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THE CHINA MAIL, JUNE 10, 1941
Baer Nears Retirement As Lou Nova's Chances For Heavy
Heavy Crown
Crown Bright
MAX BAER, FORMER world heavyweight |—viciousness and willingness to champion and one of the ring's most colourful mix it. It is as figures, will certainly not be able to fulfil his boast that he would regain the title within a year.
The time limit he had set himself is up in September and, far from wresting back the crown from Joe Louis, he may now be said to be finished his early boxing schooling in as a championship contender.
It is even possible that Baer is prompted by the severe dirub may decide to retire from boxing bing he received at the hands of and that his name will recede into the young Californian, Lou Nova, the past like so many champions who had Baer in such a groggy before him. This melancholy nele state that thir referee.
Donovan, stopped the fight.
GREAT FALLS TAKEN BY BIG ABE SIMON IN DETROIT
Same "Playboy"
Arthur
It was not the new and serious Max Baer who was seen in action against Nova. When Baer gave up his clowning and intimated that he was deadly serious, it certainly looked as though he meant it. H. battered "Two Ton" Tony Galento and then thrashed Patrick Comis- key into submission in the first round.
But against Nova it was the same old play-acting, taunting
face,
Niagara really shouldn't dis-"playboy" of the ring. He skipped appoint. Victoria Falls on the around the ring with his famous Zambezi is a sight. Bridal Veil scornful expression on his is a beaut. Old vaudeville per- formers used to speak of Wap- pingers, and Carnera falls came down with a roar.
indulged in all his clowning tricks. including standing with his arms ukimbo, taunting Nova to "come on and fight."
Fo lowing the There are pitfalls, windfalls,
example landfalls and
Tommy Loughran, one of the pinfalls but none
Baer are like that Abe Sunon took in finest boxers of his time, the Detroit Olympia ring, recently, would work way round to his own A heavyweight has to be care- corner at the end of each round ful about what he does these days, and lazily sink on to his stool with If he isn't, he's likely to be tossed an air of contempt. in there with Joe Louis, which is what happened to the mastedonic Simon.
Nova Not Impressed
with
Nova was not impressed by this The winter tumbling season
display, however, and, after sur- had to go on, and Simon became viving an anxious period in the the condemned man when he hung fourth round-the only time we onto and outrode Roscoe Toles in saw a glimpse of the real, vicious the Motor Ci y in early February Baer-he jabbed Baer silly
Toles grew very tired carrying well-timed lefts while the crowd 6 feet 4 inches and 255 pounds of 23,000 roared its approval. In the eighth round a short right to the jaw put Baer down for "nine" and another right cross once again deposited him on the canvas. was soon up, but was in such a dazed state, with one eye almost closed and his face like pulp, that the referee intervened.
Baer's
in effort
the fourth round, in which he suddenly lash- James Joy Johnston insisted the ed out and, with a tiger-like snarl brawl be for 20 rounds, He
of Simon around.
This is one of the principal reasons why Simon was made to look simple by Louis in a Jiffy Smoky Joe keenly dislikes any form of manual labour.
It Might As Well Be For 100 Rounds
He
at on his face went after Nova with first demanded 100. You see, it both arms flailing, almost brought really doesn't make any him success. Nova, wilting in the difference. Michigan is one of face of such an onslaught sagged the few states which permits con- to the canvas when caught by a tests longer than 15 heats, and flurry of blows to the head and Jimmy Johnston felt that the body. He rose quickly, however. novelty of the thing would bolster and fought back strongly to finish the ballyhoo.
the round in good style.
By his performance Nova show-
Simon was fresh from being well pommeled by Big Jimed that he is made of champion-
when Negro, in hip stuff, especially Thompson, Pittsburgh
an back to snatch victory from Baltimore, so the best way to boost this fight is to talk about what looked to be defeat. What he lacked in punching power he venerable Boy age up for by his youth
the fact that cleverness. under Toles'
everything else.
Johnston, the
Bandit, points to
Simon stood up
punches.
To Meet Louis
and
The difference this trip is that when Louis hits 'em they stay It is extremely doubtful, how- farc once remarked ever, whether Nova would
any better against Louis than th other heavyweights who hav tried to wrest the title from the
hit, as someone about Bob Fitzsimmons.
So they relate that Simon got that way tossing pickle barrels hither and yon in New York, and tell you that he consumes a basket of clams, three-inch steaks, platters of potatoes, mountainous salads and cups of coffee at single sitting.
Maybe It Cost Too Much To Feed Simon
a