Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1913-01-01
JEFFRIES BACKS PALzER
Former Heavyweight Champion Picks
Palzer to Win.
TREMENDOUS HITTER AND
FASTER THAN EXPECTED
Sharkey's Old Trainer Also Backs De-
cOrah Boy to Beat Nc
Carly Today.

| SarAy lOuay.
After looking over Albert Palzer,
in training for his twenty round fight
with Luther McCarty, at Vernon,
CAL. today. (New Years afternoon)
James ]. Jeffries declared:
IF Palzer does not stop McCarty
in less than ten rounds will be sur
prised. O'Rourke has wonderful
fighter in this big Dutchman. He 10
faster than ! expected and tremen-
dous hitter"
VIM. McGrath, the veteran train
er. who helped to put Tom Sharkey
In the front rank Of heavyweights
many years ago, also waxed enthus-
iastic over Palzer, after he had seen
him work at Jack Doyle's quarters
near Los Angeles.
why, this fellow isn't man." ex-
claimed McGrath. "He's a monster.
He don't belong to this age. l believe
he could kill a man with one blow"
Palzer has made such a favorable
impression while training that Los
Angeles sporting men have installed
him a favorite over McCarty at 10
to 9. O'Rourke writes that the Iowa
farmer will be at his best for the
coming mill; that he has reduced to
21S pounds. and has been greatly i'm
proved by the California climate.
Palzer is confident, but neither he
nor his manager is undertaking Nc
Carly, who has developed into q
dangerous fighter. McCarty is train
ing at Venice. He weighs 225 pounds
and is faster than when he fought
Flynn. d.
He whipped Jim Flynn so easily
that he does not fear the result OF
his scrap with Palzef. McCarty fig
ures he can hit as hard as Bombar-
der Wells and probably with gresser
stamina. He points to the fact that
Wells would have knocked Palzer out
in New York il he had been able to
keep up the terrific pace.
Nevertheless, several experts who
have seen Palzer at work declare that
he is in poor condition. When the
[owan arrived in Los Angeles he was
suffering from severe cold that he
seems unable to throw of and in 9TH
er ways he seems unacclimated. These
pessimists declare he is being over
worked and that he will not be at
his best when he meets McCarty.
Palzer and his manager. Tom o.
Rourke, scott at these declarations
and assert that everything will be
Bob Armstrong, peer of sparring
partners, is the man under whom AL
Palzer learned boxing. Although 1t
is not generally known here, o.
Rouke has had Palzer working out in
private with Armstrong for nearly q
year. Men like Jeffries and Van
Court say that there is no man in the
world who can teach a young fellow
more boxing than Armstrong.
O'Rourke also is past master In
this department of the game. While
he, of course. does no active boxing
he has the technique" down
perfectly. He can discern the slight
est defect in boxers work instantly
and knows how to remedy it.
Under the tutelage of this pair Pal
ger has developed rapidly. He has
been changed from burly swinging
fighter into a fairly polished boxer.
His. straight hitting and a style re-
dolent of the old school, including
some of the moves used by Jim Cor
bett, was revelation to those who
had expected to see in him simply an
enlarged edition Of Jim Flynn. It re-
mains to be seen, however. whether
he will, II stung in the heat of bat
tie. toss aside his carefully acquired
boxing code and follow his natural
instinct to charge in with lowered
head and swinging fists.
Jeffries regards the fact that Pal
ger has been schooled by Armstrong
as point in his favor. Armstrong
was with Jeff throughout the latter's
long siege Of training for the Reno
fight. and his loyalty to Jefiries bor-
dered on hero worship. After the
fight Jeff handed Armstrong $1,700
which was lot more than his con-
tract called for.
To fashion Palzer into boxer wor-
thy to contend for the worlds chauas
pionship has not bean . soft job. \
required tue services Of skilled box
Ing mechanics. 1t is his natural iua-
|pulbe to tear In and crush his man ~
sheer weight and strength. and he
|bget many of his opbqnents An this
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