BOXING

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 13 November 1926, Page 12

BOXING

ART OF REPARTEE. ! j JIBES AT BIG FIGHTS. The repartee of old-time and presentday boxers during their more ini"portant ring engagements, sallies made up largely of threats and jibes heard onlv bv the referee, would fill a large book with incidents of lively interest. The veteran arbiter, Charley White, had such a work in mind when he died a few vears ago. White officiated at j more'than 5000 battles and was called upon in his time to give 3500 decisions, in all cases without the benefit of advice from judges. The custom of baiting the opponent in the ring is not so common to-day, but it has been indulged in by some of the older boxers, notably Harry Greb, Johnny Dundee and Harry Wills. Jack Dempsey never, except on the occasion of his battle with Jess Willard at Toledo, Ohio, so far as any referee recalls. spoke to his opopnent, being content to scowl darkly throughout his bouts. In the second round of the bout which brought him the championship Dempsey whipped over two rights to Willard's jaw which made the giant's knees rattle. In his exultation Dempsey exclaimed, "I've got you, big fellow; I've got you all ready to wrap up and take home." "I have heard hundreds of snappy dialogues in the ring," said White one night when in a reminiscent mood. "Battle, in fact, appeared to sharpen the wits of some of the champions and challengers of the old days. "When Jim Jeffries was defending his title against Jim Corbett at Coney Island, Corbett was flying around the big boilermaker, jabbing him as ho pleased. Suddenly Corbett pinned both of Jeff’s hands behind him and snarled: ‘Jeff, I taught you what I knew at Carson City, but I’ve discovered one new trick and I’m going to spring it on you pretty soon.’ "Jeff merely grinned and came back with a left which all but took Cor : bett’s head off. In the twenty-third round Jim became careless and Jeff leaped in with a bomb-like left.to the jaw which flattened the fomier bank clerk on the resin for the count.

" ‘Maybe that thing Jim had up his sleeve hit him in the jaw,' said Jeff to me as Corbett lay on the canvas. "The'curious effect of a knock-out is always curious. When Jack Downey was knocked down by Jim Burge and the gong alone saved him from going out, he came to his corner with a faraway look in his eyes. One of his seconds asked him how he felt, and he replied, ‘Billy, I can lick all five of them. ’ " ‘All right, Jack," was the reply, ‘just beat up that fellow in the middle and that’s all I’ll ask of you.’ "Terry McGovern and Young Corbett, in their hurricane battle at Hartford, Conn., for the world’s title, didn’t do much talking in the ring, but what they did say carried a kick. "In the opening round after a fierce mix-up Corbett landed high on McGovern’s head and the blow dazed him for a few seconds," continued White. "He jumped back, took a deep breath, and then sailed in like a wild man. “ ‘Stung you up some, didn’t it?’ jeered Corbett. " ‘Why wouldn’t it,’ replied Terry. ‘lt was with the right.’ “ ‘Yes. but I’m also there with the left.’ ' '

" ‘All right,’ said Torry, ‘l’m there witl}. one, too.’ "Just then he swung a left that caught Corbett in the pit of the stomach and knocked him to his knees. "When Fitzsimmons and Sharkey fought at Coney Island some time after their classic engagement on the West Coast, the sailor, who had improved a great deal in the meanwhile, rushed at Bob swinging both hands hard, his left crashing to the point of the jaw and knocking Fitzsimmons groggy. " ‘That was a good one, Tom,’ Fitz gasped. “ ‘Yes, and here comes another one. I’m not as easy as you think,’ said Sharkey. "Tom had the best of the round and kept Bob on the defence throughout. As they started towards their corners at the bell Fitz turned with a grin and a wink to Tom:

“ ‘Just wait until you see me sink the ship,’ referring to the big fullrigged, three-masted schooner Sharkey had tattooed on his enormous chest.” “Yankee” Sullivan in his prime fighting days, was one of the most crafty fighters. He fought Bill Bell in Brooklyn on August 20, 1842, forty bare-knuckle rounds and was really beaten in the middle of the last session, but whispered to his opponent: “I give up Bell. I’m licked.” Bell turned to walk to his corner and Sullivan, as quick as a flash, delivered a smashing blow on the back of Bell’s neck which set him down and out.

This, of course, would not do to-day, but it was just one of “Yankee’s” bag of tricks and it won for him that time. Incidentally it lost many of his friends for him also. Jem Mace was one of the most' wonderful boxers of any period or division. He never wasted his strength or his wind in unnecessary dancing, prancing ot wild swings, but patiently watched for an advantageous opening. Sometimes his period of watchful waiting would last for 20 or 30 rounds, but when that opportunity came the bout suddenly ended. Sometimes Mace would purposely meet a coming blow with the top of his hard head in order that his antagonist would smash his knuckles, and, therefore, be handicapped in a serious manner for the rest of the contest. Backheeling, now prohibited, was quite an accomplishment under the old code and Mace was very skilful indeed in quickly grasping an opponent, backheeling and falling heavily upon him. But the master of strategy was Bob Fitzsimmons. Old Fitz. was the cleverest sneak puncher of Queensberry days. He knocked out all his victims in the breakaway with a short snappy, choppy jolt to the point of the jaw. It did the trick before the recipient knew what it was ali about.

That was the way Fitz. disposed of Peter' Maher in their second battle, Jim Hall, Dan Creedon and many others. Months before Fitzsimmons met Corbett he said he would win with a sneak punch. He was quite confident that he could weather the storm until that strategic moment should arrive, and then put across the deciding lunge to the solar plexus. “I know,” said Fitz, “that Corbett can outbox me, and probably land a dozen blows to my one, but I’ll wait until I get a good chance and then ‘the Gentleman’ will go down and out. Mark

my words and see if they don’t come true.” In his second bout with Sharkey, referred to above, Fitz suddenly paused and exclaimed: *' ’Ere now, Tom. 'Ere goes one to your face.” Instantly Sharkey raised his guard to protect his jaw and Bob swung his famous right to the keel of that big, blue ship with a thud. The keel was just about on Tom’s solar plexus.

The ship reeled, quivered, and slowly sank with all on board. Tom was great at a comeback, however, and in a few seconds he was up and fighting. Once more Bob said: “ ’Ere Tom, ’ere’s another for your face,” and before Sharkey realised he was probably going to be tricked again)'he raised his guard. As he did so, Fitz shifted and brought in his right to the same place. Sharkey crashed to the canvas and ho was counted out. Fitz was standing over by the ropes flinging out his hands to the frenzied throng apd grinning from ear to ear.