The Wanganui Chronicle TUESDAY, MAY 12, 1936. PROFESSIONAL BOXING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 111, 12 May 1936, Page 6

The Wanganui Chronicle TUESDAY, MAY 12, 1936. PROFESSIONAL BOXING

r J~TI E prizes which are awarded the siiccessiul professional boxer o£ the front rank are so big that they attract the attention of the adventurous youth of to-day. Rut there is another side to the picture which does not get the prominence it deserves. The recent retirement of Ambrose Palmer from the ranks of the professionals at the early age of twenty-four years ; should cause would-be professional boxers to pause. Mr. Palmer has decided that for him to continue in the game would be io his disadvantage. There seems to be small room for doubt that i continued employment as a professional pugilist is usually an I easy way to an early death. The American boxer, Jim Savage, knocked out [•'rank Moran, was himself knocked out by Gunboat ! Smith, fought with Bob l-'itzsimnions, and helped to tram Jack I Johnson. Xow, alter twenty years in the ring, he recounts his trophies. ‘'Twenty years is a long time to last in any line of | athletics, but in the ring it’s a miracle, like Methuselah’s age I in the Bible. Of course, I’m carrying around some souvenirs { of those twenty years. Souvenirs like' nine ribs that vveie broken, a nose broken five times, a left hand broken four times, twenty stitch sears on the face, twenty-live lumps from waist m neek. broken knee eartilcges from blows to tile chin, and an inability to sleep for more than a short period at a time, caused I by numerous blows to the head. But I still have all my teeth. and the sight of both eyes. I'm not punch drunk. I don I | mumble when I try to talk. . I guess I'm lucky. \ lot of lighters die young. A Jot more are permanently injured. Fighting is the toughest game in the world. ’ Such a collection of souvenirs seems to be hardly worth so much effort as professional boxing training entails. I hese ! souvenirs also roll a man of the value of any winnings which ! may bo retained by the fistic artist. Imagine just one thing among many, and that never being able to sleep lor more than an hour at a time! In such a condition neither enjoyment ol' life nor advancement, or even employment in any worthwhile occupation, is at all possible. The ex-pugilist may find hinisell ! employed as a sliow-picce while his popularity stays, but innneI diafelv ii wanes perceptibly he is passed on to the human sci.ipheap. The fight game does not lead to a dead end, out to the disea i d.