The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-11-07
BARRY PRAISES
MODERN BOXERS
Says They're Greatest Fight
ers in History.
By 40 w, SMITH

lhlCAGO. Oct, 1.-Score one for the
modern boxer, Make it a big one,
Jimmy Barry, former bantamweight
champion OF the world and one OF the
greatest lighting men among the mid
gets that the world ever saw. believes
that the modern boxing star has il on
the old-timer OF his day, at least. Fur
lher' jimmy is ablaze with the enthusi-
asm about the boxing man Of TODAY
n says that the scribes who are
aLSIulg that the fighter Of today is
uoWhere e as good as the ones of
a decade back don't know what they
are talking about.
There is some weight to Jimmy's
words, since he retired from the game
practically unbeaten after whipping
ererSthlhg n his class as well as ey-
eiytnlng within ten pounds of his heft
Further, Jim, in his day, was closely
allied with some of the greatest fight.
ing men Of that time, and knew them
wen. Hence his opinion is well worth
considering. Barry told M all about
amp Gordon, Georgia, where he had
neeh with the army boxing instructors
lor a couple of weeks.
what | saw at Camp Gordon was
me biggest sort of a revelation to me-
the eX-champ said. I've got to admit
II now, though l never did before.
Ihey We got It on us, these boys who
DO the boxing today.
They're so good that the old timers
HRe myself must admit that we never
at any time approached them in form
or style or anything else excepting per-
maps the hitting power OF course, that
VIII ever remain the same, for a punch
rs a punch the world over, today or 50
years hence.
II shadow-boxed with Benny Leonard
Gown there, and what a wonder he is,
TO be sure! He had a broken hand, re-
fnNE=n6 in tLa &c., $500 - 3 49,.
cent fight with Ted Lewis. and couldn't
put the gloves on. But he showed me
enough 10 make me think, and think
deeply. lie boxes exactly in the style
we all used to use 20 years ago. He
icy takes a punch in order to land
one. He gets away from all of them
il he can, relying on his own speed
and skill to get home his own blows.
II he has the science of punching
down better than any of the old-timers
| can remember-straight and to the
point, never wasting any in wild
swings.
ct is of such past masters of boxing
as Johnny kilbane, Mike Gibbons and
Packey Mcfarland ! would speak par
ticularly. Say, my boy, they've got a
lot of stuff that | never heard of when
| was fighting. Their stuff never was
in my book. 1t is all their own.
Here's the angle: We used to go
- NA'NJ 80 cSANAN'f - 49,
leg and arm advanced, always hitting
out straight and true as possible. Now
these fellows not only do that, bu sud
denly they start hitting out from angles
that We would have considered impos-
sible. Gibbons can hit you no matter
what position his feet or hands are,
So can kilbane and so can Packey.
II was simply amazed when l saw
them going and couldn't believe it, Mike
is a real master, but Packey is differ
ent. He has a style all his own, like
nobody's ! ever saw. and it is effective.
] saw him box twice, once with Willie
Richie and ono with Harry Brewer,
of Kansas City. 1t vas the biggest treat
| have had in years. Stuff? Why it's un-
believable. You've seen fellows with
stuff, haven't you, who couldn't use it?
Well. these birds use it, believe me.
lack Twin Sullivan was there and
dozens Of other old-timers, Jack is 60
ing great despite his years. He Is a
wonderful fellow to have around be-
cause he is such d great entertainer.
The tests are tremendous and 1t takes
Il strong man to get by. ! failed, but
blame that on my poor health. [ simply
was not big or strong enough