The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1923-06-29


outlook Dempsey and win. That Is
purely an opinion and 1t does mol
mean great deal, but 1t is true
that Gibbons is as good a 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
have to land squarely to make his
blows hurt either. He can hit an OPP
ponent on the elbow and do 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
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 OPP
ponents, but all of them were de-
cidedly second rate. In the three
years following, 1915, 1916, 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 rs 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 a fairly capable OPP
ponent in one round. That started |
him thinking. Hard work in training |
has always been deep rooted prin-
ciple with him and he had consist !
emily trained down to 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 $50
pounds, this time it was Tony Mel
choir, in one round.
% X. O.'s in 33 Bouts
Since then Gibbons has scored
% knockouts in 33 bouts. He has
decided that he can hit, and so have
his rivals. Few of them in the last
three years have lasted more than
three or four rounds with the st.
Paul heavyweight.
Gibbons does not train so hard as
he once did. He keeps his weight up
lose to $50 pounds and his punch
las ceased to be a joke. 1t is not
10 destructive as Dempsey's, but it
erves, and not even the champion
himself can afford to take chances !
With it. On this score Dempsey will I
lave the edge on the Fourth, but {
t will not be nearly so pronounced /
N edge as many think now.
This leaves only physical and J
mental conditions and luck to be con- l
idered in this summing up of the t
ope. Since Gibbons does not smoke t
r drink and lives in the open most S
f the time, he is practically al I
rays in shape. S
Both Men Will Be Fit. +
That he will be, barring an acct 9
ent, in perfect physical trim for the :,
out is a foregone conclusion. Demp- u
ey always trains we'll but he has h
cen idle for two years and two idle
ears are sure to have taken some d
Ill. r
Moreovar Gibbons will have what B
yer advantage there is in engaging s.
| frequent battles. There is diff II
'rence between sparring exhibitions,
zen those Dempsey gives, and actual o
,ntests and this difference favors the y
lallenger. Y
This will also have it's mental eff K
ct. To Gibbons the bout will come Il
part of the ordinary course of a
tents. To Dempsey it will be u
range and unusual, like an actors "
turn to the stage after a long lay a.
f. 1t must be remembered, too, u
at the champions title will be at ~
AXE. Gibbons has nothing to lose Id
Id everything to win. az
Gibbons Supremacy Confident LII
Gibbons is supremely confident. 1t IA
oks as if he should have slight u
vantage in both physical and men
condition when his big chance !,
mes on the Fourth u
The luck will go where it lists, So
1t if Gibbons gets his share of it te
may furnish one of the greatest ST
'sets in the history of boxing. d
rsey City witnessed the battle of al
e century. Shelby may see the "
rprise of the century. ye
Ford and Strain Decline VI
Manager Dan Tracy will prQbablp -
lect an advisory committee of Shell II
and Great Falls business men, w
ON among those who helped to ci'
Use the second 100000 for the
arantee fund. Shirley S. Ford and w
lssell Strain, whose names were at
ggested have declined to serve on u
Is committee, on account of pres ID -,
re of business. IN
mr.. Strain and l." said Mr.. Ford ao
an interview, simply belong to ou
, host of well-wishers of the fight Isl
d are not connected in any capac- ne
+, official or otherwise, with the ne
A - Mt