The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-07-13
SPORTING NEWS.
Frank Erne Tells of His Pres
ent Training Work.
Lightweight Has Trouble in
Getting to 12S Pounds.
HARD TO MAKE WEIGHT
Says He Will Get to That Fig
ure at Whatever Cost.
Twentieth Century Club VIII
Be Ready For the Bout.

New York, July 12.-As betting af-
fair the Erne- McGovern fight at Madi-
son Square Garden Monday night will
undoubtedly be a. record breaker. Many
of the men who make a business of bet
ting ON all the important fights have
looked upon both Erne and McGovern
as first-class investments in their fights
for the last couple of years. Now that
these champions are to be brought to-
gether the sports must to a. certain ex-
tent all bet against his system, but this
will have no effect on the general bet
ting. Many fair-sized bets are being
made, but the big betters willwait until
they see the men in the ring before
placing their money.
A reporter spent yesterday at Erne's
training quarters and arrived there just
after the light weight champion had fin
ished with his gymnasium work. He
looked in splendid condition. His arms
and back were tanned from the scOrch-
ing rays of the boiling sun. When asked
what he thought of his chances in his
coming battle with McGOVern he said:
Il think I will win and also do the
trick in less than ten rounds If lose
it will surely be on account of the
weight at which I am fighting McGov-
ern. never before fought at 12S pounds
at the ring side, and to be truthful I am
compelled to admit I will have a hard
time to make that weight. I would have
no trouble in making $50 pounds, but
this 12S pounds is going to kill me, for I
feel now as if I will have lots of trou-
BILE in making it. I will make the weight
if / have to cut off one of my legs to do
it. I won't lose $1,000 by not weighing
in. will do everything in my power to
get to that weight
When asked further about the battle
Erne said: There is one thing you can
depend upon. The fight will be the fast
est ten round go ever witnessed in this
country. I will have to fight McGovern
fast in order to beat him. and as he is
also a fast fighter you can rest assured
that it will be a corking fight. On ac-
count of the intense heat have changed
my course of training. I rise at 4:30
o'clock every morning and at 5 o'clock
start out on the road. cover four miles
and on my return jump into the water
and battle for fully a half hour. Then I
am rubbed down and am ready to eat
my breakfast. When this is finished I
row a boat until IL o'clock, after which
/ rest until 1 o'clock.
My lunch is ready then and eat it.
After devouring that meal / loll around
until 3 o'clock, when go into the gym
nasium and begin my real hard work,
consisting of punching the bag for 20
minutes, exercising with the one-pound
dumb bells, tackling the wrist machines,
jumping the rope and also boxing ten
rounds each with Frank Zimpfer and
Jim Fitzpatrick, my trainers. When. I
finish this work am given a good rub
down by Zinpfer and Fitzpatrick"
His mother, who does all of the cook
ing for her son, feels as confident as he
does that he will beat McGovern His
trainers are Frank Zimpfer, Jim Fftz-
patrick, the western heavy weight, and
Joe Saltz. All three handlers are doing
great work for Erne and claim they will
get him to the required weight-12S
pounds.
The Twentieth Century Athletic club
is getting the big amphitheater at the
garden in condition to keep the $4,000
persons who will attend the fight cool
and comfortable, even if the night is a
particularly hot one. All the window
air, the portable roof has been removed
and a great many electric fans have
been put in. From every seat in the
house a clear view of the contestants
can be secured