The Wolf Point herald., 1923-06-28

goes fifteen rounds that Gibbons viii
outlook Dempsey and win. That is
purely an opinion and it does not
mean a great deal, but it is true
that Gibbons is as good boxer as
Dempsey.
Dempsey Hardest Hitter.
Has he as good punch? He
hasn't and he knows it. Dempsey
can hit harder than any man in the
ring today. The champion doesn't t
have to land squarely to make his
blows hurt either. He can hit an op-
ponent on the elbow and do a lot of
harm, too. Harder now than at any
other time of his boxing career.
1t may sound strange, but his man
ager, Eddie Kane, claims that Glib
bons was in the ring eight years be-
fore he found out that he could hit.
| His record substantiates the state
ment. Gibbons began boxing in 1913
He went along until 1921 winning
most of his bouts on decisions.
In other words on his ability as a
boxer, by outpointing his opponents
and not knocking them out. In 1913
Gibbons engaged in six bouts and
knocked out one man.
Starts knockout String
In 1914 he knocked out four op-
ponents, but all of them we're de-
cidedly second rate. In the three
years following, 1915, 1915, and
1917, he failed to score a knockout.
In 1918 he stopped Silent Martin
in the tenth round. That was his
first bout of the year. After that he
took part in 25 contests, extending
over a period of almost three years, |
without putting across one knock
out punch. He decided that he could |
not hit and would never be able to-
Then, in 1920, Eddie Kane took
him abroad. Gibbons was not in
training and thought he was over
weight, but on the boat going across
he knocked out fairly capable op-
ponent in one round. That started
him thinking Hard work in training
has always been a deep rooted prin-
ciple with him and he had consist
emily trained down to a fine point
before entering the ring. He decided
to change his system.
When he returned to the United
States he did only light work in prep
aration for his first bout and entered
the contest weighing nearly 180
pounds, this time it was Tony Mel
choir, in one round.
20 X. O.'s in 33 Bouts
Since then Gibbons has scored '
,8 knockouts in 33 bouts. He has {
lecided that he can hit, and so have ]
lis rivals. Few of them in the last t
hree years have lasted more than 7
hree or four rounds with the st. t
'aul heavyweight.
Gibbons does not train so hard as t
e once did. He keeps his weight up a
lose to $50 pounds and his punch '
as ceased to be joke. 1t is not I
o destructive as Dempsey's, but it !
erves, and not even the champion d
imself can afford to take chances b
nth it. On this score Dempsey will t
ave the edge on the Fourth, but a
will not be nearly so pronounced b
n edge as many think now.
This leaves only physical and Y
lental conditions and luck to be con- h
dered in this summing up of the t,
Ope. Since Gibbons does not smoke I'll
: drink and lives in the open most Sc
the time, he is practically al N
ays in shape. sc
Both Men Will Be Fit. I'll
That he will be, barring an acci- os
mt, in perfect physical trim for the "
)ut is foregone conclusion. Demp- us
" always trains we'll but he has ke
zen idle for two years and two idle OF
,ars are sure to have taken some aI
H. re
Moreover, Gibbons will have what 81
-er advantage there is in engaging 81
frequent battles. There is diff IN
renee between sparring exhibitions,
-en those Dempsey gives, and actual OF
ntests and this difference favors the co
Iallenger. "a
This will also have its mental eff Kl
ct. To Gibbons the bout will come Ie
part of the ordinary course of ii ma
Tents. To Dempsey it will be th
range and unusual, like an actors ma
turn to the stage after long lay ol
f. 1t must be remembered, too, Tie
at the champions title will be at ne
AXE. Gibbons has nothing to lose la
d everything to win. ag
Gibbons Supremely Confident ma
Gibbons is supremely confident. 1t mt
0ks as if he should have a slight fr
vantage in both physical and men
condition when his big chance
mes on the Fourth. tn'
The luck will go where it lists, SO
t if Gibbons gets his share of it tes
may furnish one of the greatest SIC
sets in the history of boxing. an
rsey City witnessed the battle of an.
e century. Shelby may see the ia
rprise of the century. YET
Ford and Strain Decline OF
Manager Dan Tracy will probablp rig
ect an advisory committee of Shell Ru
and Great Falls business men, VIZ
I'M among those who helped to ella
se the second 100000 for the
arantee fund. Shirley S. Ford and wa
Issell Strain, whose names were att
sgested have declined to serve on JUS
S committee, on account of pres JAG
'e of business. the
'Mr. Strain and T." said Mr.. Ford dol
an interview, Simply belong to buI
host of well-wishers of the fight lst
i are not connected in any capac- neV
official or otherwise, with the he
y contest or its management. aw;
e announcement that we had ten full