WORLD CHAMPIONS
For the period ended April 10, 1938

Heavyweight: Joe Louis
Light Heavyweight: John Henry Lewis
Middleweight: Freddy Steele
Welterweight: Barney Ross
Lightweight: Lou Amber
Featherweight: Henry Armstrong
Bantamweight: Sixto Escobar
Flyweight: Benny Lynch


COVER STORY: “Max Baer Has His Eye On The Heavyweight Crown” is the headline that accompanies C.R. Schaare’s illustration of Baer daydreaming about a rematch with world champion Joe Louis, who had knocked out Baer in 1935. Baer had won 25 of 27 bouts since Louis thrashed him, and had just avenged one of those two defeats by outpointing Tommy Farr. The fact that Baer had floored Farr twice, when Louis had been unable to deck the Welshman in winning a 15-round decision the previous year, had some believing that “The Livermore Larruper” was ready to regain the crown.

“One month ago, the mention of Max Baer as a probable participant in a world’s heavyweight contest next summer would have met with little consideration from boxing followers,” wrote Ted Carroll. “Now, however, the one-time playboy king of the heavies, since reformed by the refining influences of matrimony and fatherhood, stands out as the logical foe for the winner of the coming Louis-Schmeling imbroglio in June.”

As things turned out, Baer’s chance of another crack at Louis was ruined when he was stopped twice by Lou Nova, once in 1939 and then again in ’41.

”And Now For Herr Max” is Nat Fleischer coverage of Louis’ fifth-round kayo of Harry Thomas, which was the “Brown Bomber’s” third successful title defense and final tune-up prior to his much-anticipated rematch with Max Schmeling, who had handed Louis his lone defeat.

“Knocked out twice in one fight—that was what happened to Harry Thomas when he fought Joe Louis in a world heavyweight championship at Chicago Stadium on April 1. It was April Fool’s Day in more ways than one,” wrote Fleischer.

Louis and most onlookers thought the fight was over in the third round when a series of hard shots had Thomas out on his feet. The challenger turned his back on Louis and walked toward his corner with 12 seconds remaining in the round. But instead of stopping the fight, referee Dave Miller, after consulting with the commission, allowed the bout to continue. To his credit, Thomas fought back and landed some good punches of his own in the fourth and fifth rounds, but was floored once in the fourth and three more times in the fifth, finally succumbing at the 2:50 mark.

“Joe’s hitting was, as usual, all that could be desired. If he connects, he jars his adversary from head to heels,” wrote Fleischer. “Schmeling won’t be the exception.”

Fleischer was certainly correct in his analysis: Louis knocked out his German rival in the first round.

“They Discovered They Were Good” is illustrator/writer Robert Edgren’s theme piece about how certain fighters allegedly found out they had a knack for fisticuffs. According to Edgren, a 14-year-old Bob Fitzsimmons turned tiger when a preacher’s son was unfairly awarded the prayer book prize in a scripture-memorizing contest.

“The preacher’s son plopped the book down, squared up, and received a haymaker on this chin. Down he went—for the count. And away fled Fitzsimmons, prayer book under his arm.”

Edgren also spins similar yarns about Tommy Burns, Mickey Walker, Battling Nelson, Bob Armstrong, Pedlar Palmer and Jackie Fields.

“Nat Fleischer Says” includes the opinion that two British fighters, middleweight/light heavyweight contender Jock McAvoy and world flyweight champion Benny Lynch, should come to the United States to fight. McAvoy, whose previous U.S. campaign ended with a decision loss to light heavyweight champion John Henry Lewis in 1936, stayed in the U.K., as did Lynch, a helpless alcoholic who retired at the end of the year.

“Broadcast From New York” by Eddie Borden is peppered with numerous Big Apple happenings, including a charity appearance by featherweight champion Henry Armstrong to raise money for the family of deceased fight judge Charles Lynch. Armstrong, who stopped Lew Feldman in the fifth round, donated his services, which resulted in $4,500 being handed over to Lynch’s family.

Borden also gives favorable mentions to Gus Lesnevich, who decisioned Lou Brouillard in his New York City debut, and Jackie “Kid” Berg, who tallied his fifth straight victory of the year with an eight-round decision over Johnny Horstman.

“In Syracuse Rings” by Billy Shaw features Walter Woods’ third-round knockout of local middleweight Ralph DeJohn in what Shaw called “the most amazing upset in local fistic history during the past 10 years.”

“Boxing In Cuba” by Milt Baron highlights Kid Chocolate’s 10-round decision over Fillio Echevarria at the Polar Stadium in Havana, which drew a healthy gate of $15,000.

“Chocolate appeared in tip-top shape, went through his assignment like a master, and all through the 10 rounds showed that he is still in the running for a crack at the title,” wrote Baron.

Despite the form he displayed against Echevarria, Chocolate had just one more fight, a 10-round draw with Nicky Jerome, and retired.