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NEW YORK WORLD TELEGRAM THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 1934 MAX BAER vs PRIMO CARNERA PREFIGHT

CARNERA IS 263 1/4, BAER 210; CHAMPION FAVORED AT 6-5 Receipts for Title Battle Expected to Exceed $400,000 CROWD OF 40,000 'I'll Stop Primo in Six Rounds.' Challenger Asserts

_ _ _ B J. Lester Scott _ World-Telegram Sports Writer _ When Primo Carnera, world champion, and Max Baer, his chal- lenger, weighed in at the Boxing Commission this afternoon, for their fifteen round encounter in the Gar- den bowl at Sunnyside tonight, the gargantuan Italian had an advan- tage of 53 1/4 pounds. Great as was this edge in weights, it had been expected that it would be even more pronounced. _ However, as was demonstrated on the commission scales at its Centre St. headquarters, the battle in the Long Island bowl will present a comparatively light Carnera and a somewhat heavy Baer. _ Max stepped on the scales first and tipped the beam at 210 pounds. For the contest with Max Schmel- ing here last summer, Baer weighed 2003. _ Six minutes later Carnera weighed in, and his avoirdupols was an nounced as 263 1/4. For the bout with Tommy Loughran in Miami March 1, Carnera scaled at 270, but it was apparent that he was not in the best of shape. _ Carnera, who has been suffering with a throat trouble, was a bit hoarse. But after the doctors had thumped him and taken his blood pressure they pronounced him fit. It was the third time within a week that the two gladiators had been examined by commission physicians. _ Carnera's weight was a surprise to his camp, as his handlers had feared that his laryngitis had brought him much closer to 260. _ Baer was a trifle heavier than he had believed himself to be, for as he approached the scales, he was asked for his guess and said 206. _ There was none of the wise- cracking Max about the big Baer as he was weighed in an office jammed to the doors, with hundreds crowding the approaches to the building. _ Baer arrived from a midtown hotel in which he had spent the night. There was no smile on the Baer face. _ "Where is Carnera?" Max asked. He seemed irratable. "The champ shouldn't keep me waiting like this." _ Soon Primo made his appearance. He had driven down from his camp at Pompton Lakes, N.J. _ "Hello, Primo," said Max. "Hello, Baer," was the Carnera rejoinder. _ In charge of the scales was Deputy Commissioner McNeill, who first made a few tests to satisfy every- body that the machine was accurate. Supervising the weighing in was General John J. Phelan, chairman of the boxing commission. Bill Brown, member of the commission whose outburst in Asbury Park the other day created so much excite- ment. also was present. _ While the excitement at the Com- mission offices was at its height Major Reed Kilpatrick, at the Gar- den offices, insited that the con- test would draw more than 40,000 persons and that the gate would ex- ceed $400,000. _ In the roaring Forties betting on the fight remained comparatively light, with Primo still favorite, at 6 to 5. When the weights became known there was a slight turn to- ward Baer, but not enough to swing the odds. _ After Baer had been examined by Drs. William H. Walker and Vincent Nardiello he loosened up a bit. "I will stop Carnera in six rounds," Max announced. _ "Baer is in marvellous shape," Dr. Walker said. _ Then Max and Primo squared off for the cameramen and Baer placed his right under Carnera's heart. He looked sideways at the spectators and chuckled. _ As he walked away Baer said: "It's only a matter of hours. I can hardly wait. I tell you, it's a cinch," he smiled. "And that Primo is a nice fellow. But I can beat him, early. Say, if I stop him won't that be a big thing for boxing in this country?" _ Desending to the street level in the elevator, one of Baers handlers stepped on his feet. _ "Lay off or I'll knock you cold," Max shouted. _ "Save it for the Italian," Max's second laughed. _ Looking out toward the crowd, Baer shouted, "Whom are you wait- ing for?" Then he gave the onlook- ers the Fascist salute. _ Dan Morgan, who drove with Primo from Pompton Lakes, said that Carnera had spent his time singing light Italian airs. "The champ is in fine mental shape," said Dan. "If he is worried, he is hiding it fine." _ Louis Soresi, Carnera's manager, and Billy De Foe, his trainer, also came with Primo. _ With Baer were Ancil Hoffman, his manager, and Dolph Thomas and Mike Cantwell, trainers and seconds. Receives Message from Native Land _ At the commission offices Car- nera received a cablegram from Achille Starace, secretary of the Fascist party in Italy, and spokes- man for Premier Mussolini. The message read, "Remember, you must win." Primo smiled. _ From the commission offices Baer went to the home of a friend and Primo to the Hotel Victoria. _ It is interesting to campare Car- nera's weight today - 263 1/4 - with his poundage for other inportant fights. For the Ernie Schaaf contest Primo scaled at 264 1/4. For the Paulino scap it was 265. For the first Shar- key contest it was 261 and for the second battle with Jack, Primo weighed 260 1/2. In the Loughran fight the Italian weighed 270. _ The fighters, their managers and seconds were called into the com- mission's private chamber for a dis- cussion of the foul rules, which were explained at length by General John Phelan and Bill Brown. D. Walker Wear, the third member of the commission, wasn't present. _ "Tonight's match," said Phelan, "will not be halted for any illegal punch, unless one of the contestants deliberately strikes low repeatedly. In that event the Commissioners, sitting at ringside, will dis- qualify the offender for rank un- sportsmanship. Foul Rules Are Explained. _ "In the event of a low blow, the referee will call it to attention of the two judges and the round recorded as lost for the offender. In case both strike low in any one round that round will be disregarded in the scoring. _ "If either of you brings discredit on himself and the game tonight he will have his purse held up and be barred from further appearance in the rings of New York State and in those having working agreements with this commission. _ "Carnera, you have been a model champion. You did your job well. Baer, you are the outstanding American contender and we want you to fight your best this evening. Neither of you has any excuse. You have been pronounced in perfect shape and we expect a hard, but cleanly fought match. We wish you the best of luck." _ The handlers of both pugilists asked specific interpretation of sev- eral rules, while Carnera and Baer listened to the proceedings with no more than passive interest.

