The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-10

The loss of my championship to Ted Kid Lewis in Dayton, Ohio, in 1917, I have always thought. was due to faulty judgment. although l admit that boxers are very few who will admit that they lost a decision on slim points. Perhaps there is some truth in the opinion that a boxer in the heat of action is not in position to give an accurate judg- ment of his own work.
 Anyway, I lost a 20-round decision and the title to Lewis and it stands on the books.
 Battling Levinsky was scheduled to fight in the east several days be- fore my bout with Lewis was to be held and Dan Morgan, figuring that he was needed in Levinsky's corner, did not go out of Ohio until the day before the fight.
 Scrap over Referee.
 went to Cincinnati with my brother-in law, Harold Morton, to do my training, as the promoters thought my presence there would in crease interest in the bout among Cincinnati people.
 There was the usual controversy about the referee. Morgan holding out for Walter Kelly, but I got tired of the arguments and agreed to Lou Bauman, a Cincinnati man, who was highly regarded in that section as ar official.
 My only purpose in training was to get my legs strong and my wind good. l didn't have to do much box ing, as I knew enough about Lewis to feel sure that l could beat him if l was strong enough to keep going fast for 20 rounds.
 Just before the bout started on ha m Or ne ha iel, tnlI me to keep him off with my left hand and try to wear him down, as l never had much trouble in reach ing him with a right.
 Hit 1t up in the twentieth round if 1t goes that far. Lots of decisions go on the last round regardless of what Is done before.'' he said. Watched For Fouls.
 Tho bout when 1t got under way wasn't particularly exciting. Lewis was very cautious and I didn't get scoring all the points. Between rounds I would ask Dan how 1t looked. and he was not one of those 'yessers" who would hand you the 'soft soap"
 You're going along easy You're way out ahead. Watch your punches and don't get any way near low" he said several times. We were always careful about foul decisions"
 l felt all along that l was winnin g by mile. l rested up about every other round and when the nineteenth finished l was perfectly fresh.
 "Go out there now and go to it, Dan said as tile gong rang for the twentieth and last round l dld. l gave Lewis everything had and put him down with a left hook to the jaw for the count Of nine. He got up and held on so couldn't get another shot at his jaw He was weak in the knees when the round ended and he weaved over to | his corner.
 i Feeling positively sure that there was no question about the verdict | l walked back to my corner. Fol no particular reason I turned around toward the referee as I was getting | into my robe and saw him point to Lewis as the winner
 BrittOn Loses Head.
 The decision stunned me for mo ment and then I lost my head. ran across the ring, but Morgan | jumped through the ropes and chased over after me.
 You can kill a hundred and i won't get your title back. If vol lost a pile of dough on a race i wouldn't get the pack back if vol l slugged the horse. would it?" Nor gan argued and I finally cooled of | and felt ashamed that 1 had locke, like poor loser.
 Minus the title, there was only on thing ahead of us and that was get ting 1t back. When we returned tt l New York we tried to get Lewis t' talk business but all we could ge out of Jimmy Johnston was laugh