Evening star., 1942-03-29
Baer and Simon
'MayFace Here
For Navy Fund
Clash of Giants Is Ace
In Hole if Cochrune,
Robinson Are Out

1t may develop that Washington
fight fans and the Navy Relief
Fund will not get the eagerly
awaited welterweight battle between
Sailor Red Cochrane, champion. and
Ray Sugar Robinson, the little
Joe Louis" on May 90 as scheduled,
says an Associated Press dispatch
from New York. But, says the Asso-
ciated Press, if this match falls
through Promoter Mike Jacobs has
another ace up his sleeve and it's
a big one-255-pound Abe Simon
versus 240-pound Buddy Baer.
This ponderous match between
the two most recent challengers of
Champion Louis probably will be
closed by Jacobs, unofficial pro-
moter for the Army and Navy Re-
lief Funds, if %, Jacobs is unable
to get Cochrane to bring his 147-
pound crown out of the Navy, and
(2), if Simon successfully turns
back Harry Bobo, Pittsburgh Negro
heavyweight, in his next fistic ven-
ture.
Jacobs repeatedly is having diff
Guilty in getting Cochrane to agree
to fight the never-beaten Robinson,
but if it's Simon versus Baer the
proposed May 20 show at Griffith
Stadium in Washington should be
just as promising. Baer twice has
fought Louis, once knocking the
champion out of the ring and lasting
six dramatic, controversial rounds,
but on the second occasion. early
this year. being knocked out in a
single wild round, during which
Louis probably gave the best per-
formance of his career, aside from
his one-round slaughter of Max
Schmeling in 1885,
May Set Record for Heft.
Simon also has fought Louis twice,
once lasting 13 rounds and last night
going nearly six heats. If the ST.
mon-Baer fight supplants the Coch-
rane- Robinson affair it probably will
bring together the two biggest men
who ever fought in a ring in this
country.
AS for the backwash of the Louis
Simon fight. which brought some
S5O,O00 to S60,000 for Army Relief,
all was quiet along Jacobs Beach
today except for the neighborhood
of James Joy Johnston, manager Of
the challenger. Louis and Simon.
headed for a few days rest as a
reward for their parts in the little
party.
Joe. who hardly had his hair
mussed chopping down the New
York giant in six rounds last night
for his soldier mates, caught
train for a brief Western trip be-
fore getting back to his buck-pri-
waiting at Camp Upton on Wednes-
day. He definitely is through with
ring fighting until his shindig with
Billy Conn in June.
Simon, a hero for the way he
stood up under what probably was
the most concentrated clouting pun
ishment Louis ever handed victim,
showed little effect from the dyna-
hitting except for a slight lump over
one eye He picked up the honey
moon he interrupted when he went
into training for what he got. His
f1stic trail probably will take him
next against Harry Bobo in Pitts
burgh.
Johnston Officially Complains.
In fact. the peace was disturbed
only in the several blocks surround
ing James Joy. The big wind under
the derby hat still was bowling
about the short count" his Abraham
got when the fight ended in Mad
ison Square Garden. Jimmy was
so steamed, he sent a wire along to
John J. Phelan, chairman of the
New York State Athletic Commits
sion, still insisting that Abe was on
his feet before Referee Eddie Joseph
reached 10.
"I desire the reformed boy
bandit wired, ito lodge complaint
against the action of Referee Josephs
for violation of the laws, rules and
regulations governing championship
matches. l demand that you set an
immediate hearing of these charges,
at which time I will present proof
to support the above allegations.
While there was a difference of
opinion between Referee Josephs
and KnockdoWn Timekeeper Jimmy
Crowley as to whether 40" actually
was counted before big Abe hauled
(See FIGHT. Page C-2D