Another Giant Meets Another Puncher... Remember Willard and Dempsey?

PRIMO CARNERA, THE DEFENDING CHAMPION

_ Max Baer, the slugger, goes against Primo Carnera, the giant, out at the Garden Bowl tonight. They will be fighting for the heavyweight championship of the world. What will happen? _ Well, back in 1919 another slug- ger, Jack Dempsey. went against another giant, Jess Willard, and the slugger became the heavy- weight champion of the world. _ Is history to repeat itself? _ Maybe yes, maybe no. Wil- lard towered over Dempsey in much the same manner that Car- nera will tower over Baer. And yet Dempsey had no trouble break- ing through the giant's guard and slashing him to ribbons. _ Baer is a slashing hitter of the Dempsey type, and word from his camp is that he intends to tear in and try to finish the giant Carnera with a blazing volley of glove fire, just as Dempsey did against Wil- lard at Toledo fifteen years ago.

Says Max Baer

_ Six rounds, no more but pos- sibly less. That's as far as this one is going unless the Italian boy isn't as tough as I think he is. I'm hitting harder than ever before, and I'm going to carry the argument right to the big fellow. _ I looked bad at Asbury Park, but what did they want for four bits every day - another civil war? I'm in condition. I know it and that is what counts. I certainly wouldn't fool myself with the most important thing in my life involved. Primo is as good as flattened - six rounds, no more but possibly less.

Says Primo Carnera

_ _ I hope this Max Baer is half as good a fighter as he claims he is. I wouldn't want the fans to see a dull fight. If he comes to me as he says he will I think I will knock him out. _ I stopped Jack Sharkey and Sharkey was a better boxer than Baer. I never trained as hard for a match as I did for this one because I really believe Baer is the best man I have met. He talks too much, but that makes him popular with the people and will help the gate receipts. If I retain my title I promise to defend it as often as good opponents are avail- able.

