The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-02-18
CHAMP LOOKED !. VIE BY BAD IN OPENING ROUND
DOraziO Dropped as If Shot When Tagged" in
 Second Sessions
BY JACK CUDDY United Press Stan COrresp0ndent)

| Philadelphia, Feb. 18 - (UP) The philadelphia Story" about heavyweight champion Joe Louis L this: Bomber Joe looked unexpect- edly bad in doing unexpectedly good, thus causing challenger Billy Conns stock to rise several points
 Louis knocked out Gus orazic last night in the second round be- fore 15,9O2 cash customers at Con- vention Hall. Setting a record foJ indoor boxing crowds in Philadel- phia and a similar record for the $57,552 gate.
 When the Brown Bomber achiev- ed his 14th successful title defense at 1:30 of the second round, he surprised most experts who had fig- ured that the squat, dark haired Philadelphia challenger would last at least three or four sessions.
 But the champions showing, be- fore this kayo, was 50 questionable particularly in the first round that some of the most practical men in the fight mob called 1t brutal" Evn Louis co-managerS, Julian Blac kand Jack Peterborough, were apologetic.
 Louis revealed in this historic first round that he no longer had the coordination of youth. He showed that he was off on his tim ing and judgment of distance, until orazio's own hell-for- leather care lesSnesS in the second session made the challenger ready target that even 6 novice could have tagged.
 Louis tagged him then all right, negro still has his brown lightning punch. Louis hit him with, the hard est straight right he has thrown since he smacked rugged Paolino to the canvas before Joe became champion.
 Dorazio's manager, Joe Martino said, Bus got too confident. He left himself wide open while con- ing up from crouch with left hooks trying to knock Louis out"
 And that's the picture in @ nut. shell.
 Slipping?
 Louis, whose record of 41 knock outs in 49 previous professional bouts stamps him as the most des- tructive puncher the heavyweight division ever knew tried to estab- fish brand new record for speedy knockouts in heavyweight cham pionShip fight. He trie dto put Do- raZio away more quickly than the 2:04 of the first round he achieved in his second battle with Max Schmeling
 And the great Louis should have been geared to accomplish this, or at least approach it. against me- diocre opponent like Dorazio. Be- cause never in the history of heavy champions was a tilteholder more carefully Sharpened. No previous heavyweight king ever went into the ring with more immediate con- ditioning under his belt. Bomber Joe had been training almost con- tinuously for three months. He had title fights with Al Mccoy and Red Burman under his belt within the past two months.
 Despite this unprecedented prep aration, Louis went into the ring slightly over-stuffed at 203 1-2 pounds the heaviest he ever weighed for title defense. At this when most fighters start to slip poundage and at the age of 26 =
 When his right sTnacked into the Philadelphia Italians chin, Gus wilted, forward as, if he had been shot with a big-ganle gun, and sprawled forward on his face on the canvas. There he remained while referee Irving Kutcher counted him out. When he was revived in his corner, he asked, What happened? Is 1t really over? l don't remember that he even hit me"
 Dorazio, who fought on even terms with the champion in the first round, paved the way for the knock out by carelessly running into a long left jab after minute of the second session had elapsed. He came up out of his crouch to swing a left hook that time also. As soon e he recovered his balance, Gus went into another crouch, rising with a left hook. Then the right hit him. and the roof fell in.
 Champ Missed
 Although Dorazio entered the ring a 15-l underdog, he looked so good in the first round and Louis looked so bad that most observers figured his elusive bobbing and weaving style and his body barrages, coupled with the champions numerous misses, would permit him to last the distance. Though Louis was try ing desperately to belt him out irn- mediately, some of Joe's blows were missing by feet instead of inches
 And Dorado, despite his bobbinl and weaving style, was fighting Louis fight - forcing the battle against one O. the greatest counter punchers the ring ever knew. In stead of holding back and remain ing jack-knifed with his chin clos to the canvas-letting Louis lead orazio did the forcing and leading He did this against e champion who out weighed him 10 pound and who had every other physica advantage.
 But the fistic fraternity is con yinced that Billy Conn, fleet will o'.the.wiAp from Pittsburgh, wil not make these mistakes in Jun when he meets Louis at Yanke Stadium. As yet, the beak.buStinl boyS arc not saying that Conn vii heat Louis. Billy the Kids gtoci went up notably nfter Inst Yiighti performance by the champion. | s~a~~~N~~S-~r-asl-rs-n-~Haa-
 Prank Keaney is coach 0l thFeI