louis may retrace his steps
and fight Tony Galento again.
Tony came out of their fight last
year as hero and wants to fight
Joe once more. I doubt if New York
would 60 for it again, but Detroit,
which paid we'll for the privilege of
seeing Louis and Bob Pastor last
summer, might pay as we'll for
this one.
Any other fight for Louis would
have to depend upon the develop
ments of the summer.
Heovy Gloss Seen Beyond
Conn This Yeor
1t might be that, by September,
Billy Conn will have been built up
to a Louis fight. Conn can't hit,
but he is a sharp puncher and has
more boxing skill than any man
Louis has fought. Billy still is on
the frail side, though, and it is
doubtful If he could stand up very
long under the raking fists of the
Bomber.
He is the best light heavyweight
In the world and, if he elects merely
to defend the title in that division,
he should nave no trouble.
Fred Apostoli, who was outgrow-
ing the middleweight class when
Caferino Garcia grew into it and
got to the top by knocking out
Apostoli, is fighting as a light
heavyweight. This leaves Garcia's
title disputed by Al Hostak. who
knocked Freddy Steele out in one
round In Seattle-but only after
Apostoli had knocked him out in an
over-the-weight bout in New York.
Hostak lost his title claim TO Solly
Krieger and regained it by beating
Krieger.
An effort now is being made to
bring Garcia and Hostak together
to clear up that muddle.
Rough Going Is Feared
For Armstrong
Henry Armstrong; hold on the
welterweight championship doesn't
appear too strong as he sets out on
another year.
He plainly wasn't the Armstrong
Of old in his second fight with Lou
Ambers and he just as plainly
wanted no part of Ambers as he got
almost up to the date of his third
meeting with the lightweight cham
pion. He isn't even impressive
against second-raters any more and
his title will be in serious danger if
he fights AL Davis, who still is
long way from being a first-rate
fighter and who has a terrific left
hook.
Armstrong once could walk in
against the heaviest punchers and
take all they had and keep punch
ing against them and finally wear
them down. But it is doubtful if
he can take punishment like that
any more and keep going.
Aside from Davis, however, there
are few welterweights who figure to
beat Armstrong-now Pedro Mon
tanez doesn't, and Montanez will be
his next opponent.
Interesting Campaign Looms
For Liehtweiehts
Within the last few weeks some
new rivals have bobbed up for Lou
Ambers. This is cheering, because
for the past year or so Ambers and
Armstrong virtually have consti-
tuted the lightweight class.
The best of the newcomers is Lew
Jenkins, a wiry puncher from
9weetwater, Tex. He has estab-
hshed himself as a drawing card in
New York and already is receiving
serious consideration as an oppo-
nent for Ambers.
Among the others are Billy Mar
quart and Tippy Larkin.
Below the lightweight class there
Is little of interest.
Summing up, Louis must be
strongly favored to retain the
heavyweight championship. Conn
will lose the light ht-heavyweight title
only by giving it up in order to
t.assle with the heavies. Garcia, a
fading fighter, may be hard put to
stand of Hostak if meeting be-
tween them can be arranged.
Armstrong will be in danger the
dEst time he puts his title on the
line against strong, hard-hitting
youngster. Ambers will have to
fight for his championship, but
should hold it. Archibald probably
will yield his featherweight title to
Scalzo-or omebody-before the