view raw text
Louis Favored to Knock Out Savold Former Champ Says Hell Do It in Six Light Advance Ticket Sale Reflects Wide Disinterest In Match at Polo Grounds By BARNEY NAGLER Staff Correspondent NEW YORK, N. Y., June 9*— In obvious remembrance of things past, the price-makers hereabouts have made Joe Louis a 6 to 5 favorite to knock out Lee Savold in the 15-round battle of the aged at the Polo Ground Wednesday night. This, price was quoted today, as 37-year-old Louis and his year-younger foeman, both straining their tired muscles for condition, entered the last phase of training for the elimination to determine a September challenger for Ezzard Charles. Louis remained the choice to win at 13-3, as the books put it. Youve got to lay for every buck if you like Louis, but can only get 5 to 13 if Savold is your choice. The knockout price on Savold is 8 to 1, an indication of just what the bet vendors think of the left-hooking blond from Engle-wood, N. J., by way of Paterson and points west. Oddly, the short price on a knockout by Louis apparently isnt based on his recent record. In five comeback bouts since losing to Charles last September in 15, Louis has stopped* two opponents. Freddie Beshore and Andy Walker succumbed" to the ex-champs left-handed assault. In neither case was he effective with his right, once a most potent weapon. Gross May Not Exceed 5,000 The betting interest isnt too great, perhaps as a reflection of wide disinterest in the match itself. The International Boxing Club claimed an advance of some, 0,000 today, indication of a gross not to exceed 5,000. The IBC, trapped by a promotion not distinguished for genius, will place 20,000 seats priced at .50 on sale Wednesday morning. These once were called "rush" seats because purchasers had to enter immediately to get chairs. This time, "however, one may buy a general admission ticket in the morning, say at Madison Square Garden, take his dinner on Broadway and make his way leisurely to the Polo Grounds. It is a departure, but a most inept one, most believed. Louis will continue sparring sessions at Pompton Lakes, N. J., through Monday, but Savold planned to clean up his boxing practice at South Fallsburg, N. Y., by the week-end. Mike Gibbons, old middleweight master fencer, who grounded Savold in the so-called St. Paul school of fist-fighting, was at South Fallsburg not so much to help Savold in the last training sessions, but to lend hisname to the ballyhoo. Will Help Little at Box Office This will help little at the box office. The public just hasnt gone for this one. Even without open-circuit, or home-barroom television, the fans are unwilling to shell out up to 0 each for this one. Two days after the IBC announced the fight would not be televised, it was disclosed abruptly that the match would go over a closed-circuit video net to movie l/41C£lbCXO J.11 live uuu, UlV/lUUlllg v/iutagu, Baltimore and Washington. This was hailed as a noble experiment, but it misled a great many "flash" readers of newspaper stories. A great many potential customers believed the fight would be televised and, learning they were wrong, decided upon dishing out at the box office. Louis hasnt been explosive at Pompton Lakes, although he did floor a sparring partner yesterday. He has been hit a great deal, but still retains the balance of attitude which seems missing in the Savold camp. Joe has predicted a knockout in six rounds. Savold has said hell knock out the ex-champ, but can "go all night" if nn/n.nrirT i~rr The former champion expects to scale about 210 for the bout, although he has been down to 207 in training. Savold, working mostly at 193 pounds, will be at 190 for the weigh-in. He hasnt been bothered by Dr. Vincent A. Nardiellos report last Thursday that his blood -pressure was high, 152/90, whatever that, means. Savold, is phlegmatic and doesnt react to outside stimulus quite as much as other fighters. He brushed off the docs report, much as most observers snickered at the so-called "inside" story that Louis has been bothered by the sniffles. If Louis wins, and the expectations here Is that he will stop Savold within 10 rounds, he will go to Berlin,, for a fight there August 8 with Hein Ten Hoff. A victory for Savold would result in another visitation by the veteran to England, where the British Boxing Board of Control recognized him as world champion. This title will not be at stake Wednesday night.
