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Rain Postpones Louis-Savold Fight Two Old Battlers Will Meet Tonight If Weather Causes Second Deferrment, Bout Will Go Into Garden Tomorrow Night By BARNEY NAGLER Staff Correspondent NEW YORK, N. Y., June 13.— Joe Louis 15rrounder with Lee Savold was postponed from tonight until tomorrow night, at the Polo Grounds, because of rain. Jim Norris, leader of the International Boxing Tribe, announced the delay 90 minutes after the former world champion and the guy recognized as bossman in Britain weighed in. Louis scaled 211 1-4, at least three pounds more than anticipated, while Savold hit the expected 190. If rain forces another postponement tomorrow, the fight will be moved indoors to Madison Square Garden Friday night. Tickets have already been printed if further rain forces so drastic a move. Mike Jacobs, who had boxing by the throat before Norris IBC took over, once moved Henry Armstrong vs. Lou Ambers into the Garden after a washout at the Polo Grounds. It did all right. Louis went right back to Pompton Lakes, N. J., where he trained, after the postponement. Savold, who had come into town Tuesday from South Fallsburg, N. Y., limbered up at Stillmans Gym and then returned to the Edison Hotel, where he has been stopping. Speculate on Effect of Delay Immediately upon receipt of the postponement news the fight mob began speculating on the effect of the delay on the rivals. There were some who believed Savold would not take kindly to the 24-hour wait. Others thought favored Louis would be annoyed and that this would be reflected in the struggle. Neither was a point well taken. Both Louis, at 37, and Savold, at 36, have gone through the wars before and neither should be bothered by such problems of the trade. Prospects are no different now than 24 hours ago. Savolds poundage was the same as that hit when he fought here last, March 19, 1948. He knocked out Gino Buonvino in a second-shattering 54 seconds that night, an accomplishment that started him on the road to two bouts with Bruce Woodcock, recognized as some sort of a champion by the British Boxing Board of Control. The delay wasnt expected to help at the box-office. Harry Markson, the IBC s hardest worker, said that there was a good sale at the Garden box-offices just before the postponement. He stuck with his forecast of a 00,000 gross, contributed by 15,000, and to take the word of those close to the situation, he really was stuck with the forecast. The postponement will make no difference in the no-television-for-homes policy obtaining in this fight. The bout will be micro-waved on a closed circuit at nine theaters in six cities, Chicago, Cleveland, Albany, Washington, Baltimore and Pittsburgh, as planned before the postponement. Even if the populace hasnt been keyed up by the bout, the press has. Fight writers were present from England and from cities throughout the U. S. Louis is the attraction, however, and most wonder whether he has enough left to get by Savold and move to a September return with the heavyweight champ, Ezzard Charles.
