South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-12-18
BY ED. HUGHES,
The Famous Sports Oartoonist.


In almost every period of the
prize ring there have been freaks"
whose physical makeup or some
peculiar fighting characteristic or
personal quality has made them
popular with the devotees of the
squared circle. Sometimes the
freaks" have been champions but
more often they haven't been.
One of the greatest freaks Of the
ring was Young Critic. the marvel
lous Australian lightweight who
came to this country years ago.
Critic was reputed TO be the clever
est man that ever skinned on a
glove. He fought three draws, one
Of % rounds, with the great George
Dixon. then in his prime. Critic
was a mental dwarf but was pecul-
iarly gifted with a genius for the
ring. If ne could have been made
10 train and keep himself in condi-
ton Critic would have been a cham
pion Critic would rather give ex-
hibitions OF his skill in a bar-room
than win a championship in the
ring One OF his favorite demOnstra-
tions in the former was to place a
handkerchief on the floor. stand on
IL, and then bet anyone money they
couldn't place a blow on his face.
Critic wouldn't move off the hand
kerchief but avoided the blows by
merely twisting his head
Smith Fast.
Mysterious Billy Smith was a well
terweight who flourished about 20
years ago. Billy was as dangerous
as they came and was dubbed "Mys-
FERROUS" because no one ever knew
what he might not do to win a bat
tie. Billy was one of the few men
who ever tanned Joe Wolcott. the
Giant Killer. Smith whipped Wal
colt in 20 rounds in New York. Once
when the going was hard for the
Mysterious One. Billy in a clinch
actually bit a piece out of the top
Of Walcott's ebony head Joe went
to pieces from that moment on
Smith. who believed that desperate
cases required desperate remedies
won as he pleased.
Walcott, standing scarcely more
than five feet and holding the well
terweight championship. was a gen.
uine freak Powerfully built. ne &C
CURED the sObriquet of Giant Killer
by knocking out heavyweights like
Joe Choyinisli and George Gardiner.
Not many welters are knocking out
heavies today. The ring has never
seen the ike of Joe Grim. For a
time il was thought the Philadelphia
Italian possessed a Galvanized jaw
and body. Fitzsimmons knocked
him down Is times in six rounds but
couldn't put him out Finally Sailor
Burke. then an unknown found the
vulnerable spot and Joe was a
freak" no longer.
Good Lightwcights.
II we can believe tEe records
there were freaks IN the old days,
TOO. Back IN 1916 according 10 the
archives. there was a most remark
able lightweight u England named
Ned Hunt. Although weighing but
1875 this little fellow actually
whipped a heavyweight scaling 22S.
The after was Major Hawhesley and
he lasted but IL minutes With his
smaller opponent Some lightweight
we say
Jimmy Wilde is the present day
freak Although weighing see rcelv
more than q hundred the uid-et
Euclishman thinks nothing of scrap
pirg bamtans and even feather
enthusiastically winning. too. Jack
Britton. who won the welterweight
cham pionship az - and stin holds
Il. might be called "a freak So
tCr that matter t. Johnny Eihaue.
who has held the featherweieht -it-e
seven wears and has witnessed The
Christmas Kodaks and cameras al