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Charles a Great Champion-Arcel Could Have Beaten* ♦ Louis in His Prime Veteran Trainer Took Care Of Bombers Many Victims; Thinks Braddock Greatest The man who lifted a dozen of Joe Louis battered victims from the canvas during the Brown Bombers heavyweight title reign, spoke up yesterday, and some of his comment is quite significant. He is Ray Arcel, generally regarded as one of the top trainers and corner men in the fight game, currently giving his all toward sharpening heavyweight king Ezzard Charles for his defense May 30 against Joey Maxim at the Stadium. For years Ray has been sought by managers to condition their meal tickets and do the between rounds patchwork that is so often necessary. In Arcels opinion, Braddock carried the most equipment against Louis. "Jimmy had heart, power and fine reflexes," says Ray. He was undoubtedly the best man I ever handled against Louis and in my opinion the best man Louis faced when Joe was in his prime. Arcel began facing, the Louis "jinx" shortly after the Bomber hit the big time, and has since shouldered the dead-weight of champions, ex-champs, contenders and pretenders. Among those Ray trained to 1 fight Louis were Jimmy Braddock, Jack Sharkey, John Henry Lewis, Buddy Baer twice, Lou Nova, Nathan Mann, Al McCoy, , Johnny Paycheck, Paulina Uzcudun and Jorge Brezia. Comparison With Braddock "I believe Charles could have beaten Jimmy easier than Louis did. Hes that - good a fighter in my book. As you know," Ray continued, "Braddock had Louis down once, but age caught up with Jim." Mr. Arcels next statement is one that ■ could get him more arguments than "Carter has pills." Says Ray: "The night i Charles defeated Louis he was good enough i to stop Joe at any time in his career." Coming from, a proven, veteran analyst i of ring beef, thats quite a proclamation, but of course Ray might be somewhat ! prejudiced. However, hes regarded as a . man who speaks straight from the shoulder and knows full well that too much buildup i could hurt Charles more than help him. Still Arcel wants the world to know that ! Charles is a true and deserving champion. . Pointing out that Ezzard has been unfortunate in that he followed in the footsteps I of the great Louis, Ray observes: "Even after Ez beat Louis, people just ; wouldnt believe that he was the world 1 champion, but they must believe it by now. . Charles has tremendous power," Arcel continued, ■ "but it doesnt show up like it did 1 with Louis and Jack Dempsey, because I with all his power, Ezzard is as classy a i boxer as there ever was. His ring finesse I makes every opponent look easy and from i that the fans draw the conclusion that ; he cant hit." Since Charles won the title he has defended ■ it seven times, and only two, Louis - and Joe Walcott, were able to go the distance with him. So until the better man comes along — be it Maxim or someone else — Ezzard doesnt really need anyone to alibi or ballyhoo for him.
