The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-05-11
Lou AmberS Lost
Like aChampiOn
to Texas Tornado
ny JOE WILLIAMS

are mailing a new lightweight cham
pion around the big town today and
they are paying him the highest
complement. They say he beat Il
great champion.
The new champion is the skin
and bones youngster from Sweet
water, Tex, who rode into New
York a year ago IN second hand
Ford with his bride Just to see the
town, and in order to get along de-
cided TO pick up a couple OF bucks
fighting.
The champion he beat was Lou
AmberS from upstate New York, Il
game little bring 'em-all-in Italian
who by the very honesty Of his
efforts and the enthusiastic apple
alton Of his limited abilities finally
won The fight crowd over,
There has never been nicer
little youngster In the ring than
Ambers, There was distinct feel
ing Of sorrow when the little guy
was stopped In the third round. He
wanted to go on, but 1t would have
been brutal,
Not Too Long
As q matter of fact, there were
some who felt the referee allowed
II TO 20 too long, the ultimate end
seemed to be so obvious. But on
reflection we decided the referee
did the right thing, After all Il
game, gallant champion should be
given every chance TO come home
on his shield. And that's the way
Ambers came home last night,
The first dressing room we visited
last night was Ambers, We apol-
ogi2od for being In q rush, We were
taking the midnight train for Bal
thnore to see the PrcakncsS. We
broke through throng Of friends.
We told him our admiratio for
him had not dwindled a bit, that
he had lost like a real champion.
To us that Is the greatest praise
you can pay fellow who has done
the best he could.
Said AmberS: Joe. he's Il real
good fighter Tell him | wish him
the best OF luck
SO even IN the dressing room with
the sweat Of Illustration dripping
from his buzzing bean the humil-
iaton Of the knockout SIN soaring
into his soul, AmberS was still
n champion. No complaints, no
alibis, no get him again for ne
just a real good fighter.
And so from AmberS dressing
nnzn, ma ,tnyat IN JonkiINc' pnnl11 II
was pretty hard TO get In, We
weren't surprised. IT was an old
story. Everybody crowds around the
winner. Whether II Is q heavyweight
or a flyweight championship. Some
how 1t makes you little sick OF
humanity.
We had spent the afternoon with
jenkins a few days before and he
had convinced us he was a thor
oughly legitimate fellow. Previously
we had seen him knock out cou-
pie OF fellows who didn't rate any
too high, but he had looked all
than all right In fact,
As we sat at the luncheon table
we talked about his prospects Of
Ambers He was aston
lshingly contemptuous Of all the
fighters OF his weight. He didn't
consider himself a fighter II
Just came to New York TO see the
town and because had TO eat |
took on some small fights, l kept
on WANING and here | am matched
for the championship That's the
last thing | ever thought Of
But didn't 1t give him some con-
Germ?
You mean Ambers, don't YOU
Well, I saw him once. | didn't see
him very well because they put me
so far back in the Garden. That's
when he was fighting Henry Arm
strong. But If I can trust my eyes
from where I sat ! know he can't
beat me"
That's the type Of man Ambers
faced last night. A little skinny
hungry fighter who
didn't care II he ever was fighter.
All the time he was a tourist. He
had just got married. And the one
thing his little gal wanted to see
was the Empire State building. She
lad heard it was the tallest build
ing In the world You know
how wives are smiled jenkins,
lips that hadn't been
shaved for at least four days
1t so happened we knew all about
that too.
We, finally got into jenkins
dressing room, and we said, You
Ll, Ok K. You did what you said
you would do. And l want TO say
I think you are great fighter.
All the time we we're standing
hands. purposely held his
right hand long time to see II
there were any bumps on it. In
due course he withdrew his had,
Modest
Mr.. Williams he SAID, This was
just another fight for me-
Now what are you going TO say
about a fellow like that? Comes to
New York = a broken down flivver
just TO see the town. He takes on
a couple of club Sights just TO keep
himself in motion picture money.
He winds up winning the light
weight championship and he tells
you-"It was just another fight"
For all we know it may not have
been any more than that He took
complete charge OF the fight in
the first round, He amazed those
who had never seen him He has a
Ratchet face, wash board ribs. He
looks as If he had never had Il
haircut.
When the bell rang for the first
round he showed no emotion. He
walked into Ambers as if the cham
pion were sparrins partner. He
furnished tie first bit Of action II
WASH. very long before he had Am
bers on the floor as the result OF a
right han punch.
The second round was much the
same. Ambers could have been a
bum on the st'eet corner so far as
jenkins was concerned. Jenkins
belted Ambers all around with lefss
and rights. There came time
where strategy was important. Jen-
kins was well up TO 1t. He pulled
out a left jab which made Ambers
blink Then Inc brought over "A