The Connecticut labor news., 1921-11-11
JERSEY CITY'S GREAT LITTLE FIGHTER NOW HOLDS BOTH FLYWEIGHT AND BANTAM TITLES.


 That is what little Johnny Buff has accomplished at an age when most fighters are supposed to be on the down grade.
 Buff began boxing while in the navy five and one-half years ago, un- der the name of Spike Lisky.
 "It wasn't easy going, either" said Johnny as he sat for sketch in the dormitory of Engine Company No. ? on Morris street, Jersey City. "I had to fight fellows sometimes who weighed at least I5o pounds. Some of them could hit and some of them couldn't; but i'll the long run 1t wasn't a picnic for a little fellow like me 1 weighed hardly more than 100 pounds, so you see 1 had to call my shots when I aimed for those fel- lows chins'
 As Buff talked and your Uncle Dudley put to paper the amazing net work of wrinkles that run from the corner of his eye clear across his face lo IllS Cal , llhS lIOlICy llIC Sli- tire company of hremen gathered around their idol. There's an inter csting story about Johnny Buff and those fremen. When Buff left the navy and began to box as a real pro- fessional, little over three years ago, he lived near the fire house. The laddies took a great liking to this mite of man and invited him to use their big dormitory as a gym. There, with Sammy Diamoed and Charley Beecher, he prepared for the bouts that began to make him famous And Buff hasn't forgotten their kindness.
 Next door to the fire house he has organized Johnny Buff Associa- ton, where the boys of the neighbor- hood and firemen off duty can chat, play billiards and live the life of Reilly.
 "I got two dollars and a half for my first fight with Rockey Walker" ," went on Buff. Danny Hickey was my manager then. He cut my end 5o-5o after the fight and when 1 asked him about 1t he said: What do you think Pm a manager for" Two and a half for my first professional bout and nearly $Io,ooo for winning the bantamweight title from Pete Her man. Not bad jump in three years, eh?
 Il won my fywcight tide in New Orleans by outpointing Frankie Mason one year ago. won the Rickard belt for that class by beat ing Eddie O'Dowd And then came the most precious belt of all-thc bantamweight girdle. They look slick nailed up there with my belt from the fleet. Pm going to keep on gath cring them, too. A want to tell you that my wife's good cooking has had more to do with my winning my titles than anything else. She won't let another soul touch my food or serve 1t while I'm training Oh, no, she doesn't mind my fighting. She's got a lot of good sense She doesn't want me to get hurt that's all, and she insists on me being in good con dition, saying that in condition I can't get hurt.
 i've just paid $I4,ooo for home up on the hill, and after while I'll move up there I'd have gone before this, but 1 don't want to leave the boys of this neighborhood They've all been so loyal that 1 just can't leave them.
 i've lost only one bout in all my boxing career. That came in match with Mickey Belmont at the Armory in Newark. It came about by acci- dent. l have two teeth missing in front when l box, and 1 was using one of the rubber protectors for my lips. Belmont cracked me right on the mouth and drove part of the protector through my teeth, the rest falling back into my throat. thought Twas a goner. They had to stop the bout and award it to Belmont, while they fshed for the broken pro- tector. Oddly enough, that was the first bout my wife ever saw She won't go again. She thinks she'll jinx papa. Oh, yep, Pm pop. James Buff, r, IS one year old"