Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-10
BY Otto FIoto.

IN ENVER, Feb. 10.-"Boxers, like
ball players are a supersG-
tious lot The speaker. a me-
dunn sized man of middle age and
more or less nude head, directed an
accusing twinkle of the eye in the d-
rection of a broad shouldered individ
ual
The shot went home
That's right, Sol" remarked the
broad -shouldered one. rub it in"
The bald headed man burst into
laughter. in which the other joined.
This fellow" said Sol LevinsoA.
maker OF boXin" gloves, to the writer
in San Francisco one day, was The
most superstitious boxer of them all.
When he was in the ~ame he wouldn't
think of entering the ring unless h
wore a certain color belt and the laces
of his shoes were tied in one particu-
lar way"
Jack Root, he of the broad Shout
ders, and one-time noted middle
weight. acknowledged the truth of the
accusation by remaining silent
'Levinson," Re finally remarked, lis
sore because / didn't use his gloves
Then Root told why he didn't use
the LeVinSOn boxing glove, a 5 did
most of the champions of his day, Us
we'll as those of tle present period.
IT DIDN'T use Soils gloves because l
had my own luck set he said.
THAT is the only explanation | have,
| was afraid that if l undertook to
use any other gloves than those | al
ways fought with I'd get whipped"
But he didn'' tell it ALL" put in
LeVinson, II neglected to state that
every time he was to participate in an
important fight he would write and
tell me that he wanted to use his own
lucky gloves and then ask me not to
get sore. He would even offer to send
me the price Of a new pair of gloves
just to show lie was not cheap guy
Again did Jack Root look his guilt.
But | guess l wasn't alone he
! parried. There were others"
Sure" agreed Levinson. IF had
| the time I'd tell you about them. Box
ers are just as whimsical about their
gloves as ball players are as to their
! bats.
Levinson drew a book from his desk
and handed il over for inspection.
There" he said. you will find
specifications for gloves"
A hurried glance through the pages
divulged such names as those of Tom
| Sharkey, Kid Lavigne, Jim Jeffries,
/ Luther NCCarty, Battling Nelson,
| Jimmy Britt, Peter Jackson Joe Wal
! colt Stanley Ketchel, Carl Norris,
| George Dixon, Mike Gibbons, Ad VOL
CAST. Willie Richie and several dozen
| others that go to make up ring his
| tory.
| | DON'T see the name o. Bob Fitz-
simmons" remarked one of those
who were feasting their eyes on the
| list of notables.
I No" remarked Levinson. Bob
wasn't particular about the gloves he
used He didn't have to be TO knock
| his men out. And, besides, Fitz was
| a business man"
The remark as to Fftz being a bust
ness man naturally called for an ex-
PLANTATION. and ii was not without
some hesitation that the boxing glove
man consented to give It,
! When Fitzsimmons was champion"
| he finally said. Il manufactured what
| was considered a very fast punching
/ bag. one day Fitz walked into the
/ business house with which | was con-
uected and saw one of the bags hang
! ing from n platform as a sample, He
/ gave the bag a punch and it came
/ back like "A flash. That interested
/ him. Bob was an expert bag puncher
He spent some time in tapping the
/ bag and testing Il out Finally he
asked the price, and was informed
that the bags sold for $3.50 each
Tell You what | will do, said
] Fiez, give me two of the bags and
will advertise them for YOU"
"Fitzsimmons thus showed himself
to be . business man" declared Levin
son, but he didn't%et the bags.
He believed i'm getting paid for
( what he used and thus it Was chat in
! his tights he usually wore the gloves