The New York herald., 1921-02-21
Soldier Champion Never Was
Taught Science of Roped
Square Tactics.
BY CHARLES II. MATHIsOy.


| In considering the merits of Bob Mar
tin the conditions under which he
learned to box and fought a majority
of his battles should not be overlooked.
The soldier champion was over in
France. and like all the other A. T.. +.
boxers he did not have the advantage
| of witnessing the efforts in the ring OF
first class boxers. A soldier or n sailor
might possess the fighting spirit in high
degree. and that was true of all Amer
leans who went to the 'front.' but IL
they never were schooled in the science
of boxing, they were handicapped in
ring contests. No matter how strong.
courageous and aggressive n man may
be, II he has not learned the fine points
of ring tactics, he is helpless before a
skilled boxer.
Soldiers and sailors do all their box
ing among themselves and only at rare
intervals do they see combats between
leading exponents of ring science and
generalship. When military boxers en-
ter the ring it is to fight. and they ham,
mer each other till one or the other is
exhausted.
These were the conditions under
which Martin boxed his way to the A.
L. F. and interallied championships.
and he and his handlers made the mis-
take of thinking that because Martin
had beaten all his soldier opponents he
must have the ability to defeat the lead
ing heavyweights Of the world.
After Martin had disposed of n few
heavies of mediocre ability like Marty
Burke. It was decided to try him out
against Brennan, who. although by no
means a topnotcher, yet is an expert
enced boxer and ring tactician. Against
the science of Brennan Martin, who Is
far from speedy, with little or no de-
fence and his only mode of attack be-
ing q right swing, was practically help
less.
1t took but n few rounds for Bren-
nan to gauge Martins right for the jaw.
and thus end the soldiers chance OF
scoring n Knockout. which was the only
way In which he could win.
A right hand swing. even when sup
ported by courage and aggresslveness
cannot win battles from men who are
fortified with knowledge of defensive
skill and possess more than one mode
OF attack
Martin in his present form will have
small chance against any OF the second
raters In the heavyweight division. and
before he is pitted against any others oil
Rrennan's class the soldier should be
nut In the hands of an expert teacher
and schooled in the use Of a straight
left, footwork in defence. how TO block
with either hard and to cut out signals
when about to start a blow. Martin is
still young and could be taught these
essentials of ring career.
Roy Moore is TO box Benny Coster at
the Pioneer Sporting Club tomorrow
afternoon. and he says he is determined
to prove to patrons Of boxing that he Is
not a foul fighter. Moore declares that
O'Gatty was not hit low. but quit when
he received hard blow above the belt.
Stranger Lewis apparently IL treat
ing Jack Curley In an unclubby manner.
Curley abolished the head lock and
Lewis said he would conform to the
rule. Lewis probably meant that ne
would not use the Uranium crusher when
he wrestled In this city. But Lewis ls
travelling about the provinces and Is
employing his head lock to the dismay
and defeat of all grapplers he meets.
Among those who succumbed In straight
falls to the head lock were John Olin
and John Pesck The latter had been
engaged by Curloy to wrostle In this
city. and Il does look bit discourteous
for Lewis TO eliminate pcsek.
Marin piestina. who bewails his cruel
treatment by the wrestling trust" has
finally found a man TO meet him on the
mat Tommy Draak will wrcstle the
Serbian next Thursday night at Web
ster Hall. Tex Rickard. who ls eager
to stage a match between Piestina and
one of the top notchcrs. declares that
Stranger Lewis and Stansaus Zybszko
did not even reply to bona fide chal-
lenges In commenting on their action
Rickard says:
',There is little doubt In my mind that
the wrestling situation as 1t now stands
needs proper supervision. and I am
hopeful OF seeing II placed by State
edict on the same plane as boxing, in
order that the state will receive It's
rightful tax.
MY offer to provide belts emblematic
Of the championships in different classes
still holds good I have offered Stran-
gler Lewis and Stanislaus Zbyszko n
chance 20 make more money and gather
more honors in a match with Plcstina
than either of them could make in any
ether match they might accept"
AS result Of the uproar in the Car