Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1912-03-01
JOHNNY KILBANE IS
AS IRISH AS ANY
SON OF ERIN
Cleveland Boy Who Now
Holds Title in Feather
weight Class ~ Years Old
and Has Great Record.

Cleveland, March i.--Johnny Kill
bane. "as Irish as Paddy's pig"--a
22-year-old boy with sparkling blue
eyes, ready wit. whose every action
Is peppcry, efforvesccnt. indicative ~
lightning brain and panther BODY
IN the successor OF Abe Attell us the
foathorwclEht champion 81 America.
A boy better equipped for this cs-
Unable honor would be hard to lind.
With him al leader the scientific
standard of proficiency introduced by
Dixon ana furthorod by Attell will
not suffer Rather Il VIII be Inn
proved upon 10 the betterment OF the
boxing game.
Now that johnny Kllbane OF Cleve-
land. after working his way 20 the
goal of all pugilistic persons. has
gained II By heating the wonderful
Hebrew champion. you want TO know
something about this new jewel OF
the gloves. He will interest you,
gentle reader II ~ not necessary
that you be an enthusiast on boxing,
The boy has a personality. and as
such he will afford a pleasant char
actcr study.
Kiibane was born In Cleveland IN
mother was Irish. and all his rela-
tives were descendants of the tribal
chieftalns OF the Emerald Isle who
ruled before the advent Of Cromwell.
And Johnny himself Is Irish--you
would never have 20 look twice 10
acqunint yourself with the fact. He
has no brogue but you can tell his
ancestors had, There is something
about him--perhaps it's his flashing
eyes and a general air OF activity
which ne can't cOntrol--that Hug-
gests shamrocks In full bloom, the
boys, the turf, the clay pipes and the
black tea. He 10 typical Irish
youth OF today. bu, stil he would
have lifted snugly into the customs
OF generations agose.
When he was young--that Is. 13I
or i4--ho was tough. wild as an Irish
Kid who is forced 10 shoulder tho
burdens OF the world thus early M
life generally IT, Johnny has a FAITH
or who had the misfortune to go
blind. and the present champion WAS
hustled through the primary grades
so he could be put to work and sup-
port the family. His lack Of educa-
ton doubtless lost to the country "a
brilliant man. For with proper
schooling he would have risen 70
heights beyond those offered hy fist
lama TO become a champion fighter
a. n essential that man have at
tributes OF a higher quality than q
hundred other mon. t'VoluNon a.
applied 20 boxing the same as 20
medicine or law. only the fittest SUR
vivo and hold the ramparts.
lie WAS switch tonder on the n.
r.. - and .. railroad when Jimmy
Dunn. the Newcastle lightweight,
came 10 Cleveland five years ago He
weighed 90 pounds stripped. which
was mostly skin and bones But he
was spirited kid, chockful OF ami
mails spirits, and II didn't take moro
thsn two words 90 get him fightine.
He liked 10 hanR around tho Triangle
OF an evening ana listen to the fight
talk. and he then had visions 81 him
self IN the ring fighting. with the
cries of the crowd Ia his ears In cheers
for him.
quitting tho switch tondlng job
after putting IN year at the work,
ne had chance 10 go out 20 Crystal
Beach and see Jimmy Dunn train for
fight. Dunn was real live fighter
a. that time, and Johnny. OF course.
idolizcd him. Dunn ana he became
great friends and Dunn gave him a
Tow lessons In boxing. That settled
hiss destiny. Tie decided then and
there be wanted 90 be acrapper.
and he boseechrd Dunn 10 take him
and become his manager.
Tie fought his first battle Deeem-
Der 2. 1907, In Cleveland. II was
throe-round affair, and ne won. Ho
kept on, Matches came regularly for
him Tor six months. and he was victor
in most Of them. Then hard times
came. and neither he nor Dunn could
get q fight They had n tough strug-
gle 20 obtain three squares day, An
tho time Johnny was studying boxing,
often on an empty stomach re was
an apt pupil and quick 90 learn lt
was not unusual 20 see him going
down Detroit street punching az
imaginary figures,
Ninctecn-nine WAS his first real
year Ut growth, Tic met Jack White.
Johnny Whitaker Biz Mackey, Hap
ny Davis. He achieved a reputation