Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-10
By Otto ElOto.
+s-+

nENVER' Feb. 1O,-"Boxers, like
ball players, are a superst.-
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 a broad shouldered individ1
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 Levinson,
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 Tame, he wouldn't
think of entering the ring unless hs
wore 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, lis
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. us
well as those Of the present period.
IT DIDN'T use Soils gloves because |
had my own luck set" he said.
That is the only explanation | have.
| was afraid that if | undertook to
use any other gloves than those l al
| ways fought with I'd get whipped"
But he didn't tell it all" put in
Levinson. "He 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 a cheap guy"
Again did Jack Root look his guilt.
But | guess I wasn't alone" hs
! parted, There were others"
sure" agreed Levinson. III I had
the time, I'd tell you about them. Box
ers are Just as whimsical about their
gloves as bali players are as TO their
bats.
Levinson drew book from his desk
and handed ii over for inspection
There" he said you will find
specifcat lions for gloves"
A hurried glance through the pages
divulged such names as those of Tom
Sharkey, 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
I DON'T see the name OF Bob Fitz-
L 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 10 be to knock
his men out. And. besides, F'itz was
a business man"
The remark as to Fits 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 Fttzsimmons was champion"
he finally said, II manufactured what
was considered very fast punching
bag. one day kftz 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 II came
back like a fash. That interested
him Bob was an expert bag puncher.
lie 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 | viii do said
! titz, give me two OF the bags and
will advertise them for you"
"F1tzsimmons thus showed himself
to be a 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