Evening journal., 1915-12-24
USE UNFAIR blows
TO secure KOS"
pivot Punch" Worst, Was
George lie Blanche'S
Special Wollop
BURGE FIGHTS
WITH THE RIFLE

or all the unfair blows used by mod
ern boxers. perhaps the worst was the
"pivot blow" which was developed
and used by George La Blanche, 'rhe
Marine" as he was popularity known,
because he began fighting while with
Uncle Sans marines. recently cele-
brated his siXtieth birthday anniver-
sary. ii he is still In the land OF the
living. He was active in the ring from
1882 TO 1898. when years and booze
gave him the count
A year or two ago it was reported
that La Blanche was a hopeless VIC
tim of liquor and was spending most
of his time at a State farm in Massa-
chusetts. He was a French-Canadian
n native of Quebec, and his real name
was Blais. II was about quarter OF
"a century ago that La Blanche won
the middleweight championship by
knocking out Jack Dempsey in the
thirty-second round at San Francisco
using the pivot blow" which has
since been barred.
MANY boxers besides the Marine
have used novel punches which II
not unfair. we're at least questionable
from the viewpoint of sound sports
manship. Abe Attell had a thumb
punch which almost blinded at least
one of his opponents Sullivan some
times used backhand kidney blow,
and Corbett occasionally used the
hack of his wrist. McFarlands hit
ting with the open gloves has been
criticised by many experts as UNFAIR
ana violation of the rules. Kid Nc
COWS corkscrew punch was a vicious
blow The list could be extended, for
nearly every boxer has tried to pun
some punch that, even If altogether
fair. is not entirely unobjectionable-
Private Richard Burge, Of the Flrst
Surrey rifles, passed the half century
mark on Sunday, as he was born De-
cember 10, 1865. but he is said TO De
as active and physically trim as III
the old days when he was the llsh.-
weight champion OF England Dlch
Burge was name well known 10 lhe
fight fans on both side of the Atlanuo
twenty years or so ago, chiehy pc
causc of his remarkable battle with
Kid Lavigne for the lightweight cham
pionship of the world.
Dick was several inches taller thar
the Saginaw Kid, and had consid
erable advantage i'm weight. but, mucl
10 his surprise and that Of the Eng
lish fans. he was knocked out in tn
seventeenth round. He gave a goo'
account of himself before he fell
however, and here were times whel
the Kid had reason TO fear that HI
had bitten off more than he could mas
ticate i'm tackling the Englishman.
Burge has been fight promoter
since he quit the ring in 1900. H'
has lived an active, athletic, temper
ate life and is In good trim to fgh
for his country. His enlistment as ;
volunteer a few months ago caused
great enthusiasm in British sporting
circles, and inspired dozens OF younger
boxers to follow his example. many o
them joining the First Surrey rifles.
Il have lost my right hand, but I'm
still in the ring" Is, in effect the mes
sage Jack Munroe. OF the Princess
Pats recently sent to his friends II
Canada. and the States. II is thirteeI
years since Jack broke into the pu
gilistc limelight by staying fou
rounds with Jim Jeffries at Butte. HI
aftervard knocked out Peter Maize
and other good men. but was put 4
sleep in a second bout with JEFF. Jacl
was born in Pennsylvania, but mad
a fortune in Canada mines, and wen
10 the front soon after the outbrea'
Df the war.