The Washington herald., 1922-02-12
By ROBERT EDGREN.

Jack Britton. welterweight cham
pion, is one of the most remark
able of all title holders. He is
a better fighter at thirty-seven
than he was ten years ago. Dan
Morgan, his manager ever since
Jack began to work up to the
championship, writes me a few in
teresting lines about the welter
king.
"Britton's success is due to his
careful living as we'll as his won
derful boxing head" says Morgan.
Jack eats plain food and plenty
of it, and he is not a prohibition
ist in any form. Anyone who has
a case of Haig and Haig and Is
afraid to keep 1t can send 1t to
Britton. He also smokes a good
cigar now and then and enjoys
life.
But he walks seven miles daily,
and his gymnasium work consists
of from eight to ten rounds of box
ing every day in the year. Any
one who wants to see how a cham
pion works can take a trip to Billy
Grupp's gymnasium any day when
Jack isn't away somewhere for a
bout, and watch him pile into mid
die and heavyweights. handing
them a high class brand of both
boxing and slugging.
TN a long bout of fifteen or
twenty rounds Britton gets better
as he goes along. No matter how
strong or how young his opponents
are Jack always has them hang
ing on at the finish IL he doesn't
knock them out.
"Britton never hurts his hands,
as he knows how to twist his wrist
or arm when he hits. He is a solid
puncher. Britton has four different
styles of boxing that no other boxer
under the sun can boast of. That
is one of the reasons the other
boys have been trying to find his
weak spot for a generation of fight
ers. and can't do it.
Jack is married and has three
children. Billy is five years old,
Bobbie three and Betty one. When
he isn't training or travelling for
bout yon can always fiEd him at
home.
VIII Give Leonard n Chance.
Britton Is a real veteran. He has
been boxing professionally. for
nineteen years. All the men who
were his rivals in the early days
of his career have gone by, and
nearly all are forgotten. but Jack
hasn't even stumbled. He is soon
to give Benny Leonard chance
to fight for the welterweight title.
He has fought Leonard before this.
and even Benny. with all his skill
and hard hitting, was unable to
do more than barely hold his own.
One thing about Britton is his
absolute confidence-which comes
from knowing just what to do in
every emergency in the ring, and
from a feeling that no can match
his rivals in speed and strength
as well as skill. There is no more
clever boxer than Britton.
Britton lost the welter title to
Kid Lewis of England sway back
In 1905. Lewis taking two decisions
over him. But the next year Britton
beat Lewis in twenty-round fight,
on the referees decision. In 1917
Lewis won the title from Britton
in a <twenty-round bout. taking
Referee Lou Bauman's decision. He
fought Lewis four times in 1918,
flashy whitechapel boys lead in
skill and hitting power.
Lewis was a great fighter at that
time. He even gave Mike Gibbons
a tough ten rounds, carrying the
fight to Mike at top speed all the
way. and came near having a claim
on middleweight honors.
But another of Jack Britton's
characteristics is a bulldog grade
of tenacity. He won't give up. He
trained and studied fighting form
and kept after Lewis until he got
him again. in 1919. on which oc-
casion he knocked Lewis out in the
ninth round.
Since then Brit.on has been un-
beatable In his class. A score of
husky rivals have tried in vain to
make an impression on his skilful
defense. And it isn't all defense
when Britton gets into a ring. I'm
like nearly all title honders, Brit
ton refuses TO play il safe in any
bout, with or without a decision.
Pe always sale in spitefully and
Is perfectly willing to, meet the
other fellow at any kind of mixing
he prefers.
When Britton fought Benny Leo
Ihard before. the public expected to
see him simply stand off and box,
guarding the old title and taking
no unnecessary risks. That wasn't
Britton's idea at all. He preferred
to fight like a champion. and he
came very near giving clever Benny
boxing lesson.
OF the clever boxers who started
with Britton. Packy Mcfarland, re-
tired years ago. and now weighs
$50 pounds. Young Loughrey. Kid
Beebe. Battling Stinger. Lew shep-
pard. Art Edmunds. Reddy Moore.
Lee Houck. Tommy Love, Rouse
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