Evening star., 1953-09-24

was scrupulousy honest and called EN- as
he EN- But he rarely picked a winner
Jim Corbett bad Handicapped and so
is Jack Dempsey ~ ~
Leonard never could see Jimmy McLarnin fighter,
but McLarnin to become weterweight champion
Incidentally Jimmy knocked Leonard cold IN BenyS as'
fight Corbett picked Jim Jeres over Jack Johnson ho'
withstanding Jeffrles' long retirement
SOME BUT NOT ALL former fighters spoke from the
heart and mind Leonard did. But others who had
invested unwisely-bown dough- in other words-had
price promoters needed buildup for one guy they got
it from big-name "ex" more or less on his uppers
Friendship, sometimes, plays part Dempsey plcked
Tom Heeney to dethrone Tunney People suspected tas
Jacks envy of his tWome conqueror Iunney pronpIeo
him choose the New zeaIander 1t couldn't nave oeen
shll money.
It turned out later that he was doing Richard
The Tunney Heeney fight dying at the box Office IL
needed help and Dempsey lent himself to the banyhoo He
repaying to the fabulous promoter, Richard
Sometimes Dempsey extremely busy person. thought
essy both principals At least ONCE he okayed oye
magazine story picking fighter Six weeks later just as
the story deemed for publication, ne VSlteo te
rival camp and fingered the other gladiator.
IT IS ODD TO FIND Joe Louis picking Lastarza over
puncher Ike Marcano CynicS might suspect Joe smiling
for the International Boxing Club and maybe he is Could
be- too that prejudiced because Rocky knocked h
out Louis fought LaStarza and could be that Joe
the dough. 1t could be that the Of Brown BoOer
Just thinks LaStarza is the better man.
Harry Greb was accused of having taken punch too
many picked Tunney to beat Dempsey in their first
fight This was back in 1926 Grebs motives sus-
pect After ALL Harry had fought Tunney few times ana
had come to know him pretty well.
Creb never was accused being anybodys payroll,
but paid much attention to his prediction even when
the Pittsburgh windmill said Dempsey won't win
round" He riding winner, it turned out Tunney
had DepseyS number not only in Philadelphia but IN chi
cago when they fought second time
Three and half years LaSarza and Marcano fought
to in Madison Square Garden Both were
crude but unbeaten heavyweghts crude
but paradoxicaly he still is undefeated 1t was close
battle closest Rockys and most people who are
leaning LaSarza tonight using that first engage
ment yardStick They insist LaStarza won tnat ngn
despite knockdown.
ON THE OTHER HAND there is much to be said for the
fighter scored in fight against foe Joe LOUIS
for instance utterly devastating against opponent
the second Come to think of it, Joe was devas-
tang on the one occasion when his heyday
This against Max Schmeng He practcaAy annHaCeo
the Teuton in their second fight
But usually it was of Louis doing we'll the first
time and better the second time Take the feud with Billy
Conn., example Billy did remarkable job in his first
struggle On great scorecards he was win
ming too cocky in the 18th round and
"Wa until they meet again., Conns supporters
proclaimed Billy will take him, but good"
1t time before they were rematched world
War oued the of both fighters but when LOUIS
and Conn got the ring second time Billy still was the
younger He also the who had felt the sting
of Joes punch once before.
It had been said of that he feared nothing. He
feared Louis however Billy practically died in his dressing
before the second fight He virtually an apologec
contender.
LasTARZAs SUPPORTERS maintain that Roland (hows
Roland Rolle for the of potential heavyweight
champ won't adversely affected by his first encounter
with Marciano But how to know for certain until
tonight? Rocky like Louis is fundamentally hitter When
he hits, he hurts!
This could very bad fight, mainly because LaStarza
never the day he could hit hard Marclano 1t Is
reasonable suppose he will be cautious Lou Ambers the
other day. saying LaSaza could be tough to hit
He can run forward and he can
practically fight off the like Arturo Godoy How are
YOU going to hit guy like Godoy when his chin is resting
the deck? Louis couldn't"
Maybe though, it will be humdinger of scrap, the
you could into the parlor but won't because
of TV restrictions There are people the prem
ses aside Braddock and Tunney if Gene can be
counted among Roies admirers They LaStarZa
won't the violent initiation at the hands of
Marcano AZ months ago. He will be brave willing and all
that sort of thing.
Trouble is that the refrain is too familiar. They were
saying thing behalf of Jersey Joe Wacott Last
September nearly H rounds Wacott in the process
of mastering Then he into the Sunday punch
Joe got over it. Come May l5 this year, Walcott