South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-06-08
RECOUNTS
MANY EXPERIENCES
OF VARIED CAREER
Says Jeffries Was Always Idol
But He Never Saw Him
Fight.
BY TAD

NEW YORK, June Who was my
hero when l was a kid? Why Jim
Jehries,' said Jack Dempsey 10 me
in his dressing room al airpora re-
Gently.
Il always thought Jeff was the
greatest man that ever lived
wondered why it was he didn't run
for president When ne beat Fitz-
simmons L alost went nutty with
joy. Do ] still think he was good
Bet your life / do. No. 1 never saw
him box. I never saw any Of the
old stars in a fight Never saw Cor
bett Fitz Choynski, Goddard. Slavin
Sharkey. JEFF. Johnson, Willard or
any of them. I guess Georges Car
pentier has seen twenty times as
many boxers as I have. The first
heavyweight fight 1 can remember
seeing was in New York and that
was between Barney Williams and
George Asche in 1916.
RETEIIS HARDEST FIGHT
mo I never had any OF them to
copy from. When I started fighting
just went in 10 knock the other
fellow over or get knocked over
myself. The hardest fight I ever
had in my life was with a fellow
you never heard Of. 1t was near
Goldfeld. Nevada. The fellow was
Johnny Suderberg. We fought ten
rounds and 1 won but on the square
I looked worse than he did after the
fight I've taken many a licking in
fights since. but SudenIberg gave me
one in the first few rounds that was
pip. We took up a collection after
the fight and each got seven and a
half bucks Wasn't that rich? Then
the Mayor heard that we had
staged a prize fight and ordered US
TO get out of town.
How did | get into the ring Oh.
1 just drifted along kind Of. you
know, and got out to Frisco, and
Oakland and then went right on up.
Doc Kearns got me started on the
coast and l guess we were lucky be-
cause in all the starts 1 had 1 only
lost 10 one fellow and that was
Willie Meehan.
"Meehan was the hardest fellow
TO hit l ever fought He had a way
Of sliding in and out. 1 almost broke
my back trying 10 get on in a good
spot on him.
Who was the cleverest? Oh Bob
McAuister. Yes, I couldn't under
stand how a guy could get that good.
l beat him then but it was like
shooting a ghost.
WILLARD HIT HARD
"The hardest hitter? Well I
don't know whether you saw the
punch or not. the hardest punch
ever remember stopping was the one
that Willard hit me in the third
round at Toledo You know Doc
Kearns told me TO go out and take
things easy that round and I was
doing as 7 was told. All Of a sudden
Willard hooked me with a right
handler under the chin and ! had
to grab him TO hold myself up. Gosh.
it was a beaut. 1t felt as though I
had boiler factory inside my head.
I couldn't hear good for an hour
afterward.
YES. Bunboat Smith hit me a
beaut in Frisco. was dizzy the
whole four rounds. but I won from
him Couldnt that fellow sock !
though.
do I talk TO fellows in the ring? |
no. what's the good.
Kid Carpenter. No he wouldn't ]
understand.
When we met in New York.
Il said George. I'm glad 10 see !
you He smiles and said:
II thank YOU. l come TO fight /
this time; no movie pitch" II
laughed and said:
I'm glad TO hear that George; 7 !
need the money" That's all we /
said, though we laughed for min !
ute after. 1 guess. still holding !
hands.