The Gary American

Kingfish Scared Before

Opening Bell Is Sounded

(Continued from page 1)

relentlessly in and swings a left to the stomach in a neutral corner. Levinsky sits on the bottom strand of the rope, done for. He barely has strength enough after that terrific smash to motion Louis away and McGarity near. The referee steps in and the fight is over. Mighty Joe Louis, his hair unruffled, strides nonchalantly to his place as Levinsky-wobbly, beaten and badly hurt-is half carried to his seat by his trainer.

Seconds later Joe starts to his dressing room amid a cordon of police while 40,000 voices roar in tribute. Levinsky is led away and the crowd-expecting real action after the King's loud talk in the daily press and many betting the bout would go five rounds--boos with tremendous fervor. They all know the Pride of Maxwell street is a soundly whipped man, but by what blows only the sharpest of sharp experts can tell. Well, as far as that matters, neither can Levinsky.

Here's Way to Last

If nothing else, this proves that the only way to last long in the same ring with Louis is (1) fall to the floor and take a nap at the opening gong (2) be a referee.

If you will recall, I said in my last appearance in these columns that the Bronze Blaster should win in three rounds at the most, and that he might better Baer's record of a two round Levinsky kayo. Well, this is just to remind you.

They said Joe Louis had never gone up against a hitter, had never had a chance to show that he could take it. It seems I also mentioned this is the spiel before each fight.

The King had a reputation for slugging and he went out quicker than any top notch fighter yet lured into the same ring with Joe.

Moral: Don't Be a Slugger

It becomes apparent to me that the only way to stay a few rounds with the Bronze Blaster is to come in devoid of a haymaking record.

With Joe it's a plain case of self preservation. If there's danger of the other fellow landing his "Sunday" punches, then it's logical to stow him away for keeps just as early as you can get to him. As long as you can knock out the other fighter before he gets started, you don't have to worry about whether or not you can take it.

Joe lowered the record on the Carnera course from 11 rounds to 7. He scaled the Kingfish in one after Max Baer had taken two. The third medium of comparison is Max Schmeling. But the German has more sense than his heavyweight contemporaries; he's not going to face Joe Louis for anything less than half of the Allied war debt.

Three and a Half Times

Until King fought Baer, he had never been knocked off his feet. Wednesday night he went down three times and made it fifty-fifty another when he wasn't standing where Joe could sock him and wasn't prone where the referee could count.

Naturally people are going to be careful. King didn't have time to swing his vaunted right. Max Baer, a poorer boxer than Levinsky, and the same sort of swinger, will be easy for the Brown Bomber if they ever get into the same ring. That is, easier to hit. Joe can blast Max six times while the ex-champ is figuring which hand to swing. The only question is how long can Maxie hang around the premises before the wagon comes.

Fistic Fodder Needed

Joe is due in New York for an exhibition next Sunday. Lasky is supposed to be his opponent around September 11 and Baer in October. After that, what? Fist-fodder is getting scarcer all the time. Just how will one James J. Braddock wriggle out of a championship battle with Louis, or must he fight and be sorry he ever won the doggoned crown? You answer these.

Anyway, Joe banks another $47,061.81 and Levinsky puts $31,374.54 into the old sock. After all, the Kingfish didn't do so bad for 2 minutes and 21 seconds of work-but there was a darned good chance that if the fight had kept on the cash would have been left to his heirs.