Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-08-14
KNUTE HANSEN
WANTS TO NIX
WITH DEMPSEY
New Danish Aspirant For
Heavyweight Title Is
In Field
BY r. NEWMAN

Ndh5" dS lie CTTedC Ddne IS step.
ping in u midst and needs plenty
of room. Knute Hansen, 10 years
old. standing more than six feet
weighing close to 200 pounds, and
with a perfect boarding house reach
eased himself into town the other day
and allowed as how hc-was in search
of trouble, and didn't care a whoor
from what direction it came.
What a broth of a kid, to be sure
OF course, it is easy to suspect that
Knute's trade is boxfighting. and soon.
err or later he expects to get some at.
tention from Mr.. Jack Dempsey. AS
a matter of fact. that is the uppermost
thought in the mind of the giant Dane
right now
= Knute was born in Copenhagen
nineteen years ago, but was brought
to America by his parents when quite
a baby. He has lived ever since in
Racine, Wis. where he has been do
over the native kids who CHANGED ia
cross him.
Sees Fight With Dad
Five years ago Knute's dad took
him to see his first boxing match, and
%singularly enough, 1t was the first
and only time that the Dane ever saw
Jack Dempsey. The champ knocked
over a guy by the name of Homer
Smith in a round or two. and straight
way knute decided that boxing was
his dish and he must be a fighter.
The big fellow started out a. year
ago. during which time he has. had
seven fights. In five of these scramb-
les ole Knute f1attened five of his OPP
ponents with the old haynaker, while
two other bouts went four rounds
with the Dane grabbing the decision
in each event.
Ned Carpenter, the Milwaukee
heavyweight, was the first to see the
possibilities in the youngster and tip.
ped off Tom Andrews. The latter
ticketed him to George Lawrence and
Joe Woodman in New York with
big boost, and the kid is ready and
willing to fight anybody and every.
body il need be-.
Shows Wen in Gym
We. took a slant at the Great Dane
doing his stuff at Sprague's gymnas.
ium in Fast 125th street. If gymnas.
ium work counts for anything in get.
ting a line on a fighters ability, Knute
Hansen is a bright looking prospect
This big Dane with the face of a child
suggesting somewhat the late Bot
Fitzsimmons, broad of shoulder and
with powerful legs, pranced through
a series Of stunts with the agility Of
a bantam.
There is nothing about the younl
giant at first glance which would sug,
gest the fighter. but when the young
ster gets into action one realizes hi
absolute qualities. A good straight hit
ter with either hand. and with mark
ed gracefulness in his footwork, h,
lmpresses you as being a kid who il
likely to be heard from. That is, o
course, his gymnasium work.
There have been fighters who look
ed like the goods in the gym but wer'
awful busts when confronted in tn,
ring with a real opponent. However
knute Hansen looks as though he i
a real fighter. He has all the conf
dence in the world in his ability bu
is willing to bide his time until he ca,
work mis- way to a place where h
might get a chance at the best O
them.
Saw Fulton and Roper
Knute got here in time to see Ere,
Fulton and Bob Roper founde
through twelve rounds at one of tn
Jersey clubs, and said that If h
couldn't beat that pair in the sam
ring on the same night he didn't wan
to be a fighter any longer. j
Who knows but that this DanisI
boy might have the markings of
champion? Only a few a bac,
Jack Dempsey blew into this towr
practically penniless and unknown
Today he is at the top Of the hear
Jack didn't look so good in his frs
few starts: and there were only a fe,
who could see in him the next cham
pton. Wonder if knuteS Hansen, tn
Great Dane. is destined to be a cham
pion some day? He has lots Of nature
ability and might reach his goal. A
n rate he says that he will keep O
trying. Fair enough. Knute!