NEXT FIGHT TO BE LOUIS’ LAST
PENDING RETIREMENT ANNOUNCED LESNEVICH OR WALCOTT AS CHALLENGER (N.Z P.A.— Reuter—Copyright.) (11.3 Q a.m.) NEW YORK, Dec. 12. Joe Louis said today it was not definite that he would fight “Jersey Joe” Walcott in a return bout next June, but he may meet Gus Lcsnevich, the world light-heavyweight champion.
Louis , also surprisingly announced that he would retire after the next fight. “It is going to be my last fight,” he said. “That is on my word of honour.” Asked why he had made this decision, the “Brown Bomber" replied: “I have been around a long time.”
Louis surprised reporters at a press conference at the Twentieth Century Sporting Club offices with the statement that no opponent had been named for this next fight. He said: “It will not necessarily be Walcott. Lesnevich has a good chance. lam ready to fight the one who draws the most money, but I don’t take the matches. I think Lesnevich would give me a tough fight. I think I could knock out Walcott and Lesnevich. “Walcott had me down twice and did not do anything about it. lam sure that if Lesnevich had me down twice he would have done something about it. That’s why I think he would be more dangerous than Walcott.”
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Bibliographic details
Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22510, 13 December 1947, Page 5
Word Count
216NEXT FIGHT TO BE LOUIS’ LAST Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22510, 13 December 1947, Page 5
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