PARADE OF FISTIC CHAMPIONS

Evening Star, Issue 23657, 17 August 1940, Page 6 (Supplement)

PARADE OF FISTIC CHAMPIONS

JOHNSON AND FITZSIMMONS LEAD THE WAY LOUIS GETS HIGH RANKING OLD-TIME AUTHORITY'S IMPRESSIONS Comparisons in boxing are of value only to a small degree, for conditions at different periods of fistic history differ so much that it is difficult to place a standard by which fighters of one era may be judged accurately with those of to-day. Nevertheless, such comparisons provide a never-ending topic of interest to followers of the noble art in spite of the fact that in most cases such comparisons can be made only through the observations of others. Ever since Joe Louis, the “ Brown Bomber,” as he has been termed by American fight critics, won the world’s championship from Max Schmeling and in doing so reversed the disastrous result of their first meeting when Louis was knocked out, critics the world over have delighted in discussing the pros and cons of the assertion that Joe Louis is the greatest fighter of modern times, placing the start of modernity back to the first heavy-weight championship fight with gloves—that between James J. Corbett and John L. Sullivan. The discussion has been revived again, this time per medium of former world’s champion, Tommy Burns, who has made the candid admission that he would not have had any chance against Joe Louis. “Nor would Jack Johnson have beaten him,” added Burns. “ Louis will go down in history as the greatest heavy-weight champion of all times.” Such a statement would naturally arouse controversy, although it may be agreed that Burns would have been no match for Louis, for famous authorities have never rated Tommy Burns as a great champion. In such an argument, personal observation is a big thing, and the one man who contributed something to this discussion which is of the greatest value was the late A. D. Phillins. who. at the age of 88, was rated as one of the foremost authorities in the fight game. In an article in ‘ The Ring.’ world’s finest boxing publication, the old-timer placed Joe Louis among the greatest of all time and supported his judgment strongly. What does Mr Phillips say of Louis? That he can hit, is possessed of cleverness, jabs perfectly, and has courage and recuperative power. Those are assets which make for greatness, but add to that one of the most devastating left hooks and you have the reason for the honours thrust upon the present champion.

The veteran ring authority witnessed thousands of contests in all parts of America, and with all his years of attendance at fistic affairs he believed that the conditions under which the old-timers were forced to train and fight differed so widely from those in existence to-day that no accurate gauge was possible. Based, however ; on what he saw, he reckoned Joe Louis compared most favourably with the greatest heavyweights of all time. In all-round ability Phillips would not class him with such famed ringmen as Bob Fitzsimmons or Jack Johnson, two lighters, who, in his opinion, stood at the head of the class from Sullivan’s time down to the present. Joe, as a hitter, could sock equally as hard as could Fitzsimmons or the terrific punching Jim Jeffries and Jack Dempsey, hi cleverness, he rated high, but certainly not as high as did Jim Corbett. Fitzsimmons, or Jack Johnson. In shiftiness he could not compare with Jack Johnson, Corbett, or hitzsimmons. In hitting from any angle there never was a fighter who was the equal of Johnson. But in terrific, piledriving blows, not even Fitzsimmons, Jeffries, or Dempsey had anything on the “ Brown Bomber.” Comparing Louis with the great gladiators of the past, Phillips would have placed the laurels on his head, only because of his hitting powers. Masters of fisticuffs like Fitzsimmons, Corbett, or Johnson would have avoided much of Louis’s punishment by standing him off with their cleverness, but Fitzsimmons would have (lone even more—he would have sunk that powerful left into the solar plexus time and again as he would have manoeuvred about the slow-shuffling, slow-thinking “ Bomber,” and Phillips gave it as his opinion that Fitzsimmons eventually would have gotten his man.

“ Master All-round Fighter.”

Jack Johnson would have done likewise. Phillips classed him as the “ master all-round fighter of modern times.” There never was a ringman who could feint an opponent into knots as Jack. There never was a boxer whose jabs and hooks couldn’t be stopped by the clever Jack. He could manoeuvre an opponent into any position he wanted to in order to get across his stinging jabs and hooks. He was not of the knocker-out school as was Jeffries, John L. Sullivan, Fitzsimmons, or Dempsey, but he could cut a man up and make him feel dazed. His style was the most thorough Phillips saw in all his 70 years’ association with the sport, and such an assertion, naturally, handed Johnson the palm.

