Читать книгу Jacobs Beach. The Mob, the Garden and the Golden Age of Boxing онлайн

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Schmeling, at the height of his arrogance, suggested, “Shirley Temple has as good a chance”—although this was as much a snide shot at Louis as it was meant to deride Farr.

Bennison, nevertheless, felt justified and comfortable in declaring to his readers back home, “I say without hesitation that Farr proved himself the better, cleverer and more resourceful boxer.”

Farr finished with two cut eyes, Joe with two bruised hands. The champ came down the stretch strongly after some mediocre middle rounds, and the judges were impressed, albeit by wildly varying margins. Art Donovan, the referee, gave Louis thirteen rounds, Farr just one, with one even; the other two judges saw it 8-5-2 and 9-6 for Joe.

Farr's manager, Ted Broadribb, did not complain about the decision. Neither did the Tonypandy Terror himself. “Are you satisfied that I have not let either myself or my country down?” is how he humbly responded when Bennison put it to him he'd come damn close to becoming the first British world heavyweight champion since Bob Fitzsimmons.