Carnera Victor in 74 of 80 Battles

_ PRIMO CARNERA started fight- ing in 1928 and, five years later, he has won the title by stopping Jack Sharkey. Primo has engaged in the eighty bouts, with fifty-nine kayos, fifteen decisions, five defeats and one no-decision. Nationality, Italian.

Max Baer Has 30 Kayos in 47 Fights

_ Max Baer has engaged in fourty- seven bouts, with thirty knock- outs, ten decisions and seven defeats. He was born in Omaha, Neb., February 11, 1909. Nationalality - German-Jewish-American.

Former Champs Divided in Views On Title Clash

_ Six former world's champions are equally divided regarding the out- come of the carnera-Baer battle to- night. _ Jack Johnson - Carnera doesn't know how to fight. He's just big. I expect Baer to stop him. _ Jack Sharkey - I don't believe Car- nera has the punch to kayo Baer, but he should outpoint him. _ Abe Attell - I'm betting on Baer. He's a better all-around fighter than that synthetic Carnera. _ Benny Leonard - If Primo steps around and tries to outbox the chal- lenger he'll win decisively. _ Johnny Dundee - I'm taking the hitter this time. Carnera is the bet- ter boxer but I don't believe he can take Baer's punches. _ Willie Ritchie - Off their training for the match. I'm stringing along with the champion.

Grayson Sees Baer Winner Follows Hunch in Picking Max to Kayo Primo - Inside Story of Challenger's Start

By HARRY GRAYSON_ Sports Editor NEA Service._ _ _ I pick Max Baer to knock out Primo Carnera in the Garden Bowl tonight. I do this solely on a hunch. _ Of the two, Carnera is the more deserving. He has stuck to his last and tried. It has been a laugh to Baer. I never have been so undecided about an important fight. _ Primo Carnera is one of the most misunderstood men in the history of boxing. The average person's conception of the heavyweight champion is a big dumb-bell. As a matter of fact, he's a most intelligent and alert person - a gentleman to the manner born, and a charming champion. Socially, I hope he wins. _ But listen to this story and try to bet against it: It was early in 1928 when John Hamilton Lorimer first saw Max Adelbert Baer. At that time John Hamilton Lorimer was worth $500,000. His father owned a Diesel engine plant in Oakland, Cal. Baer drove a swill truck. _ At the time, when they asked Baer whether he went to college, he replied, "Certainly, I go to college, I go to college every day. I go to Mills College (fashionable girls' school) regularly. I go there because the pigs are hungry. _ One day while the then 19-year-old Baer was chauffeuring his pig feed from Mills College to his father's pig farm at Livermore, thirty miles away, he bumped into John Hamilton Lorimer. _ Lorimer was struck by his size and appearance and one word led to another. _ "Why don't you make me a fighter?" asked the astounding Baer. _ At that time Baer's wardrobe consisted of a pair of pants, and two sweat shirts. When he washed a sweat shirt he considered himself well dressed. Baer Predicted Rise to Throne. _ Lorimer took him to his father's plant in Oakland and brought in the boxers who polished the boy who had started on his own behind his father's pig pen. _ "Some day, Ham, you and I will ride down Broadway," Baer told his benefactor. "I will be the heavyweight champion of the world and you will be my manager. We will burn the light in the back of the car so all the suckers in New York can see us." _ So far Baer has made good. He long since has broken with Lorimer, who in court seeks $80,000 as his share of Baer's earnings in the past _ Baer may lose tonight, but it will be 11 o'clock before John Hamilton Lorimer will be convinced that the boy he first saw on a swill truck failed to become the heavyweight champion of the world. _ "It just was meant to be," says Lorimer, shrugging his shoulders and walking off, hoping to collect his eighty grand. _ And the smartest of boxing men will tell you it takes five years to make a heavyweight champion. _ Baer made his first fight on May 5, 1929, when he knockoed out Chief Caribou in one heat. _ The time is up. _ I wouldn't be surprised if he clicked.

