The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-06-25

CAN TAKE A PUNcH7
NCopyrtEht, 1919. by the Evening Mail
Syndicate,)
| notice the newspaper men are ask-
ing themselves in the papers whether /
can a X a punch, They point out that
battle since I began stopping the men
standing between me and a match for
the championship.
l think I can answer that question
entirely To their satisfaction, and then
when ! get through they can Judge for
themselves whether l viii he able to
Weather a blow from Wizards fist.
] have said that my hardest fight
was with Johnny %Sudenburg. and Il
undoubtedly was. but when | recall the
bout ! am going to tell about now II
seems TO me | was never nearer the
creased skids than | was that night,
] was just beginning to make my
presence noticeable IN the Pacific
coast when they matched me with Gun
boat Smith, Jack kearns was lfshdling
me then. and. believe me. Jack knows
his business when fighters are around
He had me in the very best shape or
the chances are | never would have
been ready today 10 meet Willard.
smith would have knocked me out that
night II 1t hadn't been for my superb
! condition.
The bout was just one Of these four
round affairs. but you know. and so
does everyone else. that a knockout can
come IN four rounds Just as well as In
10 or 20 If the blow happens TO land in
the right spot,
This vas my first big fight in San
Francisco, II as | believed | really
could do something in the ring / was
very eager to make good, SO was
kearns, and between us we let nothing
go undone to improve my chances.
| was nFpffN narNfnNu xrh.. ,Ha
climbed into the rinE-the first and
only time, ! believe, that | ever felt my
nerves at the moment before the bell.
The first round went off nicely. but
In the second | managed 10 slam over
a rght-hand punch hat caught Smith
hali flush on the point Of the chin, and
ne staggered. | rushed In to finish
him, my fists flying. Smith, shrewd
general of the ring, saw his opportuni-
", and as ] came charging he let fly
with that right hand OF his. | saw
the punch coming and tried to avoid
y put II was useless. The blow hit me
fun on the chin.
How ! got through that round I
dont remember, and my recollection Of
the succeeding rounds Is pretty hazy.
put when | got to my dressing room
they told me I'had won the decision.
mad been rather dubious about the re-
suit, for Smith had kent hammering
- =" a'h ~ a AlN Jaw hEdln.
ana J was pretty foggy at the end of
the fourth round.
think that answers fairly well
whether or not | can take a punch. |
don't know of any heavyweight who
punches harder than Smith did at the
tiihe' Few hearies were able TO take
ms powerful smashes when he was
good. Willard was one who succeeded,
ana ! think his performance entitled
MN TO the credit Of heing able to take
"A punch. INV
Some time after our San Francisco
meeting | again was matched with
smith for ten rounds in Buffalo, This
time Knocked out the Gunner in the
second round after having knocked him
round. "e i"s'
know OF very few men, by the wav
VINO would have stood up and stopped
me blows | threw into Smith that
night. He Is one of the earnest men I
ever met and one Of the finest chaps in
the ring game. ~ ~ III
have taken many blows In my life
out tne one that makes me feel that |
can Jake anything the average heavv.
weight, or ever Willard. has to offc,
Is mat sledge-hammer smash Gunboa :
Sullth laid against my chin in San
Francisco. As | said before the onIv
leason | didn't take the count thar
ana there that | was in excellent shane
ny man can take a punch like thar
without being in tip-top condition. and,
as l always am in the vehy hes, ~
shape, | have no fear Of my ahiiitv y,
way. may No"he my
NO Tears need be felt overy my ability
,o stand punishment, even II havo
peen successful in putting my opno.
hents out in quick time,