The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-06
Hebrews Have Been Leaders in Ring For
 Over a Century

It has been said that the Hebrews are poor fighters, and lacking in garneness, but those who entertain such a theory are quite evidently un- acquainted with pugiIistic history. For more than a century the Jews have been represented in the ring by stalv7art, clever and game gladiators. The first prominent Jewish p1Igi1ist, Daniel Mendoza, the Star of the East,'s was horn in London 151 years ago today, July 5, 1884, and, begin- ming his boxing career at an early age, continued to fight until he was well past the ha1f-century mark. A1- though he was onlyAs five feet and seven inches in height, and weighed only about 160 pounds at his fighting best, he whipped the best big men of Great Britain and for time reigned as champion.
 Another famous Hebrew bruiser of. Mendozass day was the celebrated Isaac Bitton, a. giant, who. weighed nearly 24O pounds. Tn the early part of the last century Old Dutch Sam upheld the pugtfistic laurels of the sons of Israel, and was recognized as one of the best men of his day. In the second quarter of the nineteenth century. the Jews had another great scrapper in Young Dutch Sam, who was one of the c1eyerest boxers ever seen in the ring Up to that time. Ably BeIasco was another great Jew of that period. and lazy Lazarus also shone in the best ring circles.
 Among the modern fistic knights there have been scores of lighting Hebrews Joe Choynski, the son of a rabbi, was a great fighter in his day. and. if he had been a little bigger and heavier, might have won stellar hon. OTIS. He fought draws with Bob Fitz- simmons and Jim Jeffries, and also got draws with Tom Sharkey. and Kid Mccoy. although later defeated by them.
 Two famous fighting clans Of the Hebrew persuasion are the WaI1achs and the Anchowitz family Leach Cross being the most distinguished of latter. In each of these families there have been three brothers who have made a good showing in the ring. Leach Cross has been fighting con stantIy for nearly a decade, and on several occasions has been near the top of the lightweight ladder. Not a clever fighter, he still uses his brainss and his awkward defence has carried him through many hard-fought con tests. As for Charlie White, who is an English Jew by birth. there are
 many who believe that in a long bout with Freddie Welsh he would almost certainly cop the lightweight title.
 The Atten brothers have also made a great showing in the box-fightins 1 business and Abe was long the feath-
 erweight champion of the world. Bat
 ting Levinsky has few if any peers lin the lightweight division Harry
 Lewis. when in his prime, was among 1 the stars of the we1terweightE class
 Matt Wells, the former 1ghtw eight
 champion of England, is another l Hebrew who can give a good account of himself with the mittens
 Kid Herman, the Canadian, whip
 ped many of the best men of the
 featherweight and lightweight divi.
 sions, but was defeated by Joe Cans Phil Brock, Danny Goodman, Young
 Lusttg, Young Joseph, Lew Goldie Sid Smith, Young Brown, Willie
 Beecher, Harry Stone, and dozens No1 other boys have helped to dissipate 1 the notion that the Jews are Iackins
 in fighting blood.