The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-03-01
NEW CONTRACT
 TO KEEP AMBERS |OUT OF BOXING
Weill Takes Steps to As- sure Permanent Retire.
 ment After K. 0.
BY JACK CUDDY United Press Staff CorrcspOndent)

BY JACK CUDDY
 United Press Staff Corrcspondent)
 New York, March 1-(Up)-The heroic saga of Lou Ambers, one of the grandest little warriors the ring ever knew, comes to an off, cial end today when the former lightweight king signs "hearts- and-flowers" contract binding him to permanent retirement.
 This l0-year contract between Lou and his manager, Al We'll, is a direct aftermath of the kids last fight second techni- cal knockout by Lightweight Cham pion Lew Jenkins before 15,402 warmly partisan fans last night in Madison Square Garden.
 The document is one of the most unusual ever drawn in tough cau- liflower canyon because of the honest affection that inspired 1t. It is the absolute antithesis of what one would expect in the brutal fight game here where money-hun- gry managers are supposed to let their boys fight on and on until they get their brains beaten out.
 We'll, 8 chubby, bespectacled man who was ballroom dancer in his slender days, announced that Ambers had retired, immediately af- ter last nights battle in which Ref. Arthur Donovan intervened at 2:26 of the seventh round. Donovan stopped the bout while the game little Italian from Herkimer, N. Y, was on the floor for the third time in that session.
 But, because Ambers was actu- ally winning the fight-going into the seventh round, Lou was reluc- tant to admit that he was through that he was ready to hang up his gloves for keeps.
 Later, in e cabaret--while the rhumba drums were pulsing-Weill talked to Ambers for two hours, like q father to a stubborn son. He finally convinced the "Herkimer Hurricane that he was but @ zephyr of his former self.
 Legs Are Gone
 We'll explained to reporters, "al- though Lou was stopped for the second time, most of his friends thought he looked good, consider ing his 10-months' lay-oH. Many of them want him to continue fighting. But I simply won't permit that. know Lou better than any man in the world-better than he knows himself. Ills legs are gone; coin- pletely gone. He's too nice 0 boy to continue fighting - and get punched slap-happy. If he was able to keep on fighting, I'd naturally be in favor of 1t, because I'd make money out of 1t. Look at this gate, $46,443 in @ snowstorm. ut Bhe's throufh definitely. He'll never fight again. We'll sign a contract to make that absolutely certain"
 Weills current contract with Ambers expires June 1, and he fears that some unethical pilot might lure the Hurricane" back to the ring when that document runs out. Hence, today they sign a new l0-year paper, which--in effect-will retire Lou permanently.
 Wealthy Boy
 Ambers is comfortably fixed - worth about $l00,000, according to Weill. He owns his own home and laundry in Herkimer. He and his mother have annuities. We'll will take him into partnership in the management of one fighter, proba- ply Ambe.s' cousin, Marty Servo, a welterweight who has won 37 of 39 professional fights and got draws in the other two.
 Thus does Ambers come to end of a topsy-turvy glory trail on which he learned to fight in a church, got religion in reform school, and achieved ring hero- ism while losing the lightweight crown for the first time to Henry Armstrong. No wonder he has been called "The Upside Down Kid"
 Ambers, at 27 and after a decade of warfare, entered the ring for his 101st professional fight last night. He fought as welterweight and no title was at stake. Jenkins, the lean, ,hollow-eyed Texan who had taken away Lou's weiterweight crown in May on third-round technical knockout, stopped him again. Those were the only two kayoes against his record. He had weathered the punches of McLarnin, Canzoneri, Halaiko and Montanez. But he had his legs in those days, instead of poundage-140h to Jen- kins' l34.
 Last night Lou took a terrific beating in the second round. after straight right almost knocked his head of. Jenkins, frantic for the kill" battered him from rope to rope. But Ambers, with a heart as big as a boxing glove, kept on his feet and kept yelling to Donovan, I'm all right! I'm all right" Forced Fight.
 The ex-champ rallied magnifi- gently 10 win the third and fourth fight on even terms in the fifth and take the sixth on a foul. He forced the fighting throughout. as Jenkins backed away like a turkey looking for place to sit down. His jab- ping attack. at times made the champion look like an amateur.
 But early in the seventh. an over handed right drove him to the cam vas. He should have taken a nine- count. but he was up at the stroke of one. 4 left hook shook him and a following right fioored him for eight. When he rose. Jenkins was swarming after him. A barrage of head hooks f00red him in mld-ring and Donovan stepped in.
 As Ambers was assisted to his corner. the crowd shook the Gar. den's girders with 6 grand ovation Although wearing no crown, he had