Evening star., 1941-06-10
Challenger Can't Rely
On Superior Speed
To Check Champ
Needs to Be Aggressive,
But Able to Dodge
Joe's Telling Punch
BY GRANTLAND RICE.

Billy Conn reached the front rank
of the fight brigade on his skill
as a boxer. AS a lightweight, well
terweight, middleweight and light
heavyweight, he hooked and jabbed
and countered and nimbly avoided
punishment In his recent adven-
lures among the minor heavy
weights, he switched styles, gave
little attention to his defense and
a lot of it to his punching.
This was intended to be his an
sWer to those who looked on him
only as a Fancy Dan and said he
had no business in the same ring
with Joe Louis.
Now that he is to fight Louis
he must look to his defense again,
for he can't take the same risks
against Louis that he did against
opponents such as Gunnar Barlund
and Buddy Knox. He can't move
into Joe recklessly-and survive.
He must be aggressive. of course.
The title rests with Louis and If
Billy wants it he must go and get
it. But he must dodge or block
the bombs that will be hurled at
him on his way in.
Billy Is New lyle for Joe.
Billy is confident that his speed
will give him an edge on the cham
pion.
Joe never has fought anybody
like me- he pointed out. He got
to the top beating fellows like Car
nera, Max Baer and Jim Braddock.
who either couldn't box or were
too slow to move around. Even
Schmeling, who knocked him out
on the way up, was slow. Max was
a fair boxer and could punch, but
he fought in straight line and
had lost his early speed. All Louis
had to do to lick him was to move
in on him constantly. He found
that out-or Blackburn found 1t
out for him-and the second time
he knocked Max out in a round.
''Farr Just walked into him and
Pastor ran away from him. All
Galento had was left hook and
that wasn't enough. Other fellows
he fought didn' have anything and
were licked before they got into the
ring Burman. Simon and Buddy
Baer made some trouble for him be-
cause they weren't afraid of him.
but they didn't have much more
than courage on their side.
He still doesn't know what it's
like to be in there with fellow who
can step around him and make him
hustle through every round"
Must Check His Temper.
That is true. But Louis, no slow
poke himself and still packing a
high explosive in either hand. can
take a lot of speed out of Conn
with few well-placed shots. Conn's
task will be not only to duck, slip
or block Louis smashes, but when he
has to take some-as he will, sooner
or later-to stand up under them,
physically and mentally.
If Louis never has been in a ring
with a fighter of Conn's speed,
Billy never has met man who
could punch with Louis. Billy can't
afford to be careless, for even
split second of carelessness might
wreck his drive for the title Above
all, he can't afford to let his temper
get the better of him-as he fire.
quently has in past engagements
and trade punches when he is hurt
That is the fault against which
he must guard most carefully If
he doesn't overcome it, it is pretty
certain to be fatal to his chances
Since it is habit with him, it has
become a part of his style-and
changing style under fire from a
frst-rate opponent isn't easy.
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