The Washington times., 1921-06-25

Inc uetic PUBIC - constantly look
ing about hoping for man who can
istic OF what I might call the inmates
OF Fistiana to rejoice momentarily in
the success of tighter. and to finu
equal JOY In has downfall.
Why?
give It up. Perhaps it Is human
nature.
Among Dempsey's early fights were
a couple with Dan "Porgy" Flynn. the
old Boston battler. and :. Dempsey
Knocked him out in the proverbial
jig time. Flynn was often cited as
one of Jacks "set ups" when Jack
was driving on to the title.
JUST TO SHOW YOU.
Not long ago. Tom Gibbons, brother
of the redoubtable Mike. came down
from st. Paul and stopped one Paul
Sampson before a New York club.
Some of the critics, and many of the
fans raved about Tom the next day.
They said he was one OF the most
impressive looking fighters that had
bobbed up in q long time. despite
Toms thirty-two years. and his no in
considerable term in fistic service.
Tom stopped another chap, and the
raving increased. They said he would
soon be f1ghting Dempsey for the
title. Then Thomas went over to
Jersey and met Dan "Porky" Flynn.
Dempsey's opponent of some years
back. 1t took Gibbons eleven rounds
to knock out the veteran Bostonian-
No one accused Gibbons Of picking
"set-ups." though Flynn must have
been far from the form he had when
he fought Dempsey In Jacks pre-
championship days. No one cited the
performance as showing that II II
took the new sensation, Gibbons,
eleven rounds to stop Flynn, Demp-
sey must be a pretty good fighter
to do the same thing in so much less
time.
But every champion has had the
same experience with the fistic pub
lie as Dempsey.
CAN'T SATISFY PUBLIC.
They called Tommy Burns a Joke
champion. and the ring following rei
toiced when Johnson battered him
down in Australia. Then the same
following was tickled when Johnson
was finally driven from America, a
fugitive from the law.
1t was glad when willard recov-
cred the title down in Havana, only
to begin to hate willard soon after
ward. Subsequently some OF his fol-
lowing sympathized With Jack John
som his prison cell In Ieavenwortiis
There is no way. apparently, that
heavyweight champion can satisfy his
public. There have been few really
popular titleholder since the days
of John l.. Sullivan, and even Sulli-
liyan did not attain his greatest pop
ularity until after he lost the title
Many men hated james ]. Corbett
for years because he whipped Sulli-
van. but the same men now love Jim
and the memory of his fistic prime.
WHO'D SHE LICKf
have no sooner subsided than the
cheerers begin asking:
"Aw, who'd he ever lick, anywayY'
They begin picking flaws in his
record, this victim was too old. or
"all In" or never could fight, at best.
They scrutinixe every act OF the new
king; II he takes n glass Of near
beer he Ia dissipating. IL he tips
his nat to a female acquaintance he
is running around with women
Prize fighting is after all bust
ness, and nowadays a highly COM
mercialixed business, at that. This
is well understood by all followers
of the game. That fghtine, as IL r.
now conducted. tends to uplift che
youth OF the land physically. or
otherwise. Is debateble. and | am in
clined to, believe that majority OF
professional lighters would take the
negative.
They are in the fighting game for
money. and this. too, Is well under
stood by the Hstic followers. They
know that when a man works to-