The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-01
HARRY FORBES,

LII
WRITTEN FOR H SUNDAY REPUBLIC.
To Hugo Kelly. who WOE from Mike
Schreek at the West End Club THURSDAY
evening. may be credited the unconscious
invention of a new blow in the prize ring.
1t may be called unconscious. inasmuch as
Kelly probably failed to realize that he
was adding another punch to the existing
list. ~
His new blow consists simply of a species
of backhanded slap. delivered with the side
of the glove, especially valuable in mauling
the countenances of fighters who bend low
in attack, as did Schreck. Not only did this
blow disfigure Mikes face in a
ynanner most gratifying to the Kelly fac
zion, but IL also proved most effective IN
throwing the Cincinnati boxer off his bal
ance wnen he led for Hugo's stomach.
Backhanded slaps have never been con-
siuered. of particular value IN the ring.
Nor have many fighters developed them In
sucn a degree tnat mucn force accom-
uency of a man on defense is to use some
blow of the sort when his opponent dives
at his stomach. instinct also moving. the
defensive fighter TO draw his stomach back
cut OF range.
Kelly disregarded the impulse to move
his stomach out of range But he followed
the instinct when lmpelled him to dash
his glove, any old way, into Mixes face.
The result was that the unexpected force
DenInQ SUCH a DlOW Threw SNHItSh Oh Dti-
ance repeatedly and prevented him from
setting himself for a second SWING.
II the average person will try hitting a
b~ackhanded slap. moving over scarcely ten
inches of space and delivered with the
side of the hand. he will fail to be :m-
pressed. by. the possibilities of such a blow.
drawback. Yet. 1t was exactly a punch of
that sort, coupled with short straight jabs,
THAT won the battle for Kelly.
Hugo was probably vastly surprised at the
1fesult of his own blow. But he found IL
effective and stuck to it. Ii is not the first
time that a return to primitive methods in
will undoubtedly practice most assiduously
at the newly discovered counter. In the
frst round or two of the battle. he poked
his glove out blindly and desperately into
Mikes face, regardless Of the position Of
his VI knuekies; to his surprise. he
found this had the effect of throwing Mike
on his balance. Kelly. now stands as the
inventor OF a new blow.
Kid Mccoy and Bob F1tzsimmons brought
the short jolt down to perfection and could
dispose OF an opponent quite readily with a
punch travelling a few Inches. They both
Body in such a position that their weight
Kelly used but little weight Of his body
ir any old position, dashed his fist deway
into schreck's face and found that he had
solved the problem of meeting Mixes rush
ee. The result was a verdict in his favor.
While the blow may not be Of particular
value in the case of men who face their
9R1onent squarely and who lead with
= shreck's style 1t is most effective, schreck
has the 'Jeffries crouch" intensified and
. per cent. He kept one hand.us sIasLye h as
left-far advanced, with the weight thrown
on his left foot. In leading wit his right
weight Of his body, having it resting for
q fraction of a second, just before the deliv-
cry OF the blow, on one foot alone.
Hugo would ja6 out his glove to prop him
on. Mike would be Jared sideways and
his swing would lack force: His failure to
that Hugo appreciated his own discovery
and kept sendins his left and right out in
any direction as Mike came in. To a we'll
regulated and orderly pugilist, who believes
that the knuckles should be held lust so in
a fight. this style of things was most dis
his surprise Kelly had the decision and had
contributed his mite to the lore of the ring.
Kelly may work at this blow hard and
e1eeve. He may then meet some strafpht-
II jabber and have the face fairly clouted
II him The developments Of the future
Speaking OF schreck's attitude. it may be
remarked that his position caused consider
able wondering comment among some of the
spectators at the battle. Immediately be-
hind the writer sat some earnest students
Of the game. who were astonished by
Mixes position as he dropped to his crouch.
In q wondering tone. one of them said:
"They tell me that's the Jeffries crouch
Mixes using"
There was silence for a moment as his
companion digested the statement. Then he
said, In a tone Of disgust:
II should think Jeffries would be ashamed
to DO anything like that"
9chreck was extremely disgusted at the
outcome Of the battle. II ever a nan went
into the ring expecting to win, that man
was Schreck. The first few rounds made it
appear rs though he would succeed in his
purpose. Then Kely's steady work told
and Mike dropped behind In the scoring of
pointe.
Billy Hogan. Schreck's manager, was dis
appointed at the result and is anxious to
Wing to bet a large sum on the side. ac-