Show SPEAKING F SPORT by ROBERT mcshane released by western newspaper poper union OU NOVA young california LOU heavyweight who figures on taking the championship away from joe louis september 19 is smart enough to laugh at reports that the champ has slipped it impossible that louis has slipped a bit after his fight with conn the brown bomber admitted that he lacked some of his former sharpness perhaps the complete lack of financial worries has dulled the urge to win but louis still is a dangerous opponent after all he whipped conn and championships go with victory conn bewildered the champ for 12 rounds his superior speed enabled him to louis but nova will be forced to rely on a different type of offense offen seand and defense he conns speed in fact not very many heavyweights heavy weights have had the pittsburgh lads speed nova can absorb punishment rugged intelligent and reasonably fast he should make things tough for louis however he cant afford to let the champ hit him very often if louis has slipped it will tell in his speed he can still out punch any current contender in our opinion louis greatest fight was his second encounter with max the big german was one of the worlds best heavy weights a former champion and a rival who had knocked him out in 2 V LOU NOVA their previous battle before the opening bell of that second fight died out louis had sprung across the ring like a jungle cat brushing aside elings defense louis club clubbed bied him punched him and there was no stopping this fighting machine in little more than two minutes the fight was over worlds greatest for those exciting seconds louis was probably the greatest fighter the world has ever known that was joe louis at his peak no heavyweight champion has defended his biown cr own as often and ai as successfully as louis during his last few battles he displayed the old urge to destroy his opponent in the shortest possible time but that mean he is through its largely a matter of contrast he appear to be the fighter he was three years ago and unquestionably tion ably he but he have to be the fighter he was in 1938 to whip most of the present day heavyweight hopefuls there is a chance that he may have dropped back further than we know but that is still a guess the two month rest may work wonders for louis it may remove the staleness which has been accumulating during the past year joe is too much of a fighting roan man not to take his work seriously also he is smart enough to know that nova will do everything he can to get himself in perfect physical condition for their matan just a few years ago max alax B baer another californian was headed for a match with louis that was back on september 24 1935 baer the rings most ardent playboy refused to do any serious training ile he hated to leave the bright lights tor for some remote training spot he lasted slightly more than three rounds conscientious trainer theres no danger of that with nova he likes solitude and seems to enjoy the rigors of training the dour giant is part scotch irish german and italian and he loves to fight he has a deter meation amounting to stubbornness but he always has a definite goal in mind and unlimited faith in his ability to reach that goal at the present P besent time me his one burn bura in g ambition T is ato to meet and tot beat louis loius for r the heavyweight crown he believes he be can do it but cheth er he be can or not you can call be sure air he UC wont tail fail tor for lack of 0 effort or preparation |