THE BOXING NEWS Historic newspapers and articles. Some of the greatest boxing events.

www.boxinggyms.com

THE NEW YORK TIMES JUNE 19, 1941 JOE LOUIS vs BILLY CONN (RAG PAPER EDITION)

"LOUIS NEAR DEFEAT, STOPS CONN IN 13TH AND RETAINS CROWN Bomber Suddenly Turns Tide, Hammering Foe to Floor With Furious Attack CONTEST THRILLS 54,487 Polo Grounds Bout Marks 18th Successful Defense of His Title by Champion

By JAMES P. DAWSON Joe Louis still is world heavy- weight champion, after his eigh- teenth defense of the title he won four years ago from Jim Braddock in Chicago. The famed Brown Bomber sank Billy Conn, former world light- heavyweight champion, with a depth-bomb in the thirteenth round of their scheduled fifteen-round battle before a crowd of 54,487 wildly excited fight fans, who paid $450,000, in the Polo Grounds last night. But the Bomber will never come closer to being toppled from his throne than he did before Conn col- lapsed under the paralyzing power of nerve-deading blows. Thus Joe escaped crashing into the catagory of the ring's ex-champions....

The champion ducking under Conn's guard in one of the early rounds

BOMBER REALIZED CONN WAS WINNING Impatience Cost Billy Chance for Title, Louis Declares in His Dressing Room 'TRIED HARD,' LOSER SAYS Soon Recovers after Outburst of Tears and Asks for a Return Match

"I couldn't get started against that fast Conn," said Joe Louis in his dressing room after the fight last night. Explaining his relative- ly poor showing against the Pitts- Burgh fighter, Louis declared that Conn was much too speedy for him. "I knew I was losing the fight when the thirteenth round started. My handlers let me know it, even if I didn't know it myself," the champion went on.....

STORY OF BATTLE ROUND BY ROUND Louis Weighed 199 1/2 and Conn 174 - Joseph Is Referee at Polo Grounds

By JOSEPH C. NICHOLS Joe Louis weighed 199 1/2 pounds for his clash at the polo Grounds last night with Billy Conn, who scaled 174. the referee was Eddie Joseph and the judges were Bill Healy and Marty Monroe. The fight by rounds follows First Round Conn danced away from the ad- vancing Louis, shooting a left to the head in his retreat. Conn jabbed a left to the head and moved backward. Conn stepped away from a long left. He tripped over his own feet and fell for a count of two. Conn stabbed a left to the face. Louis lashed a right to the kidneys and Conn shot back a left to the face. Conn hooked a left to the head and took a left and right to the head in return. Conn drove a long left to the body. Louis missed a long right to the face. Conn stepped backward steadily and Louis stalked him. The champion was unable to catch up with his fleet rival.