Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-04-19
BY JAMES j. conpErr.

intensive training WAS unnecessary
for my fight With Jake Kilrain, on
youthful, full OF energy and had kept
in fighting condition from day 10 day
by workouts in gymnasiums Outside
OF little road work | did nothing
out of the ordinary TO put myself into
shape for the battle that was 10 make
knew That when left for New
Orleans a week before the fight that
upon the outcome OF that six roundcr
with Jake kilrain. Victory would give
Inc national prominiGnGs' GSThapSS world.
rated just a little behind sullivan. De-
feat by, kiirain, felt would undo an.
on eI5At the i Tsci fS'G COAST, - 49, ~
Bud Reno had written me a little
note after tho match was made telling
tion if ! let him know when ] was TO
arrive. wired As ! boarded the train;
ArriEns I II tho St Louis s1nji9q
for n little while and happened to
notice n follow who was Watching ar
rivals in AN cXpcctant sort of way. Al
last be walked over toward me and
said:
Not Impressed With Corbct.
care YOU Jim Corbctt?"
rb repo o m, the Gu "ff Rsno lie shook
hands with me and then gave me the
up and down. lie hadn't associated
~
ingS. ! imacin. ] looked more like an
actor than a fighter. Reno called to
memory, The p. bounds Of fiehtingE
my slight frame and Loo pounds with
1t, and tho expression on his face told
me palmer than could words that he
had decided that kirain would kill
me"
But Reno was rrincelv in his treat
ment toward II @. He put me up at his
home and entertained me while | was
waiting for the battle gong. Several
nights before the contest Reno ar
ranged for q meeting between i<iirain
and myself. 1t was my first sight OF
Big lakeland what powerful
looking fellow he was. Fig Of should
cwy in arms and huge of iiSt-that WAS
kilrain, the ideal lighting machine of
that era. But | sized him up and de-
cided Speed is the thing that Will
whip him"
Writers Predict Defeat.
New Orleans sport writers got in
touch with me. looked me over care
for kilrain. and that the battle would
be nothing more nor less than "a
I'll 'hs thi9 bsIcf l waS
can be shown by the following illus
tration:
on the night Of the Ggh, several pre-
liminaries were put on Unknown by
any of the crowd, took a seat in the
audience dressed. Of course. in street
front Of me turned 10 his ncighbor
and said:
Who do YOU think will win the
Kilrair-Corbett fight"
The other answered.:
Why, tho chances are only ono in
100 that Corbctt viii show up. Hes
Just a kid without any real ring cX-
periencc. He made the match with
kiirain before he knew what Jake
looked like. lie got a look at him the
other night. and I'll bet il scared him
stir.
outuc:Ehed Fifty Pounds.
"Corbett is nothing bur biz: mid
dlewe!ght. and lNiirain outwcighs him
hity pounds. The Kid Will tax" a
run-out powder. but don't blame him.
u mad 20 tackle a fellow ike Kill
ram. | guess ia 40 tho same thing
Ctncr folks in N. vicinity too: IN
h sa asi9ss!on N 5 f 5@ a. wrs wab m?
pr; IA appestan6e for.';h bout. Hnt
,noks %HP hruret along those lines
were "holl% .ronE. Not only was
EclfE 70 snow W. for the contest win
t.i.'z.n. but 7 "as wildly anxious for
l.s rattle - begin. The nearer came
y" ,L.f." ne greater grew nv conf
csnnf n"raGEs felt thai nv you,h.
-" .---r' y t'. ~ II my legs and m. hoy
.D@ ac.iliE more than counterb.i
Nh-"i :! rains advantage in weigh,
go = ;.f@ experience
..s.:' - King Feature. Syndica,c