The New York herald., 1922-04-02
HITTING PREVAILS
IN TITLE CONTESTS
Large Majority Of Ring Cham
pions Have Hit Hard and
From the Shoulder.
1
WEIGHT BEHIND BLOW
Weak Punchers Have Won
Titles Infrequently and
Held Honors Briefly.
WEIGHT BEHIND BLOW
ny CHARLES F. srATHrsoN.

ny CHARLES r. MATHrSoN.
In view OF the fact that nearly all
toxing titles in America for the last
thirty-five years have been won by
rnen who punched straight and hard,
" is surprisipg that youngsters enter
ing pugilisrr do not devote more at
tention to that branch of the science.
Clever defensive boxers who have
captured championships are few and
tar between. Yet to-day the young
sters who take up boxing as pro-
feseion do everything except learn the
art OF hitting from the shoulder and
with force.
They learn how TO ciinch. hug, wres-
tie and shove. and they do all these
things In the ring to the chagrin OF
the onlookers. The blows of a ma
Sority OF the younger element are re-
stricted to swings. slaps and pushes.
md rarely Is punch delivered that
has any force or weight behind it.
These boxers have no future so far
az winning title Is concerned, and
they seldom get beyond the pre-
lirninary" stage Of the boxing business.
The reason for the lack Of accurate,
forceful hitting on the part Of a ma
jority Of the preliminary boxers is
that the unfortunate youngsters are
thrown into the ring and compelled to
fight without instruction even In the
rudiments Of the art OF boxing. II any
Of them manage to survive the pre-
iiminary stage OF their career II Is be-
cause they possess remarkable vitality
and courage. Yet they seldom reach
the top rung Of the pugilistic ladder.
A glance at the list Of champions
shows how necessary to success In the
ring is straight. effective hitting. In the
heavyweight class, Sullivan. Fitzslm-
mons. Jeffries. johnson. willard and
Dempsey all had the ability TO hit with
tremendous force. Jim Corbett was the
only light hitter in the list, and he won
because he was the cloverest defensive
boxer In the history OF the ring and In
his youth had great stamina. 4
The rniddleweight title class had HIT
ters like Nonpareii Dempsey. Fitasim-
mons. Tommy Ryan, ketchel, Papko.
Klaus and George Chip. Mike O'Dowd
and Al Mccoy we're fair but not heavy
hitters. while Johnny Wilson is decid-
ediy light In the matter ot punching.
cIcverness UnavailinE.
Clever boxers like Hugo Kelly. Jimmy
Cla.boy and Mike Gibbons never sue
cscded In capturing the championship.
The welterweight championship class
included such sluggers as Mysterious
Billy Smith. Tommy Ryan. Kid Mccoy.
Rube Ferns. Joe Walcott. Dixie Kid and
KID Lewis Matty Matthews. clever
boxer, won the title on points. and Jack
3r!tton. while not a sluggcr. Is an cx-
ceptionally clever boxer.
Among the lightweight champions
were heavy hittcrs like McAuiffe. La.
visne, Cans. Nelson, wolgast and
Hitchie, with Leonard nov at the top.
Sirne and Welsh were light punchers
but clever boxers.
The featherweight tito holders in
cluded men like Dixon. McGovern.
Young Corbett, Soiiy Smith and Dave
Sullivan.
Attell was clever boxer. and while
he prefers to win on points.
The bantam champions included some
notable hitters. Among them were Dix
on. McGovern. Jimmy Barry Harry
Forbes. frankie Nell and Kid williams.
Jimmy Walsh. Johnny Cculon and Pete
Herman werc fair hitters and good box
ers Joe Lynch 10 an effective hitter
ahd Johnny Buff ie a straight hitter with
o. Knockout punch.
~ follows as a matter OF course that
q boy who expects 70 learn the proper
method Of hitting must be schooled at
the punching bag. Unless the youngstcr
1sts. his case Is hopeless for once he
oegins to fight in the ring swinging
wildly with both hands he never gets
out OF the fatal habit.
Numerous examples arc on record Of
men who have failed 70 win titles be-
cause OF defective hitting. Johnny Dun
dee Is g notable one. Had this agile.
combat!ve and rugged Italian been
taught IA his early days to hit straight
with either hand and put his weight
behind his blows, there Is small question
that he would have been at tho head OF
iie featherws,ght and lightweight classes
by this time. Dundee is able through
tho medium OF hts speed and excellent
defense 10 bafie the hardest h,tters IN
rho lightweight division. but hts attack
Is 50 light that his only chance of win
ming Ia on points when the bout lasts
The limit. In hitting at an opponent
r1undees feet are 80 frequently OF the
ing floor that the blow has no force
AZ all.
Never Sets for n Punch.
ciose scru.iny Of his attack has failed
10 show that Dundee ever sets himself
Cor a punch or throws his weight be-
hind the blow. lie hits freely and from
every angle. but he is dancing Up and
down or skipping about tho ring as he
shoots his gloves at his adversary.
While Dundee does not scale mere than
13o pounds at any time, yet there IL no
reason why he should not hit with effec.
II he employed tho proper method.
Jimmy Barry seldom weighed more than
10 pounds. yet he hit like q pile driver
for tho reason that he always put oil
his weight behind the punch.
Fitxeimnlons was iTo pound man,
vet every ounce of HIS flesh and bona
'was behind i,ia punches.
Harry Clreb Ia another example OF de-
sectivc hitting. This chap possesses
,ar,axing vitality and "a full OF fight.
yet most Of his blows are slaps And
swings. without any force behind them.
left straight 70 the mark, with hls
day 10 a formidable candidate FOR the
heavyweight title.
{ The ranks OF pugillsm ar9 full OF men
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