South Bend news-times., 1915-08-16
MANAGERS HAVE
BEEN KNOWN To
TALK TOO MUCH
James C. Moffat, an 0Id-Timer,
Pulls Surprise on Himself
When He Sent George
Ryan to Sleep.
By Ed. W. smith.

There are times IN the boxing game
when a manager can be too all-hred
smart. There are times when they
overreach themselves and scramble
the financial eggs beyond all hope.
DO YOU remember James G. Monat
in the ring? OF course YOU don't, but
III you date back IL little way you VIII
smile with satisfaction when you read
the name of Jack MOffat, the Ola
north side middleweight who was one
Of the hardest and by long odds the
most satisfactory scrapper we had
around Chicago in the old days.
Jack was named James G.. long be-
fore he had any voice in the mat
ter at all and because he found that
his folks objected some 10 his boxing
he decided the first time he was in
trOduced in the ring that ne W0uld
call himself Jack Maths or something
of the sort. But the announcement
bungled and ne became Jack MoHat
IL wasn't long before JACK became
uuite "a fellow around Chicago, buJ
this little story has 10 do with the
davs when he wasn't so much, as
lack himself freely admits.
George RYAN. the Milwaukee mid
die weight. was TO have boxed some
bodv in the beer city-they cali IL
cream city. for much the same reason
e
fen down at the last moment. The
premoter wired TO Chicago for sub
stitute and Al Shrosbee. then one OF
the best boxers we had around mere
got hold OF it.
Sought "a Substitute.
He was in no shape 10 take il him
self but ne sought Moffat.
~Heres a purse Of $3.50 for YOU,
Al sid. .I'iI he your manager and
crraHf
What do YOU say
but / can't beat Ryan" Moffat
protested modestly. for at that time
ne didn't overestimate himself or have
anything approaching a swollen era
MUM.
To the dogs with that; it's the coin
We want" answered Shrosbee. who
proceeded 20 wire for the match. lie
got il and with Moffat and few
friends they boarded train.
RYAN kicked about a split Of the
coin IL must be q winners and
losers end, he said, $4,000 and $50.
Nothing doing with Shrosbree. lie
insisted the fight be "a draw If both
men were there and also a draw II
the police interfered. You see. in
those days the referees gave regular
decisions in Milwaukee.
RYAN and the promoter finally
agreed TO this on Moffats plea that he
wasn't in shape and he had taken
the fight on twenty-fOur hours no
tice Well. they went at 1t and sure
enough. Moffat who hadn't done a
minutes training for the match. was
completely spent at the end of the
first round Shrosbree, who was sec
onding him. tried 10 keep him going.
Nonat. who was the gamest of the
game trieG his best but at the end
Of the second round, Jack was so
tired he couldn't hold his hands mp.
I'm done he said as he sat in
his corner.
Go in and throw him over the
ropes and maybe the police viii stop
it," advised ShroSbree who had Wis
ions OF a split of that $3.50 going
Elimmering.
Monat Gets an Idea.
The third TO and started. and RYAN,
seeing he had Monat 10 the bad.
started after him wildly. NOffat
staggered hithCr and yon. trying TO
dodge the awful belts RYAN was aim
ing at him and doing his best To stay.
Suddenly it occurred to MOffat TO do
something himself and getting a fine
opening on the inrushing Ryan. he
shot out his right plumb on Ryan's
jaw
With n moan George fell at full
length ON his back and was counted
out without making as much as a
tremor.
The tired Monat. who wanted 10 lie
down beside Ryan and have a snooze,
stared in amazement at his work.
Then he turned 20 his corner and
when he saw Shrosbree the money
end Of 10 came back 10 him.
you're fine manager he
laughed.
Eyes. and you're a fine fighter" re-
torted Shroshrcc. you just double
crossed Yourself ont of $75. that's all -
But Jack didn't care as IL gave him
plenty OF reputation and got him
some pretty good battles i'm Chicago.
Jack now is n detective sergeant at
the sheffield av. station and the de-
Cidedly happy father of q family OF
nine children And Jack doesn't look
n bit different with the exception of
2 little added poundoEe. than he did
The day he soaked George Ryan that
awful one ON the chin.