Louis Heavily Punished By Walcott

Chronicle (Levin), 8 December 1947, Page 5

Louis Heavily Punished By Walcott

(N.Z.P.A. —

Reuter*

Copyright) '

Received Sunday, .5.30 p.m. !NEW YORK, Dec. 6. An older and slower Joe Louis harely saved his world heavyweight championship last riight at Madison Square Garden when Walcott carried him to the limit of 15 rounds and forced the three ring officials to make a close and exacting decision in favour of Louis. Louis- showed disgust at his showing in'his dressingroom after the figlit when, nursing an injured aiid swolien right handphe saitl- he- considered he had retained his erown, but added that he had previously said lie- was not tne fighter he was at 23. Louis saicl he injured his right hand probably in the fifth round and his trainer said it appeared to have been fractured. Walcott said he had not been liurt at an.v stage although Louis punched pretty liaril, especially in the ninth round when the ehampion had him ou the ropes and apparently in trouble. Eighteeu thousand persons saw tne light and they roaringly -demonstrated \heir disapproval of the decision. Referee Goldstein gave Walcott seven rounds against six for Imuis and two rounds even. The two judges, however, rast ballots for the ehampion. One gave lamis eight rounds, Walcott six and one even, aml the other gave Louis nine arul Walcott six. A study of the otficials' cards, however, shows that they gave Walcott a majority of points, he securing 37 to Louis' 32. "Walcott 's manager, Joe Webster, an nounced he had liled a fol-mal claim for tiie- world heavyweight title for Walcott with the New fork State Athletie Coxn niission on the basis of the points scored for Walcott by the judges. He said nttold the chairman of the Commission: "1 am "protesting against the decision on the basis'of vour own point-scoring sysleni. ' ' Walcott became the third iighter to gO the limit with Louis since he won the title from Jini Braddock over ten years ago. The others were Tommy Farr and Arturo Godov, Louis 's approximato -share of the receipts is 77,931 dollars and Walcott -s 2(5,977 dollars which does not inciude the radio, television, or movie income. The fight throughout was marked by liard sJugging with Louis forcing thc jaice most of the time. Waleott continu allv backed awav from the ehampion, who found difficulty in catching up with his opponent. Alost of the fighting occurred in the middle of the ring with botli men continually landing home dangerou.s hlows to the head and body. In the first. round Walcott staggerecl Louis with a right to the head, forcing him to the fioor for a count of two, anu in the fourth round Louis was down for a count of seven after Walcott had sent a haijd right to tlie ehampion 's face. When Louis rose, Walcott missed with a liard right and they clinched. In the next round Louis 's nose started to bleed and he was waiting for tlie challenger to come to him, but later in the round he starteil moving in again. Walcott concentrated on Louis 's leit eve, which was swolien, and the eye began to close in the eighth rounil. Walcott then halted his backstepping and in the ninth round the pair mixed 11 l'uriously in mid-ring. Louis piled 111 with a series of lefts and riglits staggering the challenger. Walcott resumed his liacking away in the next round and though Louis scored frequently with his left to Walcott 's face and body Waleott 's tactics seemed to confuse the ehampion. The pace slowed down in the twelfth rounu and Referee Goldstein warned Walcott for using a backhand punch. WaJeoti yontinued to back and fill but he connected with his right ancl left as iie backed away. Louis was all out to retain his erown as they entered the final round. He scored with two lefts to the head and took oue from Walcott. Louis kept after the challenger who side-steppeo and back-pedalled away. Louis 's uorlbled from a left from the challenger who was dancing away from the ehain--pion and" sending over occasional left jabs to Louis 's bleeding nose. Walcott connected with a hani right as the Iinai1 bell sounded.