New-York tribune., 1921-02-18

Martin Ready
For Ring Debut
Here Tonight
A. E. f. Heavyweight Cham
pion Expects to Stop Bill
Brennan I'm Garden Arena

| Bob Martin, champion Of the A. E. r.
and inter-Allied heavyweight champion,
is neither su5erstitious nor fearful
| Eastern debut at Madison Square Gar
den tonight against Bill Brennan, who
recently gave Champion Jack Dempsey
| the battle Of his life for nearly twelve
rounds, has bet sum which represents
more than he will earn for his nights
| work on his own chances against the
| Chicago knocker-out.
Brennan is top-heavy favorite, but
| that fact does not disturb Martin in
the least. The prevailing odds about
| sporting centres yesterday and last
! night had Brennan favorite at 2 to 5.
I'm ready to walk back home if
can't beat Brennan" said Martin last
night. "The favorite does not always
come down in front. I'm in the best
condition Of my career, and will have
no excuses to offer in case hold
Brennan too cheaply. / realize this is
the most important ring battle of my
career, and as have hopes of crack
at the championship in the near future
l am determined to make the most of
my oportunity."
Much at Stake for Both
This particular heavyweight bout has
attracted more preliminary talk than
any other held around New York in
years. Brennan was generally regarded
as much of "set-up" when he en-
gagged with Dempsey some weeks ago.
But Martin comes here with an en-
vlable reputation for one whose ring
engagements have been limited. Bren-
nan realizes he will have to win de-
clsively to have new challenge con-
sidered by Dempsey.
From a physical standpoint the
match is all that could be desired. The
exact weights will not be known until
the principals weigh in at 2 o'clock this
afternoon. Martin expects to enter the
ring at about 1876 pounds. Brennan says
ne will not weigh over 100. But Martin
will make up in additional reach the
slight handicap in weight. He is one
and half inches taller than Brennan
and is possessed of an inch greater
reach.
Close observers of pugilism believe
there will be plenty of action in this
bout as long as it goes; both Brennan
and Martin are possessed Of q wallop.
Whether or not Martin can take it so
we'll as Brennan remains to be seen.
1t is known Brennan can take it; he
took everything the bone crusher Demp-
sey could send his way for more than
eleven rounds. That ne can also give
as good as he receives Brennan has
proven by knocking out seven of eight
opponents since he himself was stopped
oy Dempsey at Madison Square Garden
December IA last.
Only Ten Fights Go Limit
Martin has never been seen in New
York, though he did box in Boston.
Most of his bouts he has fought since
leaving the army were in the Middle
West and Far West In a total of
eighty eight fights, the great majority
of them in the army, Martin has scored
seventy eight knockouts. He has re-
ceived the decision four times, boxed |
and lost only twice. Martin won the !
A. E. F. title by beating Fay Kiser in
ten rounds in Paris on April 27, 1919. I
He won the inter-Allied championships
In the same city on July of the same |
year by knocking out Captain Gordon
Coughil, Of Australia, in the first !
round.
Brennan and Martin have been in
hard training for the past three weeks. !
Martin was at Lakewood, N. J., until |
last Sunday. He signalized his arrival
in the metropolis by knocking out two
sparring trainers the first day. Sam
McVey has trained Martin for this bat
tie. Kid Norfolk and Panama Joe Cans
have been Bill Brennan's assistants.
Kid Norfolk. by the way, is going to
take prominent part in to-night's
program. He meets Pinkey Lewis, a
California mauler, in the semi-final Of
ten rounds. In another ten-rounder
Wild Bill Reid, of California, will box
Homer Smith, of Kalamazoo, Mich. |
Tommy Cleary, of Philadelphia, and
Mike ARA, Of New York, will box in
the curtain raiser of six rounds. The
doors will be opened at 2 O'clock and
the opening bout will start promptly at
$3.50.