“CLOWN” FIGHT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21576, 12 February 1940, Page 11

“CLOWN” FIGHT

Louis Wins on Points

Opponent’s Kiss For Champion

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright

(Received February 11, 6.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, February 9.

In a heavyweight title bout Joe Louis (14.7) outpointed Arturo Godoy, of Chile (14.6), over the full 15 rounds at Madison Square Garden. A crowd of 16,000 booed the decision. The gate receipts were 80.000 dollars. Louis was a long-odds favourite and Godoy was not expected to even last five rounds. Godoy danced about the ring full of fight at the finish after forcing the champion to backpedal in most of the rounds. It was a split decision, one judge voting for Godoy. The United Press gave the men five rounds each with five even. Louis concentrated on rights to the head, Godoy favouring lefts to the body. Both were bleeding from cuts on the face in the third round. The crowd howled with delight during a

sensational eighth round, when Godoy cornered and pummelled Louis. He remained fresh, forcing the fight thereafter until the fourteenth round, when he taunted the champion to “come on.”

Louis was more accurate throughout. He said: “It was my worst fight. That guy is nothing but a clown.” Godoy shouted: “I will fight him again to-morrow.”

John Lardnar, the correspondent of the North American newspaper Alliance, said it was a clown fight with Louis insulted more than hit. The crowning insult occurred in the fourteenth round, when the bounding and buffooning Chilean kissed Louis’s embarrassed cheek. This slapstick fooled one judge into giving the loser ten rounds, but not the referee.