Evening star., 1941-05-23
Heavy Title Win
ByBuddy Would
Be Record Upset.
CoIorless Challenger
Faces Champ Trained
To Razor Edge
BY LEWIS F. ATCHISON.

BY LEWIS F. ATCHISON.
Buddy Baer squares away for 15-
round assault on Joe Louis heavy
weight title tonight at Griffith Sta
dium and the collision jars loose
three random thoughts in this cor
ner:
Jim Braddock's victory over Max
Baer for the title; Max Schmelings
l2-round kayo of the current champ,
and the popular novel, 1T Can't
Happen Here"
Buddy's chances of knocking the
crown from Louis cotton topped
mead virtually are nil, but so were
Braddock's the night he came in
from Jerseys docks like a stray bit
Of jetsam and bounced enough soggy
mittens off Max's panied features to
win
Schmeling was an even longer
shot as he walked out to his ap-
parent doom. You couldn't get down
bet he'd go as far as the second
stanza. but when they swept up
the fallen warrior the remains we're
tnOSe OF one j. Louis.
You think of those things and
wonder if but no. That book title
is the answer. 1t simply can't hap
pen here tonight. If it does. if
young Buddy wins it unquestion-
ably will be the greatest upset in the
history OF the ring-and that in
cludes a multitude of weird happen
ings.
Louis Not Too Tired to Win.
Louis. honed to an edge as keen
AS one of Trainer Jack Blackburn's
old dueling weapons. is mighty tired
OF the fight game. and has his fill
of glory, ready cash and the morbid
thrill of knockout. But not SO tired
he can't summon up enough power
to send Baer crashing to defeat just
as he sent his older brother, Brad
dock. Schmeling and all others bold
enough to challenge his superiority
They say Buddy's only chance is
to land right early in the fight and
win by quick knockout. There al
ways is that chance. of course, but
they forget that Schmeling, who was
considered a good right-hand
puncher. dubbed Louis with his
right for II long, hot rounds before
dropping him, and that Louis shook
up Herr Max with his left before
finally bowling.
They forget that Buddy teed off
on torporific Tony Galento's chin
without visible effect. Galento quit
colo. claiming a hand injury, but
Buddy's right didn't stop him. One
thing that Louis has proved to the
satisfaction of all is that he can
take a good punch. Everybody who
tried seriously hit him. Joe is an
easy target and he does get flustered
when anybody pounds home good
shot. but he keeps coming, losing
neither heart nor power Braddock
put him down in their Chicago bout
and Galento bowled him over at New
York. but Schmeling is the only one
who ever stretched him.
Baer Has No Love for Game.
Baer, on the other hand. has been
down several times and was so sick
of the whole business the night he
fought Gunnar Barlund he retired
ungallantly under fire. His very
nature goes against the coarse grain
of this business. Only the lure of
the gold keeps him in it, and that
isn't sufficient armor to face Louis
piercing broadsides.
Five-ounce gloves, strictly against
the Federal statute permitting box
ing in the District, but okayed by
the brass hats of the local ring COM
mission, will be employed tonight.
The law calls for 8-ounce mittens
An outside referee, one Arthur Don
ovan, will officiate, thereby sighting
another commission-made bylaw.
Louis, getting back to the big at
traction, seriously is thinking of 60
ing into the Army, according to his
managers. They say he wants to
knock off Billy Conn next month,
Abe Simon in July. and finish with
Lou Nova in September before call
ing it quits for at least year and
possibly forever He is quite sur
feited with success. but can't quit
with logical challenger in sight.
BY disposing of these three he'd be
free to join the colors or retire to
the quiet, pleasant environs of his
farm.
Both men were confident as they
awaited the bell Baer mouthed the
usual I'm not afraid of him." and
(See FIGHT, Page ca