HOW MAX LOST

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 80, 1 October 1938, Page 22

HOW MAX LOST

GERMAN BROADCAST

MUST HAVE BEEIi A SHOCK

Many New Zealanders have probably wondered how the result of the Schemeling-Louis fight was received in Germany. A large part of the population sat up till three in the morning to hear a descripffon of it sent over the air from a specia] correspondent who spoke in German. The following is an approximate translation of what he said from the "Prager Mittag":—

Exactly at 3 o'clock in the morning, the military band music from the German radio station stopped, and the well-known crackling ahd rustling from overseas came out of the loudspeaker: America!

"Hello, hello—we are now at the world's championship fight of Max Schmeling against Joe Louis in the

Yankee Stadium in New York. The huge place is almost entirely sold out

At intervals one could hear the ring announcer telling the results of the preliminaries} in English. Then roars of applause or whistling, tramping, or trumpets—anyhow, tremendous noise. "Now Max Schmeling is coming into the ring—the crowd is shouting for joy. He smiles back —h#is serious and calm. —he knows now is his great chance on which ..."

Again noise. "Here comes Joe Louis. His reception is notably cooler, far less loud and cordial. ..."

Another pause. The gloves are inspected. Louis wanted large gloves because of his long thumbs. "But with these he could gouge out Schmeling's eyes . ". ." Louis agrees to the normal size. "CONCEITED NEGER." The announcer speaks again. "Haha —the conceited Neger! He wearsT a shrill-coloured sleeping suit and over that a blue silk dressing gown." The noise in the stadium grows more and more excited. "Probably because he knows he will soon be lulled into sleep." And —in case it should not be known —once again the announcerv tells the ! story of the brilliant career and the certain victory of the come-back of the "Black Uhlan from the Rhine." "Today he will prove . . . that he cannot lose the fight. ... He may not .... because all Germany ..." Now—the gong. It begins. "Louis immediately attacks —strikes hard, fast, strong—hits twice —Schmeling draws back cautiously—Louis attacks again—he is aniazingly strong— but close up, ha-ha. Max overcomes him—Louis is somewhat better— Schmeling still fumbles—give him time —good—now ..." In the tremendous roar one hears the weeping announcer: "Schmeling holds fast to the ropes—Schmeling gives in the knees—Maxie goes to the floor —Maxie! Maxie! For God's sake, what . . . Schmeling is up aagin, ', stands —Maxxxiiee!!!!" j HIS VOICE FAILED. Like the cry of a mother who sees' .her son die: "The Neger. knocked himj

down again-—the towel fliei

in the

ring."

The voice gives out. The announcer can be heard only very softly. One observes that he was not prepared for this ending. Not once did he have a pair of ready-made catch-words for the situation.

"Maxie, you have fallen like a hero —-Maxie, you can come home calmly. We will not put you in prison, or in a concentration camp either. . . ."

At intervals the shrill tumult of joy of the Americans, the negroes, and all who had bet on Louis and won.

Once more the announcer speaks. He can hardly talk. The moisture sticks in his throat: "I will still say to the blonde little wife in Berlin that Maxie goes out of the ring standing up. His eye is not cut open and his face is not ruined ..."

And then the ether was still. Nothing more was heard from Germany itself.

In the meantime, Joe Louis, the Brown Bomber, had put on his loud sleeping suit again and over it the blue silk dressing gown. "*

MATTHEWS IN DEMAND

Fred Henneberry, who fought with exceptional vigour and skill against Atilio Sabatino at the Sydney Stadium recently, will have Alan Matthews, an American negro, as his next opponent. They will meet on Thursday, states the "Sydney Morning Herald."

Matthews is in demand for contests in the United States. His manager (Mr. George Wilsman) has received the following cable from Nate Druxman, a well-known promoter:— "Can use Matthews with Hostak (world middleweight champion). Wire earliest date. Hurry back,"