Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-10-18
JOHNSON STAR
IN ASCENDANCY
AMONG HEAVIES
Win Over Martin Stamps Him
as Best Big Man Seen in
3 Years.
BY JAMES j. C0RBETT

"Has-or has not" pugilism uncov-
cred at last a youngster destined 10
give Jack Dempsey a real battle for
the heavyweight championship of the
world?
This is the question which floats
around as soon as the name of Floyd
Johnson is mentioned.
No matter what may happen to
Johnson in the future there is no dis
putting the fact that at this moment
he stands forth as the best white
heavyweight uncovered during the last
three years. Nor is there any disput-
ing the fact that Johnson still has a
tremendous lot to learn about the art
of fighting before he can rank as n
formidable foeman for the king of pu-
gilists.
Johnson. during his brief career,
has disported in rather sensational
fashion. He knocked out several
heavies in New York prior to taking
on Bob Martin. They weren't much
in the matter of greatness but the
fact that Johnson polished them off
spoke we'll for his proves, especially
in view of the fact that he was little
more than a novice.
BY defeating Martin, the soldier
boy heavyweight, Johnson added CON
siderable to the new found fame which
is his. But the victory of Johnson
over Martin should not be overestima
ted. For the Bob Martin who faced
Johnson was not the Martin, who,
up to q year ago, was breezing along
in spectacular fashion.
Martin Out of Shape
Martin had to be retired from the
ring for a while because of defective
evesight. The fault was fully
corrected. Just as he was about to
resume fighting he was injured in an
automobile accident. The mishap GER
tainly harmed Martin. In addition to
that Martin got into the ring with
Johnson with a right leg swathed in
bandages, simply because he had in
jured his knee a few days before the
bout was to be staged.
The soldier fighter apparently fig
ured that Johnson wasn't as tough
and as rugged as had been claimed
If Martin had been matched to fight
some experienced ringman that night
he probably would have cancelled the
bout because of his bad leg, which
was n great handicap to him. But
undoubtedly he reckoned that John.
son WISH L uhIl dc tchSh 40 hto bVNA
claimed and that he could phiy him
bad leg and all.
But in the first round it was appar-
en- that Martin was in trouble because
of that leg. In the second the fate
of Bob Martin practically was sealed
when a huge cash was made over one
of his eyes by n butt. That eye be
came useless from then on and his
other eye was bad. SO was his leg
These facts are presented not tC
take away from Johnson's credit fol
! the victory but simply to show thai
when he beat Martin he didn't beat
Rob Martin at his best-nor did hi
beat q Bob Martin who was then with
in 30 Jumps of the Bob Martin of 8
wear ago. He met, rather, more OF
less of a cripple.
Has a Good Left
But Johnson showed in that ,figh1
that he has a mighty good left hand-
which is a distinct asset. He showed
he could take punishment. Likewlst
he demonstrated that he has the hear
of n lion and that he is possessed Of
every natural qualification OF. {
fighter. -
But his footwork must be improved
upon. Furthermore, he must iearI
how to hit straight punches with hi
right hand. He didn't show much o
this against Martin. Even though. h
had the soldier helpless for the las
six rounds of the fight, he couldn,
drive through a smash solid enough
to drop Martin.
When a fighter lacks the power t.
drop an opponent whose legs are gone
whose arms are gone, and who is hal