The NY Times |
"Board to consider Schmelling case - 3/26/1935 Match
Between Schmeling and Lasky's Conqueror Urged James J. Braddock of New Jersey, who came booming out of obscurity with his surprising victory over Art Lasky, found himself in the front rank of the heavyweights yesterday when the State Athletic Commission designated him the No. 1 contender for Max Baer's title. At the same time the commission eliminated Primo Carnera from the heavyweight title picture when the former champion's manager, Louis Soresi, told the commissioners he was not willing to send Camera through another elimination bout with Braddock unless the management of Madison Square Garden would post a guarantee of 550,000 that the winner of the bout would be matched with Baer for the title. Since the Garden had declined to post the guarantee, Carnera had signed to meet Joe Louis under the auspices of the Twentieth Century Sporting Club and the commission took the stand that the big Italian had eliminated himself. To Sound Schmeling on Bout. The commission left the way open for an appearance here of Max Schmeling by directing James Johnston, matchmaker for the Garden, to get in touch with Schmeling or his manager, Joe Jacobs, to learn if the German heavyweight was willing to box Braddock, the winner of the fight to be the commission's candidate for a title match with Baer. The boxing body made it emphatic that if Schmeling refused to box Braddock, the latter would be the leading challenger for the championship and Schmeling would no be permitted to fight Baer in the state before he met Braddock. The meeting was the most important of the commission in many months and was attended by many boxing figures. Braddock and his manager, Joe Gould: Soresi, representing Carnera: Johnston, representing the Garden, and Mike Jacobs, for the Twentieth Century Sporting Club, were called in the commission's effort to bring some order out of the chaotic heavyweight tangle. Contract With Garden Disclosed. The result of the two-hour session left Schmeling holding a key position in the situation. Johnston revealed that the Garden had a verbal contract with Jacobs for Schmeling to meet Baer in June at the Garden Bowl in Long Island City. This was in existence while the elimination bouts were held, and it was because of this that Carnera balked after his victory over Ray Impellittiere. The Garden management has persistently regarded a Schmeling-Baer match as the ideal one. The Garden's contract for Baer's defense of his title for the corporation expires in June, and the Garden must produce an opponent before then or Baer will be free to make other agreements. Johnston said yesterday that he would be willing to promote a Schmeling-Braddock match if it could be arranged. In view of the commission's edict and the possible refusal of Schmeling to fight Braddock, the Garden was faced with the alternative of taking a Schmeling-Baer match out of the State. When this was suggested, Commissioner Bill Brown declared that the board would stand behind Braddock. Dates to be Assigned. No dates will be allotted until the next meeting of the commission on Tuesday, but it was pointed out that there would be plenty of time for the staging of two and possibly three heavyweight fights culminating in a title bout late in June. If Schmeling agrees to meet Braddock, the contest could be held late in May, with the winner meeting Baer late in June. This would provide time for the Carnera-Louis fight between the two dates. This match was sanctioned by the commission yesterday. Braddock, with his customary shyness, had little to say after the meeting. "The commissioners asked me if I thought I had a good chance with Baer," he declared, "and I told them I thought I had. I not only have a good right put I have developed a good left and I never felt so well before in my life." While Joe Jacobs did not attend the meeting. It is expected that he will confer with Johnston today. From a source close to Jacobs it was learned that he was insistent that Schmeling fight only Baer. Chairman John Phelan read the score cards of last Friday's bout.
They showed that Referee Arthur Donovan had given Braddock eleven rounds,
Lasky three, and called one even; George LaCron, one of the judges,
had given Braddock eight rounds, Lasky four, and called three even;
Marty Monroe, the other judge, had awarded eleven rounds to Braddock
and four to Lasky. |
"Braddock Rejects Bout" - 3/24/1935. BRADDOCK
REJECTS BOUT WITH CARNERA JOHNSTON PLAN HITS SNAG Garden promoter's Elimination Tourney is Blocked by Fighter's Decision. By JOSEPH C· NICHOLS The heavyweight elimination tournament conducted by the Madison Square Garden Corporation is at an end, as far as James J. Braddock and Prime Camera are concerned. Braddock who registered a aurprieing victory over Art Lasky on Friday night, declared yesterday through his manager, Joe Gould. that he will fight no one except Max Schmeling or Max Baer. Carnera, who won the first bout in the elimination tourney by stopping Ray Impellittiere, also gave evidence that he is not Interested In a clash with Braddock. The former heavyweight champion oL the world has signed to meet Joe ~ouis under the formation of the Twentieth Century S. C.. and the State Athletic Commission is expected to place its stamp of approval on the bout at its next meeting. James J. Johnston, who conceived the tournament, had no comment to make regarding the fighters' defection. He did state, however, that he was planning a show for April 5, which will present lightweights in the feature attraction. It was Johnston's original intention to match the winners of the first and second elimination battles in a third bout, and to have the ultimate victor meet Baer for the title in June. But his plans struck a snag when Schmeling knocked out Steve Hamas to catapult himself into the front rank of challengers. And
when Louis, the hard-hitting Detroit Negro, inserted himself into the
local picture by signing with the Twentieth Century Club,
which represents the Free Milk Fund for Babies, the Garden's tourney
lost ground in public interest. |