BOXING TITLE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23004, 4 April 1938, Page 12

BOXING TITLE

HEAVY-WEIGHT MATCH LOUIS DEFEATS THOMAS CHAMPION'S FIERCE ATTACK OPPONENT KNOCKED OUT By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received April l, 5.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, April 1 In the heavy-weight boxing contest at the Chicago Stadium to-day, the negro, Joe Louis, holder of the world's title, knocked out Harry Thomas in the fifth round. The Btadiuin was only half full, the gross receipts being 45,600 dollars, a new low figure for championship contests in recent years. Louis weighed Hist. 101b. and Thomas I4st. The betting was in favour of Louis, being 20 to 1 for a win and 10 to 1 for a knockout. The- fight started slowly, both men being cautious. Thomas at first made the pace, connecting with several short rights to the jaw. Thomas also won the second round.

In the third round the champion woke up and stunned Thomas with a terrific right to the jaw. Thomas Very Game

In the fourth round Louis, fighting like an automaton, dropped Thomas three times with terrific punches, first for a count of nine. Then Thomas landed a superb right to the head, but Louis followed with a left hook, dropping Thomas for a count of three. Thomas was glassy-eved when he came up swinging his fists. He was again dropped for a count of nine, but came up gamely once more, Louis connecting repeatedly. The end of the fight came in the fifth round, when Thomas collapsed in the centre of the ring under a terrific series of left hooks, Louis finally landing a smashing blow to the side of the head. Thomas fought most courageously toward the end.