The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1903-10-27
A PRODIGY
IS JOE
GRIM

NEW YORK, Oct. 27.-The latest
prodigy of the ring has been developed
in Philadelphia. Joe Grim is his name,
and just now he is the hero of the
town. Grim is fighter and popular,
yet in the fighting line his perfor-
mances are unique.
Grim never knocks out an opponent,
but he has fought many of the hardest
hitters and fighters of the profession
and never has been knocked out him
. self. He is an iron man.
When Grim fought Fitzsimmons in
the ring of the Southern Athletic club
every man in the place thought at last
he would 90 to the canvas to stay
Fitzsmmons hammered away at every
spot on the Italians anatomy from
his belt up. knocking him down II
times, yet Joe Grim came up smiling
and ready to continue.
There is story about Joe Grim that
illustrates the toughness of his body
A few weeks ago, while Grim was
training visitor at his quarters sai1
that Bob Fitzsimmon's solar plexus
punch would soon "do up" the Italian
Grim went away and in a few minutes
returned with heavy pickax handle.
He passed it to the visitor. then,
holding his arms above his head, invit-
ed the scoffing stranger to swing the
club and hit him across the stomach
The stranger complied with will
Grim was knocked to the floor, but
jumped up laughing
That doesn't hurt" he said.
After the fight with Fitzsimmons the
club physician visited Grim in the
dressing room. expecting to find the
Italian suffering from the terrific
punches delivered by Fitzsimmons.
Grim was standing erect, taking a
| sponge bath.
care you hurt?" asked the doctor
Haven't a sore spot on me. except
nv nose replied Grim, and, to prove
his statement, he hammered his own
| fist vigorously against the stomach and
sides that Fitz had just been batter
| ing.
| Half an hour after the fight he was
riding down Broad street in an open
barouche, preceded by brass band
| and followed by a thousand cheering
Philadelphians. He was smiling and
happy. Almost any other man, after
taking such a punching. would be in
bed or a hammock berth as soon as he
could get away from the clubhouse.
Kid Carter says that he smashed
away at Grims jaw and body until
he was forced to let up through fear
of breaking his hands. writes Bob
Edgren. Walcott hammered the Ital-
ian until he was weary and Grim only
laughed In the last round Joe Grim
landed wild swing on Walcott's jaw
and nearly put him out.
Grim has unlimited courage. He fac
ed Fitz with the same nonchalcnce
that would have marked his attitude
toward an inferior fighter. Not even
after the most terrific punches did he
vince or try to save himself.
Il have seen Fitz beat Sharkcy to n
pulp double Rubin up so that his
forehead hit his toes, sink his fists into
Corbett's ribs like a soft-nosed bullet
into a cheese; batter .Jeffries into III
most standstill," continues Edgren
"then ] saw him use on Joe Grim
deliberately and in earnest. every blow
he was master of. and Joe when it was
over laughed and turned somersaut
Some fighter may come along and
take the Italians measure, hut when
that happens sporting men in Philadcl
phia will go into bankruptcy.
Only a few months ago Grim was n
bootblack. One night he was given a
chance to box in a preliminary. lie
could not put up very scientific bout
but he stayed.
He will give Jack O'Brien first con
sideration for fight of Is rounds just
as soon as O'Brien returns from Eng
land. Grim says that he will put
O'Brien away inside of Is rounds il
they ever meet again.
Grim is appearing this week at the
London theater on the Eowery