The Washington times., 1908-06-07
Press Agent a Primary Factor
In Crop of Latter Day Champs

NEW YORK, June Elm the good old
days when prize fighters fought rather
than talked. the publicity promoter had
not broken into the game. One often
wonders II one Of these enterprising
young mon had laid a proposition for
the promotion Of publicity before Hen
nan, or Sayers, or Mace, Billy Ed
wards, Joe Coburn, what replies these
grim lighting men would have made.
Probably IL would not have been NJ to
print It would be interesting if some
historian of pugilism would dig up the
facts of the birth and development Of
the pugilistc press agent
There can be no doubt that If pays
in dollars and cents, for $4,000 and
$50 600 purses We read about are in a
very large measure due TO the work
Of the publicity men. The effect on the
sport, however, is another question
In the old days champions were made
in the ring by hard lighting and cham
plons fought all Corners. who could get
enough backing, without debating
about terms or making too much quib-
bling
In these degenerate days, however, a
good competent press agent is of much
more value for the one who aspires to
championship hOnOrs. with the emolu-
ments thereuntO pertaining, than "a
soporifc punch and the ability 10 take
a bad beating for the sake of giving
the other fellow a worse one. Our ole
friend Jack Johnson as an example. He
is given consideration as being Of
championship class simply because his
press agent says repeatedly and vocif-
erously that he is entitled 10 II. The
fact that Johnson has never done any
thing in the ring 70 claim TO being
a first-cIass man is lost sight Of by a
good many people.
There are others; in fact, TO profes-
sionaI fighter of any prominence in
these days, the press agent is at least
as important as the trainer.
The claim of Harry Pollok that Abe
Atteu is afraid to fight his man. Charley
Griffin. is really what has given rise TO
the foregoing reflections. Attelrs per
sistency in going after both ends and
the middle. in making a match. borders
on a lack Of true craftsmanship.
But when the assertion is made that
AtteH is afraid 10 fight anyone in his
class, lit is 10 laugh" Atten is not
afraid to go into the ring with anything
that walks on two legs and weighs 125
pounds or less. The only fear that
botHers him IS that in making a match
he may let some of the long green he
might have had get by.
Paris is certainly the happy ground
for fighters. according TO Willie Lewis,
who. in the height of his vogue in the
gay capital. yielded to inconsistencies and
came over to get a glimpse of Broad
way. Lewis remarked shortly after his
arrival: Paris is a great fight town.
and they're daffy on the game, and wo-
men go there as well as men. Why,
they dress in low-neck gowns, and the
men are there with their evening stuff.
You can't tell your wife that YOU are
going to a fight in Paris. because she's
as big a bug as you are yourself, and
you have to make it for two.
sam McVey is the king over there
They think he's better than Jeffries.
He packs an awful mob whenever he
nights. If he's ever licked. though they
will be through with him Stanton
can't get a bag of peanuts for fighting
since I knocked him out He was the
big card there before we fought. and
when I was introduced and challenged
him they hooted and howled like mad
Am I going back2 Yes, 1 expect to
blow away again in September, if we