CONTESTANTS' RECORDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 151, 29 June 1939, Page 12

CONTESTANTS' RECORDS.

LOtJIS' SPECTACULAR RISE.

Joe Louis is the second coloured pugilist to win the heavy-weight championship of the world, Jack Johnson being the first. Bom in May, 1914, son of an Alabama cotton-picker, his ring career has been spectacular, for in a few .short years he has risen from poverty to riches. Since turning professional in 1934, Louis has suffered only one defeat, being knocked out in June, 1936, by the German, Max Schmeling, in the twelfth round of a scheduled 15 rounds' contest. Louis won the heavy-weight title in June, 1937, when he knocked out J. J. Braddock in the eighth round. In the following August he beat Tommy Farr, the British champion, on points in 15 rounds, and then followed the knock-

outs of Nathan Mann in February, 1938, in the third round; Harry Thomas, in April, 1938, in the fifth round; Max Schmeling. on June 22, 1938, in the first round; John Henry Lewis, on January 2o last, in the first round; and Jack Roper on April 18 last, in the first round. His bout with Roper lasted two minutes 20 seconds, the challenger being floored after a barrage of rights and lefts to the head that dumped him in his own corner, helpless to get up before the referee finished the ten count. Rollicking Galento. "Two ton" Tony Galento is a New Jersey bartender. Critics had predicted for him even a more speedy dismissal by Louis when Schmeling, Lewis and Roper, and ridiculed the rating of him as the second best heavyweight in the world. Galento is an impossible physical ehape, and according to one critic, he would not even pass as an alleged allin wrestler. His best blow is a left hook that he swishes over "to either body or jaw, but his defence is wide open. Galento began boxing in 1929 with varying success, but it was not until last year that he figured prominently in the sport headlines. That was because his last three fights in 1937 resulted in knock-outs of A 1 Ettore. Lorenzo Pack, and Leroy Haynes. Prior to these victories he had beaten Pietro Corri, Ted Sandwina. K. O. Christner, Abie Bain, Arthur DeKuh, Natie Brown, Red Barry' Larry Johnson, Fred Kiducia, Iny Singer and Roy Lazer. Some clever boxers have gone down for full counts before his sweeping punches. Twice he suffered technical K.O's, but on both occasions he was on his feet and full of fight although badly cut about. Galento is described as a "rollicking, roaring, beer-drinking pug who owns a tavern in Orange, New Jersey, where he was born in 1910." In his last four engagements he knocked out Harry Thomas, Otis Thomas. Jorge Brescia and Natie* Brown. He put Brescia out in one round, whereas it took Louis three rounds to accomplish the same thing some years earlier.