Evening star., 1941-02-21
From the
Press Box
SineIe-Minded Nova
Is Fight Fan, Too
By JOHN LARDNER,

NEW YORK, Feb. 81 (NA.NA0.-
Lou Nova-the brightest of the
white hopes-is man who fights
single -mindedly for the money to be
found ir fighting, but he is a fight
fan. too. At the ringside of the
Louis s-Dorazio circus in Philadelphia
the other night, he chartered and
yelled and threw punches from his
chair like a 33d degree filbert.
A couple of Negro boys, Willie
Reddish and George Murray. were
failing at each other blindly and
with genuine dislike. They both
were strangers to Novo, but he took
up the cause of Reddish as though
Willie were his favorite nephew
Shorten up those punches, Will
lie!" bawled Nova. Shorten EN-
up! Shorten EN- up! Knock him
out, Willie!'
Willie failed in this mission, and
the warriors gasped their way to
a draw.
That was good fight" said
Nova. his blond face glowing with
satisfaction. Good decision, too."
Even Fighters Who Don't
Fight Louded by Lou.
Two more boys, me-killers-
Bobby Jones and the Cisco Kid
took the ring. They killed the neces-
sarv time for four rounds. and made
gestures toward killing each other.
That's a good fight" said Nova
happily.
Louis and Dorazio came on. Nova
was quieter now, because this was
business. Nova's work, his expert
ence, his talent represent a fortune,
and it is all invested in Louis.
IF anything happens to this
fella," said the Californian, scratch
ing his head, it'll be too bad
for me"
How many times have you seen
him before?"
Il saw him with Camera" said
Nova. and the first time with
Schmeling. and with Galento."
Nova crouched forward in his chair
and said nothing till the fight was
over. in the middle OF the second
round At the end of the first round,
wherein Louis paved and missed, he
shook his head once. Then, a minute
and a half later, came the finish,
very sudden. TWO punches laid
Dorazio low and all but unconscious.
JoeII Hove to Be Shorper
To Beot Him, Says Nova.
pretty sharp, amt ne, Lou'"
Some one called to Nova.
Nova turned on a grin. When he
talks of Louis, he talks IN set
speeches.
Hell have to be sharper than
that to beat me-" said Lou.
Later. as the scouting expedition
rolled away from Philadelphia. he
broke out again-about his future,
about his next fight, about the three
men who stand between him and his
goal, Max Baer. Billy Conn, Joe
Louis.
Nova was sick and weak with a
septic infection for almost year. !
He began to fight again only re-
cently.
I'm about three-quarters of the
way back" he said. III be ready
for Baer when we fight next month"
You figure he'll be easier for you
than last time?"
NO" said Nova slowly, mot neces-
sarily. You can't figure Baer that
way. See, with Baer, the other fell
low always is in danger. He hits so
hard. believe he hits harder than
Louis. at least with the right hand.
And then Max can take a terrif1c
runch himself and he's strong as
I-ull. He's always dangerous.
OscIores Louis Will Make
Conn Seem Like Dworf.
T wish could of fought Conn be-
roye Louis gets him. don't see how
Conn can bother Louis. You saw
this Dorazio, who weighs 1893, how
mall and light ne looked alongside
Louis. Well, imagine Conn in there.
I'D be glad to fight Conn any
time, If there's anything left OF him
when Louis is through. But first I
cot to beat Baer. Well take 'em
-.