The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-02-01
BURMAN BELTED
 OUT IN FIFTH;
 ABE SIMON NEXT
Loser Shows Great COur- age-RObinsOn Loses
 10 Williams
By JACK CUDDY
tea PTess Staff CorresDondentl

(Um1Ge0 EEcSS Sb8U OOEKeSpOuUcntI
 New York, Feb. 1-(UP)-Cham- pion Joe Louis stands out today as the greatest question mark in heavy weight history after his knockout victory over lion-hearted Red Bur- man.
 The Detroit negro belted out Bur- man of Baltimore in the fifth round last night befire 18,061 fans at Madi- son Square Garden with right hook to the belly.
 But, before he achieved his 18th successful title defense. Louis per- formance was such that experts and fans agreed: CD Louis has lost his punch, or (2) Burman is far more rugged than his record indicates.
 The brown bomber, enjoying every physical advantage, hit his smaller challenger flush On the chin g times with right and left Sunday punches" but nothing happened. Finally-a blow in an unexpected quarter was required to put Bur- man away.
 In addition to the fiush-chin punches, Louis hit the red-headed Maryland Irishman innumerable times on the head and body with other blows, but the fists that had "moidered" a flock of other op- ponents bounced of Burman with out much damage. Burman wasn't floored once before that right hook to the abdomen wilted him and left him draped over the lower ring rope face and arms on the ring apron and legs on the other side in the resin-as Referee Frankie Fullam counted him out at 2:49 of the fifth session.
 Chased The Cramp
 Burman was IA 1-2 pounds lighter than the champion. He was the 10-1 underdog. Yet last nights fans witt messed the amazing spectacle of the man who had no chance" chasing the champion about the ring for at least four full rounds.
 This was a most uusual procedure in the book of shuffiin' Joe who Is an offensive counter -puncher-a man who Shuffles forward constant ly, rarely taking backward step, always feinting his opponent into a move, and then mailing him.
 Burman made the fight last night. He made a gallant effort to wreSt the crown from Bomber Joe. En- tirely fearless, he pursued the cham pion-bobbing and weaving in Jack Dempsey style-the style that the old Manassa Mauler had taught him. Burman's courageous attack caused Louise trouble in every round, but he lacked the tools-the dynamite to put Louis on the floor
 However, Burman = disciple of Dempsey convinced virtually every observer that there no longer can be any question of who would have won had Dempsey met Louis when both were near their primes. Bur- man, a very faint carbon of the great Dempsey, revealed beyong question that MT. Manassa would have knocked out Louis within three rounds.
 Whether Burman was good or Louis was bad remains a subject for long debate. Suffice to say that Bomber Joe was in a far better condition than in his last previous bout when he kayoed Al Mccoy at Boston on Dec. 16. Louis scaled POP 1-2 pounds, a quarter-pound more than for Mo- Coy, but this time his body had the sleek trim of a well-conditioned athlete. He was much sharper. His blows reached their target with accuracy. He boxed better = with more poise. though almost constant ly in retreat.
 Louis gave Burman credit for a game stand. He said Baltimore Red was the first man "who really went after since I fought Galento." Louis added that this was the first time he had kayoed a man with a body punch.
 Promoter Mike Jacobs announced the gross gate as $62,899, smallest gate Louis ever drew in defense of his crown.
 New York-(Madison Square Gar den)-Joe Louis, POP 1-2, Detroit, knocked out Red Burman, 188, Bal timore (5); retained world heavy weight title; Holman Williams, 154 1-2, Detroit, outpointed Ernest Robinson, 146 IA, New York (6) John Kapovich, 18O 3-4, Baltimore, scored technical knockout over Jim Boyle, 180 1-2, New York CD; Nor man Rubio, 143, Albany, N. r., out pointed Aaron Smith, l47 1-2, Los Angeles (0; Ray Robinson, 135, New York, outpointed George zengaras, 134, New York (6).