The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-06-12
KaDZan And Harkins Welter Clash Tonight
Experts Build Strong Case For Conn
Pittsburgh Kid
 Actually Holds Louis Cheaply
BY HARRY CRIMSON NEA Service Sports Editor

Pompton Lakes, N. J., June l2-- There IS at least something new in the Conn~Louls match at the Polo Grounds, June i8.
 For the first time since he cracked Primo Camera on the chin to crash the headlines six years ago, Jo0 Louis is tackling m opponent who treats him with the utmost con- tempt.
 Louis isn't what he was" says Billy Conn, "and I believe I could lick him the best day he ever saw.
 Tt used to bc that he could spot an opening and thread a needle with @ punch, but now his reflexes are O fraction of second too late. I'll beat him to the punch.
 Louis has lost much Of his wallop. The Abe Simon and Buddy Baer things proved that. He hit simon, who doesn't know anything about fighting, with everything but enc Of the ring posts and nothing much happened until the 18th round.
 Louis won't hit me with the same punch twice, and If he knocks mo down, I'll get up,"
 The confident challenger insists that Louis advantage in weight and strength are minimlzed by the fact that he isn't much of Q hand to lay on an adversary or WreStle him around.
 T wouldn't let him do that if he Were." he stresses.
 CARRIES is2 POUNDS AT HIS MIDDLEWEIGHT SPEED
 Dumb Dan Morgan, who managed Jack Britton and several other real good ones, points out that Conn side- steps well. As a matter Of fact, the voiceful Morgan asserts that he never saw q boxer who moved from side to side easier and more swiftly than the Irish youth from the wrong side of the PittSburg tracks.
 Johnny Ray started teaching mo that when was i3 years old" ex- plains Conn. "You can be hit coming in or going back, but It's hard to nail Q fighter who Sidesteps, and Louis Is lost against 0 moving tar. get"
 The fight mob has built e case for SldeStepper Conn, who has stood up magnificently in training ct pr. Joe Bier's famous fight camp here.
 Jim Corbett once remarked that 0 boxer weighing i76 pounds was big enough to whip anybody. Gentleman Jim never saw the slightest excuse for tho light-heavyweight division, which was created by promoters seeking to build Up an attraction.
 Conn has been weighing i82 pounds and carrying 1t with oil os his middleweight speed. He expects to come in ct i80, which is what he weighed when he stopped Buddy Knox at Forbes Field not long ago. He has c 72 l-2 inch reach against Louis 70 and at 6 foot 1 inch IS only half inch shorter than the cham pion.
 CONN PLANS TO UNTRACK A ONE-TRACK FIGHTER
 Conn has been dreaming Or and planning the Louis engagement for three years. The challenger gives this aS the reason why he has not thrown his right hand as often as he did as a welter and miedleweight.
 T wanted to be certain I knew how to block with It." he explains.
 Conn's most formidable weapon in his more recent starts has been 0 corkscrew left, but he insists the right will be there the first time an opportunity presents itself.
 Louis for the first time will face an opponent with the temerity to talk to him. Conn makes imprint able remarks in the thick of the fighting. He upset Fred Apostoli and others that way. It's the Kids way of letting off steam.
 "It's lot better than losing your head" he smiles.
 That is precisely what he hopes Louis will do. One of his principal assignments is to untrack one- track fighter.
 Billy Conn, a notoriously slow starter, may be struck by lightning before he can get warmed up, but if he survives the early firing he has the equipment with which to stir Up plenty of trouble for Joe Louis or anybody else.