_ This is the night Primo Carnera defends his heavyweight championship of the world against Max Baer. _ If you like Carnera you must like him because he is big, strong and supposedly not easy to hit. _ If you like Baer you must like him because he is a puncher capable of dropping any man he hits solidly. _ Here, then you have the basic elements if the fistic quarrel that is expected to draw something like $400,000 into the Garden Bowl over in Long Island. _ Most men like to go to these things with a rooting interest in one of the fighters. This goes for men who make a business of writing sports for newspapers. It is nice to know the next day you called the turn right. It is a bit distressing to realize you called it wrong. But it would be no fun at all not to try. _ I am guessing Carnera largely on his durability, his concentration and the fact that he seems to be an improving fighter. We all know that once he was a notorious in-the-bagger. Which is to say that when- ever he stepped into the ring everything was arranged for him to win. _ I am not sure precisely just when the great spiritual reformation set in, but I do know that for the past year or so Carnera has been on his own, that when he won he won legitimately. And during this time he has shown unmistakable symtoms of progress. _ Quite a few people were inclined to look with questioning eyes at Carnera's knockout of Jack Sharkey in six rounds last summer. But apparently they forgot to remember that two years before, when he was a great deal less than a finished fighter, Carnera got up of the floor to last fifteen rounds with this same Sharkey, then at his peak. *_ *_ *_ _ The Sharkey Fight_ It is this first Sharkey fight that makes me feel Carnera can't be a complete bust. He showed a little fighting form that night, plus a lot of gameness, and it seems to me reasonable that he must have gotten better with time and experience. Even now he is only 26 years old, so I don't see how you can figure that he has gotten worse. _ Perhaps the most convenient way to dispose of Carnera as a con- troversial subject is to say he is neither a very great fighter nor a very terrible fighter. At any rate, I am reasonably sure it does not require a composit of Jeffries, Corbett and Fitzsimmons to beat him. _ Well, Baer is hardly that. In fact, it is difficult to tell exactly what Baer is. He is certainly the question mark in this fight. All that we know about him is that he is a brash young man who can hit hard with a looping right hand and is apparently dead game. _ They are saying if there is to be a knockout Baer will land it. And that sounds reasonable enough, because Baer is a mad, charging battler for the most part, and likes to throw heavy punches from all direc- tions. On the other hand, Carnera prefers to stand back and wait for the fight to be carried to him - and preferable without too much violence. _ They are saying also that if Baer doesn't win by an early knockout, say by the seventh or eight rounds, he will not win. And that sounds reasonable, too. It certainly sounds reasonable if Baer starts trying for a knockout from the start. A furious attack that yeilds nothing but fut- ility can take a lot out of a man. It can actually beat him, if you must know. _ This is particularly true in a fight such as this, where one man - the slugger - is giving away about fifty pounds on the scales. If you demand

_ This shows Max Baer knocking out Max Schmel- ing in ten rounds on June 8, a year ago. Note the evidences of extreme weariness on the victor's part.

