Evening star., 1941-06-13
Disputes Cham|
Has Lost Any Of His
Speed and Punch
Trainer Slices Rounds
In Order to Save Joe's
Sporrine Partners
By GAYLE TALBOT,
Associated Press Sports Writer


NEW YORK, June l3.-Joe Louis
will knock out Billy Conn in about
three rounds next Wednesday night
at the Polo Grounds. If 1t goes
longer than that, Billy will be just
plain lucky.
This is said after personal tour
of inspection of the champion S
training camp at Greenwood Lake,
Just up the Hudson, where the large
Negro is getting ready to defend
his championship.
There has been considerable talk
about Louis being worn out by his
strenuous campaign of the past
spring, during which he has fought
more often than necessary. 1t has
been said and believed that Joe has
turned into an old man.
There is nothing to it, folks.
This Joe Louis still is the greatest
fighting man you or I will see in a
lifetime. He has taken them all
on, one after the other. and it is
your argument against mine when
you say Jack Dempsey or Gene
Tunney could have whipped him.
There is nothing Joe Louis lacks
to make him a great fighter. Yes
terday I saw that he was much
finer boxer than Billy Conn Against
four Sparring partners, who were
doing their poor best to emulate
Conn, he picked off their punches
with his right glove, a flick at a
time, and then tore them to shreds.
twice had to call time prematurely
to keep him from knocking a couple
of sparring partners silly.
Louis in Formidable Mood.
What makes it worse for Conn, a
mere light-heavywtight trying to
fight big man, is that Louis is not
feeling friendly about this fight. Joe
reads the papers, and he has noted
that Conn repeatedly has referred tc
him as dumb Negro" and an "old
man" While Louis realizes that a
ghost writer" has been responsible
for these remarks, he still feels that
Conn has condoned them, and he is
sore about it. He intends to knock
Billy on his head-quickly
You know I don't try to name
no rounds he said before he went
into the ring. I'D rather not. But
I'll get him quick as I can"
Joe danced around some more,
shadow boxing. He was asked if he
intended, by any chance, to take it
easy and try to outlook Conn.
No, sir" Joe said emphatically
None of that backing up like I did
against Red Burman. I'll get him
the first round if I can. How long
you guess it will take?"
Two rounds, maybe"
"You think SOP" Joe said quickly.
Il hope you're right"
Cut Heals MiraculOusly.
The cut that Louis got on his left
eye in his scrap with Buddy Baer
last month in Washington has
healed miraculouSly. Three stitches
were taken and it required a close
inspection to find the scar at all
Louis merely laughed at the sug-
gestion that Conn would find the
cut a target next Wednesday.
Louis never appeared better to the
naked eye than he does right now.
Big as he is, there doesn't appear to
be a pound of excess flesh on his 202-
pound frame. If he has lost some of
his punch, as Conn and his manager.
Johnny Ray, seem to thik, there is
no indication of it.
Il think I'm hitting hard as ever"
Joe said. Least feel strong as ever,
If they worried because I didn't
knock Abe Simon out with one
punch, what they want me to do
with Abe? What I do with him
before I got through? Look at him
some time"
Louis is having little argument
with Trainer Blackburn about the
amount of work he should do, but 1t
Is nothing serious. Blackburn thinks
Joe Is ready and should let up. Joe
has consented to ease up his road
work. but insists on battering his
sparrlng partners daily.