Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-06-20
FIGHT COACHES ARE SCARCE
Men with Ability to Train Pugilists
Are Few and Far Between
These Days.
THUS BUT FEW GOOD BRUIsERs


NEW YORK. June 1e-How to train.
or rather. how to practice, is something
the modern boxer needs to learn There
are few good coaches today. Once the
trainers were as famous in their line as
the men they handled. Now there is not
one who is noted for his skill in develop
ing latent talent
There is no doubt that II is because
Of the lack of good coaching that there
are so few good hitters. Hitting is an
art that can be developed only by long
practice and the right kind of practice.
Huge muscles are not required. Control
of the right muscles Is the secret, but
il is a secret that Is seldom stumbled on
by accident In ninety-nine cases out of
a hundred the aspiring boxer does not
even realize that there is such a secret,
so his chances of acquiring the knaok
can easily be imagined. Even those who
have learned the art of hitting properly
are seldom competent to impart their
knowledge to others when they have a
desire to do so. And, as rule, they
arc not anxious to offer advice to a rival.
II takes more brain to be able to i'm
part knowledge than 1t does to acquire
II. That Is why so few retired fighters
make good coaches. For instance. Bob
Fitzsimmons probably knew more about
hitting than any fighter who ever lived,
but he has not been successful as a
coach, although he has often expressed
q desire to oversee the training OF some
ambitious heavyweight.
As an instructor, however. old F1tE has
been failure. His methods were alto
gether too strenuous for those to whom
no sought to impart his knowledge. Fits
idea OF coaching was to wallop his pro-
tege ON the Jaw with one of his choicest
hooks. When the latter woke up he
, naturally objected TO such a practical
demonstration, and although convinced
that Fitz knew his book. desired no moro
lessons from that quarter.
To be successful coach It is necessary
to understand temperament And that is
where Fitzsimmons and other former
fighters go wrong. Men like F1tzsim-
mons. who are without nerves. naturally
misunderstood those of different tenn
permanent They are prone to look upon
the high-strung fellow with contempt,
and no progress is made.
willard an Accident.
II there were a few men OF the calibeI
Of the late Billy Delaney in the boxing
game today, there would be many more
good fighters. There is plenty OF talent
but for the most part It Is going to waste
for want of development. Those who dc
make good do so more or less by acct
dent Jess Willard Is a case in point
Tho big Kansan Is entirely self-taught
or was until Just previous to the fight
that made him champion.
Willard really knew very little about
the finer points OF fighting, and prob
ably knows very little even yet. That
he has succeeded is because he has Sc
much natural ability that nothing could
hold him back. With proper coaching
Willard may become the greatest fighter
that ever lived. although he IL STARTING
rather late Tn life TO learn new tricks.
Joe Jeanette, the negro heavyweight
Is probably the best boxing coach in the
country. Jeanette knows the game as
well as any man in the ring today, and
what is even more important. he SCENE
to know how TO impart his knowledge
Jeanette never was a great hitter him
self. so he is not likely to develop any
wonderful hitters. but he knows the
practical side of fighting.
Makes Coed Ones.
All the men who have trained viii
Jeanette have shown great Improve.
ment. Young Ahearn in particular show
the benefit OF Jeannette's coaching. jim
Coffey also has advanced more rapid,
since he. engaged the HOboken negro a
trainer than ever before. Soldier Bart
field who made such remarkable goot
showing against Mike Gibbons. IL an
other Of Jeannette's pupils. Until he be
came member OF the same table a,
Jeanette Bartfieid was practically un
heard OF. although he had been boxinI
for several years. Bsrtfield may neve
become a great fighter because he Is no
a good hitter. but he has already proved
that he has benefited by Jeannette'l
coaching and has improved more dGrIn,
: the last few weeks than he otheFwis,
? would have done in the same number o
years.
/ -
I American Association.
a At IpdfanH ~ -