The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-02-02
BOXING,
WRESTLING,
AOUATICS,
TENNIS, POLO
BOXING CHAMPS
BORN NOT MADE
Scramble for"White Hopes"Proves
Good Men Are Scarce

First-claes boxers. like men who
make their marks in all other profess
sions, are born. not made. Ever since
that memorable battle between Jim
Jenrics and Jack Johnson. on July {,
1910, the boxing promoters and man.
ayers have turned the entire universe
topsy-uryy i'm search Of Il boxer who
could down The big black, put up to
date have not even unearthed Il man
who is considered a logical contender
for the heavyweight title.
Gunboat Smith, the most likely of
the white hopes now in the limelight,
has Just one chance IN his favor TO
annex the title. ana that is if Johnson
has gon" back. This is very likely, as
he has lived a fast life since he has
been at the top of the ladder and they
1y-On' Of three aud one-half years
will surely tell in his next hard fight,
especially If it is a long distance con-
test
Prior to Johnson holding the title
about every wiscacrc would argue that
D" knew Of someone who knew Of
some longshorcman o. burly black
smith that could punch all the cham
pon rugilists into n pulp in a frac-
lion less than a jilfy. nut the research
dSSipatcd that argument
And So il has been from time inn
memorial in the boxing game. The
men who have made good in the ring
are those who have taken to the game
themselves and not those forced into
II on account of their bulk, as are
many Of our present white hopes.
Mans Natural Bent.
II is as natural for some men To ha
NoXers as II is for othors to be poets,
musicians and artists Circumstances
often develop the pugilistic nature i'm
lne successful lighting man. but no.
oody can become a topnotcher in the
PI]e ring unless he has the natural
''qurcmcnts i'm his makeup.
John /. Sullivan's parents admitted
mat nature made the big fellow
champion. Il was about the same with
'he parents of Jeffries. His father
VINO was travelling preacher up and
'o"n the western rivers. tried hard
" nave his son follow i'm the same
l''h' but again nature stepped in and
''elared Jim a gladiator. 1t is al
most always the case that parents of
IuslIsls are opposed to the fighting
game.
Nhen sullivan was young fellow
!" Boston, his father rut him To work
:" II factory to learn the trade of II
unKer John had refused To study
"'' wanted To be his own boss. He
"''eI"pcd fondness for baseball. and
~ eo'h dinner hour hc would Soin his
trends in game in nearby lot. The
'oSS "' the factory was a big. burly
'"oW who ruled the apprentices with
81" iron hand. When the whistle blew
=" J o'clock he would accept no ex-
.US's from the boys who were few
minutes late.
'h' afternoon sullivan was SO taken
:" win his ball playing that he did
near the factory whistle and was
'''ut ten minutes late when he came
s'''N TO the shop. With no word of
=, .''"''S the boss rushed ut John L. |
cyclone. clouted him i'm the face.
49," h''k"d him in the body. Like an
~ 'loted tiger. Sullivan turned. and
,.''''hs out his mighty right fist he
'''''o on the boss's paw. sending the
yard '''''
l.. '''''V'n lost his job but il was not
x ''''r that he came to he known
-. we strong boy" His rise from that
sar on is known to almost every