WORLD TITLE FIGHT

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 20, 16 October 1937, Page 18

WORLD TITLE FIGHT

SCHMELING'S WAIT GLAD TO MAKE CONCESSIONS CHANCE TO REGAIN CROWN It is costing Max Schmeling two years of waiting and perhaps 100,000 dollars in cash to get his long-sought chance to regain the world heavyweight boxing championship, in the return match with Joe Louis that is now definitely set for next June. "But it's worth it," smiled the black-haired German before he boarded the North German Lloyd liner Bremen on September 5 on his way • home. "I do not mind making concessions so long as I ara sure I will have the chance to win back the title. I am a business "man, too, but the money is secondary in this case. I have confidence in Mike Jacobs. I do not think I will get what you call the run-around any more. I think I cen beat Louis again. 1 do not mind waiting another year." Schmeling will ge~ the short end of a 40-20 percentage split with Louis ior rext year's return bcut, which figures to net a million dollars. The German

stands to make around 200,000 dollars. He could have had the mat.ch on a basis of a 300,000-dollar guarantee of a 30-30 split if he had signed with Jacobs prior to the James J. Brad-dock-Louis title bout last June. At that time Schmeling preferred to go through with the legal shadow-boxing instituted by Madison Square Garden." The fight probably will be held in the Yankee Stadium, the third week of June, but promoter Jacobs will not make any decision until he has given detailed thought to the possibilities of Philadelphia's Municipal Stadium or Chicago's Soldier Field as sites. It was in the Yankee Stdium, a year ago last June, tha't Schmeling flattened Louis in 12 rounds and precipitated one of the most prolonged heavyr weight controversies in history. Schmeling and Louis both expect to have so-called "tune-up" bouts before they meet again. The German said he probably would fight once in Germany and perhaps return to Ihe United States for an indoor bout at Madison Square Garden under Jacob's

direction. He has no special opponents in mind. Under the contract he signed -on Friday, Max is barred from meeting Braddock, Tommy Farr,- Bob Pastor and the Baer brothers, Max and Buday. Louis' title will be at stake any time he enters the ring; but this risk will be minimosed in any fight the negro undertakes in the interina. The champion .nr.ay appear next in Detrplt, his home tovvh, but will not fight there or else.where until next year. What will Schmeling's chances.be in a return match with Louis? Will the twc-year interval be to the advantage of the negro champion, who is .ten years younger, or Ijas Joe already. begun to fade? Will the memoiy of last ye«Tr?s knock-out haunt Louis? Many.critias bejieve I«o.uis hajs ,already .passed .his peak;, lost,.confidence anj -Will not last mttch longer as, title - holder. . They , cpnsider l)is inabilxity to do anything .more' than out- jab Farr as the tip-off. Rated • off his first title dc-fence, Louis, they insist,'will be easy for , Schmeling. - " ; , ' "That's wjhere the argument begins. Louis has already demonstrated it's not safe' to ,rate hiin ' off his previous fights. His weaknesses have become appafent. but tlie fact remains he car-

ries the hardest punch, In ellher hand, of any heivyweight in the business. I His failure to put away opponents lik. Pastor and Farr doesn't prove he's a soft touch. Fighting five to a dozen times a year, the negro has whipped 1 ivery opponent except Schmeling.

Among his knock-out victims have been four fighters who held the world championship. Schmeling himself will be among the last to underestimate Louis the next time they meet. The German has -onfidence in himself but also retoi. the negro's punching powers. Their return match is the greatest "natural" sinte the days of the Demp-sey-Tunney rivalry. And also the biggest potential money-maker.