The Connecticut labor press., 1921-01-01
A Modest Champion
is Joey" lynch
Drives a Truck for His Dad In
stead of Living a Life of
Luxury and Ease.

New York, Dec. 31.-Paddy Lynch
smokes pipe, wears overalls and
speaks with the lash of a whip in his
tongue.
When he says, Come here, YOU
joey Joey comes, even if Joey is the
bantamwelght champion of the world
Paddy, his Joey, three other males
upstairs with Celtic smiles and the 10
year-old mother of the family, live in
little Erin on the West Side just on
the edge of the ''roarin' 4Os'
When the 22-year-o1d Joey Lynch
came home the other night from Mad
ison Square Garden with a diamond
studded belt in his pocket that recog-
nlzed him as the best fighter in the
world at his pounds, the neighborhood
gathered around him enmasse
The old Irish women, who had cuffed
him with big toil-work hands when he
used his two freck1ed dukes" on their
offsprings in the parochial schoolyard,
cried and wiped away their tears on a
corner of their apron.
The grown-up Ryans, Caseys,
O'Briens and Maloneys who exulted 10
years ago about the fstic ability of their
gang leader paid vociferous tribute to
the boy who had reached the heights.
When the merriment was at its high
>ol, Will lllC ldSSlCS vi lllC ISlSIlDOI-
hood who in the old days had smiled
bashfu11y at the red-headed knight of
the avenue were appealing for lust a
smile of recognition when the young
sters of the block were fighting their
way through just to touch the hem of
his coat, a voice beloved from inside
the house:
Come in here, you Joey"
Joey went in.
Are you hurt, me lad. Let me look
you over"
Joey wasn't hurt.
Eat up now, Joey. I see as how
you need it."
The Lynches gathered around the
table. Silence was the most eloquent
tribute they could give to their hero.
There was a pause. Joey looked up
with large tears yelling in his eyes
at dark-bordered picture on the wall
of a smiling, maternal face, much like
his
Shed a been mighty happy tonight,
Joey" the weather-beaten Paddy said
She, the mother of the new champion,
died just few months ago, and the
family still is in mourning
Joe Lynch is the idol of the neigh
borhood, the friend of every sport
writer in New York, and boy that the
opponents of good, clean craftsmanship
are glad to hold up as a model.
He is the only champion who went to
war when the call came. Too light to
get in the marines he enlisted with the
18th Division, and did Is months with
pick and shovel on the roads just back
of the lines. He was too little, the re-
cruiting officers said, to handle SPRING
field.
1t was his experience in the army
that made him, he says. Before he put
on the khaki he had done little work
in the ring. But his family didn't
know it.
He learned more of the game in the
service, and finally was selected to rep
resent the division in the Kings box
ing tournament in London.
He drew Jimmy Wilde, the worlds
fyweight champion, as his opponent, |
and gave his first indication of future
greatness by losing a decision to the |
little Welshman by a shade. Billy |
Goche was one of the Americans at the |
ringside, who always declares that the |
worst he should have been given was a |
draw.
Since last fall Lynch has earned $34,- |
around $4,000 to 100000.
doesn't. When he's not training for a
fight he can be found behind the wheel |
Of one of his fathers moving vans.
dad has such a hard time getting
good help that I'm glad to do it. 1t
helps keep me in condition, Also" the
champion says.
Questioned as to what he does with
lis money, he said:
Two years ago father bought this
house we're living in. 1t has five apart
nents and it cost lot of money. Most
If my money went to pay off the mort
cages"
The new champion is going to take
months rest, and then he says he is
going back into the ring to defend his
title against all corners.
Il want to be fighting champion. [
want to give the other boys chance.
had hard time getting a fight for
he championship, and I don't want to
,e so selfish myself"