The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-27
17-Y[An,- old Boxer
MAY Be CHAMP ION
Tommy o'Keefe Has Defeated
Formidable Opponents in
Brief Career.
IS MASTERING SCIENCE
Manager Will Work His Protcge
to the Front Slowly With
Few Engagements.

PHILADELPHIA, January 26.-Many
followers Of tho boxing game believe
that Philadelphia has a future bantam
weight champion in Tommy O'Keefe a
native son, who has performed brilliantly
in his brief appearance before the pub
lie.
O'keefe's coming out, as they say in
polite circles, took place about nine
months ago. He was copy courier in a
local newspaper Office and no was stung
by tho fight bug while carving copy OF
q fight writer to the composing room.
Tommy started off against Young
Loughrey. q tough boy with u wallop,
who weighed ten or fifteen pounds moro
than O'keefe. Tommy showed that as
matchmaker he fell something short
OF Billy Nolan.
Loughrey, experienced and heavy, soon
had Tommy doing tho wogglebus dance
and the bout was stopped
O'Kcefe rested for some time and then
reentered tho ring at Whitley Jacobs
twentieth Century Cub. Here he had
moro success, scoring several decisive
victories over number of boys.
While fighting at this club, O,Keefe
attracted the attention of Billy Reynolds
emo nas a nu yDar II good nan on MS
string. Reynolds saw in O'Ileefe prom
ising 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 tuteage OF Reynolds O'Keefe
soon developed into one of the fastest
and clevercst boys in the city. Veteran
ring followers who have seen him fight
marvel at the science displayed by this
seventetn-year-old boy.
Ono OF his best performances was at the
National Athletic Club on the night OF
the Corbett and Murphy bout. O'Keefe
was matched to meet Frankie Paul in the
semi-wnd-up. He faced slashing
fighter who had the advantage In weight
and experience. For once Tommy dropped
his own style and snapped punches with
tho hard hitter and 1t almost resulted In
his rlndoing for Paul dropped him in the
first round with wallop to the jaw.
O'Seefo weathered two more furious
rounds and then regained his poise and
fought Paul carefully as hc should have
done from tho start The result was
that In the last three rounds lie stood
off his opponent blocking cleverly anu
closing his rivals eye with lightning left
hand jabs,
The biz crowd applauded the youngster
for his rally and after the bout several
veteran New York sporting men came
forward and told Reynolds that he had
a future champion in O'Keefe.
O'Keefe has scored victories over
Tommy Stone, of BOSTON, Tommy Feltz,
the ex-bnntamweight champion; Young
Jack Iranlon and several others.
He was one of the hits at the McGovern
benefit In New York Wednesday night
when he met young Jack Hnnlon,
Manager REYNOLDS intends to work his
protege to the front gradually Profitng
by the experience of Eddie Hanlon and
a number Of others who started in the
ring while too Immature, he will not
burden him with engagements.
O'Keefe will get just enough matches to
keep him In fighting trim and when the.
proper time comes he will be sont against
the topnotchers.
Manager Reynolds In addition to
o'Keefe, looks after the interests Of
Sammy smith. George Cole, and Tony
uaney.