El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-10-10
Nearly All Nations Welcome Boxing
-;li;- -:lI:- -'H;- -:I;- -;I;-
French Have Found 1t Fascinating


q san Francisco fighter. and Tommy
Devliu. the Philadelphia lightweight
Tommy Burns, the former heavy
weight champion Of the world. IS
French-Canadian. and for his weight
he was one Of the best boxers in the
business Johnny LaNack. a French
native Of Montreal was one Of the best
featherweights in the ring in the late
'90s. Other French-Canadians who
have made good in the ring include
Gilbert Gallant Kid Toakum and Pat
DrOuillard.
OF the French-Americans now before
the sporting public, Joe MandoL the
New Orleans baker boy" is the star.
Joe recently whipped the German
Robideau, former lightweight boss OF
Uncle Sans navy. ana now a PROBES
siOnal, is Of French descent. and Eddie
RevOlre and several others could be
added TO the list. The Frenchmen on
this side OF the Atlantic certainly have
no reason to be ashamed Of the ring
records Of their cOuurrymen-
While professional boxing is. com
paratively speaking, still in its IL
fancy in France, a number Of native
performers have attained a high degree
Of skill Carpenter, who defeated Bonn
bardler Wells and GunbOat Smith.
heads the list, but the French also have
good men IN Marcel MOreau. Charlie
LedouX, Henry PieL Louis de Ponthieu,
Paul Til. Jean Posy, George Papin, Al
bert Lurie, BOuzoune and others.
The first French boxer in history was
Monsieur Petit" French giant who be-
came interested in -'le boxe' while touring
England with circus. He WHIPPED a num-
Der OF Briushers. and in 1871 he was
matched with Jack slack, the champion.
by ms wrestling tactics the Freedman al-
most put Slack out early in the battle. but
when the Englishn1n landed one Of his Ia
interest in the sport Glove boxing was in
trOducec into France by Euglishmen about
a century ego, and an account OF a battle
IN 1918 describes the gladiatOrs as wish
their hands guarded By huge padded
In the late SOS several great prize fights
were pulled OF on French soil by English
and American bruisers. In 1857 Jake Pill
rain and Jem smith. the British champion.
-ouEA- d memoranda l06 round battle IA
France The following year John L. SUI
Ivan ana Charlie Mitchell went to Chan
tlllg, rance 70 DO battle for the worlds
heavyweight title, scrappIng over three
hours 20 a draw
These prize fights did not particularly rp-
peal TO the French temperament and IL
was not until they saw more clever and
aIoused 70 enthusiasm Skill. gencrllsuip
and fast foot work have always been .Fe
eharacteristics OF the French disciples OF
Before the "AngIais" style OF boxing at
tanned popularity In France. the French
as the hands In landing blows When Jim
Jetfries visited Paris in 1893. shortly after
becoming champion. he was matched with
Blah, the French champion. n the first
round the Frenchman leaped over the head
OF the crouching monsieur Jeff. AMI landed
a stnglng bl lw with a foot as he passed.
IeLI followed the whirlinE dervish lf a
boxer. and when he landed a punch on The
Jaw the agile lrcTckmar he'd a plenty.
II was about 10 years ago that French
enthusiasm FOR Gle boxe" became general.
ana the American and English fighters
FOUND Paris an inviting field. sam NcEey.
lhe CallIornla negro. was one of the uI-
oneeI MISSIONARIES and was long a IA
lpFlte- WINE Lewis was another CarIy
blEu ana Frenchmen belic--d thaC he was
lhe greatest boxer IN the world. Scores Of
olneT american boxers have since per-
formed IN france, among them Frank Lrue.
tommy Burns, Bert keyes. George Gunther.
Bllnh McClos6ey. Harry lewis, BILLY Eauc.
kid Mccoy, Dixie Kid. Frank Moran I 90
Houck FRANK Klaus. JEFF Smitl. JACK John
son, Johnny DAILY. Charlie Thomas sam
14ansIorls Joe jeanette. Bit Alariey. and
dozens or others The PARTISAN fans ased 10
ran Tor the cubs. but now tlcy are as Leen
JIdses OF boxing as can be- found any
LANGFOBD- WILLS FIGHT POSTPONED.
Los Angeles, Calf, oct 10--Ihe 20
round heavyweight fight here between sam
l-anEtord Of Boston and Harry Wills Of New
orleans, announced Friday. for October 80.
mas been postponed until November e. lang