The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-10-24
SMITH BATTERS
ROPER TO PULP
IN LEGION BOUT
Big Crowd Sees Jeff Put
End to Captain Bob's
Fighting Career

bilu W captain DOU \
Fighting Career
Tho recent jeff smith-Capt Bob
Roper scrap at New orleans during
the American Legion convention IS
or particular interest 20 Tulsa fistic
fans az both men have fought here
several times and the public has fol-
lowed the career OF both fighters
minutcly during tho pan few years.
Tho following detailed account of
the fight written by william McG
keotc. sporting editor Of the New
Orleans Times -PiCayune VIII he, OF
Interest to all boxing enthusiasts OF
tho city:
Another example OF why most of
the middlewcight and light heavy
weights steer clear OF jerome JEFF
fords was furnished small. but
critical gathering high-priced fight
fans last night at tho coliseum.
JerouNs nom do arena is jeff
smith, n1d he Is ". K. gladiator
In these parts as well as oSors lie
so thoroughly outclassed Capt Bob
Roper Ia their 15-round match
which wound up the American
Legion boxing program that the con
test was most unc-sided and monot-
onously Smithy.
Judge keuosaw NJ. Lands. whose
appearance at the ringsido was a
feature OF tho evening. Just about
expressed what the scrap wan when
he was asked:
How'd YOU liko the fight. Judge?"
'What fight" asked the Judge.
" was wondering when Il was GO
ing to begin"
Smith was so masterful in making
Roper miss or blocking his punches.
and Roper hold 50 much that at
times tho affair was pitlfully unin-
terosting. Smiths incessant pound o.
ing 10 Hopers body lacking tho spec
tacular. which so many fans like.
Elevation OF Smiths hand IN sig
nal of Victory ht the end WAS but n
mere formality on the part OF Ref
cree Sonenherg and Roper was sub
1octed to considerable kissing as he
loft the ring.
The captain presented u pltiablc
sight. His nose &as broken one oye
badly split, the other puffed and his
mouth smashed.
Beat on His Body.
But his real beating came where
II doesn't show SO much--in the
body. He cCrtsinly showed gameness
and stamina by taking as severe a
beating In the midscction as one hu-
man being could administer TO an-
other.
Roper entered the ring with a
weight advantage OF 20 pounds a
small Japanese umbrella and a false
moustache. ~ weight was Just
quantity however. aud did him no
good. Neither did the moustache nor
/ the umbrella.
Why he carried the umbrella
was beyond the audlence--and prob
ably beyond the captain, too. lie
might have anticipated a rain OF
| punches Oin which he icated
| CORRECTLY if he did), but tho tepa-
uese shade would not even have
1 weathered the breeze of one OF
| Smiths punches
The captains 1875 pounds. lolling
I on and holding the Ie2-pound
smith unquestionably spelled the
/ reason why Smith was unable to
satisfy the spectators with a knock
| out.
Smith tried his best 10 cut the
captain down in the early rounds
and finish him. but smith is so de.
/ liberate and cunning that the afore-
mentioned high priced fans were
/ disappointed. They had taken a
/ decided dislike To- Roper from the
/ moment he had started paving and
holding smith and "thumbs down
Tor tho captain was all they could
sce.
Sowc,l In Two Rounds.
There were only two rounds In
which Roper show ID TO any advan,
tage. Those were the third and
tlfth. In the third, he pushed Smith
down heavily Smith seemed some.
what peeyed, and tore In carelessIy
and Roper banged him with a lest
hook 10 the body several times, and
twice landed hard rights high OF
the head. Smith stuck right IN
however and Just before the round
ended rocked Roper with = smash.
ing overland right 10 the jaw.
In the fifth Roper hit low severa
times. lie hnd been hitting low riga
along and Smith nodded 10 the RET
cree and also called Roper's atten
tion 60 II. Roper sailed In. swing
ing wildly. and for the space OF q
minute kept Smith on the defensive
But after that Smith settled dowT
into RELENTLESS program OF beatini
Roper to leads, socking him ter
rifle left 10 the body and then. IL
the clinches. whipping wicked righti
to the midsect,ou, now and ther
varying with right hook or rlgh
uppsycut TO the Jaw, and at timei
fighting his way from Roper's tigh
embraces with vicious chops TO th'
head
Roper had started bleeding from
the mouth In the fourth. Aftel
L.. ,--.. ~. ,....-y - a.. l.