Evening star., 1947-12-05
Win by Wa|cott
Would BeRing's S
Biggest Upset
$4,000 Likely to Pay
$225,00 to See Bout;
Champ 10-1 Fovofite
By Ted Smits
Associated Press Sports Editor

ASSCCtOIeO FTeSS SpOF1S CG1Of
NEW YORK, Dec. 5.-Joe Louis
risks his heavyweight championship
for the Oath time in 10 years to-
night, but if Jersey Joe Walcott
can take it away from him it will
be one of the rings greatest upsets.
Louis, declining formally to say
when he expects to knock out Wal
colt, nevertheless has told intimate
friends he wants to make the fight
as short as possible, maybe even
one round"
His public prediction is a digni-
fed, Il will win"
A crowd of approximately $4,000
paying $225, 900 is expected at Madi-
son Square Garden for Louis only
fight of the year, with the main
bout starting at 10 pm. and sched-
uled for Is rounds.
The record indoor gate is $201,-
613 drawn by Jack Delaney and
Jim Maloney February 2, 1927.
Pubic interest in the fight, top
seats for which cost $50, stems more
from the feeling that this may be
one of Louis last appearances rather
than from expectation of bruising
contest.
Louis and Walcott are both 80
and Negroes. There the compari-
son ends.
Betting Has Been Light.
Louis has one of the most brilliant
Of all fighting records. Walcott has
been up and down through the years
and so doubtful was his claim to be
matched with the champion that
originally tonight's encounter was
called an exhibition, until it was
pointed out Louis title was at stake
no matter what it was called.
Betting has been light. Officially
the odds favoring Louis are / to 10.
Anyone can put up Sc for chance
of winning S. on whether Walcott
comes out for the fifth round with
the bookmakers taking the ad-
vantage.
Despite his age and years layoff,
Louis has looked as sharp as ever in
training, seemingly having lost
neither speed nor punching power.
Walcott came to New York last
night from his camp at Grenloch,
N. j., for the weighing-in at noon.
Louis spent the night at Pompton
Lakes, N. j.
Assuming Louis still is the cham
pion after tonight, he will 60 to
England for series of exhibitions
for which he will be paid $4,000
and then return to prepare for a
big summer outdoor fight-if the
right challenger comes along.
Swedish Champ to See Fight.
Ole Tandberg, the Swedish
champion who will watch Louis
tonight, may be that man. Louis,
at least, thinks he is big enough.
The champion has limited he may
quit after next year.
Tonight's fight differs from
previous title defenses by Louis in
that Mike Jacobs, the promoter who
always kept Joe under his wing, will
not be present. He is in Florida
building up his health. His or
ganization, the Twentieth Century
Sporting Club, is in charge.
Louis, at 2l2 pounds, heaviest OF
his career by a few ounces, has
about an 18-pound advantage over
Walcott. He is inches taller than
Walcott's 6 feet, and has inches
more of reach.
Walcott, born Arnold Raymond
Cream, Is at best an artful boxer.
but no slugger. He beat Joey
Maxim twice and Elmer (Violent)
Ray once during the past year in
the surge of his latest comeback
to bring him up to where he could
sign with Louis.
Walcott is church-goer, the
father of six children and, like
Jimmy Braddock, a former cham
pion, has had to mix other occupa-
tions with boxing to earn enough
to support his family.
Louis drew $4,457 in 1894, his
first year as a professional fighter,
and $426.175 the next, even before
he won the championship. His oc-
cupation ever since 1884 has been
fistcuffs and he has pursued it,
with zeal and competence.
Win or lose, Louis gets As per
cent of the gate, or probably $780,
600, and Walcott gets IS per cent.
No heavyweight champion ever
has risked his title as many times
as Louis. Tommy Burns defended
his crown 10 times back in the
early days of the century.