an authenticated case upon which to debate this point I refer you to the Toledo fight, where Dempsey spotted Willard about fifty pounds - and almost knocked himself out trying to knock Willard out. *_ *_ *_ _ Dempsey Was Tiring_ _ This may sound confusing, and if you rely solely upon the umembel- lished records for your information it may sound cockeyed. But it's a fact, just the same. Dempsey knocked Willard down seven times in the first round, and the effort took so much out of him physically that he was leg weary and arm tired. _ I have heard more than one expert judge of fighters say that if Willard had been in condition he might have outlasted Dempsey in spite of the terrific messing around he received in the first round. But Willard had not trained well or properly, and so he was an easy and not alto- gether gallent victim. _ Baer is being accepted as the greatest hitter since Dempsey's time. Carnera is heavier than Willard. If Baer does drop Carnera he still faces the problem of keeping him down. Sharkey dropped him but couldn't keep him down. Suppose Baer drops Carnera not once but two or three times - what then? _ Well here is where the value of conditiion should assert itself. If Baer is not well trained, as Boxing Commissioner Bill Brown has been insisting all along, he probably will be worse off physically from his exertions in dropping his giant opponent than Carnera will be from stopping the blows. _ To repeat, this does not seem to make the soundest of sense, but if you check back through the records you will find that this has happened before and I am willing to believe there is no law against it happening again. If it is true that Carnera is in superb condition he may be able to take considerable punishment and still win, just on stamina. _ Baer probably is in much better shape than the idiotic reports from his camp sought to indicate. I don't see how he could help but be in pretty fair shape. He is only 25 years old and he spent the last month on the seashore boxing and working in the open air an hour or so a day. What is there about that kind of routine that should make a young man an invalid? *_ *_ *_ _ What the Picture Shows. _ Of course, if Baer isn't in shape that's his headache. As a matter of fact I don't think he was in any too good shape a year ago when he knocked out Schmeling, and I still have a sneaking suspicion that the gods were with him when he landed that swinging right hand to the Dutchman's jaw. If he had missed Baer might not have won the fight at all. _ I say this after studing the pictures which appears in this column. The picture shows Baer a second or so after he landed the vital punch. The position of his right arm denotes a weariness verging on physical fatigue. You will note, too, that his mouth is wide open, indicating he is having unusual trouble in getting his breath. In short, the picture is the picture of a very, very tired young man. And it is a picture of Baer in the moment of his greatest triumph! _ The chances are Baer will be in no better shape tonight than he was on that night in june a year ago. No matter if his training has been satisfactory to all the boxing commissioners in the business, the odds would be against it. A year can make a lot of diference in an eccentric fighter - particularly an eccentric fighter who hasn't had a glove on in all that time. _ Still, Baer may win and win spectacularly with a punch. If he does our first impression of Carnera was right. He's just an awful can of peas.

Carnera Hindrance to Boxing, Says Loughran Back for Fight

TOMMY LOUGHRAN who lost to Primo Carnera the last time the heavyweight titleholder de- fended his crown, in Mi- ami, March 1, arrived on the liner Manhattan from Europe today just in time to view Carnera's bout with Max Baer tonight. _ Tommy declined to be pinned down to an outright prediction as to the winner, but told the Associated Press it would either be a

Tommy Loughran

"knockout for Baer or a decision for Carnera." _ "Personally I would like to see Baer win," Loughran added, "Because it would elimate Carnera from the ring. He is only a hin- drance to boxing. It's a matter of size and not skill. He's not a fighter with a lot of abilty." _ "Whoever wins I'll chal- lenge him. I've licked Baer and believe now that I can do better with Carnera than the last time."

Presenting the Challenger, Madcap Max, in Various Poses of His Active, Colorful and Daffy Career

The bare Mr. Baer - this is his idea of the well-dressed golfer.

Down the hatch! . . . The daffydill is in favor of open guzzling openly arrived at.

Oh, Mamma, look at the funny mans! . . . This is Dizzy's fighting face . . . Looks a litle like Dracula, eh?

All dressed up and plenty of places to go . . . The madcap doing his stuff in a night club.

Smacko! When the Great Lover smacks 'em they stay smacked in or out of the ring.

The great plunger in action. He plays only fillies.

Home Town to Lower Flages if Max Loses

_ LIVERMORE, Cal., June 14. - If the flags are to stay flying in this home town of Max Baer the larruper had better be winner tonight in his fight with Primo Carnera. _ "If Maxie should lose," said Mayor Bernhardt, "we'll pull the flags to half-mast. But he won't. He's going to win by a knockout." _ Telegraph operators have been busy sending messages of exhor- tation to the ex-butcher boy. Some of them run to 1,000 words.

