The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-05-22
LACK OF NERVE
 COUNTS AGAINST.
 YOUTHFUL GIANT
Heavyweight "TiHe" Bout Expected to Attract 3O,.
 900 Negroes Friday
BY JACK CUDDY United Press Staff COrrespOndent)

United Press Staff CoFrespondent)
 Washington, May 22. - (Up) - VIII big Buddy Baer dare 90 through with his professed role of family avenger when Joe Louis con- fronts him2
 That's the all-important question in Washington's first heavyweight title fight tomorrow night ct drif- filth stadium where some 10000 fans are expected to watch Champion Louis make his l7th crown defense against Buddy, the California giant,
 Boer says he Is ready physically and mentally to come out ct the first gong tossing dynamite = ready to avenge the terrible beating Louis gave his older brother Maxie back In 1885. That was the night Maxie took the count on one knee and was accused of quitting.
 Whether or not Buddy IS In earn. est, he has gone through the mo. tions Of preparing for heroics. The towering leather.tosser of Sacra- naento, Calf, has pafed down to the lowest weight of his career - 2S7 pounds,
 Ready To Go
 That's what he weighed yester. day ct his Olney, Md., camp, as he finished boxing four rounds against two sparmates. He has trained Q month for this scrap, starting only 10 days after stopping Tony 0alento. One can appreciate the achievement of this 237 pounds only when one realizes that Buddy packed 280 pounds on his six foot six and one- half inche beam when he became a professional back in 1884 - the same year Louis launched his career and boxing was legallzed in the dis. trict of Columbia.
 This 2S7 will give the challenger . weight advantage of about S6 pounds over Louis who registered 202 yesterday after boxing three rounds against three sparmates ct the Riverside stadium.
 This pull in the weights end Buddy'S cries for vengeance mean nothing to the betting men. They continue to quote Bomber Joe the iO.to.i favorite.
 Most fans and experts believe Louis will win on c quick knockout because Buddy will be stricken with fright along about ring.time, e:S0 p. rn., (EsT). They insist Buddy hasn't the courage to carry on un. der fire, claiming that he 'quit' against dunnar Barlund in 1888, They say this although tveryone connected with Buddy's camp says Buddy was sick before the Barlund fight, and that he showed plenty Of pluck In getting Into the ring.
 Surprise?
 If Buddy should disprove the ale. gations about his gai1ienesS, our fla- tons capital may be in for an in- teresting evening, because 26-year. old Baer Is one of the hardest hit. ters in the business. He throws Q long, straight right that can knock an opponent 10 feet if 1t lands SVubEGAy, k4S Aluo R4iOShSu VuV TO men, only one less than the cham. pion's A kayo victim. Buddy says he'll even the slumberland count tomorrow night.
 Washington is going for this fight In big way. Co-Promoters Mike Jacobs of New York and Ray Avis of Washington predict crowd of 10000 and a gate of sl5o,ooo. They say that about 30,00o of these spec. tators will be Negroes, attracted from all sections of the South by the prowess of their idol, Louis.
 The other 10000 will be recruited from a cross-section Of Washing. tons white population - big-name government officials, diplomats and government workers. Brother Maxie Baer will not be among the ringside notables to encourage" Buddy - fortunately or unfortunately as 1t may be.