Imperial Valley press., 1941-02-02

belted out Burman of Baltl-
lmore in the fifth round last night
before l8,O6l fans at Madison Square
Garden with a right hook to the
belly.
But, before he achieved his 18th
successful title defense, Louis per-
formance was such that experts and
fans agreed: ID houlS has lost his
punch, or CD Burman is far more
rugged than his record indicates.
The Brown Bomber, enjoying ev-
cry physical advantage, hit his
smaller challenger flush on the chin
% times with right and left Sun
day punches but nothing happen
ed. Finally-a blew in an unex-
pected quarter was required to put
Burman away.
Full Count
In addition to the fluSh-chin
punches, Louis hit the red-headed
Maryland Irishmar innumerable
times on the head and body with
other blows, but the fists that had
"moidered" q flock of other oppo-
nents bounced off Burman with
out much damage. Burman wasn't
tloored once before that right hook
to the abdomen wllted him and left
him draped over the lower ring
rope-face and arms on the ring
apron and legs on the other side IN
the resin-as Referee frankie Full
lam counted him out at 2:49 Of the
fifth session.
Burman was 141s pounds lighter
than the champion. He was the
1O-1 underdog. Yet last nights fans
witnessed the amazing spectacle OF
the man who had no chance
chasing the champion about the
ring for at least four full ROUNDS.
This was a most unusual pro-
cedure in the book of Shufflin' Joe
who is an offensive contemporaries
"a man who shuffles forward scon-
stantly, rarely taking a backward
step, always feintlng his opponent
into a move, and then mailing him.
Burman made the fight last night.
He made a gallant effort to wrest
the crown from Bomber Joe. En-
tirely fearless, he pursued the
champion--bobbing and weaving IN
Jack Dempsey style-the style that
the old Manassa Mauler had taught
him. Burman's courageous attack
caused Louis trouble IN every round,
but he lacked the tools-the dyna-
mite-to put Louis on the floor.
However, Burman disciple OF
Dempsey-convinced virtually every
observer that there no longer can
be any question of who would have
won had Dempsey met Louis when
both were near their primes. Bur-
man, very faint carbon OF the
great Dempsey, revealed beyond
question that Mr.. Manassa would
have knocked out Louis within three
rounds. ~.
Whether Burman was good or
Louis was bad remains a subject
for long debate. Suffice to say that
Bomber Joe was in far better condi-
ton than in his last previous bout
when he kayoed Al Mccoy at Bos-
ton on Dec. 16. Louis scaled 2021s
pounds, a quarter-pound more than
for Mccoy, but this time his body
had the sleek trim of a well-cOndi-
toned athlete. He was much sharp
er. His blows reached their target
with accuracy. He boxed better
with more poise, though almost
constantly in retreat.
The knockout trip to the canvas
was the lone knockdown. Champion
Louis hit the deck in the third
round when he missed punch in
| Burman's corner and fell halfway
| through the ropes. That third ses-
SION was the only round Burman
won, with a continuous barrage to
body and head.
Burman, who scaled 1873 pounds
-four lighter than expected-was
blood d-smeared at the end, from his
nose and gashes under his right
eye and over his left eye. In his
dressing room, ne said he didn't
know what had happened when ne
was put down for the count-the
first count of his career. But he
craved a return bout with the man
whom Il chased from rope to rope
after he's had a couple more fights
Louis gave Burnan credit for a
game stand. He said Baltimore RED
was the first man who really went
after me since I fought Galento.'
Louis added that this was the first
time he had kayoed a man with a
body punch.
The champion will remain in the
east for a few days rest before be-
ginning training for his 14th de-
tense against Gus Dorazio at Phila-