The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-03-22
Brown Bomber
Given Surprise
by Heavyweight
Simons Falls Victim
to Technical ko in
Thirteenth Round

Detroit, Mar. z2-AP-Slide over,
Al Mccoy. Red Burman and Gus
Dorazio and make room for com
rade Able Simon--a fighter with
courage almost beyond imagination.
Ponderous Abe Simon. 254 pounds
OF him, has joined the ranks of IA
other futile contenders for Joe
Louis world heavyweight champion,
ship. but in so doing he gave the
Brown Bomber the hardest and most
surprising fight he has experienced
as title-holder. fooling eyerybod$ in
a standing-room crowd OF lS.9OS in
Detroit's Olympia Arena last night.
Three thousand were turned away.
Simon, figured to last no longer
than four rounds, fell victim to a
technical knockout after one min
ute and 90 seconds OF fighting in
the thirteenth round. Referee Sam
Hennessy humanely stopped the
sensational battle after Louis had
knocked Simon down twice In quick
succession for counts of nine In
that fatal round. Simon was on his
feet, his hands gripping the top
rope Of the ring in his own corner,
but he VAS helpless and could not
continue.
"The man was absolutely help.
less" Hennessy explained today.
81 had nothing else to do but stop
It. II had allowed Louis to hit
the helpless Simon finishing blow.
there might have been serious con.
sequences"
AS a reward for his courageous
and surprising showing. Promoter
Mike Jacobs planned today to give
Simon another shot at the title. He
intends to rematch the pair for n
l5-round engagement in New York,
May IS There was some talk. how
ever. they might be rematched for
a September open air bout in De
troit, the champions home town
Simon and his manager. Jimmy
Johnston. protested ending the
fight. Simon declared that Louis
blows did not hurt him at any time.
although when the fight was ended
he might have appeared TO be in
distress because OF three cuts over
his eyes and blood-smeared face
Three stitches were required to
close an inch and one.half cash in
the lid OF his left eye.
He shouted defiance at Louis
even when the doctors were closing
the wound:
why did they stop IT." he de
manded. 1T was the thirteenth
round, wasn't it? And this was Fri
day. too. Holy, jumping Bolivar!
The next time | fight him ] hope
it's on Thursday
Louis, with a big sinner under
his left eye, praised Simon's game
ness, declaring he was tougher than
Primo Camera. The Champion
hands panied him so terribly aftel
he reached the dressing room thai
he was ordered TO soak them ir
buckets of ice water. Louis said he
was no more tired than usual after
a championship bout, and that
Simon never really hurt him.
The battle was a thriller from
the start. producing four knock
downs. all scored by Louis. The
bout was only a few seconds ole
when the champion, letting fly witt
his first right hand blow. landed /
flush on Abe's jaw and knocked
him down for the first time in his
life. He got up at the count OF two
smiling.
Louis let go with another RICH
hand smash In the third. floorinl
Simon for a count Of nine Louil
must have thought this was the end
for he walked away slowly, lookinl
at Simon over his shoulder. At thu
count OF nine, however, Big Alb
dragged himself to his feet and. 4
the surprise OF the shouting spec
tators, began pumping tantali2in'
lefts into the champions reddeninl
| nose and left eve.
To his credit, II must be SAT-
that Simon went TO his finisl
game and unafraid. He carried thu
battle to Louis al leasthat OF TIA
way. keeping him off balance Will
a snaky left 10 the face. but rarely
using his right. He kept this weapon
as defense for blocking.
The experts agreed that n HI
had possessed good right ham
punch he might have stuck for q
rounds.