The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-03-22
Baker Says He Is Going to Do
His Best, but Refuses
to Boast.
CLARK ALSO DECLINES TO
SAY HE IS SURE WINNER
Both Contestants Are Skillful
and as Game as Any One
Can Be.

The Lehi Blacksmith VS.. the Boulder
Rah Rah boy,
Who will conquer in the round
boxing bout at Bingham tonight? VIII
II he Howard Baker. The gymnasium
graduate. or Joe Clark. whose muscles
were tempered at the blaclSsmith's forge
in Lehip
"Oh. Baker is a one TO ten shot" cried
one fan Yesterday. but when person
to wager that Baker was nothing of the
kind. the first speaker reneged.
CLARK will win sure is the word that
comes from Bingham.
IT just shows that a difference of opin-
ion is rife and that really nobody knows:
Who should know better than Howard
Baker?
Baker Talks of Bout.
Here is what he says:
Il don't say ! am going TO beat Clark.
I am going TO try 10 and shall do my
very best. but | have never yet entered
a ring with boast Of that kind on my
said | could whip anybody. you may be
sure II is untrue. Why, IL is too uncer-
tain. proposition. History of pugilism
shows that the most sklllful men have
been Knocked out by stopping a chance
blow. This usually occurred when they
were least expecting it.
Clark is tough boy. ! know that
and all l can say is that my friends can
rely on my doing my very best. Most
OF them know what that is about as
we'll as ! do"
Anyhow. If Baker does not know.
Clark ought to.
Joe Clarks View.
Listen TO Clark:
One can never tell. I may get put
out and then again may not. One
best and ] am better than l ever have
been before. Although l am not a glar-
Ing star In the armament OF pug!lsm,
have been in too many battles 10 know
that reputation never whipped game
man yet. Baker is n good man and per-
sonally he Is the finest kind of a fellow
but am not afraid OF him. The most
going to be whipped. I would not fight.
have no such idea"
So he does not know, either. The only
men who do know are persons who have
never seen either In action and persons
who are not willing to wager anything
except their regulations as prognostlca-
tors. II Is Mt once noticeable that neither
of the youths belong to the old class OF
ignorant pugilists.
A few facts. pertinent or otherwise.
about the two boxers may stimulate that
particular phase of clairvoyancy which Is
win the bout.
Baker Began Early.
Howard Baker has never been knocked
out He has been boxing ever since he
was little fellow just able to don the
mitts in the gymnasium, When at fifteen
he decided to give exhibitions and take
part In bouts he was managed by his
father, NJ. j. Baker, a Boulder mining
man.
year and half ago Baker decided
II was time for him to accept his grand
fathers offer TO get a business education.
He quit boxing and went east 10 school
Bakers battles have been in the west
almost exclusively. hence no one recog
nized in the rosy checked youth the
welterweight champion OF the Pacific
coast. a title which Baker has not de-
Tended recently, but 10 which he still
considers he has a sort OF claim. He
has not been to the Pacific coast lately.
but ne says he doubts II any one out there
Just now would make a match with him
at the weight
In the eastern school Baker. apparent.
ly novice. visited the gymnasium and
always got just little the better OF his
antagonist until the school bully tackled
him. This fellow was so III natured that
Baker punished him roundIy.
The bully's friends demanded revenge.
so they sent for a negro prizefightcr
Bakers friends warned him. but Baker
only laughed and thanked them for their
advice.
The battle with the negro lasted six
ing that the faculty heard about IL and
Baker frankly admitted that he had been
a professional. The professors apparent
~ regarded the experience beneficial
in preventing the hazing OF newcomers,
nothing being done about il.
Joe Clark has been a blacksmith up
70 a little less than two years ago. when
he began boxing. He is what is called
natural fighter He is extremely strong
aud has plenty of stamina. So far as
have that quality in superlative de-
gree.