Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-05-28

were lit, and I'm the middle OF the hall
Il regulation boxing ring had been put
up ON an elevated platform.
We both got stripped for action with
out much delay Before went out to
the ring they pulled the gloves over
my hands and tied them on. I can
remember just how funny boxing
gloves felt TO me. 1 never had a pair
on before In my life. My hands felt
so biz and clumsy that 1 didn't know
what 20 do with them
We got into the ring. Griffin was
tall fellow. all sinewy muscles from
head to heels He wore a wide smile
like a hungry man sitting down to a
good dinner. But he didn't look very
dangerous. I'd seen stronger and big
ger men I'm the shops. The lights and
the people interested me more than he
did
At last time was called. and we
walked together and shook hands.
Then 1 got the surprise Of my life. Al
most before l had my hnnds up he hit
me an awful smash on the nose. You
can talk about being hit on the chin OF
I'm the stomach or on the ear. but let
me tell you that a blow on the nose
hurts more than any OF them. 1t
makes your eyes fll and blur. and you
wonder IL your nose is fat a blow on
the nose either makes a man want TO
stop fighting or It makes him mad IL
made me mad. l forgot all about the
boxing gloves on my hands for a mo-
ment and tore after that coon 10 break
him I'm two. l went for him just the
way I've seen the bulls rush at the
matadOrs I'm the Mexican bull rings.
That was Just what Griffin wanted.
He was a boxer. and was a novice
\ boxer can play with novice, as a
rule. and never take a chance. What
that negro did TO me during the next
four or five rounds was a shame He
punched me all over the ring. He land
ed on my nose and my eyes and my
chin as he pleased. lie just walloped
away as fast as he could hit. and I
surely did see stars As FOR landing
ON him. couldn't have hit him with a
whip
But after a few rounds l recovered
from my surprise. I took stock and
began 20 figure Here was man han
ding me I'm a way I'd never dreamed
OF. This must De- the boxing skin that
Gallagher had told me about Griffin
was hitting mo whore he pleased. but
ne couldn't either daze me or knock
mo down. and 7 wasn't firing az all
The thiug FOR me Go do was 90 find out
how he did ito get the combination
and then pay him back In his own
fatnfn nI F..IH a
ever land on him he'd drop.
/ cooled of as ] began TO think. I
stopped rushing at him I'm blind bull
fashion. Griffin thought I was firing.
and he began coming 90 me instead.
For awhile ne peppered me as hard as
he could, trying 10 put me down. As
each. blow started / studied out the
way ne delivered a.. Now and then
tried one OF his blows ina return: but.
as rule he either blocked or ducked
Cleyerly or stepped aside little bit
and countered me on the chin. The
way he could land on me made me
feel foolish-it made me feel helpless.
And yet all the time / knew that in
the end Ia knock him out. felt sure
OF that
4 was learning now ina every round. |
In fact. ] think more knowledge OF the |
fighting game came 10 me that night
than in years boxing that followed.
In eight or ten rounds the negro be
gan 90 show signs OF growing tired /
He was wearing himself out trying To
beat me down. and his blows didn't i
hurt / could feel the difference now
There didn't seem 10 bee the same
weight and sting behind the punches |
when they landed ON me / began
walking into him slowly without at |
tempting 10 strike blow. just holding
my head forward. crouchlng a little. |
with my right hand up near my chin |
and the left stuck straight out in |
front. ! learned that trick in my
first fight, and afterward it won the |
championship OF the world for me
Tommy Ryan never showed me that
crouch" IL was my natural way OF |
fighting.
Now that he was firing the big ne |
gro bafiied me by sticking his left
hand into my face with light jabs |
holding me of. / used my right hand |
nearly all the time, only jabbing AT |
his head now and then with the left.
for as he battered me l had learned |
something and had planned a way 20 |
win. l wanted 10 settle him with one |
sure punch. I've always liked TO win |
my fights that way.
1t was hard 10 get the opening / I
waited for Griffin was still fast on
his feet. His cleverness puzzled me.
When 1 saw "A chance it had passed
before / could get into action.
In my corner after the thirteenth
round my second said. Jim. it's 1I:3O |
The lights 90 ont at II. 60 after him
now or you'll lose your chance and
he'll get the decision on points"
'Ill get him." / said
We came up for the fourteenth |
Griffin was weary. but unmarked.
was cut and bruised and battered. but
just as strong and fresh as at the