The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-02-15
AL REICH ANXIOUS
TO TRY HIS LUCK
AGAINST DEMPSEY
This Chap Was a Timid Guy
Until He Spared With
Champion
nv JAMES ). CoRBETr


Most warriors who have stood before
the Jack Dempsey attack for even SO
short period as three minutes have
not been very anxious to repeat the
performance.
But now comes AL Reich, who never
fought Dempsey in prize ring, but
who has served as a sparrin.g partner
recently, with this announcement:
Il don't thing Dempsey is as mur-
derous as he is supposed to be. After
boxing him for quite while, I am
mighty anxious to take him on in a
real battle--and / think can whip
him.
A statement like that coming from
Reich 'the mystery man of the ring"
is startling inasmuch as Reich is pre-
sumed to be MOST timid athlete. But
New York physician = DR.. Wilbur
Fralick--insists that Reich has ex-
perienced some phenomena, or some
thing of that sort, ever since he spared
with Dempsey and that he has DIFF
ferent viewpoint of fighting life en-
tirely.
GETS THE "PEP"
Reich never had real fighting
spirit in the other days." states Dr.
Fralick, who dips little into psyche
therapeutics. HE has the build, the
skill and the punch of champion.
When he first entered the professional
ring, the boxing world became wild
over him, and regarded him as a fu-
ture titleholder.
But eventually Reich encountered
trouble 1t seemed that which,
ever he took on a man who was
widely touted, Reich was more or less
of beaten fighter before he climbed
through the ropes. 1t has been said OF
him that if he had faced Jack Dem
psey, and known it was Dempsey, the
champion would have knocked him out
with punch. On the other hand if he
had gone against Dempsey. thinking
that the champion was a dub, the
chances are that Reich would have
scored an e; sy victory.
LACKED CONFIDENCE
Confidence in himself was some-
thing Reich lacked. So he was sound
ly beaten several times and eventually
quit the ring in disgust Some time
ago he attempted d comeback, but
wasn't very successful. 1t was the
same old story with him. Eventually
Reich got job as sparring partner
for Dempsey, and L think that the job
has made different fighter out of
him entirely
Reich snapped. punches with
Dempsey found he could hit the cham
pion rather easily and discovered that
he could take the hard Dempsey
smashes. All this gathered confidence
for AL and, at the conclusion Of HIS
job as sparring partner discovered
that Reich was changed man. His
viewpoint was different. There wasn't
about him any longer the idea that he
was soft mark for every good man.
The fact that he had stood up before
Dempsey, even though It, was only
sparring match; makes him think that
If he ever gets a chance at Jack. he
can whip him.
TRYING COMEBACK
TT is upon my advice that Reich is.
trying new comeback in the ring. 1
feel confident that he will succeed in
knocking over every formidable OPP
ponent in due course or time and that
ii he ever gets chance at the cham
pionship--unless his present mental
process changes once more--he'n cer-
tainly win
Reich has everything that fighter
needs. He knows few superiors in
cleverness, can hit with either hand
and can hit terrifically--has splondtd
ring generalship and should go on 70
spectacular triumphs.'
Charlie Harvey, who has been In
volved in the fight game ever since
the oldest inhabitant can remember.
thought 50 much of DIR. Fralfck's judg-
ment of Reich that he has taken AL
under his wing is 'prepping" him
carefully and plans to start him
shortly against the toughest men in
the game.
Il don't know whether the doctor is
right or wrong" declares HarvAy, "but
I'm going to find out real soon. lust
as soon as Al has trained down to a
certain point of physical fitness. Ill
let him loose and see what ne can
do. agree with the doctor that all
that Reich lacked was confidence IN
himself when opposed by tough foe
man. II he has gained that, ne ought
to cut a wide swath in the pugilistic
lanes. His first few fights will prove
-or disprove--the convictions OF the
DOCTOR
Copyright, 1921. by King Features
Syndicate. Inc.).,
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