Norwich bulletin., 1910-03-19
LtFE OF STARRING PARTNER
 IS NO EASY JOB.
Average Salary About $75 Per-His Work Has Important Bearing on the Bio Bout

have appeared upon the stage in ex- hibition bouts, it is but seldom one reads about the sparring partners or the famous glovesrnen. It IS true the public pays it's money primarily at the door to see the champ, and takes but
 passing interest in the assistant, stlli the sparring partner forms an 1mpor- tant feature of the exhibition. If he boxes too slowly, the bout drags. If he is too speedy he will make his boss look slow in comparison, and that
 would never do. He must box just so; gauge his work according to the pace set by the star. If the sparring part ner is smart and quick to learn, he will pick up tricks that will liven up the
 bout and make 1t look like the real thing. He will know when to duck in spectacular fashion; when to aim wild swing for the jaw that he does not intend to land, and to take seem ingly hard punch on his glove, at the same time making it appear as though it landed on his chin or neck In the rallies that always wind up the rounds he draws his head in between his shoulders; turtle fashion. and whales away with both hands. The spectators
 think each man is doing his best to f1atten the other and the big applause follows. It's all in the game and in
 knowing how to do it.
 Salaries from $10o to $45.
 The salaries of sparring partners cover a wide range. It is said that Jim
 Jeffries has paid as high as s200
 week, but this is an exception. The
 better class get $1O0 or $75 per week
 The figures run as low as $40 and $50.
 The average is about S15. As rule,
 they are not punished severely in the
 exhibitions, because 1t is speed rather
 than hard punching that makes the
 bout look attractive from in front
 About the only part of the anatomy
 that really suffers is the left ear. That
 member generally becomes puffed up
 from the many right swings that land
 on it, and in many instances requires almost constant medical attention The
 idea of the champion is to put up
 fast, showy bout in which he lands the
 more clean blows, but there is little
 steam behind them and that makes it easy for the sparring partner The two exceptions were Bob Fitzsimmons and Kid Lavigne. Fitz had a way of snap
 ping in short body punches that hurt. He hit possibly harder than he intend
 ed, but the sting was there just the same. Mike Conley, who made one tour
 with Fitz, said that every time he box ed with him it was like taking part in real fight Dan Hickey, who boxed
 with F'itz several seasons, was gener- ally pretty well bunged up.
 Kid Lavigne Always SIugged.
 Kid Lavigne was the worst of all He
 didn't know how to box lightly. It was a case of fight from the start and woe be unto the sparring partner. The first time Lavigne ever boxed on the stage Kids brother Bill was carded to work with him. The Kid was very fond of his brother, but as soon as he saw the lights, the sea of faces and felt the gloves on his hands he forgot for the nonce just where he was. He thought it was a real battle and as soon as the bell rang he tore after Bill like a hurricane. The first punch, a left swing. ripped Bills eye open and almost sent him sprawling into the orchestra. He had difficult time get ting through the three one minute rounds. Down in the dressing room the Kid cried and said he didn't mean to hit so hard. Jack Hanley finished the week out. He had his own trou- bles and had to be on the watch con- tinuously or he would have taken a nap when least expected. Most of the other noted boxers were easy with their sparring partners. John l.. Sul- nvan had Dan Dwyer and later Ed White for assistants, and always put up an interesting setto. Jack Dempsey used Denny Costigan and never pom meled him up very badly Jack Mc- Auliffe and Jimmy Nelson always put up a lively bout without resorting to the rough stuff Jim Corbett was an- other who worked easily. He used te land many a blow on Connie McVey during their three rounds, but they were light and didn't bother the mus cular McVey to any great extent.
 Jeffries Treated Partners Lightly.
 One would think Jim Jeffries would DK lCIIOAy Dul Ic WASH |. ne put up q showy bout with Joe Kennedy or Jack Jeffries and never hurt either very much. Since he has been pre- pairing for Johnson he goes a little harder and sometimes makes it inter esting for Sam Berger. SharIkey was very easy He and the lightweight Spider Kelly would box three fast rounds without a stiff blow being land ed. It was the same with Gus Ruhlin He and Charley Golf had a clever turn rehearsed and always pleased the spec tators without trying to hurt each other. Terry Kept His Punch for Real Fiehts.
 Terry McGovern was a sure enough terror in the ring, but he and little Danny Dougherty could put up d cork ing exhibition without getting too strenuous Tommy Burns and George Memsic, the lightweight made a nice forgot himself and let a hard one go. | Peter Maher, proverbiaIly hard hit ter, had Peter Lowrey for a partner l Maher outweighed him 40 pounds, but 1 he never took advantage of him. When i Peter Jackson made his tour with Con l their exhibitions were very interesting, but he went easy with l Riordan- Little George Dixon had | Prof. Jimmy Lynch for years The former was very wicked meeting corners" but with Lynch he always | let up After the hundreds of bouts | in which they took part the only marx l Lynch had to show was puffed ear 1 As long as the champion is making the | better showing everything is lovely, l but once let the sparring partner get |