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By SAM GREENE
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CLEVELAND, Ohio, Dec. 15. - One
solid punch was all that Joe Louis
needed to prove that Eddie Simms
does not belong in the same ring
with him. That one punch, a left
hook that landed high on the jaw,
knocked Simms senseless, and what
had been scheduled as a 10-round
bout in Cleveland Public Hall
last night was over in 26 seconds by
the timekeeper's watch.
_
Simms was not counted out. He
was on his feet when the referee,
Arthur Donovan of New York, de-
cided that another blow by Louis
might have fatal results and steppe
between the two heavyweights.
_
Donovan was guided by the
dazed look in Simms' eyes and by
his incoherent remarks. Later, the
referee explained:
"WHERE ARE WE?" - SIMMS
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"I knew that Simms was in
trouble when he got up but I did
not know how badly he was hurt,
until he started talking. He said
"Let's go home. Where are we now?"
As I started to give the fight to
Louis, Simms added: "What's it all
about?" "Will you go home with
me?"
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After Louis' hand was raised,
Simms walked aimlessly about the
ring. When Jimmy Dunn, his bald
trainer, tried to direct him to his
corner, Simms moved in the oppo-
site direction. He was finally led
to his stool where restoratives were
applied but his head did not fully
clear until he reached the dressing
room, probably half a city block
away.
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The blow that felled Simms was
short and sharp. Aside from a
right hand that slipped off the
Cleveland heavyweight's neck, it
was the only punch with which
Louis connected.
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When the bell sounded to start
the first and only round, both
stepped from their corners more or
less cautiously. Louis waited for
Simms to advance. They flicked
gloves at each other and clinched.
Simms shot a right hand that
struck Louis in the face as he
backed away. They clinched again.
BEAT TO THE PUNCH
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Simms only hope lay in a right
hand smash. He tried one but it
never found the mark. Louis beat
him to the punch with a left hook
to the temple and Simms went
down. His body was partly caught
by the ropes before he fell on his
shoulder blades.
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The timekeeper, from his posi-
tion outside the ropes, started a
count that presently was taken up
by Donovan as he stood over Simms'
prostate form.
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As the count reached eight Simms
staggered to his feet. His body
swayed. His hands hung loosely at
his side. Both Louis and Donovan
quickly grasped that Simms was in
a state of semi-consciousness.
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Louis had a chance to step in and
drive home another punch. He hesi-
tated for an instant. After that it
was too late. Donovan put a pro-
tecting arm around Simms, called
for his seconds and then turned to
raise Louis' arm.
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The crowd of 10,362 paying spec-
tators accepted Donovan's action
without protest. It was obvious that
his prompt intervention was justi-
fied. He may have saved Simms
from permanent injury.
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The victory was the quickest of
Louis' career. He disposed of King
Levinsky and Charlie Ratzlaff each
in the first round but not with the
dispatch that marked his knock-
out of Simms. The timekeeper's re-
port showed that only 18 seconds
elapsed between the opening gong
and Simms rise from the floor.
Eight more seconds passed before
Donovan lifted Louis' hand to
stamp him officially as winner.
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Louis, thus, will be credited with
a 26-second knockout. The heavy-
weight record in respect is held
by Jack Dempsey, who stopped Fred
Fulton in 18 seconds.
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It was Louis' twenty-seventh
knockout in 32 starts. He won de-
cisions over Jack Kranz, Adolph
Wiater, Patsy Parroni and Natis
Brown and only lost to Max
Schmeling.
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Simms had never been knocked
out before. He has been fighting
professionally for five years.
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The show was promoted by the
Cleveland News to provide for its
annual Christmas toy fund. The re-
ceipts were announce as $49,827.75.
Louis received 20 per cent, and
Simms a guarantee of $4,000. It was
estimated that the charity fund
would benefit to the extent of
$11,000.
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