South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-09-20
BRITTON IS CONFER,
SAYS SPORT CRITIC
Believes That WeIterWeiuht is
One of FiStiC MarveIS
of the Age.
BY Ringsider.


portion OF the windy city and get
an idea OF what can come out OF the
west.
We have reference 20 Jack Brit
ton. welterweight boxer de luxe.
product which we allege and aver
has never been duplicated here or
elsewhere. we assert without blush
ing or expecting 10 have TO WEIGH
on our assertion that Jack is one of
the hstiC marvels OF the age.
We said this some time ago. and
now. looking AT him in the light OF
his recent stunts we have TO stand
back and say IL again.
Britton is 80 years old or will be
this October His right name is Will
liam J. Breslin and ne might have
sailed from Cork. for that's his
nationality. In connection with his
axe IL is discovered that Britton is a
splendid example of something we
always have Advocated late start
for the young boxer.
Jack didn't begin lighting serious
- until he was 20 years old, and
look how splendidly he has lasted.
his Is his 14th season in the game,
and ne seems 20 be getting better
all the time.
In other words, there was enough
Of him when he did start to keep
the start going and give it push
That he is still going up instead
Of coming down the boxer ladder
is suggested by the fact that at a
show in Philadelphia recently Jack
all but knocked out soldier Bsrtneid
just after the latter had held his
own against the terrible Harry
Greb. He clipped the leather-bound
soldier on the chin in the NTH round
and il was a close call for Bartheld
during the remainder Of the time.
The soldier, by the way, is a
mighty tough article, and has been
a big thorn I'm the side OF a good
many OF the middleweigh glove
wielders
Notice. also. in passing that II was
only short time back that Britton
boxed Benny Leonard twice. both
times making a low weight OF UNI
der 40 pounds for the lightweight
champion. That's bobbin around
some. isn't 1t. comrades2 And on
both occasions he gave the champ
mighty fine argument though
necessarily the weight told against
Jack. Never at any time however.
was there a chance of Benny pack
ing the Chicagoau away.
Jacks first work i'm the ring was
in 1905. and being in those days only
mediocre himself he met only medi-
Ocre men. But gradually he became
known and feared. In his early years
ne never was known as having a
Funch. in witness where OF i'll
may be pointed out that he scored
but nine knockOuts in his first I'VE
years in the rins. This is the reverse
OF what fighters generally do. Most
OF them develop a punch early and
lose IL later
BrittOn never has felt the sting Of
a cold knockout himself He has
been beaten several times. but al
Ways on decisions. Kid Farmer won
from him on a foul, and in 1910
Fay Bronson shaded him in 10.
rounds. Jerry Murphy also trimmed
him in 10 rounds and Willie Richie
scored verdict over him in four
rounds
II was in 1912 that Jack got real
~ great. In that year he knocked
out both Of the Boston terrors. Ed
lie Murphy and Joe Eagen. and like
wise disposed Of Milburn Saylor. the
rounds being II, four and seven,
respectively
In 1913 ne was great knocking
out Joe Thomas i'm 10. and making
Charley White halt I'm is in a des-
perate batSe in New Orleans. He
was then hhting the best of them.
including Mcfarland. Glover. Bart
held and the rest, big and little
In 1916 he trimmed Mike O'Dowd.
low claimant OF the middleweisht
championship that was a good year
for jack. as he beat Ted Lewis in
three battles. once i'm 20 i'm New
orleans and twice I'M 20-round bouts
IN Boston. He also scored again over
Charley White. this time i'm L. All
81 these we're decision fights.
Rritton lost the weIterweight
title 20 Ted Lewis in Dayton. O.. i'm
June. 1917. after 90 great rounds.
with Lou Bauman or Cincinnati ref
cree. IL was a bad day for Jack. but
IN view Of the wonders ne has ac-
comphshed during the past "a wears
there can he no such thing ass
black mark AGAINST him.
For as one looks over his record
he sees that he has consistently inn
proved his game building up rather
than slipping hack He Is respected
hy the boys who have 10 face him
they have learned that he has
punch that is capable OF SealinE their
memory for a short. brief space
while the count is given and a di-
rectfon 20 that punch which gives it
TALKING ability. and there is none
who laughs al Jack Britton. former
lv Of nowhere I'm particularly iu
boxingdom but now a seriously COM
sidered welterweicht rghter