LOUIS WINS TITLE

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 June 1937, Page 9

LOUIS WINS TITLE

BRADDOCK OUTCLASSED HEAVY PUNISHMENT TAKEN [BY CABLE —PBESS ASSN. —COPYBIGHT.] NEW YORK, June 22. Joe Louis beat James Braddock, holder of the world heavyweight boxing title, by a knock-out in the eighth round of a 15-round bout at Chicago to-night. Braddock was carried unconscious to his corner, bleeding profusely from cuts on the face and nose. The attendance was 50,000 and the receipts amounted to 700,000 dollars. In the opening round Braddock came out fighting, but Louis quickly staggered the champion with a right to the jaw and two rights over the eye, opening a cut. Braddock suddenly whipped a right uppercut to the chin and Louis went down. However, he was up before the count, and the champion chased him to the ropes and pounded him on the body with both hands. This was Braddock’s roumj.

The second round opened with Braddock again rushing Louis to the ropes, but the advantage was only temporary. His blows were wild and Louis drove his right to the jaw,' staggering his opponent. The last few seconds of the round saw Braddock wobbly from a. two-fisted battering to the head. Itwas Louis’s round.

The third round opened with Louis effectively jabbing with his left to the face. Louis suddenly leaped in with a right to the body and a left to the face. Next the challenger shook the champion with a sharp right to the jaw just before the bell. The round was Louis’s.

In the fourth round Braddock ended Louis’s cautious boxing with a left to the face and a right, to the body, angering the challenger, who proceeded to tilt the champion’s head back with stiff rights and lefts which made Braddock miss many blows. This also was Louis’s round.

Eraddock’s eyes were slightly puffed as he came up for the fifth round. He jabbed Louis’s nose, causing it to bleed. Louis hooked a left to the jaw and stepped out of range of Braddock’s right swings. The challenger then proceeded to jab Braddock’s face, and punish him severely with rights to the body. It was Louis’s round. In the sixth round Braddock was badly shaken by a left to the jaw and two rights to the chin. Then he heedlessly walked into Louis who, with driving lefts and rights to the body and head, reopened the cut over Braddock’s left. eye. Similar blows staggered the champion and bruised his lips, but he stood flat-footed, vainly trying to counter his opponent’s .vicious blows. This was Louis’s round. Braddock threw his fists about wildly in the seventh round, while Louis cut him to ribbons with straight left jabs and rocked him with a right uppercut to the chin. Braddock was now fighting back blindly. Louis’s left always struck Braddock’s face, while the tottering champion was incapable of retaliating. Braddock drove his right .feebly to the head before the bell, but he was plainly defeated.

The end came after seven seconds in the eighth round. Louis opened the boxing cautiously, stabbing a left to his opponent’s face, and keeping out of range of Braddock. He rocked the champion . with a short right to the jaw, followed by another right to the jaw. The last blow floored Braddock, who was counted out, and then carried by his seconds to his corner. Braddock was a.badly.hurt man at the end of the fight. A crimson stain, a foot in diameter, was left on.the canvas where his head had rested while the count was made.

PRESS OPINIONS. The boxing editor of the “New York Times” says: “For those who visioned Braddock’s ascendancy when he knock-, ed down Louis in the first round it was only a temporary vision. It disappeared under the cool, calculating and crafty boxing, and savage, vicious punching of Louis. The finishing blow was one of hundreds with which Louis pelted and hammered Braddock. The champion, fighting grimly, fearlessly and willingly, was reduced to a bleeding mass at the end. ' He suffered hemmorrhage from the final blow, and even his seconds turned pale when they saw him lying on the canvas in a pool of blood." The boxing writer of the North American Newspaper Alliance says: “The finishing blow was one of the most terrific single punches I have ever seen in the ring. Braddock never had a chance. He was outclassed by youth, speed, and power. Braddock had only gameness and stamina against a fighter, both of whose hands were lethal.” To deal with eventualities arising from the fight 1500 police were assigned to the. Harlem district of New York, but order was maintained. In Chi- ■ cage’s South Side, however, conditions 'almost amounting to a riot were reported. The demonstrations were for the most part good-natured. Negroes held parades, commandeered trams and otherwise noisily celebrated the first negro victory in a world title [bout since Johnson won the championship in 1908.

COMMENTS BY CONTESTANTS. NEW YORK, June 22. Louis, interviewed after the. fight, said: “My only regret is that I did not have Schmeling in the ring to-night instead of the man 1 knocked out. Braddock was by far the gamest man I have ever faced. The wonder to me was that, he lasted as long as he did. Braddock punches hard, and I am not denying lie hurt me several times. I always wanted the experience of getting floored early in the fight and then coming back to win.” Braddock said: “Louis is a good fighter, but I think, with two bouts under my belt, I can beat him. The ring lights hurt my eyes, and I admit. I was tired after the fifth round, but that’s nothing. I will light Louis again, and when I do I will beat him.” Louis’s f-aco did not show any marks of being in a battle. He immediately changed into street, clothes am! motored to a nearby suburb for the night. He will leave for his home in i Detroit, to-morrow . after collecting i 122,000 dollars, his share of the reIceipts.