Weights, Measurements Of Carnera and Baer

_ Here are the weights and measurements of Primo Carnera and Max Baer and the list of preliminary bouts for tonight: CARNERA _ BAER 26 years 263 1/4 6 ft. 6 1/2 inches 46 inches 52 inches 80 inches 14 inches 37 inches 25 inches 18 inches 12 inches 19 inches 14 1/2 inches 9 3/4 inches Age Weight Height Chest Normal Chest Expanded Reach Biceps Waist Thigh Calf Ankle Neck Forearm Wrist 25 years 210 pounds 6 ft. 2 1/2 inches 42 inches 46 inches 81 inches 15 inches 32 inches 23 inches 15 inches 9 1/2 inches 17 inches 13 inches 8 inches _ _ _ _ _ Six Rounds _ Al Ettore (purple), 184, vs Charley Massera (black). 183 1/2. _ _ _ _ _Five Rounds _ James J. Braddock (purple, 180, vs Corn Griffin (black), 184 1/2; Ernest Benley (purple) 208, vs Bill McGee (black), 198; Lou Poster (purple), 185 1/2 vs Al White (black), 177 1/2; Chester Matan (purple), 208 1/2, vs Eddie Hogan (black). 216 1/2. _ _ _ _ _Four Rounds. _ Don Petrie (purple), 177 3/4, vs Ed Karolak (black), 188.

300 Policemen At Fight Bowl Extensive Plans Made to Handle Carnera-Baer Crowd Tonight

_ Approximately 300 foot, motor- cycle and mounted policemen have been assigned to the Garden Bowl, Long island City, where tonight Primo Canera defends his heavy- weight title against max Baer. _ Police headquarters will be estab- lished at Northern Blvd. and 46th St., across from the main entrance of the arena. _ Of the 300 patrolmen, 100 will be assigned to duty inside the bowl to assist the Garden's corps of special officers and ushers in maintaining order. These men will be augmented by a large force of firemen. _ Extensive plans are prepared to govern the movement of traffic through the streets surrounding the Bowl. Special bus and taxicab stands are designated in the traffic regulations. Automobiles crossing the Queensborough Bridge to the Bowl will have to proceed along Northern Blvd., to the stadium, dis- charge passengers and continue east to Broadway, Woodside, before a turn can be made. _ Colonel John Reed Kilpatrick, president of the Garden, has greatly increased his special policemen and ushers to prevent the disturbance caused during the recent McLarnin- Rose match, when holders of cheap seats charged into the more expen- sive sections.

Carnera's Account In Jersey Attached

_ JERSEY CITY, June 14. - An $88,000 bank account which Primo Carnera, world's heavyweight cham- pion. allegedly has in a local bank was attached today for $16,679.56 on the petition of Theodore J. Skratt. _ The account (in the Commercial Trust Co. of New Jersey) is held in escrow in the name of the huge Italian's manager, Louis Soresi, but Skratt contends the money is really Carnera's. _ In seeking the attachment writ, Skratt's counsel said his client was the asignee of a judgement issued against Carnera in England.

NBC to Broadcast Bout on Stations WJZ and WEAF

_ The Primo Carmera - Max Baer heavyweight championship bout to- night will be broadcast over the NBC Blue and Red networks with Graham McNamee at the micro- phone. The New York outlets will be stations WJZ and WEAF. South America and Italy are hooked up on short-wave transmission. Twelve men at the ringside will handle the broadcast.

To Show Fight Pictures

_ Official motion pictures of to- night's title fight will be shown in RKO Theaters in the city and suburbs beginning tomorrow morning.

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NEW YORK WORLD TELEGRAM JUNE 14, 1934

PRIMO CARNERA vs MAX BAER PRE-FIGHT

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