The Phoenix index., 1941-06-07
SLANTS ON SPORTS
By LUClUS JONES

purposes:
l) Giving number of undernourished fighters
shot at the title and resultant cash to them from
the "doughnut and coffee" brackets;
(3) Making additional money for Mike Jacobs Joe Louis
managers and handlers; and
90 Keeping Joe Louis in the finest physical condition.
longer space of time than any other world heavy
weight champion.
America after ALL is democracy-and the democratic
ideal is best eXempfed when every worthy challenger is
awarded shot at the world heavyweight crown
John L. Sullivan the color line Peter Jackson
and Jack Dempsey did the to Harry Wills Other heavy
weight champions have evaded certain opponents because
they loOmed too dangerous for their security.
But it is undemocratic practice just the when
tehoder depves worthy chaengers deserved chance at
his on the basis of either prejudice or fear
Joe Louis aside from being the "fightingest' heavy
weight champion had been the democratic
well He has not shown the slightest inclination to evade
foe In fact he has shown great anxiety to take the
toughest contenders in return matches That the true
spirit of champion; he loves competition, he accepts chal
enge with the genuine eagerness OF courageous man.
Louis opponents to man, realize they could
shot at the title if the Brown Bomber simply said he
didn't care them The precedent has already been
setand set frmyor champion to pick his own oppon-
Dempsey and of the rest did it to perfection
That stamps Louis democratic spirit in bold relief Con
sderng that nearly all heavyweight champions with real
money at their disposal soften show pronounced dis
like of heavy training, Joe Louis must be given unsua
credit for the fact that in agreeing to the socaed Bum
AMOnth Campaign, he deprived himself OF lot OF cher-
shed leisure and luxury literally heaped upon himself
the rigOrs OF drudgery and routine.
Louis if you know him, has been concerned with
giving worthy caenger chance at the title than with
making money The could hardly be said OF Mike
Jacobs however 'NIr. Mike" up an
opportunity to pad" his pockets He's not native OF De-
trot, but he loves his Michigan roll.
Rut all the gain from the so-caled Month" has
not gone 10 Louis opponents Mike Jacobs and to Joes
managers and handlers. The Brown Bomber himseH mas
pofited in at least major respeche heavy grind has
flaWleSS physical month
month, year after year
The best analysis of what keeping busy has done for
Louis the opinion Of the column, has been made by the
celebrated Granand Rice dean of American sports WRITER'S
who comments in a recent issue of THE SPORILGHI as
follows
"THE WEIGHT WONDER
"The most astonishing single factor connected with Joe
Louis and his career has received only scant allehon
his weight.
when Louis came the top of the plateau few years
ago he fighting around 2O2 pounds The point made
then this writer and others, that the man VINO
beat Louis would be fellow named Louis was wen wen
known that the Bombers deep inward yearng
consisted largely of two elemental details One was food
and the other was sleep.
Steak chicken or together filled part of his day
dreams After that the deep desire for sleep repose
This combination seemed to be pointing directly at creas
ing weight Many believed that within five years time
Louis would be in the puffy nehborhood of 225 pounds or
"Ye when Louis faced Buddy Baer in Washington there
he again within a few ounces of 202
IN MS ~ tlCe de1enSeSn pracCcally every Ilgnt ne
has from the starOuis hasn't varied his weight
scale by much pounds In most instances he hasn't
been pound away from his starting displacement
THE WEIGHT BATTLE
Dempsey weighed 1873 pounds when he slaughtered Jess
Willard Against Gene Tunney years later Jack
up to 1913 pounds
"Tunney, starting light heavyweight, always
working to pack few pounds until he to mark
between 125 and 100 pounds.
Jess Willard weighed 240 pounds against Jack Johnson
in Havana-265 when he met Dempsey at Toledo
THE greatest weight shift I've known belonged to Ace
Hudins who fought 1876 then syrOckeed after his
ring career 225 when he went in for horse racing
But Louis marching along at 2O2, number that
is now his trademark There isn't the slightest change in
his physical makeup after years.
THE MAIN REASON
"The answer this is fairly simple Mike Jacobs and
the Bomber managers have kept him busy for any ac-
emulation to make any headway.
n the three Louis has spent the greater part
of his time training There is no other cham
pion ring history, with the Louis has collected