LOUIS KNOCKED OUT

Southland Times, Issue 22922, 22 June 1936, Page 7

LOUIS KNOCKED OUT

SCHMELING WINS HISTORIC HEAVYWEIGHT BATTLE NEGRO BADLY BATTERED (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) New York, June 19. In a heavyweight boxing contest for the right to challenge James J. Braddock for the world’s championship, Max Schmeling (13.10)' knocked out Joe Louis (14.2) in the 12th round of a 15-round bout.

The bout was not only a tremendous upset but, according to ringside experts, one of the geratest heavyweight battles of modern ring history. Entering a fight in which he was conceded hardly a chance to survive 15 rounds against the supposedly invincible negro, the sturdy German unleashed a murderous fire of desperate rights to Louis’s unprotected chin to win the right to challenge for the title he once held. The defeat of Louis was a great disappointment to his well-wishers who, after his 28 straight victories, believed that he could not lose. Schmeling started working slowly and, without a trace of fear or 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 his handlers had to carry him from the ring and work over him for several minutes before he could walk from the stadium. A Quiet Opening. 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. In the fourth round 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. He was up at no count but Schmeling rushed the negro, landing both fists to the head and winning the round.

The surprising showing Schmeling was making had the spectators in wild excitement.

In the fifth and sixth rounds the German continued to score with hard blows to the head. 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 was unable to hurt Schmeling. The eigth round was close, with Schmeling holding a slight advantage with a barrage of rights and lefts to the jaw. In the ninth round Schmeling scored repeatedly, both to the face and body, and won the round easily. For the 10th Louis was late in coming from his corner and Schmeling held off until he was ready. Louis sent 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 tfie face and body; he scored heavily to win the round.

Throughout the 11th Schmeling continued to administer a pounding to Louis to win the round by an overwhelming margin. Louis Helpless.

In the 12th round 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 with a series of hard right and left jabs. Louis was groggy and the 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. The time was 2min 29sec. The postponement of the fight and the continued menacing weather cut down the attendance, which was estimated at 60,000, at the Yankee Stadium. The gate receipts are not likely to exceed 500,000 dollars. Louis was a very hot favourite at the ringside, with strong odds that he would win by a knock-out. It was announced that Mr Arthur Donovan would referee and that Messrs George Leicron and Charles Lynch would serve as judges. Shortly before the fight Tom O’Rourke, aged 82, 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. A later message states that the fight was a bigger financial fiasco than it was at first believed. The actual paid attendance was 39,878 ; with receipts of 547,000 dollars (£109,400). The managers of Louis attributed his poor showing and ineffectual hitting to the fact that he broke a thumb in the fourth round. Schmeling’s managers admitted that the German was somewhat unnerved at the sight of O’Rourke collapsing, but his handlers passed it off as a fainting spell, and it was not until after the fight that Schmeling knew that the man was dead.