LOUIS DEFEATED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 22 June 1936, Page 6

LOUIS DEFEATED

SCHMEUNG’S TWELFTH ROUND VICTORY NEGRO DISAPPOINTS WELLWISHERS A GREAT HEAVYWEIGHT BATTLE (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) NEW YORK, 19th June. Schmeling beat Louis by a knockout in the twelfth round. The postponement of the fight and the continued menacing weather cut down the attendance, which was estimated at 60,000 at the Yankee Stadium, with the receipts unlikely to exceed 500,000 dollars. Louis was a very hot favourite at the ringside, with strong odds that he would win by a knockout. Arthur Donovan was the referee and George Leicron and Charles Lynch served as judges. The official weights were Louis 1981bs and Schmeling 1921b5. The bout was not only a tremendous upset, but according to ringside experts one of the greatest heavyweight battles of modern ring history. Entering a fight in which he was conceded hardly to have a chance to survive fifteen rounds against the supposedly invincible negro, the sturdy German unleased a murderous fire of desperate rights to Louis’ unprotected chin, to again gain the right to challenge for the heavyweight title he once held. Louis’ defeat was a great disappointment to his well wishers, who after twenty-eight straight victories believed he could not lose. Schmeling started working slowly and without a trace of fear and nervousness simply beat his opponent down by steady slugging. Louis went down helpless, but not unconscious, with a puzzled gaze, as if not able to comprehend what had happened. He looked towards his corner and handlers had to carry him from the ring and work over him for several minutes before he could walk from the Stadium.

THE FIGHT DESCRIBED Those expecting Louis to open with a whirlwind attack for a quick knockout were disappointed, as the Negro sparred rather cautiously in the first round, Schmeling likewise taking his time and outside a few exchanges to the head and body, there was little action. However Louis scored enough points to take the round. In the second and third rounds, Louis became more aggressive, several times rocking Schmeling with hard rights to the jaw, mixed with his famous left hook to the face. Louis took both rounds.

LOUIS DROPPED TO THE FLOOR In the fourth, Louis scored a hard left to Schmeling’s eye, causing it to puff rapidly, but the German countered with a hard right to the temple, which dropped Louis to the floor. Fie was up immediately, but Schmeling rushed the Negro, landing both fists to the head, winning the round. The surprising showing that Schmeling was making had the spectators in wild excitement. In the fifth and sixth the German continued to score with hard blows to the head and it was apparent that if Louis was not actually in difficulty, he was far from being sure of himself and he was forced frequently to resort to holding. He lost both rounds and his face was puffed at the end of the sixth. Louis rallied to take the seventh, but he was still far from impressive, and apparently unable to hurt Schmeling. NEGRO WARNED FOR LOW HITTING The eighth was close with Schmeling holding a slight advantage with a barrage of rights and lefts to the jaw. In the ninth Schmeling scored repeatedly both to the-face and body and won the round easily. In the tenth Louis was late coming from his corner and Schmeling held off until he was ready. Louis hooked several blows to the body but they were low and the referee warned him. Schmeling rocked the Negro with both hands to the head, the German effectively alternating the attack between face and body and scored heavily to win the round.

Throughout the eleventh, Schmeling continued to administer a pounding to Louis to win the round by an overwhelming’margin. LOUIS TAKES THE FULL COUNT In the twelfth, Schmeling opened with a stinging right to the ear. Louis desperately tried to score with his left but his blows were low and again the referee warned him. A terrific right by Schmeling lifted the Negro’s head back and the German followed it with a series of hard right and left jabs. Louis was groggy and spectators were calling for the referee to halt the bout. He was completely helpless and Schmeling battered him at will. A hard right to the jaw sent him to the floor and he took the full count looking towards his corner.

VETERAN PROMOTER AND REFEREE DIES WHILE WISHING SCHMELING GOOD LUCK NEW YORK, 19th June. Shortly before the fight, Tom O Rourke, aged 80, a veteran promoter and referee of American boxing died of a heart attack, while visiting Schmeling’s dressing room. He had gone there to wish the German boxer good luck.