Evening star., 1941-06-17
100000 Gate,
100000 Crowd
Seen Likely
Good Little Man
Facing Big One;
Odds 13 to 5
BY GAYLE TALBOT.
Associated Press Sports Writer.

NEW YORK, June 16.-Their
training completed, Brash Billy
Conn and Big Joe Louis were Sched-
uled to take things mutually easy
today. merely fiddling around and
resting up in preparation for tomor-
row nights championship battle at
the Polo Grounds.
Billy. who surrendered his l75-
pound title in order to get crack
at Louis unlimited crown, was down
for a limberingup session in one of
this city's smaller gymnasiums.
while the Negro champion remained
at the cool of his training camp at
Greenwood Lake. They will weigh
in tomorrow, noon. at the offices OF
the Athletic Commission.
Both appear geared for a furious
tussel. Business is booming at Pro-
moter Mike Jacobs ticket windows,
the rush having caused Mike TO
smile benignly and predict crowd
of 10000 and gate of s400, 900. The
odds against Conn winning remain
at l3 to 5, about where they belong.
Fight Mob Fills Hotels.
Broadway hotels are filled with
the fight crowd and many more
will pour in today and tonight from
Pittsburgh on special trains and by
car The advance guard from the
challenger's home town is backing
Billy heavily at the odds. figuring
he has a good chance of dethroning
Joe by a decision in Is rounds.
Most of Conn's backing stems
from sentiment and the fact that
Billy as middleweight and a light
heavyweight turned in brilliant
and unbroken string of victories.
The hard truth remains that to-
morrow nights fight brings together
a fine little man, whose ability to
stand against even top-ranking
heavyweight has yet to be proved.
and great, big man who for four
years has slaughtered all corners.
The build-up for this bout has
been an amazing thing. Last sum-
mer, when Conn and his fidgety
little manager, Johnny Ray, first
began talking about fighting Joe
Louis. they were good for many a
hearty laugh around fight head
quarters here. The boys asked
Johnny if he were serious about
wanting to get Billy killed.
Then Nike Jacobs became per-
sonally attached to the handsome
boy from Pittsburgh. Billy, fire.
quently Mikes house-guest. must
have convinced the crusty old pro-
moter. who usually is about as senti-
mental as a bill collector. that he
might whip Louis. At any rate, here
is Conn about to fight the man.
killer-and Billy isn't a bit better
qualified than he was year ago.
Maybe he was ready year ago,
as he said he was, and maybe he
will prove it tomorrow night. This
reviewer merely is trying to point
out that Conn still is light-heavy-
weight, and that he has not scored
victory over any fighter of the
caliber of Lou Nova, Max or Buddy
Baer or even Abe Simon in gaining
this shot at the championship.
Conn's Support Is Amazing.
The speed boys last win was an
eight-roung knockout of Buddy
Knox, a good second-division heavy
weight. though on the light side.
Prior to that Billy in the past year
knocked out Gunnar Barlund and
Dan Hassett and won decisions over
Al Mccoy and Lee Savold The
best-looking item on his record is
13-round kayo of Bob Pastor here
last September. but that one actually
was little spotty. Pastor retired" |"
yelling that he was being murdered
by low punches.
So, that is the record for Conn.
And he is fighting 200-pound Joe
Louis, one of the greatest punchers
who ever entered the ring. And ap-
proximately third of the country's
leading fight authorities. including
some of those who laughed the
hardest at Johnny Ray last summer,
are picking Billy to win. To repeat,
it's amazing
If Billy lasts more than three
rounds, it will be astounding.