The Minneapolis journal., 1903-12-26
WHAT IS BEST
/. KNOCKOUT BLOW?
CHAMPIONS OF SEVEN CLASSES
ARE AT VARIANCE.
-Four Prefer to Try for the Jaw, While
Three Aim for the Body-Jenries,
Fitzsimmons and Nein All Like the
Heart OF Solar PIexus Punch.

quCollOI Ids UGSu asked re-
peatedly by those interested in box
ing, and the opinions of the cham
plons of the different classes on the
subject are Interesting.
Contrary to the general impression
there are many knockout blows and
few champions depend upon the same
punch to do the trick. Some prefer
the jaw. while others favor blow In
the body similar to the solar plexus,
made famous by Fitzsmmons at Car
son City in his battle with Corbetr.
Which has the advantage is not maze
apparent, as both seem to bring about
the same result.
Jeffries, who has gone down the
line, defeating all comers in the
heavyweight division, says that
heart or body punch Is good enough
for him. Jeffries says he makes the
body his main point Of attack because
he believes he can weaken a man
quicker there than in any other part
of his anatomy. The champion showed
this in his championship battles with
Rubin, Fitzsimmons and Corbett. JEFF
fries pummeled the trio and defeated
them all in almost the same manner
punching the body. AS a result OF
the champions punishment they all
took the count.
Fitzsimmons the new light heavy
WC1Sll OI TIE WoIiu, Sill
insists that the solar plexus blow is the
best knockout punch, and he says that
he shall continue to use it in all his
fights. FitZsimmons first used the
blow with good effect at Carson City
in 1897, when he won the heavy
weight championship of the world
from Corbett.
In fact, Fitzsimmons worked the
solar plexus shifts successfully In all
of his fights, except his bout with
Champion Jeffries. Fitzsimmons
never got chance to land it on the
champion, altho he landed repeatedly
on his jaw.
Give me the solar plexus every
time,'' said Fitzsimmons, II prefer it
it properly there is no fear that your
man will ever recover within the time
limit. The effect is more lasting than
blow on the jaw
Tommy Ryan, the recognized mid
dle-weight champion, is one Of those
who is satisfied with landing on the
jaw. Ryan's favorite blow is a right
hand one to that point. Ryan is a
terrific hitter, and he has put out
many aspirants for middle-weight
honors. Joe Walcott is another head
puncher, and the little colored demon
says that his favorite knockout blow
is a right jolt on the jaw.
II have seen many big fellows take
the count from a jolt on the jaw said
Walcott, land 1 have never seen
the man who could get away from it
once you landed properly. [ always
jolt whenever the opportunity is Of
fered, and if the first blow doesn't do
the trick, why, you can bet that the
next one will.
Walcott has fought many big men
in his time, and has often been
obliged to concede much weight. He
has, however, in most cases, succeeded
in putting his men out. He generally
makes a bluff lead with the left and
lets go the right to the jaw.
Joe Cans, the lightweight champion
and the victor of many hard-fought
battles, relies upon the right-hand in
side cross to put out his opponents.
Cans has had considerable experience
in knocking men out. He prefers to
jab his man with the left until he
is ready to start the right across. He
is never too eager to force matters,
but cautiously awaits an opportunity
to land the right with all the force
at his command.
erweight, prefers a left-hand hook to
the jaw with which to score a knock
out. Corbett uses his left and right
effectively.
Il can put a man out with left
hand hook or a right-hand swing,
said the champion, "but l really pre-
fer the former blow. I often land
the right first and that just about
puts fellow in position whereby [
can finish him with the left hook"
frankie Neil, the champion bantam
weight of the world, has taken up
the Fitzsimmons solar plexus blow.
and he believes that it is the most
effective knockout blow that boxer
can land.
Even if you don't put your man
out with the blow 1t puts him in such
a condition that he can do little dam
age declares Neil.
Among the seven champions men
toned above it will be seen at
glance that four of. them prefer the
jaw for landing a knockout blow,
while the other three prefer the body.
Young Corbett, Joe Walcott, Joe
Cans and Tommy Ryan are the box
ers who make the jaw the main point
of attack in their effort to score
knockout, while Jeffries, Ftzsimmons
and Neil rely upon their body delivery
to win out.
Following are the opinions of four
leading fighters in regard to the best
Knockout nunch:
JeTr1eS-Ile rlSht-nSnd DodN, OF nedFL
punch is believe The most effective blow
that a boxer can land. ! prefer it to the
jaw blow. / have worked the body blow
in nearly all of my battles, and it is due
to that ! have come out a winner. It may
not be called a Knockout blow because
my opponents have not been unconscious.
Still, they have been counted out, and that
serves the purpose.
Fitzsimmons-1he good old solar plexus
blow is good enough for me when 1t comes
to securing a Knockout. 1t is "a shift from
the left to the right. 1t is the left hand
that let go to the stomach. 1T you land
the blow properly there will be no doubt
as to who will get the winners share OF
the purse It beats any other punch in the
whole category of effective blows
Joe Gans-Feint your opponent into a
lead and when he lets go. step inside and
shoot the right hand across to the jaw.
That is the way to score Knockout. At
least that is my method when l am trying
to put the other fellow away. You can
land with terrific force, as your opponent
is coming tc YOU with great speed.
Young Corbett-When intend to knock
a man out I try to land left hook. That
is my favorite Knockout blow, altho
sometimes 1 do the trick with the right
swing Both blows are effective, and
when landed with the proper force gener-
ally have the desired effect.
Halliday AlareS