The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-20
HANDS EASILY HURT
IN BIG PRIZE FIGHTS
Such Injuries lave Often Put
Good Fighters Out of the
Fistic Game.
COST GARDNER FIGHT
Omaha Kid May Have Been in
Young Corbett's Place but
for Poor Hands.
ST GARDNER FIGHT

that pugilist no matter what his class
or reputation, is immune In this respect. AT
some stage or other during a fighters ca
reer he is almost certain to meet with an
accident which will incapacitate him for a
time and threaten his future in the ring.
In many instances scrappers have been
forced to retire from the business for good
because of injuries to one or both hands.
All sort of devices have been used to
protect a fighters hands Bandages of soft
material are used to keep bruiser's maui
ers in good condition, and In almost every
important mill they worn. Secret ex-
ternal applications and gloves extra padded
over the knockles have been known to help.
but there is no guarantee that such things
will prevent accident.
McGovern when he was at the head of
his division never had much trouble with
his hands. He fought frequently and his
friends marveled over the way he preserved
his fists. Now 1T is said Terry must take
a long vacation before he will be able to
fight again. During his career as a pugi-
list McGovern's hands have earned for him
over $lOOOU, so one can judge what his
loss must be.
COST GARDNER THE FIGHT
Oscar Gardner. the Omaha Kid would
probably have been in young Corbett's
shoes to-day were it not for poor hands
Gardner is an old campaigner and the hero
of many stubborn battles. About seven
years ago Gardner came East with good
reputation made in the West. But those
who knew him intimately refused to back
him whenever he fought because il was
known that he had poor hands. oscar was
introduced to Paddy Sullivan. brother of
Congressman Tim Sullivan. and the latter
m Ill IiNyan of
Gardeners weakness, but was wise enough
TO realize his other excellent qualities as
pugilist. So he sent Gardner to WELL
known physician for treatment Gardeners
hands were placed in a plaSter-of- paris
cast and the Omaha Kid refrained from
boxing for almost year. At the end of
that time Gardner went into training. Sui
Ivan matched him against the best men in
his class and Gardner successful
that he was soon hailed as the coming
feather-weight champion. He was pitted
against Dave Sullivan and was the first
man TO knock out the little Irishman. This
victory was a big feather In Gardeners cap,
one OF the best feather-weights in the bust
ness.
After McGovern had defeated George
Dixon, thereby winning the feather-weight
with the remarkable Terry. The battle
took place before the Broadway Athletic
Club
The mill was exciting and Gardner was
heavily backed to win. However. many of
Gardner's admirers. at least those who
We're acquainted with the condition of his
hands. held off and backed Terry.
Its a cinch that if he ever lands on Nc
Governs head" they argued. "his hands
Te OF 9nre afH ne for VIM IN gse
third round, after Gardner looked like a
sure winner, having fioored McGovern and
fh nh h out M ef hana and
the member was useless. When Terry be-
gan mixing 1t up the fight was soon over.
with Gardner on the floor decisively put to
sleep.
JEFF HAS LITTLE TROUBLE.
Jim e>ries has not had much trouble
with his hands. Not because he is more
fortunate than other pugilists. but because
he Is more careful not TO hurt them. Out
side of his general physical condition his
hands receive the first attention. Before
beginning active training he subjects his
hands to treatment original with himself.
Prior to starting work he incases both
members in bandages until they are liter
ally invisible. Then he dons pair of ordi-
nary kid gloves, and over these he wears
tbe sns @ He thsn
but Is careful to have the thumb well pad
ded. owing to the fact that this part of the
hand Is most susceptible to injury.
A dummy punching bag. filled with saw
| dust or excelsior, Is brought into requisi-
| ton and the champion smashes away with
/ all MS might, using MS most erecUVe DlOWS
He keeps at this for steady half hour and
| then turns to the inflated or pearshaped
! punching bag. In this way the muscles
of the hand are hardened and developed and
the chances OF accident are lessened consid-
| erably. After this the members go through
a picking" process. which is nothing more
than severe rubbing with either witch hazel
1.-The fault with some fighters" said
Jeffries recently. "is that they do not know
When / am In battle l make ii a rule to
aim accurately. / always land my punches
with my four fingers tightly clasped TO my
palm. There Is not much chance of concus-
| sion then and my hands are never I'm dam
| ger. Even IL you strike man on the head
/ In this way you cannot hurt your hands,
because the fingers are close together and
the gloves protect you. Some fighters have
1 habit OF swinging and landing the
thumb. If was to do this would have to
| give up my profession and repeatedly visit
| physician about sprains and broken bones.
/ A fighter runs the risk of breaking his
hands In clinches. Some fellows shove their
\ antagonists away by using their clenched
| fists / simply open my hands and put all
| my force in thrusting them aside with the
| hollow Of my palm.
DANGER IN MEETING 'DUBS."
"There is more danger in having your
| hands hurt I'm meeting dub than there
is In facing a man OF ability and reputa-
] ton. inexperienced boxers have a habit OF
smothering themselves up and leaving only
| their heads and the other hard parts of
their anatomy exposed. If you should land
| on these parts in wild fashion with any
kind of force II is dollars TO doughnuts
that you will hurt yourself. But 1t is diff
| ferent when meeting a man OF science. He
| will stop most of your punches, If he can.
| with his elbows or his hands. and there is
| not much danger from this source | never
do any boxing TO speak Of two or three days
| before important contest. We only
| human, you know, and there is no use TAX
| ing any chances"
| Marvin Hart. the crack Louisville middle
weight, lost several battles because OF poor
| hands. He met George Gardner few
months ago and had a good chance to win.
| when he was compelled to give up hostil-
tiles because ne broke one OF his hands. III
was old injury which had never been
properly healed. Jack O'Brien. OF Phila-
/ delphia, has bad hands, but the injuries
were sustained early in his career before
he had acquired science and skill. George
Dixon was never troubled with bad hands.
He knew his business and never aimed for
a mans head. He either played for the
body or jaw. Cases have been known,
| though. where pugilists received broken
bones In their hands by catching a rival
ON the vital point.
CORBETT AND FITZ CAREFUL.
Jim Corbett. like Jim Jeffries. pays strict
attention to his hands. He never goes into
a fight unless he wears a rubber band about
his wrist and has his knuckles well padded
| Ilnh ole t.