BOXING TITLE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 June 1938, Page 7

BOXING TITLE

WORLD’S HEAVYWEIGHT FIGHT IN CHICAGO INTENSE INTEREST SHOWN. LOUIS GENERAL FAVOURITE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Copyright. CHICAGO, June 21. At least 80,000 persons are expected to pay a total of one million dollars for admission to the Yankee Stadium here tomorrow for the world heavyweight title bout between Joe Louis, the holder, and Max Schmeling. The German’s supreme challenge has captured the imagination .of the public and thousands are pouring in from all parts of the United States. Speculators are selling 30-dollar ringside seats for as high as 225 dollars. Betting is heavy. The bout provides a multiple drama of age versus youth (Louis is 24 and Schmeling 33), black versus white, and former champion versus champion. For Schmeling it is a supreme effort to regain his title, which would be an unprecedented achievement. For Louis it is a battle to avenge their last meeting when he was unceremoniously knocked out. Louis is the general favourite. Louis predicts that he will score a knock-out within 2 rounds “if Schmeling will stand up and fight.” Schmeling declares that he is in the best condition of his career. “Naturally I hope to win with a knockout,” he said, “but I won't attempt to name the round.” Louis weighs 14 stone 4 lb, and Schmeling 13 stone 11 lb. WEATHER PROSPECTS. STRONG FORCES OF POLICE ASSEMBLED. (Recd This Day, 9.35 a.m.) NEW YORK, June 22. The Weather Bureau forecast for the fight tonight is for light showers. The promoters will not consider a postponement unless the rain is very heavy. The police, fearing trouble due to the racial and religious elements involved, have assigned 3000 extra men, one thousand of whom will patrol the Harlem streets. In addition to the regular force of 1500 that has been assigned to the stadium, 500 men will patrol between the stadium and Harlem, a distance of a few blocks. The betting odds are unchanged.