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

N ENVER, Feb. 10.-"Boxers, like
ball players, are a supersti-
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 di-
rection of 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 boxing gloves, to the writer
in San Francisco one day. was the
most superstitious boxer of them all.
When he was in the ZANE, he wouldn't
think of entering the ring unless he
wore a certain color belt and the laces
of his shoes We're 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," he finally remarked, 'is
sore because ! didn't use his gloves
Then Root told why he didn't use
the Levinson boxing glove, as did
most of the champions of his day, It's
well as those of the present period.
r DIDN'T use Soils gloves because |
had my own luck set, he said.
THAT is the only explanation l have.
was afraid that if | undertook to
use any other gloves than those | al
ways fought with I'd get whipped
But he didn't tell it all" put in
I Cd IN 70 to no
every time he was to participate in an
important fight he would write aud
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 a cheap guy
Again did Jack Root look his guilt.
But ] guess ! 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 II over for inspection.
"There." he said. you will And
specifications for gloves"
A hurried glance through the pages
divulged such names as those of Tom
Sharlley, Kid Lavigne Jim Jeffries,
Luther McCarty, Battling Nelson,
Jimmy Britt, Peter Jackson. Joe Wal
colt, Stanley ketchel, Carl Morris,
George Dixon. Mike Gibbons, Ad VOL
CAST, Willie Richie and several dozen
others that go to make up ring his
tory.
T DON'T see the name OF Bob Fitz-
simmons" remarked one of those
who were feasting their eyes on the
list OF notables
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
business man"
The remark as TO Fitz being a bust
ness man naturally called for an ex-
PLANTATION. and il was not without
some hesitation that the boxing glove
man consented to give ii.
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-
nected and saw one of the bags hang
ing from a platform as a sample. He
gave the bag a punch and 1t came
back like flash. That interested
him. Bob was an expert bag puncher.
He spent some time In tapping the
bag and testing II out. Finally he
asked the price. and was informed
that the bags sold for $3.50 each.
Tell you what | will do said
Fitz. 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 get the bags.
He believed in getting paid for
what he used, and thus it was that in
his fights he usually wore the gloves