Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-07-25
WIN, LOSE OR
DNAV By FRANCIS sTANN
Throw I'm in the River

THIRTY-TWO YEARS OLD no, Joe Brown still is
slick piece of lighting machinery On the TV screen 1t
looked if the lightweight champion licked Kenny Lane
q mite more decsvey than the officials decreed although
they unanimous. Trouble is, Brown may have run
out of serious challengers.
st don't wanna mo- southpaws" Brown told
the national TV audience after the 15-round decision
Far as I'm concerned you throw EN- all in the river
They make you look bad. don want no mo- part Of no
mo- southpaws"
This was before Joe counted his money of course,
and he may change his mind and fight No. Challenger
Lane again. There seems to be no valid reason why ne
shouldn't. For guy who thought southpaw was max
ing him look bad, Joe Brown was looking very good.
Lane was his sixth lefthanded opponent, too, and
Brown whipped them all 1t also his fifth title de-
tense the last23 months and if Joe isn't the best
champion pound for pound he certainly is the busiest
LANE, PRIDE AND JOY of Muskegon, Mich, had
asked his Governor, Mennen Williams and his United
States Senator Charles Potter to intervene in regards to
a title fight. He talked good fight. Joe Brown has
given me the run around long time and I'm going to
cash In now" and he fought good one But the
champ from Baton Rouge had his number.
As matter of fact, Lane Just a bit disappont-
ing There wasn't much fair and verve. His Wanted
body attack didn't quite of. Lane didn't or rather
couldn't, crowd and harass his man.
At Houston, it was apparent that Kenny was fighting
before pro-Lane crowd which cheered his hits and
near-hts mpartiay, but the screen 1t looked as II
Brown was boss from the beginning In the first round
for instance bucked Lane He was Brown the Jabber
ct that time
During the course of the hght-hrst l5-rounder
fought by Lane and the first time Brown was forced to
20 the championship distance to turn back challenger
Brown confused Lane with a number Of technques
WITH HIS FIvE-INCH ADVANTAGE in reach, Old
Bones outjabbed his man. Then he turned counter
puncher Then went back to abbing and toward the
end he was two-hsted, about guy stalking his prey
AS the bell sounded for the 10th round the ring COM
mentator observed that Lane was more confident"
He's counting on his six-year advantage in years.
Jack Drees said and hardly had the words been spoken
when, whamo Brown had his best round OF the ngnt'
One uppercut divorced Lane from his mouthpiece.
On this ong-range observers scorecard, in fact Lane
didn't win more than one round, II tnat one aIter ue
fifth He may have taken the 18th by narrow margin,
but Brown definitely swept the last three heats and that
good finish always packs influence with the judges and
referee.
The 18th and final round a dandy for Brown, who
was making Lane look bewildered Kenny spit out his
mouthpiece this time in about effort but there wasn't
any denying Brown After the bell Joe retrieved
the mouthpiece and returned it to Lanes handlers
PROBABLY BECAUSE THERE are times when he is
uninspiring or is 1t just fnesse? Joe Brown at
first not highly rated by the public. He may not
be although John must be realizing that Old
Bones is special sort of champion.
No Joe Cans Benny Leonard perhaps, but a solid
workman and far better lightweight champion than
we've seen for quite SPELL He won his crown from
wallace BUD Smith on a decision despite breaking q
hand in the second round Then he successfully defended
against Smith, Orlando Zuueta Joey Lopes and Ralph
Dupas
All of these challengers he kayoed. That he couldn't
stop or even floor Lane is no disgrace In addition tc
being southpaw Kenny is who'd been knocked
down in 81 previous pro fights
Long you win it don't make no difference" Brown
conSoled himself this after preght declaration that
could chill Lane in "hreefour rounds" would carry
md 10 hod,
he's been using"