OPPONENTS FOR LOUIS

Evening Star, Issue 23693, 28 September 1940, Page 9

OPPONENTS FOR LOUIS

ELIMINATION TOURNAMENT SUGGESTED FIGHT GAME IN OTHER PARTS It is many years since the heavyweight champion of the world had such a small waiting list and so few opponents worthy of his steel as Joe Louis has at present. For the last few years the public have paid big money to see Joe in what were only work-outs for him. If this continues it must kill the bird that lays the golden egglets. An elimination tourney with Louis on the side lines until the best man is found seems the only solution to the position (says a writer in an Australian exchange). Throe world’s champions lost their crowns within the short space of 15 days in America during May. Lou Ambers lost his light-weight title to Lew Jenkins, while a new feather-weight king arrived with the defeat of Joey Archibald by Harry Jelfra; then Ken Overlin whipped Geferino Garcia to be recognised as middle-weight champion by the New York people. Billy Conn, light-heavy-weight champion, has definitely forsaken that class to campaign among the heavies, in which division his first match will be with Bob Pastor. (Conn knocked Pastor out.) In his last fight with Lesnevich he showed that he had developed a powerful hook, and produced a brand of punching. This, added to his increasing physical proportions, will make Conn a serious contender in the heavies if he is not rushed.

Jack Dempsey s “ fight ” with a wrestler was not treated 'kindly by sports writers, for 80 per cent, -of the boys had panned him while the other 20 per cent, failed to enthuse. It seems a pity that a man who earned well upward of a million dollars at boxing and finished up as one of the most popular fighters in history should take the ring again and run the risk of going to the well once too often. Lew Jenkins, whp recently won the light-weight title, had his first professional fight on January 1, 1938, for which he received £4. He reached New York in an old Ford. ’ Shortly after his fight with Ambers he bought two new autos—one each for his wife and himself.

Jenkins has had 32 professional fights and since his debut in New York has chalked up eight k.o.’s in about 10 starts.

Ken Overlin, who failed to set the place on fire with fistic ability when in this country, is making the headlines now that he owns a piece of the world’s title.

When I saw Ken working in the gymnasium in Melbourne I thought he was one of the smartest boxers I had seen, and now American fight critics arc rating him up with Harry Greb and other greats of the past. He certainly knows all the answers and tricks of the fight game, and if he gets over AlHostak will be champion for some time. Henry Armstrong must go doyn in l ing history as the idea! champion who is not only willing always to lay his title on the line, but never quibbles In most of bis 116 fights bo lias been the lighter, and has defended his welter crown no fewer than 17 times. He is still the two-fisted human dynamo who took the feather title from Tele Sarron in 1937.