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

Chicago, Ill, Aug. 12.-Gangway!
Gangway! The Great Dane 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 he was in search
of trouble. and didn't car a whoop
from what direction it came.
What a broth of a kid, to be sure.
Of course, 1t is asy to suspect that
Knute's trade is boxfghting. and soon
er 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
ing plenty of growing and knocking
over the native kids who CHANGED to
cross him.
Sees Fight With Dad
Five years 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 fattened five of his op-
ponents with the old haymaker, 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 q
big boost, n the kid is ready and
willing to fight anybody and every
body if need be.
Shows Well in Gym
We took a slant at the Great Dane
doing his stuff at Sprague's gymnas-
ium in East 125th street. If
ium work counts for anything in get
ting a line on a fighters ability, Knute
Hansen is a bright looking prospect.
h big Dane with the face of a child,
suggesting somewhat the late Bob
Fitzsimmons, broad of shoulder and
with powerful legs, pranced through
a series Of stunts with the agility of
a bantam. ID
There 1s nothing about the young
giant at first glance which would sug-
gest the fighter, but when the young.
ster gets into action one realizes his
absolute qualities. A good straight hit
ter with either hand, and with mark
ed gracefulness in his footwork, he
lmpresses o as being a kid who is
likely to be heard from. That is, of
course, his gymnasium work.
Their have been fighters who look
ed like the goods in the gym but were
awful busts when confronted in the
ring with a real opponent. However,
Knute Hansen looks as though he is
a real fighter. He has all the conf
dence in the world in his ability but
is willing to bide his time until he can
work his way to a place where he
might get a chance at the best of
them.
Saw Fulton and Roper
Knute got here in time to see Fred
Fulton and Bob Roper founder
through twelve rounds at one of the
Jersey clubs, and said that if he
couldn't beat that pair in the same
ring on the same night he didn't want
to be a fighter any longer.
Who knows but that this Danish
boy might have the makings of a
champion? Only a few years back
Jack Dempsey blew into this town.,
practically penniless and unknown.
Today he is at the top of the heap.
Jack didn't look so good in his first
few starts, and there were only a few
who could see in him the next cham
pion. Wonder if Knute Hansen, the
Great Dane. is destined to be a cham
pion some day? He has lots of natural
ability and might reach his goal. At
any rate he says that he will keep on
trying. Fair enough, Knute!
Austrian banknotes. nominally
worth $25 each, have been used as
sotp-wrappers by a Swiss ma%nufactur-