Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-11-25
From the
PRESS Box
Simon Picked to Butter
Johnston's Breed
BY JOHN LARDNER,
snsciaI roryasnordent NJ The gts

Special Correspondent Of The Star
NEW YORK, Nov. Is (NAN.A).
Once again Mr.. James Joy Johns
ton Of Liverpool, England, whose
great brain, not counting the derby
hat, composes so per cent Of his
anatomy is on the trail Of the
heavyweight championship.
Il don't claim that Joe Louis Is
easy to beat" says Mr.. Johnston,
crooking a refined finger over his
o'clock cuppatea, the symbol of
England the world over, whether
in the tropics or in caulifower alley.
Il don't claim he Is easy to beat"
continues Mr.. Johnston. But il
anybody in the business can do it,
1t is my big guy. BY my big guy
I do not mean Bob Pastor, that
unhappy victim of circumstances.
mean my new big guy, Abe Simon,
who is twice as huge, twice as fierce,
twice as strong, twice as terrific as
Pastor"
Having seen Mr.. Simon in action
your correspondent can vouch for
only one article Of this statement.
Simon is twice as big as Pastor. He
is twice as big as anybody.
Bout With Louis Hinges
On TussIe With ToIes.
What a tiger!" says Mr.. Johns
ton. The more I contemplate the
picture the more clearly I can see
it-Louis lying stiff and cold on the
floor, with Simon standing over him.
No, no, wait a minute! Simon is
not standing over him. Simon has
gone to neutral corner. We don't
want to take any chances with
| referees. even in my dreams"
Mr.. Johnston's dreams will not
begin to come true until Mr.. Simon
gets in the ring with Louis, and
to achieve even that much Mr.. ST.
mon will have to knock out par
ticularly tough African character
named Roscoe Toles early next
month. The Simon-Toles fight Is
booked for Detroit scene of many
of Mr.. Toles' early atrocities.
Should Mr.. Simon fare well
|
party of the second part in a title
match with Louis, also in Detroit,
this winter. Louis admittedly is
sharpening his weapons for next
summers more serious work. and
does not much care whom he sharp
ems them on. Al Mccoy is the first
grindstone in his path. Then Simon,
if Simon qualities against Toles.
Johnston Tries Is Years
To Lond Champion.
If the project is not important to
the champion, however, it has
very high importance for Mr.. Simon
Ind James Joy Johnston, both of
whom would like to get their hooks
into the heavyweight title. which
Mr.. Johnston has been pursuing
for night on to Is years.
If you remember. his first heavy
weight menace of consequence was
/ Boer Rodel. He jockeyed the Boer
into a match with another menace,
Jess Willard. Willard had killed q
man in his last previous bout Mr..
Johnston approached him before
the Rodel fight and applied psy-
chology.
Il want to tip you of. Jess" he
said darkly. The Boer has a very
weak heart. The doctors tell me
that one stiff punch will kill him.
And you know what would happen
If you killed two guys in a row.
The lynching party would call for
: you and hang you to the highest
tree in this State"
Many Odd Characters
In Jimmys String.
This confidence seemed to make a
: very deep impression on Mr.. Will
lard. At least he refrained from
throwing anything but the highest
sort of slaps at Rodel. with the
result that the Boer lived to menace
short time longer, before his
ineptitude became apparent to all.
Mr.. Johnston pursued the heavy
: weight title with Planting Phil
Scott, Running Robin Pastor and
host of others. Now it is Abe
Simon. Simon, New Yorker, is
huge and perhaps he is fierce,
though if so he has kept his temper
under iron control up till now.
Simon was once the protege OF
Tommy Hitchcock ana Jock Whit
, ney. pair of polo-playing sports
men. They managed him together
and put him under the guidance
of professional and he collected
! few knockouts. His career under
Hitchcock Whitney management
came to an end shortly after he
ran afoul of Buddy Baer on one of
the junior Baer's more bloodthirsty
, nights and took drubbing.
He always could hit. Maybe he
: is faster now. He doesn't have to
! think. Mr.. Johnston will do that
| for him.
, Il figure have enough brain for
the both of us" says Mr.. Johnston.
J 10 1.