Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-08-31
Tiny Filipino Fighter S.E
Is Grounding Dempsey OF
The Sporting News Pages
Flyweight Boxer. Just
Arrived in The United
States Has Stepped Into
The Spotlight Over Night;
Being Talked Of As a Pos
.ible Opponent For Joe
Lynch, Champion.
By Norman p. Brown.

Somebody wrote a popular ditty
once about THE Argentines, The
Portuguese, The Armenians and the
Creeks The ballet recited how they
were rapidly acquiring a deed In fee
simple to the whole burned u. s.
Now, the f~acetious author might add
the philippines to the list. For the
Pacific Islands ave sent to the States
a little man who overnight has
stepped into the istic spotlight and
has even crowded Jack Dempsey of
the boxing stage despite the fact that
This latest sensation is Pancho
Villa. This story Isn't a technical one
about his measurements or chances
for victory in his coming bouts. His
history is a chapter by itself.
Was Bbotblack.
Villa grew up-to his present di-
nainuttve size--shinlng shoes on the
streets of Manila. America, to him,
was. rerxesented by the U. $. soldiers
roaming Nabout the, islands. He idol
ized the uniformed men and watched
them at m~aneouvers and play-when
his shining dAties didn't call. Their
skill at boxing appealed to him.
He tried to initiate them When any
disputes over territorial rights in the
bootblaeking field arose and it Is said
that he acquired his only caulihower
(sorely bruised) ear in one of those
preliminary bouts. .
Some of the khaki clad boys took a
liking to him and taught him the
game. 1t is said that Francisco Villa
finally became interested in the lad
and adopted him-hehce the lads
ring name of Pancho Villa. e.
Perhaps Villas greatest achieve
George Mcndez.
How It Hanpened.
Mendez at the time was recognized
as the champion bantamweight Of
Australia. English promoters, seek
Ing an opponent for their idol. Jimmy
Wilde, arranged to have Mendez go to
London to meet him. Mendez left
Australia fsll of hope. When a
Manila promoter suggested that he
give villa a chance to show his class
in an exhibition bout while MendeZ
stopped in the philippine center en-
routete London Mendez agreed. Villa
knscked Mendez out in the fourth
round, And the blow that f1oored the
Australian also knocked him out Of
his match with Wilde. For London
baGsn desire to see Wilde fight a mar
who had been dropped by an un-
known bootblack.
Then New York, the mecca of all
foreign fighters, beckoned to Pancho.
Wanted Real Fights. -
Arriving in the metropolis he asked
the promo ters for bouts" Put me
on against some of the good boys. If
l can't fight I want to know 1t so that
I can go home again." he said. y
Taking him at his word the pro-
meters sent him against such clever
little fellows as Abe Goldstein, Johnny
Hepburn. frankie Genaro, and others.
And Villa showed in each bout that
his knockout of Mendez was not a
luke. His quiet manner outside the
ring. his earnest aggressive style in
side the ropes and his general tech
llique appealed taathe fans.
Now Villa is being talked Of an the
right boy to pit against Joe Lynch.
bantamweight champ, or at least
Johnny Buff, the fiyweight champion.
Which is quite. a sudden rise for the
little d~ark-skinned, oriental-eyed
chap, you will admit.