The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1942-02-12

SoA AOO1o
alibi, the Bomber finally admitted
that he was stale and well below
par in both contests.
'Before / fought Buddy Baer in
Washington" he said, 81 was dead
tired. 1 trained in hot place and
/ began to see black spots before
my eyes. I didn't have no pep left.
/ hit Buddy plenty that time, but
there wasn't much steam back Of
my punches"
It was all different in the second
Buddy Baer party after Joe had got
ten his rest and had recovered his
lost steam. Quite different.
Louis also admitted on the same
occasion that he wasn't any too keen
before the Billy Conn roundup.
"He's fast boy" Louis said,
ttbut / wasn't right. was too slow.
Maybe he made me look slower, but
1 can be faster than I was then. I
was still stale. I'll be different for
Nova"
Conn is the challenger picked for
the next Louis start, if there is an
other heavyweight battle soon. At
least, the slender Pittsburgher is the
only one given chance.
AS fine a boxer and as game a
kid as Conn is, still think he got
break in catching Louis below form.
Louis also got a break, on the odd
side.
Here's a funny thing" Conn told
me, "the best punch / threw cost
me that fight. I'll tell you how and
why. I had hoped and expected
to outlook him. / was doing that
through the middle of the 18th
round. But near the end of that
round I nailed Joe on the jaw with
a good punch. I saw his knees half
buckle and his eyes roll. knew I'd
hurt him. I thought he was about
through. So I decided at that spot
I'd knock him out.
ST wasn't content any longer to
win decision. I got rough instead
of getting smart. If I hadn't landed
that punch I'm pretty sure I
! wouldn't have taken the chance I
took-wading in and swinging flat
footed. I gave him a still target
to hit in place of moving target.
And I wasn't hurt at the time. Don't
let anyone tell you his body blows
had worn me down. They hadn't.
''It was that belt on the head in
the 18th when I was trying to out
punch him that turned the trick. 1t
| isn't often that your best punch costs
you a fight. But that's what hap
pened to me-"
At His Best
1t is my guess that Louis was only
keyed up in something like four
contests. One was against Max
Baer. The other was the second
Schmeling fight. The third was
against Tony Galento. The fourth
was his final shot against Buddy
Baer.
I know Louis was strung to the
top pitch in his second meeting with
Max Schmeling. He came near kill
ing the Black Uhlan in less than a
round. You can also gamble that
| ne Was oil SSI W wipe OuL DI1OSly
Baer quickly with his title at stake
Just before entering army ranks.
Louis had made up his mind to put
his army uniform on the heavy
weight champion of the world.
He had no such personal feeling
against Buddy as he had against
Schmeling and Galento. But his
fighting pride was riding high.
1t is an impossible job to name
the greatest champion. I'D say it
was an impossible job to name a
greater champion than Joe Louis
has been-not only as a fighter, but
also as a sportsman. You have to
figure that in, too. You can't throw
it out of the window.
Louis at his best-and Dempsey
at his peak? wouldn't know. Mel.
Their would anyone else. The Demp-
sew of Toledo and the Louis who
wrecked Max Schmeling would have
been a cyclone, working overtime
They were two different types. They
can't be compared.