NARROW MARGIN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26638, 8 December 1947, Page 5

NARROW MARGIN

JOE LOUIS’S WIN WORLD HEAVY-WEIGHT TITLE CHALLENGER TO CONTEST DECISION N.Z.P.A.—Reuter—Copyright. Rec. 9 p.m. NEW YORK, Dec. 6. An older and slower Joe Louis barely saved his world heavy-weight championship last night at Madison, Square Garden when Jersey Joe Walcott carried him 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 dressing room after the fight when nursing an injured and swollen right hand. He said he considered that he retained his crown, but added that he had previously said he was not the fighter he was at 23. Louis said he injured his right hand probably in the' fifth round, and his trainer said it appeared to be fractured. Walcott said he had not been hurt at any stage, although Louis punched pretty hard, especially in the ninth round, when the champion had him on the ropes and apparently in trouble.-

Eigliteen thousand persons saw the fight, and roaringly demonstrated their disapproval of the decision. Referee Goldstein gave Walcott seven rounds against six for Louis and two rounds even. The two judges, however, cast ballots for the champion. One gave Louis eight rounds and Walcott six, and one even. The other gave Louis nine and Walcott six. A study of the officials’ cards, however, shows that they gave Walcott the majority of points. Walcott securing 37 to Louis’s 32.

Walcott’s manager, Joe Webster, announced that he had filed a formal claim for the world heavy-weight title for Walcott with the New York State Athletic Commission on the basis of points scored for Walcott by the judges. He said he had told the chairman of the commission: “I am protesting against the decision on the basis ot your own point-scoring

system.” Walcott became the third fighter to go the limit with Louis since he won the title from Jim Braddock over 10 years ago. The others were Tommy Farr and Arturo Godoy. Louis’s approximate share of the receipts was 77,931 dollars and Walcott's 26,977 dollars, which does not include radio, television or film income.

The fight throughout was marked by hard slugging, with Louis forcing the pace most of the time. Walcott continually backed away from the

champion, who found difficulty in catching up with his opponent. Most of the fighting occurred in the middle of the ring, both men continually landing home dangerous blows to the head and body. In the first round, Walcott staggered Louis with a right to the head, forcing him to the floor for a count of two, and in the fourth round Louis was down for the count of seven after Walcott sent a hard right to the champion’s face. When Louis rose, Walcott missed a hard right, and they clinched. In the next round Louis’s nose started to bleed, and he was waiting for the challenger to come to him, but later in the round he started moving in again. Walcott concentrated on Louis’s left eye,'which was swollen, and began to close in the eighth round. Walcott halted his back-stepping, and in the ninth round the pair mixed it furiously in mid-ring. Louis piled m with a series of lefts and rights, staggering the challenger. Walcott resumed his backing away in the next round, and though Louis scored frequently with his left to Walcott’s face and body, Walcott’s tactics seemed to confuse the champion. The pace slowed down in the twelfth round, and referee Goldstein warned Walcott for using a back-hand punch. Walcott continued to back and fell, but connected with his right and left as he backed away. Louis was all out to retain his crown as they entered’ the final round. He scored with two lefts to the head end took one from Walcott. Louis kept after the challenger, who side-stepped and backpedalled away.

Louis’s nose bled from a left. The challenger was dancing away from the champion, sending over occasional left jabs to Louis’s bleeding nose, and connected with a hard right as the final bell sounded.