Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-02-15
SEC0NDING A FIGHT.
BOB FITZsIMM0Ns GIVES POINTS ON
RING TACTICS.
Liquor Is the Worst Thing to Give q PugiIist
While in Battle-Beef Tea the Proper
Stuf-Precautions Against Poisoning
Denpsey's Seconds.
WRITTEN FOR THE prspAroH.1

800 M
1t is not always the best trainers who are the
best seconds, or the best pugilists either for
that matter. I have seen some men who could
not be beaten as trainers, and others who were
ana are to-day at the top of their respective
classes in pugilism, who have made dismal fail
ures as seconds for other pugilists. There Is a
certain knack about it which they cannot get.
On the other hand, I have seen the veriest
dub of a boxer, or even persons who did not
pretend to box at all, who. as seconds for other
men, could NOT be beaten. They would antici.
pate their principals every thought, whisper
words of encouragement in his ear, and finally
bring him out a winner.
Now l an fully aware Of the fact that all the
%secondIng in the world would not bring a man
out of a battle a victor unless he had the re-
Quisite gameness and the hitting powers. But
/ can say this much, that have seen many
fights in which, in my opinion, the inferior man
some fighters scarcely need anyone to look
after them IN their corners, as they are careful
never to get excited and calculate the effect
and consequence OF every lead they make.
Then again there are other fighters who, when
they receive a few punches, lose all control of
their own temper and go at their adversary
like a bull at a gate, tire themselves out and
stand a very good chance of being defeated
were iJ not for their seconds. who. not having
received the punching, are cool and collected
and can see and be able to tell their man what
Hr
The Fight With Dempsey.
But I started of to tell you how a man should
be seconded, how many men there should be
and what their duties are. Jack Dempsey in
his ght with me, was one of the finest seconded
men who ever went into a ring. and the people
who were in his corner-l believe they were
Jack McAuliffe, Gus Tutbill and Mike Conley
deserve a great deal of credit for the ma inner
in which they handled their man. Many times
during that fight l thought Jack was almost
done and that l could easily finish him in the
next round. but in the single minute he had in
his corner his seconds would do an amazing
amount of work on him, and he would come up
looking comparatively fresh and lively for the
next round.
As regards myself I did not need the second
ing that Dempsey did, as the tight was going
all my way, but what work was done on me
was done In a very artistic manner, FOR, I con-
slider my late partner, Jimmy Carroll. one of
the best seconds in the country. aud his
services in that capacity have always been in
great demand. Had the shoe been on. the
other foot and 1 getting the worst of the battle
instead Of Jack, l am sure the crowd would
have seen some fine handling done by my Sec
onds, Messrs. Carroll. O'Connen and Robinson.
When the Seconds Work Begins.
A second should in all cases take charge Of
his principal at least six hours before a contest
and never allow him out of his sight until after
the fight. He should also, himself, prepare
and procure everything that the principal eats
or drinks, or have some trustworthy person do
it. as there are always people who have their
money on the other side, while pretending to
be your friends, and they are mean enough,
some of them, TO try and dose your man. A
second cannot be too careful about these
things.
As soon as your man is put under your
charge ges everything together which you will
need when IN the ring and do not ler these