The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-10-21

lust when everything pointed 70
Saint Thomas, Father Divines avid
disciple. going 10 the top In puxi-
Iistic circles, along comes Melio
Bettina and explodes the bubble by
stopping the Devine follower In the
third round Of . scheduled l0-round
bout. Monday night In Philadelphia.
Because Of his affiliation with
Father Divine, and because he had
left behind him q number Of verbal
agreements which had not been car
ried out. Saint Thomas. whose name
IL Tommy Reed. was the center OF
controversy some months back.
Harry L. (Poppa Dee) johnson and
Dwight Lett. two brokers who en-
gage In buying and selling OF flesh
in the fistic marts OF the country.
were among those who voiced
strong protest when Ole Saint an
nounced with great hullabaloo that
he had been converted to Father
Divine's faith. and had agreed to
let the Spiritual Adviser become
his hstic guidance.
But those who once sought to gain
the controlling interest In the
Thomas contract, will now move
out. The house has been hit by q
storm, and what once loOmed as a
profitable enterprise, has turned out
TO be a human who just likes to
hear the soothing tunes Of violin.
X X *
Powell will stop Harris before
the fifth round" said Grady Jack
son, co-manager OF Sampson Pow
ell, hard-hitting iddlewei9ht who
has taken up residence in the Motor
City. AFTER he stops Harris, then
we'll ask for a bout with Jake La
Motta, and you can take my word
for it. Powell will beat the Bronx
fighter"
Well, the lanky Mr.. Powell. who
is as aggressive as hungry wolf,
proved Jackson was right by stop
ping Ossie Harris in the third round
Monday night at Arena Gardens.
Powell had dropped Harris for no
counts in the first round, job La
Motta was unable TO do in two
fights.
The fight Monday night was
Powells debut in a Detroit ring,
and il his future bouts will equal
that OF Monday night. then Mr..
Powell will be a welcome guest in
Detroit. In fact, he will be received
with open arms and looked upon as
the guy who can give LaMotta a
stiff argument for the decision.
LEROY willis, the miniature Joe
Louis, bounced into wide acclaim
with his 1O-round decision over
Billy Miller, veteran Pittsburgh
mittster, in the 10-round feature
bout on the same card. There were
many, including the architect Of
this column, who believed that Will
lis, with only IL professional bouts
to his credit. was biting on more
than he could chew. But Willis. dis
playing boxing skill beyond the
hopes Of his best wishers, outscored
the Pittsburgher In almost every
round, and there was never any
doubt a. to the winner.
Willis II beyond doubt the best
looking young prospect developed
in Detroit since Joe Louis was set
ting the pace back In l933-34 with
his hard punching that won him
national acclaim. With proper hand
ling willis should go far In the
field he has chosen as the means
Of keeping the wolf from the door.
X X X
A number OF my friends. with
sneers smearing their faces. have
been reminding me that was one
OF those who opposed Buddy Young
DOMINIC the attire OF football
player and exposing his priceless
legs to serious injury on the grid
iron. These same friends ambuscad-
ing me from all angles. point Out
that Youngs flying feet have es-
caped injury while he has beer
sprinting TO top honors in ground
! gaining and scoring in the Western
Conference.
Well. perhaps these old eyes have
been dimmed BY the passing Of
time. and the old noggin cannot
function well, but still maintain
that Young is putting in jeopardy
one OF the best pair OF legs in the
country today. While I'm keepini
a rabbit foot in my pocket in ar
effort to help him evade serious
injury 10 those valuable tootsies
there's always the danger OF pile
up. with Young beneath the PACK
OF husky gridders.
But as long as Young keeps thu
opposition chasing him across thu
goal line. I'm willing 10 be csllee
the worlds worst prognosticator.
* X X
Bowling. like golf. tennis. ant
other sports. has come along fas
in recent years. and now stands 4
one Of the most interesting o
games. Young players. both boy
and girls. are being developed. ant
new leagues are springing into ex
istence almost every week.
But there's still much to be done
and officials o: the leagues can d.
a real service to bowling by givin
a little more cooperation to tn
papers.
The Michigan Chronicle has sup
ported bowling through the years
giving the game helping ham
when help was needed. But thcr
are a number of officials who ar
not carrying out the duties Of thei
once In the manner that will brin
l. L.