The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-04-07

, sport writers recalled story that backs up the assertion that many men are awed by the reputation of others.s It's a story that concerns Abe Attell and bootblack in Saratoga, N. r.
 Some years ago Atteil dropped into the shoe shining parlor and, in some way or other, became involved in argument and only a few pounds heavier than the one-time king of the featherweight world The result was challenge from the boot ! black to Attell to ''come out and fight Abe agreed, and the two men, fol- lowed by a crowd adjourned to vacant lot They stripped off their coats and squared off, while the spectators, whp know Attell figured that in trce he would wipe up the landscape with the little bootblack.
 And Abe probably figured the same way. For he numbered around at the out set of the proceedings, faking the per- formance- of an amateur. The bootblack swung-and missed by two feet. He rushed Attell and swung again. Abe at tempted to duck-but too late. The pow erful smash went afoul his nose-and oh. what wreck was Attell. The punch flattened Attell's nose, swelled up the flesh under both eyes, and , blood streamed down his face. He was, according to the spectators, so hurt and at the same time surprised, that he was in bewildered condition. Had the boot black followed up his advantage the chances are that he might have dropped abe and won the fight.
 But just about then some one in the crowd yelled something about look at that bootblack beating up Abe Attell. | Int bootblack heard-and turned pale l Instead of the confidence that had filled 1 him from the start of the fight, he felt I fear. He wasn't afraid of the man be- 1 fore him-but he had become afraid be- cause he knew that Attell had been a | champion.
 1 And the kid didn't think that he, a lowly bootblack, and a novice as bat 1 tier, would have a chance with Abe. So, i with the fight seemingly won, he whirled around and sprinted away. And he never showed up at the bootblack shop again tuntil he was assured that Attell had left 1 town.
 It's such feeling that has kept many ] men from getting to the top of the pugf- listic ladder. They have gone along and ] whipped lot of mediocre men and war 1 riors as good as themselves. At last came the match for the championship ] Perhaps if they had fought with the same spirit they showed in other fights | they would have triumphed. But they ] were awed by the. champion-and were beaten before the fight began.
 The thing that has made Jack Dempsey champion is his absolute lack of fear of any living man. Many fighters going against giants, would have attempted, for time at least. to play it safe . They would have fought defensively. But Dempsey. showing utter contempt for ths prestige, the prowess and the punching power of the other, just sailed in'' and knocked them out even before they had a chance to .'set' themselves.
 Dempsey's fight against Willard was the best indication of his utter fearless ness. He found himself pitted against the most powerful man in ring histotry; the hugest and bullxiest champion of all time; man who had killing power in his punches and who never had been knocked off his feet. But Dempsey wasn't awed . he wasn't afraid.
 \ The Utah Mauler" stepped into Will lard braved the terrible fists of the giant, and hit him. Dempsey had the proper confidence. He figured Willard couldn t hurt hihl-and that he could drop Will lard, He was right in both cases. And so he became champion of the world. Had he held hack it might have been a differ ent story.
 II Confidence in yourself-in your super iority over your foeman-that the vital thing.