The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-03-05
RIIIX

me following little tribute to Billy
Delaney. the great ring trainer who
died recently. Is from the pen of Sam
Austin:
Two little has been said in praise
of Billy Delaney. the famous trainer
and developer of champion heavy
weight pugilists. who died recently at
his home in Oakland. Cal. Delaney
was ~undeniably a great nan in his
chosen line of work. His method OF
training and preparing a ma for a
fight were those which are in vogue
handler of fighters both before and
during a ring battle Delaney was
never obliged to acknowledge n SUI
perlor. James ]. Jeffries. the great
est heavyweight champion of his day.
owed his rise and renown to Delaney
and Tommy Ryan
These two men taught Jeffries
practically everything he knew about
the ring game and made it possible
he finally attained. Personally Delaney
never held Jeffries in high regard. but
realizing that he possessed a physique
that was unusual he worked with him
for years and eventually saw him be-
come the champion of the world.
Delaney in the final a Of his
life grew bitter against Jeffries. charg-
ing that he double-crossed his trainer
and adviser when Bill Squires came
blare of trumpcts. Squires demanded
IL match with Jeffries. and Delaney,
after seeing tho a%ntipodean in action,
told Jeffries that it was an easy money
proposition and to accept. Jeffries,
he said. told him to make the match;
but later the champion refused to live
up to the contracts made by Delaney
M lost money as a result.
When Jeffries was matched John
sons friends tried to bring about a
reconciliation between the trainer and
the champion: but Delaney wal unfor.
giving. and no financial Inducements
could bring him into Jcffries' camp.
He held the opfnion-which he never
publicly expressed however - that
Johnson would win from Jeffries. and
advised a. few close personal friends
to bet accordingly. Many close OBJ
servers have always believed that
Delaney's presence In .Johnson's cor
ner had a depressing effect on Jeffries
and was a big factor in the negro's
victory. 1t is certain that DELANEY
eve held Jeffries in high esteem
from h standpoint of courage and
knew every strong and weak point in
his ffense and defense.
Delaney was more Of an adviser
~ hAaS thd a tIdIucT. Inc Illness
Of his wife just before the big battle
worried him and he devoted much Of
his time to his invalid helpmate. He
was present at Seal Rock but little
while johnson trained there. and did
not accompany johnson to Reno. ar
irving but a few days before the con-
test. He was more interested in Al
kaufman's work against the negro in
the practice bouts than he wa in the
challenger's course.
when the day of the battle came.
however. Delaney was In full charge
of the negroes corner and cautioned
and advised johnson both during the
early sessions Of that memorable ring
II were in part due to Delaney's
constant advice to go slow. The writ.
er heard him repeatedly warn the
negro regarding what would happen
IL Jefsries landed one Of his powerful
swings. That johnson appreciated
Delaney's efforts in his behalf was
proved by. the fat fee hat he rendered
the famous handler after the battle"
JOHN HENRY WAGNERISMS.
Mile RA>n. q. ->g-- a. -p- "