SCHMELING TO STAGE A COME-BACK

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 47, 25 February 1939, Page 4

SCHMELING TO STAGE A COME-BACK

FINANCEJN BERLIN CHANCE TO FIGHT LOUIS IS DOUBTFUL Max Schmeling dropped out qf the news after his one round defeat at the hands of Joe Louis in their world title fight last summer, and there has been much speculative rumour as to whether he will ever return to the ring, writes "Straight Left” in the Sporting Life on January 31. Schmeling, who apparently has been planning a "come-back,” left Berlin last week on a mysterious mission, and all that was disclosed of his whereabouts was that he had left the country.

It was widely thought that he had taken a boat to America, but I learn that he went to Paris instead, and stayed there for a few days waiting for a message from his American manager, Joe Jacobs. The expected cable arrived, and Schmeling took the first boat to America. The German, it is stated, hopes to remain in the States for a few weeks in the hope of coming to an arrangement with America's boxing "dictator,” Mike Jacobs, although one message said that he may be back in Berlin next month for a fight with either Heinz Lazek or Walter Neusel. This is different news from that I learned yesterday. In the event of Mike Jacobs consenting to feature the German after a couple of good victories in Europe, Schmeling will immediately open negotiations for contests with better-ranked men.

A Berlin bank is prepared to support the ex-world champion and if present plans work out as expected they will finance two battles between the German and boxers better known to Americans.

Negotiations have already been opened with Al Delaney, the Canadian, who has been in, this country for some time, for a bout in the open air in Berlin during May. Lazek or Neusel cannot be ruled out as possible “second choice,” but if Schmeling beats the Canadian, a prominent American may be tempted to the German capital for the second test.

German revenue laws will have to be overcome before non-Germans will fight in that country, but I do not doubt that the Berlin bank authorities will find a way out, and if so the only point holding up final arrangements is Jacobs’ decision.

Schmeling hopes to be given a third fight with Louis by September, but I doubt whether he will be able to fight his way to another shot at the world championship by that time. The fact, however, that the German has already been in touch with Delaney makes it appear that he is confident of the outcome of his talks with the American promoter, and while he is in the States he may fix up his second opponent. Dempsey Afraid of Blindness. Did you all know that Jack Dempsey, former heavyweight champion of the world, lives in mortal fear of going blind? Years of taking punches on the face and head sometimes has ‘the effect of impairing one's evesieht.