The Daily Alaska Empire

Sport Slants
By Rap:
Joe Louis has not been really tested since Max Schmeling stopped him a year ago. So you can only guess whether his handlers have been able to correct the faults that made him easy prey for the German's right hand smash.
Louis was a "fighter without a weakness" until Schmeling took him apart. The erstwhile Bomber could not, or would not, pay attention to instructions once Max clipped him solidly to the chin. Joe showed one thing that night. He could not change his tactics to meet the style of a man he was facing. He stayed in the same groove. Against a smart fighter like Schmeling that was fatal.
Against Bob Pastor last winter Louis again demonstrated he was incapable of altering his style to cope with the back pedaling tactics Pastor used. There was evidence that Joe was none too willing to risk receiving a solid smack in the chops so he might get close enough to deliver one of his own crushing blows.
Louis is a terrific puncher. But it seems established that he must have a stationary target. Until he learns to corner his opponent he is not going to look good against the smart shifty foes.
For a while, at least Louis is likely to have plenty of trouble with Jimmy Braddock. The champion is a master at riding with punches.
He robbed Max Baer's right hand blows of their sting simply by constantly moving to his own right, and riding with the blows Max tossed at him.
Braddock packs a fair right of his own. It might be well for Joe's managers to school him against it.
Experienced fighters insist no first class boxer ever need be hit by a right hand blow. They call it a "sucker punch."
Joe's handlers had better do something, too, about derailing his one-track mind. He is likely to find a resourceful fighter in Braddock, if little else.
HE IS WORKING TO IRON OUT THE FAULTS WHICH CAUSED HIS DOWNFALL AGAINST SCHMELING