Next to Johnson, the old-timer rated Fitzsimmons the best, and Louia he placed behind the great Bob, no matter what his future might be. A champion every inch of him was how Phillips described Louis. In the short space of two years Louis defended hia title more often than any other heavyweight king from Sullivan down, but he earned his place for more reasons than that—for his splendid fighting qualities. Jack Johnson, like Louis, was belittled on many occasions, but those who have spoken in such terms of the great negre fighter probably never saw him in action. Had they done so, they would have recognised the fact that Johnson, when in condition, possessed the greatest defensive ability of any man in mod* ern pugilism. Johnson was not only hard to find, but he could strike from any angle—cutting, bruising blows. He could hit with power with short punches, and he could box like the best scientific boxers of all time—not excepting Jim Corbett. Johnson’s Temperament.

Johnson was game, and he had * great temperament. He was a fast thinker, and as agile, despite his enormous build and weight, as a lightweight. He never let a fight get the better of him; unlike some other champions, he never got cranky or crabby during a contest, and therefore an opponent couldn’t “ get his goat.” He always carried a merry twinkle in hi* eyes and a smile that did much t» upset his opponent. His all-round ability, in this famous authority’s opinion, has never been surpassed in the roped square. Kid M'Coy and Jack Johnson have been named sometimes as the greatest ring strategists, but Phillips names Fitzsimmons. “ Ruby Robert ” invariably had his plan of battle well mapped out before he entered the ring. He studied his man, knew the style he would be asked to face, practised in the gymnasium to meet that style, and then put it all to the test in actual combat with the greatest of success. Fitz. the “ Master Engineer.”

He was the “ master engineer ” of the ring. The nearest approach t® Fitz. along these lines was Gene Tunney, who, like freckled Bob, always made a close study of an opponent and had his fight all prearranged. He did to Jack Dempsey : exactly .what he predicted he would do when they met at Philadelphia. Days before that contest Gene, interviewed by the scribes, told of Jack’s weak points, and declared he had his plan all set to take advantage of those weaknesses, and he did. As for Fitz’s hitting, the old-timer held that he carried a far superior wallop to Johnson. He could hit hard, but not so hard as Joe Louis. Dempsey carried a hefty wallop. So did Jeffries and Fitz, but history will record the deeds of Joe Louis as the greatest* in the heavy-weight division in that respect. If Joe could think as could Johnson, Corbett, Tunney, and Fitz; if he could manoeuvre an opponent about the ring as could Johnson; if he could feint as could Johnson, was as shifty as Fits and Corbett, and could tear into his man as did Dempsey—he would be rated the greatest ring gladiator of all time. The Bomber was placed by Phillips in a class of his own, but still, in the latter’s judgment, below par as far as some of the great ringmen of pw vious years were concerned.' Louis’s Recuperative Powers.

Louis and Fitz can claim on© thin* in common. Fitz was toughest when hurt. Louis in many respects has been the same. He was badly hurt in his contest with Max Schmeling the first time, and could not do much to retaliate, but in that battle he proved hii gameness, and in the seventh round h» almost dumped Max on the canvas in one last, dying effort. But that effort was not enough. Schmeling regained his strength, came back with a furious fighting streak, and knocked out th» great Bomber for the only defeat Louis has suffered as a heavy-weight. What happened in subsequent battles? Louis was dropped by, Galento. Did he remain down ? No* he jumped to his feet, flailed his op* ponent with lefts and rights, and then handed Galento the worst defeat h» ever suffered. Against Boh Pastor he again proved that he is a most dangerous fighter at all times. Stung by Pastor in the eighth round, Louis sailed into his rival and by degrees mowed him down.

Louis, like Fitz, has wonderful recuperative power. Not only can h* come back strongly, but with a k ; o. wallop, as was the case with Fitz Fit* was down in the sixth round of hi* Carson City battle with Corbett. He was taking the count and many at the ringside figured it was all over but the shouting, with Corbett the winner and still the champion. But what happened? Fitz got to his feet. He stalled a bit. and then round after round he took the initiative and by degrees he wore down Corbett with terrific body punishment Then, as if out of a cleflT sky, came that famous punch that mad* rhii* history. Fitz landed a left to the body. The" solar plexus punch had beea horn. In excruciating pain _ Cor nett) tried his utmost to get to his ieet. hut he could not before he was counted out. Thus again Fitz had proved his recuperative power. Fitz was a boxer par excellence. Not as good as was Corbett or Johnson, but be possessed the Joe Louis wallop. The Bomber’s punch has been compared ta the “ lack of a mule,” hut Jim Jeffres. who defeated Fitz twice-, reckoned that! the “kick of a mule” would be tame compared to the punch of Ruby Robert when it sank wrist deep into the midseetion. ~ , . Jack T>emnsev coidd clout w't'> too best of them, hut it is doubtful if H°mpsev ce"M have taken the men'’"*) of Louis. The Bomber’s wallop mMit have upset Jack as it has others Joe has met.