Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-08-04
BOXING IN GREAT FAVOR.
Most Popular Sport at Great Lakes
Naval Training Station.


any othe. sport. Each Thursday night
every embryo bluejacket who can pos
sibly dodge any interfering duty. hikes
shore to watch bouts that determine
company or camp championships in all
classes from batams to heavyweights.
Scores Of high class boxers have been
developed. Unlike the professional
game, aspirants are given tryouts on
merit alone. There are no fiat" purses
to allure them--they fight to defend
their individual honors or the honors OF
their camp or company. There is no
"stalling" or brotherly love tactics. Ev-
|ery round brIms with red blooded ac-
ton.
By elimina ton, the best boxers In
each class have been discovered. each
Of whom holds a championship belt
presented for his weight by the busi-
ness men Of Chicago. Newcomers and
other aspirants,< after proving their
ability in the ring. are given an oppor-
tunity to challenge the champion for
his title. Bouts of three two-minute
rounds each are held regularly. A big
natural amph;theater seating 5000, is
in a regulation ring, under the person
al direction of Gunner Jack Kennedy.
former boxing champion Of the Allan
tic fleet
Wilbur Kendall, who halls from Ko-
komo, Ind. is declared by experts to
be one of the classiest amateurs de-
veloped in years Kendall. lightweight.
was so far above the rank and file Of
boxers at the station that he tired of
successfully defending his title time
after time and finally retired" giving
the championship belt to Naman Favor.
a Galveston, Tex, boy, who had shown
the most class among the aspirants.
Joe Dowd, who received his first
training In amateur rings of Niagara
Falls. N. Y, and Detroit. is holding the
featherweight title against all Corners,
while Steve Gunshaw. Wiikesbarre Pa.
is the best Of the bantams
William Krippendorf, of Cincinnati.
tops the list Of heavyweights He is a
huge powerful youngster of 20 years
and promises to develop into Jess
Willard In size before he has attained
his full growth. Krippendorf has ap-
peared in the station ring six times
since he Joined the navy. and once
only was an opponent able to hold him
even. He scored four technical knock
outs and earned one decision
Krippendorf Is not a born fighter.
If he was Gunner Jack Kennedy, who
is in chadge of the glove men. wouldn't
have had to coax him into the arena,
It wasn't that Bill was afraid. He SIM
ply didn't know how easy 1t was for
him to box.
The Willard OF the station at pres
ent is laid up with a sprained ankle.
sustained when he attempted to chase
an opponent around the ring in a recent
bout. He expects to be back in the
game in a few weeks to match clouts
with all corners.
Other glittering luminaries in the
lightweight division at the naval sta
ton are Maurice Flynn and Eddie
Nearing of Chicao. Flynn. before he en-
listed. generally was considered COM
er in the lightweight ranks and Gun
ner Kennedy hopes to make him light
weight champion Of the navy Nearing
in his day had few equals in his d.
vision.
Favor. the Galveston lightweight
and Billy Walters, former 145-pound
professional have been engaged as as
sistants to Kennedy. who plans to turn
out bunch Of boxers guaranteed to
whip their weight in wildcats.
Everybody Is a boxing fan at the sta
ton. from the greenest recruit to Com
mandant Moffett himself.
Uncle Sans sailors at the United
SfafaS mn WI FRO IN inc cto ftop bora hovn
various ways Of keeping in physical
trim With approximately 1900 track
athletes among the $4,000 men on the
station. skipping rope has become a
popular method. Almost Any evening.
after drill. husky young bluejackets
may be seen In the company streets
skipping rope.
DR.. John 3. Kaufman, past assistant
surgeon, .. S. N. athletic officer. says
It makes them alert, gives them con-
troll Of their muscles and increases
their lung power.
The distances between buildings and
encampments on the military reserva-
tion-there are thousands Of acres
have popularized another form Of ex-
ercise-bicycle riding. A wheel rack
has been erected in front Of the ad-
ministration building and scores Of
officers and chief petty officers. some
Of the latter having stripes on their
sleeves showing upward Of a quarter Of
century Of service on the deep sea, ride
back and forth over the station, appaf-
emily getting as much fun out Of 1t as
the small boy with his first wheel.