The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-09-19
MourieIIo GombIed And LoStin 2:O9

was honest last night by knocking out Tami Mauriello at 2:00 of the first round before 38,498 fans at Yankee Stadium.
 Champion Louis could have made thousands of dollars for himself and for Promoter Mike Jacobs by letting the challenger finger for four or five rounds-for benefit of the movies and for build-up for a June title fight.
 But brown-skinned Louis took out" his man in time that equalled the third shortest knockout in heavyweight title history. Joe's 2:09 equalled the 2:09 registered by Tommy Burns when he knocked out Bill Squires on July 4, 1907. Louis Has Other Record Two other faster heavyweight title knockouts had been registered before this. The same Tommy Burns knocked out Jem Roche of Dublin, Ireland, in 1:28 on March IT, 1908; and Louis belted out Max Schmeling in their second fight at 2:04.
 The fans, who provided an un- expectedly large gate of $335, ,063, were Ion the fence" between disap- pointment that Mauriello had not done better than he did, and be- tween delight that he had done as well as he did.
 The 23-year old Bronx Italian tried to fight. He hit Louis with hard straight right to the temple early in the round and knocked Louis about nine paces back on his heels into the ropes near a neutral corner. Then Louis came storming back, forgetting his pre-battle de- fense strategy.
 Louis landed a right to the head that shook Tami, and forced him to fall into a clinch. They broke, and Mauriello landed a short right hook to the head that shook up the champion. Louis came back and caught Mauriello on the chin with 8 left and right that dropped him in a neutral corner on his knees. Could Have Risen
 Mauriello was hurt-but Tot bad ly. He showed that he could have risen at the count of six by taking both knees off the floor; but he wisely took the count of nine to clear his head.
 When Tami rose, Louis went af- ter him and gashed his left brow with a whistling right hook. Then Louis kept after him throwing brown-lightning punches with such speed that few persons at the ring side knew what had happened when Mauriello sank to the canvas on both knees after being clipped with a left hook. He tried to rise at the count of seven. He got one knee off the floor; then he took the remainder of the count with one glove over his eyes-as he wept-and the other glove reaching for the ropes.
 Thus did 23-year old Mauriello suffer the first knockout in his ca reer of 7S professional fights. Thus did he have his string of Il straight kayo victories broken. And thus did Louis register his 58th victory in 5s professional fights meanwhile chalkihg up his 18th straight win in which an opponent had failed to last the distance. This includes Buddy Baer, who was disqualified at Washington.
 Louis indicated at the weigh-in that he would Stake out" chal- lenger Mauriello in a hurry ii necessary, when he registered the heaviest fighting weight of his ca reer-211 IA. Mauriello, who also expected a slugging bee, came in heavier than expected at 198h.
 The crowd was surprised when Arthur Donovan stepped into the ring to referee the bout, for this was the first time that Donovan had officiated at a fight since the Rocky Graziano--Marty Serve scrap last March. Donovan became involved, meanwhile, in the cast of a friend who had died after al- legedly being struck by Donovan after drinking party. Donovan's skirts were cleared.
 Louis had entered the ring a 9-1 favorite in the betting, and he bore out the odds as soon as he was hurt.
 In the dressing room, Louis grinned apologies for being hit witt sucker" right-hand punch. He said the Mauriello fight was easier than his tilt with Billy Conn 1T June, because Tan1i was easier te catch" He said he probably woulo fight some outstanding heavyweight at Madison Square Garden in Feb ruary.
 Mauriello, who had been gashec slightly on the left brow, wept meanwhile into bloody towel ano told one of his well-wishers-Gov Thomas E. Dewey-that he had gone right-hand "crazy" after he had hurt the champion with his first right shot.
 The gross gate was $3S5, ,663, ano the net was estimated at $251 200. Louis, receiving 40 per cent of the net, was expected to get check for approximately $l00, ,480 for his 129 seconds of work; and Mauriello receiving 15 percent, was expected to pick up $37,680.