LOUIS WINS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23072, 24 June 1938, Page 11

LOUIS WINS

TERRIFIC BLOWS THE BOXING TITLE SCHMELING'S BEATING END IN FIRST ROUND TECHNICAL KNOCK-OUT By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received June 23, 5.5 p.m.) NEW YORK, June 22 A record crowd of 84,000 saw Joe Louis, of America, the title-holder, score an amazing revenge against Max Schmcling, of Germany, by technically knocking him out in the first round of the match to-night for the world's heavy-weight boxing championship. The bout lasted 2m 2 2-ss. Two years ago Schmcling knocked Louis out in the 12th round in an elimination contest for the world's title.

Pacing into the centre of the ring at the opening of the fight, his eyes blazing, Louis administered a steady stream of rights and lefts to the face, literally smothering the contender, who finally went down under the barrage of the two-handed attack. Hammer-like Blows They were liammer-like blows which reddened Schmeling's swarthy countenance, but he rose without any count by the referee. Ho gamely shot a right to Louis' face, reminiscent of the 1936 match, but the expressionless negro shook off the blow and pressed in and began a hurricane series of blows. He shot a left hook and a right uppercut toward the chin. Schmeling swayed backward and raised both arms before him as if attempting to gain equilibrium. This was only a few seconds before the end. Schmeling never regained equilibrium. Ho fell toward the ropes r.nd Louis smashed him full on the mouth. The German's head snapped back, and lie slumped against the ropes while Louis rained blows on Schmeling's practically xinprotected head and face. The referee compelled Louis to back away and technically counted "one" over the contender, although the latter was not actually down. Then Schmeling fell helplessly toward the canvas, but he was up at the count of two. Louis then promptly iloored him again with pelting rights and lefts for the count of three. Trainer Intervenes As the referee counted over the semiparalysed challenger, who was trying to rise with blood streaming from his mouth, his trainer threw in the towel and commenced to climb between the ropes apparently to pick up Schmeling from the floor. The referee threw the towel from the ring and waved the trainer away. Schmeling was now up and Louis commenced raining rights and lefts to the German's blood-smeared chin. Schmeling sprawled sideways and fell to the floor. The referee, when the count of five was reached, waved his hands, ending the fight, Louis was not marked.

There is one previous instance of a world's heavy-weight title fight ending in the first round. When defending his title in 1907, Tommy Burns, the championship holder from 1906 to 1908, knocked out Billy Squires within two minutes of the start of the bout. Louis has now defended his crown twice, the previous occasion, being when he knocked out Harry Thomas last April.