Louis Wins In First Round

Northern Advocate, 27 January 1939, Page 6

Louis Wins In First Round

(Received : 10 a.m.) ' , 1 NEW - YORK, Jarfuary 25. In the contest for the world!s heavyweight boxing championship, at Maddison Square Garden this evening, the title-holder, Joe Louis, beat John Henry Lewis in the first round, on a technical knock-out. It took Louis only 25 seconds’ longer to dispose of Lewis than it took him to beat Max Schmeling. Louis weighed 14.4£ and Lewis 12.12 J. There were 18,000 spectators and the receipts totalled 100,000 dollars. No Mercy For Countryman. Tire champion, who is a close friend of Lev/is, did not show him any mercy. It was evident from the moment when he shuffled into the centre of the ring that he was determined to finish-off his opponent the greatest despatch. When Lewis twice sprang up from the canvas without taking advantage of Counts of nine in order to clear his

head, it was evident that this veteran of 99 battles was punished beyond the capacity to think, and that the bout would be at an end at any moment.

Softened Opponent. Two hard rights to Lewis’s jaw almost immediately after the opening of the fight prepared the way for its speedy end. Louis softened up Lewis with these fierce blows, and, with a third hard right to the nose, knocked him to the canvas. Lewis rose, but once again the champion landed a right that spun his opponent about. Lewis Sprawling. The following blow drove Lewis to the ropes, where the champion proceeded to finish off the aspirant for his crown, with left and right blows to the head, which sent Lewis sprawling to the floor. He was up at the count of two, but a barrage of hooks, which culminated in an explosive right to the temple, knocked him down for the third time, and the referee stopped the bout after the count of five, in order to save Lewis from excessive punishment.