The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-27
.17-YEA"- OLD B.XER
MAY Be CHAMP ION
Tommy O'Keefe Has Defeated
Formidable Opponents in
Brief Career.
MASTERING SCIENCE
Manager VIII Work His Protcge
to the Front Slowly With
Few Engagements.

PHILADELPHIA. January 26-Manv
followers OF tho boxing game believe
that Philadelphia has q future bantam
weight champion in Tommy O'Keefe. a
native son. who has performed brilliantly
in his brief appearance before the pub
lie.
O'Keofe's coming out as they say in
polite circles. took place about nine
months ago lie was a copy courier ia "A
local newspaper Office and he was sjung
10y the fight bug while carving copy OF
a hsht writer to the composing room.
Tommy started Off against Young
Loughrey, a tough boy with q Wallop,
who weighed ten or fifteen pounds moro
than O'keefe. Tommy showed that as
matchmaker he fen something short
o. Billy Nolan
Lougnrey. experienced and heavy. soon
had Tommy doing the wogglebuE dance
and the bout was stopped
O'Keefe rested FOR some time and then
reeutered the ring at Whitley Jacobs
Twentieth Century Club. Here he had
more success. scoring several decisive
victories over a number Of boys.
While fighting at this club. O'Keefe
attracted the attention Of Billy Reynolds
uu 5000 oa AS
string. Reynolds saw in O'Neefe prom
Using material and took him under his
wing.
Constant boxing with Jack Blackburn.
Spike Robson and other fast fighters inn
proved him remarkably He was then
pitted against some Of the best boys OF
his weight in the city and he scored
brilliant success.
Under the tutelage Of Reynolds O'Kecfe
soon developed into one of the fastest
and cleverest boys IN the city. Veteran
ring followers who have seen him nght
marvel CT the science displayed by this
seventeon-y ear-Old boy.
one Of his best performances was at the
National Athletic club on the ght OF
tho Corbett and Murphy bout O'Keefe
was matched to meet Frankie Paul in the
semi-wind-up. lie faced a slashing
fighter who had the advantage in weight
ana experience. For once Tommy dropped
his own style ard snapped punches with
the hard hitter and Il almost resulted in
his undoing for Paul dropped him in the
FIRST round with wallop 10 tho jaw.
O'Keefe weathered two more furious
rounds and then regained his poiso and
fought Paul carefully as he should have
done from the start The result was
that In the last three rounds he stood
of his opponent. blocking cieveriy and
closing his rivals eye with lightning left
hand jabs
THE biz crowd applauded the youugster
for his rally and after the bout several
veteran New York sporting men came
forward and told Reynolds that he had
q future champion in O'Keefe
O'keefe has scored victories over
Tommy stone. ~ Boston Tommy Fcuz
the eX-bantamwciEht champion. Younx
Jack ITanion ana several others
lie was one OF The hits az the McGovern
benefit in New York Wednesday night
when ne met young JACK Hanion
Manager REYNOLDS intends 20 work his
proteee TO the front gro3unllv Pron'inr
by the experience 81 Eddie HanIon and
q number Of others who started IN the
ring while too Immature. ne will not
burden him with ENGAGEMENTS.
O'Keefe will get just enough matches to
keep him IN hghting trim and when the
proper time comes he will be sent against
tho tOpnotchcrs
Naooecr REYNOLDS in addition 20
O'Kccfc. looks after the interests OF
Sammy Smith. Ceorgo Colo and Tony
uancy.