The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-10-16
BY FRANK G. MENKE

It's a bit too early to become all
steamed up about this Floyd Johnson
party in connection with a match with
Bill Brennan, Harry Wills and one or
two more in their particular class.
Johnson stacks up just now as about
the niftiest looking white heavy that
has flashed along the sportive sky in
the last three or four years. But that,
in itself, doesn't mean an awful lot
simply because about SO percent of
the other white heavyweights who
have appeared since 1919 have been
terrible bohunks.
The fact that johnson forced the
seconds of Bob Martin to toss sponge
into the ring in the tenth round of
their New York fight a week or so ago,
has added tremendously to Johnson's
prestige. But there were quite few
extenuating circumstances involved in
that fight which, in the main, shear
from johnson some of the glamor and
the glory with which his handlers
want to entwine him.
Martin In Pain.
The Bob Martin who faced johnson
that night in Madison Square Garden
should never have been permitted to
enter the ring. His right knee was
thrown out of place two days before
the bout-an accident of the most Grip
ping kind. His eyes again had gone
bad and his vision was as imperfect
as that of a cross eyed man.
/ But those who were handling Mar
tin underestimate Johnson and like
wise underestimate what a terrific
| handicap Martin faced with a bad
right leg and twisted eyesight. Like
wise, they were not cognizant that
Bob Martin had slipped somewhat
| from the greatness that was his prior
| to the automobile accident of many
months ago.
HandIcaps Too Big
Martin went into that fight figuring
| he could put over his terrific right
! early-and win with a punch or two.
But he had not counted on the handi.
cap which the leg would bring TO
him. 1t wasn't possible for him to
/ step around. He could fight but one
way: that is, to brace his legs and
! take a wild swing.
Johnson was smart enough to keep
/ out OF range. Once in a while he'd
jump in with jab and then clinch
| The rest of the time he elected to do
I lOllS dDs1C l4SALIIlSo- anu DC(duoS MAJ
tins right leg, heavily encased in
bandages, would not permit him to
step around and follow him, the re
clusion, even before the second round
was over.
Missed Repeatedly
! Martin tried fifty times to land
with his right, but because he had
to hit from riveted position-be
cause he couldn't step around and fol
low openings-he missed repeatedly
In short time arm WEAKNESS was
added to the WEAKNESS of his legs, and
on top of all that, Martin suffered G
terrible cash over one eye due to 6
butt, and which accident totally blind
ed him in that eye. His other eye
which has long been under treatment
by an oculist, was practically use
less.
So there he was, blind in one eye
unable to see clearly with the other
with one leg buckling under him ant
with both arms limp and weary from
wild swings-there he was from the
fourth round on until the tenth.
Couldn't Drop Martin.
And yet Johnson, who from the sixth
10 the 1lnlSn or the battle, needed only
to step in and hit without real fear o.
a return, couldn't drop the crippled
soldier boy 1t was the superlativt
gameness, the making fighting hear
of Martin which helped so much tt
keep him on his feet. But gamenes:
and ability to take punishment couldn'
have kept him there if Johnson knew
the art of punching. For Martin
zto
least six rounds, was target which (
boy could hit
down.
Johnson is likely looking prospec
there's no doubt as to that But h'
has much to learn before he can bt