The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-06-19
This Sporting World
Punch and 25
 Pour1ds Us. Speed
By JOHN 4. CLUNEY

From c standpoint of knockout hlt- ting ability, physical condition over a period of the past five years and heiehth, reach and weight, Cham pion Joe Louis has 1t on Challenger Billy Conn like blanket. Did you know that when the pair step into the ring tonight, hanked by $lOO per seat churnps on all four sides. Lotus will have NEARLY 30 POUNDS on Conn: and more important, that the champ has a reach of NEARLY FOTJR INCHES more than his Pittsburgh adversary? Aside from that did you know that Lotus 1s much faster with his hands than Conn. when the two men are within xix inches of each other? Would you be surprised to hear of or see Conn hit the floor if he misses a lead in the first round; because Louis is such a deadly counter plIncher that no one can get away from him after missing a punch?
 On the theory that "a leopard can't change his spots" 1t is fair to assume that Conn, as soon as
 he gets "stung'' will fight back
 like a tiger; for it is his natural inclination to do so-if he IS able. Conn likes to fight, but he IS not built to handle heavyweights as good as Louis. That is, give them 90 pounds and try to knock them down; though Billy did great job for most of the l2 ro,Inds against Louis in 1941, be- cause he was hurt by Louis punches on several occasions. Remember, he is nearly 29 now.
 The champ has one real weak ness aside from his 32 years of age if you count that, and 1t is thai he cannot take 8 punch around the head without becoming nus tered for quite while. Ma1 Schmeling proved that for + rounds on the night he stopped tnt champ, who stopped Max III tn' first round of their return bout The first meeting was not for thu title, but the second one was. O course, if Conn can get to Jo' often enough, he will be the win ner as long as he is on his feet for boxing is Billy's best weapon but I honestly expect that Loui will come flying" out of his corne at the first bell as he did agalns 195-pound Schmeling the secon' time. If he does, Conn must g on the defensive and back-peda for his life, until the champ slow down bit; but Billy is bound ' get hit once Louis starts swingln!l He may miss some, but he WI connect with others, and there ar few men who can go many round with Joe when the old killer" in stinct is thoroughly aroused. Ina "old man" stuff as applied to Loul because of his 32 years of az against 28h for Conn is strictl the bunk. Joe has ALWAYS pee in better physical condition tna. his challenger OUTSIDE the rlnt and has had much more boxin in the Army for the past fou years than the Pittsburgh boxer:
 Outside of that, Conn will
 NEVER FORGET his 13-rouno
 knockout at the hands of Louis
 when he thought he had tnt
 champ groggy and ready !ol
 the dll' after staggering Jot
 with left hook to the head anc
 right to the jaw near the enc
 of the twelfth round.
 Assuming that Louis will C what he says he intends to do that is, go after Conn at the fir bell; I can't see Conn in there wit Joe more than three rounds. ] 20 out on the limb as far as DO sible, Conn might be flattened
 the very first round if he can back-pedal fast enough.
 Should Corn win this one,
 shall do no more predicting un :, the eve of next years Kentucl Derby