The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-02-10

GODOY HOT ON
TRAIL OF new
co WITH LOUIS
South American Lost Split
Decision After Great
Exhibition
BY JACK CUDDY

BY JACK CUDDY
UNITED Press Staff Correspondent
New York, Feb. 10-(UP)-Arturo
Godoy, the head-strong Chilean,
who chased heavyweight Champion
Joe Louis for most Of the Is rounds
at Madison Square Garden last
night, demanded a return bout to-
day to prove that the ring officials
were wrong when they permitted
Bomber Joe to retain his crown.
Godoy said, ''Ill steeck in thees
coontry until we fight again. Then
I'll make heem joomp clear out Of
that reeng. I'll be chompeen then
-yes?"
AS if to invite Bomber Joe into
the ring again, Artful Arturo gave
him lusty, loud-smacking kiss on
the cheek after the decision was
announced-after Arturo's low, La
tin bob and weave with face al
most touching the canvass had
made a semi-chump Of the champ
before the delighted fans.
Arturo's manager, Al Well, went
into a quick huddle today with
Promoter Mike Jacobs regarding
this return match which virtually
every one of the 1857 cash Gus
toners at the Garden last night
were demanding, now that their
laundering boos for the champ
were fading into newspaper echoes.
Those fans booed the split deci-
sion at the garden because they
thought Godoy. had turned In one
Of the greatest upsets in pugilistic
history. They thought he had
wrested the world title from the
Brown Bomber, after forcing him
to mount the despised bicycle" and
back-pedal for most Of the is
rounds. When Godoy entered the
ring against Louis he was one of
the longest shots in heavy title his
tory-an under dog at 10-to-1 and
points north. The bookies wouldn't
back the Chilean at any odds.
ETU1uVsCE
But Promoter Jacobs told Man
ager Well, IT am delighted at the
grand fight Godoy put up. Unfor-
tunately Louis is contracted to make
his next title defense against john
ny Paychek of Des Moines on April
for the benefit Of the Finnish re-
lief fund. And there are other
contenders In the offing. What II
Lee Savold beats Bob Pastor on
March /? What if Valentin Cam
polo beats Buddy Baer later. I'll be
! glad to match Godoy with the win
ner of either of those two bouts and
let the survivor meet Louis again
in September-if Louis is still
champion then"
Jacobs wasn't kidding when he
said, "if Louis is still champion
then" because Joe turned in his
worst performance last night since
winning the title from Jim Brad
dock in 1887.
Louis performance was so bad
that one of the judges, Tommy
Shortell, voted 10 rounds to Chal-
lenger Arturo, two to Louis and
three even. But the other Judge
George Lecron, and Referee Arthur
Donovan agreed in scoring 10
rounds for Louis four for Godoy
and one even. This gave the de-
cision to the champion. The Unit
ed Press had the bout scored exact
ly even. Draws are not allowed in
championship battles in New York
State. The U. P. card gave each
fighter five rounds and registered
five even.
Although there were no knock
downs, the fans were ON their feet
from first to last gong. And with
every round, the great Negro
champions prestige slid down the
toboggan.
There were two explanations OF
the champions poor showing
against a challenger who had been
generally considered unfit to carry
his ring toys. The Louis critics
proclaimed him "head-shy", and
lacking the mentality to solve an
unorthodoX style.
/ Played It Safe
The Louis admirers insist that
jolting Joe's displeasing precautions
were caused by his desire to engage
in at least four title bouts this
year. They say that's why he rare
ly used his left jab against the
challenger and virtually never shot
his straight right. He was taking
no chance Of breaking hand-tak-
ing no chance of being kept out OF
the ring for several months.
Surprisingly, Godoy-who had
been slated to be executed quickly
and ruthlesSly-forced the fight
ing in every round except the 18th
That was the session in which he
danced sneeringly about the ring
like a Chilean Make Baer, beckon-
ing Louis to come in and fight
demanding that the KILLER, who
had knocked out the last seven OF
his previous fight title challengers
come in and l-e-a-d. This made
mockery Of the champion who
newer leads until his counter
punching has an opponent in dis
tresS.
After the battle Godoy went tc
a hotel to Join his bride of SIX
! months, Ledda, who had followed
his semi-triumph on the radio
Louis went to the apartment Of
friends in Harlem.
One of the most amazing after
maths of this burlesque-brawl was
the dressing room statement of 203-
pound Louis, world heavyweight
champion, who said, II didn't take
any chances Of hurtin' my hands
Apparently Joe had forgotten thai
1867 fans had paid $88, 523 to see
him belt Godoy into the petunias
That's the only reason they went te
the '.l1ouse that Richard built" last
night.
Robins. st. AIMS led the Poll club
I =