Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1941-03-13
Speaking Of
SPORTS
By ROBERT McSHANE
Released BY Western Newspaper Union

aIIIIIIIlIIIlllIIIIIlIIIIIiIIIIIIiIIIIIlIIllIfE
is JOE LOUIS one of the greatest
If not the greatest-heavyweight
fighters ever to climb into the ring,
or is his competition so second-rate
that he looks good by comparison?
That question never will be an
swered to everyOne's satisfaction.
More than one good authority wraps
the mantle Of true greatness around
Louis brawny shoulders. others,
equally wise in ring lore, hold that
the Louis reputation has been built
on a fiimsy fOundation-that any
good heavyweight could look great
against the second rate opponents
the dusky dynamiter has laid to rest.
Unquestionably Louis has met
more than his share of ham-and-
eggers. Gus Dorazio, Harry Thorn
as, Nathan Mann, Arturo Godoy-
they aren't names to conjure with.
They'll never be inscribed on box
ing's golden scroll. But it was the
best competition available. Louis,
more than any other heavyweight
champion, has been willing to meet
any and all corners. Perhaps he
hasn't been sufficiently particular.
Some of the stumble-bums he has
fought would have been hard
pressed to supply a logical reason
for their presence in the same ring
with the champion. A glance at the
record will bear this out
Second Rate?
Those who claim real greatness for
Louis are quick to question the mat
ter of second-rate competition.
Why, they ask, is this particular era
so devoid Of good heavyweight con-
tenders? Louis, after all, has de-
Tended his title IA times. 1t isn't
logical to suppose that all IA con-
tenders were pugilistic washouts.
No, they declare, Louis unparalleled
ability in the field of legal assault
makes even good contenders look
second-rate. We are inclined to
doubt this.
We believe that Louis has built up
a reputation for greatness by whip
ping opponents who, though the best
to be found, were not worthy to be
fighting for the worlds heavyweight
championship. But we also believe
that Louis had-and has-the ability
to whip much better fighters than
have been offered him up to date.
Gene Tunney. who had Louis job
some years back, recently advanced
a very logical reason for the present
lack of championship caliber con-
tenders. Tunney maintains that
young fighters won't first learn how
to protect themselves. Most Of them
are big, rugged, 20 or 81 year old
lads who pack a punch. They
should spend at least three years
learning how to box and building up
their general physical condition. In
stead, they get their share Of early
knockouts and a preview of success.
They rush out after more knockouts
and start absorbing too much pun
ishment in return. BY the time they
should be ready for the big circuit
too many Of them are punch
drunk.
Tunney's career bears witness to
the value Of his teaching. In 1929
Gene met q preliminary fighter in
the same ring where Dempsey
stopped Carpenter. From that time
on he refused to rush things. He
started building his defenses as
carefully and as thoroughly as he
did his body. He spent FIVE years
getting ready for Dempsey, putting
in mile after mile of roadwork and
round after round Of ring work.
DangerOus Chamn