Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-03
BIC Al KUB|AK
A COMING FIGHTER
Glamour of the Ring Was Fas-
cinating to the Young
German Giant.

German Giant.
PHILADELPHIA, December 31.-Just
because New York pugiistic promoter
! failed to land Al Kubiak, the heavyweight
| find Of the present decade, silly story
! was started over the country to the eff
| feet that the young Michigan giant was
| ringer" says the Referee" in the
| Ledger. 1t is evident that the man who
started the story never saw kubiak box,
or else he is no judge of boxers.
Without intending any detriment to the
ability of Kubiak, he is one of the most
awkward men who ever wore a boxing
glove. His defense is as awkward as his
manner of hitting but somehow or other
he seems to get there. The explanation
is this: The young Michigan giant is
strong, rugged and not sensitive to pain
He can deliver a powerful blow. which
does not travel far and at times looks
like a slap. His best asset is this-his
heart is in the right place. He has never
been knocked down, and takes the heart
out OF his opponent, a la Nelson, by con-
tinually coming back for more. no mat
ter how fast the pace. In order to set at
rest all the silly rumors regarding Kubiak
the writer sought an interview. and here
it is in the big fellows own words:
My name is Albert James Kubiak. and
my home is in Grand Rapids, Mich. l
was born on April IA, 1850. in Germany
coming to this country when mere tot
and am. consequently in my twenty-third
year. l was never known by the name of
DAILY or any other name. save for one oc-
caS1on when l took the place Of a man
named Berry in wrestling bout and was
called Berry for a while by the residents
of Savannah, where the bout took place
l am the oldest of seven children, all of
whom, like my father and mother, are big
and strong.
Since l have been successful at the
boxing game several instructors claim the
credit of teaching me the art: Well,
never had boxing lesson. All know
ABOUT boxing came to me from boyish
bouts used to have with my chIlm
Stanley ketchell, with whom l worked
side by side in brush factory in our
home town. ketchell and 1 We're going
70 run away away from home and go to the
racine coast to take up fighting. being
ring struck, just as other kids get stage
struck or run away to fight Indians
His First Defeat.
Mr.. kubiak, ST.. heard of our plans
ana got my first defeat right then and
there. Suffice it to say, I did not 20
hetchell did. however, and today is the
champion and rich man. I tired of home
HE. Grand Rapids seemed to grow small
er as 1 grew bigger, so at sixteen l ran
or and enlisted in the army and was
assigned to the Coast Artillery NV father
was very angry when he found out | had
Joined the soldiers and was going to in
woke the aid OF a Michigan senator to
have me discharged because 1 was not O.
age, but he was persuaded to let me roll
my hoop and he did. After some little
service I was transferred to Florida. and
1t was there l took to boxing and wres-
ting, the officers and the men equipping a
fine gymnasium where nightly bouts were
held
There were some clever Wrestlers and
boxers there, and I learned so fast that
was soon the champion OF the island
and was elected gymnastic instructor
When I served out my enlistment
returned home and my athletic ability got
me a job as q Grand Rapids policeman
also played ball with the best indie
pendent team in the town. Grand Ranids.
like Philadelphia, has fine police force
Every man must have some athletic and
military knowledge, and / was very popu-
lar with my fellow officers. l tired of the
job of a cop. however, and after a years
service ] lacked it up with many an arrest
to my credit. l went south again for the
double purpose of trying to sign with one
Of the clubs in the South Atlantic Base
Ball League and to see many good friends
there.
II ran over to Charleston and there met
Pat Meaney. we'll known and deserved
| ~ popular Philadelphia ball player who
managed the Charleston club We be-
came fast friends and / used to practice
with the team daily. While there Dan
Mcleod. the eX-champion wrestler, came
to the historic city. and his visit caused
a revival OF the mat sport there.
Wrestled Some.
It managed to make expenses par
ticipating In a few wrestling and boxing
bouts, and the members of the Phladel
phia National League team were present
last spring when I appeared in Savannah
and will tell you that l was then ad
vertised and known as Al kubfak. 1t
was through Mr.. Meaney that l came
to Philadelphia and placed myself under
the management of John Kelly, and l
am glad to know my work has pleased
the lovers of boxing here to such an
extent as to earn me star bout l have
engaged in twenty-six boxing bouts and
have yet to be knocked off my feet.
II will follow boxing for q living, and
will only give 1t up when I am compelled
to adopt dishonest tactics or am knocked
out. | honestly think l will some day
be champion, and will go along did
Jim Jeffries. striving honestly i'll an en-
deavor to gain the title. I will meet any
man living whom my manager sees fit
to match me with. In conclusion let me
say that the stories about my being
ringer are unIfutnS.
Like Jeffries did when he started
Kubiak is combining himself to meeting
third and fourth rate men, as at present
he can rake up as much money beating
dubs as he could by being beaten by
champion, when his money-earning ca
pacity would cease. John Willie. whom he
met last night, is the first really clever
experienced heavyweight he has boxed in
a contest He snapped punches with big
Jim Stewart, New York's heavyweight
candidate, had the latter down twice for
the count and earned clear-cut decision
Stewart has since knocked out Fender
CAST. the New England heavyweight
champion. So that gives Kubiak some
class.
He is 6 feet IL inches tall weighs 1919
pounds in condition, and-one of the most
remarkable things-is a good all-round
acrobat, being able to turn handsprings
and throw front and back somersauIts
like a veteran Of the show ring. AS his
trainers say, he is big kid, full of frolic
and fight. He has his own ideas Of train
ing, and the only use he has for attend
ants is to give him a good rundown and
massage his muscles after exercise
Thanks to the acumen of young Phila-
delphian. he is. making his mark in the
heavyweight class
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