NEXT BOUT FOR JOE LOUIS

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25367, 15 December 1947, Page 3

NEXT BOUT FOR JOE LOUIS

GUS LESNEVICH MAY BE OPPONENT (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) NEW YORK, December 12. Joe Louis said to-day that it was not definite that he would fight “Jersey” Joe Walcott in a return bout next June, but he might meet Gus Lesnevich, the world light-heavyweight champion. Louis also announced that he would retire after his next fight. “It’s going to be my last fight. That is on my word of honour,” he said. Asked why he had made this decision, Louis replied: “I have been around a long time.” Louis surprised reporters at a press conference at the Twentieth Century Sporting Club’s offices with the statement that no opponent had been named for his next fight. He said: “It will not necessarily be Walcott. Lesnevich has a good chance. I am ready to fight the one who draws the most money, but I do not make the matches. I think Lesnevich would five me a tough fight. I think I could nock out Walcott and Lesnevich. Walcott had me down twice, and he did not do anything about it. I am sure that if Lesnevich had had me down twice he would have done something about it. That is why I think he would be more dangerous than Walcott.” A few hours after Louis’s press conference. Walcott and the group behind him also summoned sports writers and said that they would take nothing under 30 per cent, for a return championship bout with Louis. Walcott. showing annoyance at Louis s statement that he considered Lesnevich the more dangerous opponent, implied that Louis might be trying to avoid a second meeting.