The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-10-18
Fox Hos Eye
 ForLouis' 
By JACK CUDDY United Press Sports Writer

Philadelphia, Oct. 18- UP) - Blackjack Billy Fox and his handlers regard the light heavyweight cham pionship as positive springboard to a title fight with Joe Louis, king of the heavies.
 That is why Blackjack and Co. are so eager to wrest the light heavy crown from champion Gus Lesnevich of Cliffside, N. J.
 That is why Frank (Blinky) Pal ermo, Fox's manager, offered Les nevich such a large guarantee for a defense against the Philadelphia negro that Lesnevich scarcely could refuse. The guarantee was reported to be $40,00O.
 According to Palermo, the match has been closed; and it will be staged probably at Philadelphia's convention hall, on Jan. 13.
 Palermo, the youngish but exper- fenced pug pilot, admitted today: "The main reason why we want that light heavy weight title is that it will officially lift Fox above the crowd-iboost him quickly into a position where he can challenge Louis without being told to go and get himself reputation.
 Got Big Chance
 Remember that Billy Conn prob- ably never would have got 8 shot at Louis if Conn hadn't been light !, a q 1,1,,uaiob+ nJ, a mn Nor 1xro,y1J Tnh1, Henry Lewis have got 8 title fight with Louis if John Henry hadn't been 175-pound boss. For the same reason, Georges Carpenter got g shot at Jack Dempsey, and Tommy Loughran at Primo Camera"
 Palmero-a stocky, effervescent Italian with a mop of curly brown hair-remarked with a grin that 20- year-old Fox already had "a pretty good reputation" because of his all- time knockout record. Fox has knocked out all Al of his professiona, opponents.
 The manager admitted, however that most of those opponents were not name guys" although they did include Georgie Kochan, Nate Bol- den, Ossie Harris, and Johnny Walker.
 A reporter, chatting with Palmerc in Lew Tenders tavern, inquired If the light heavy title is so i'm portant, why doesn't Lesnevich gel shot at Louis?"
 Blinky repled, "Lesnevich was un. lucky. He didn't win the title unti he was 26; and when he tried tt jump into the heavyweight class hs lost, right off, to Bob Pastor ant Jimmy Bevans. Then he was in thu Coast Guard for long time. In hi! second fight after he got out of thu Coast Guard, he was stopped by Let Oma; and last month he wa! knocked out by Bruce Woodcock il London. Ona and Woodcock wert both heavyweights, so the title wa not at stake. He defended success fully against Tommy Mills in Lon don last May. Because of his show ings against heavyweights, Lesnevicl wouldn't draw peanuts with Louis. Getting Heavy
 Palmero emphasized that the pic ture would be much different If Flo: wore the 175-pound crown. Fox, 8 20, scales 173 pounds; and he i growing. He must win the ligh heavy title soon, or it will be to- late; for he will have grown out o the class. If he wins the title il January, he may make one or tw defenses, and then challenge Loui next June or September. Blinky es timated that Fox would weigh a least 180 pounds in June.
 He concluded, Billy will be tn million-dollar challenger for Loui because he is young and tough an an all-winning fighter who packs punch that can stiffen Louis when lands. It'll be tough on the broad casters, though, because Fox look so much like Louis, they'll have hard time telling who's doing what.