The Kevin review. [volume] (Kevin, Mont.) 1922-1929, 1923-06-28

six rounds with the champion he will
stay the entire fifteen, and If the bout
goes fifteen rounds that Gibbons will
outlook Dempsey and win. That is
purely an opinion and it does moi
mean a great deal, but 1t is true
that Gibbons is as good a boxer as
Dempsey.
Dempsey Hardest Hitter.
Has he as good a punch? He
hasn't and he knows it. Dempsey
can hit harder than any mar 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 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 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 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 $50
pounds, this time it was Tony Mel
choir, in n round.
% X. O.'s in 33 Bouts
Since then Gibbons has scored
28 ~knockouts in 33 bouts. He has
decided that he can hit, and SO have
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
to $50 pounds and his punch
has ceased to be a joke. 1t is not
and not even the champion
himself can afford to take chances
with it. On this score Dempsey will
have the edge on the Fourth, but
1t will not be nearly so pronounced
an edge as many think now.
This leaves only physical and
conditions and luck to be con-
sidered in this summing up of the
dope. Since Gibbons does not smoke
Dr. drink and lives in the open most
Of the time, he is practically al
ways in shape.
Both Men Will Be Fit.
That he will be, barring an acct
lent, in perfect physical trim for the
is a foregone conclusion. Demp-
always trains we'll but he has
,een idle for two years and two idle
are sure to have taken some
oil.
Moreover, Gibbons will have what
yer advantage there is in engaging
n frequent battles. There is a diff
erence between sparring exhibitions,
ven those Dempsey gives, and actual
ontests and this difference favors the
hallenger.
This will also have its mental eff
ect. To Gibbons the bout will come
S a part of the ordinary course of
To Dempsey it will be
and unusual, like an actors
eturn to the stage after a long lay
IF. 1t must be remembered, too,
nat the champions title will be at
Gibbons has nothing to lose
nd everything to win. I
Gibbons Supremacy Confident
Gibbons is supremely confident. 1t !
,oks as if he should have a slight !
dvantage in both physical and men
IL condition when his big chance
on the Fourth. I
The luck will go where it lists, :
ut if Gibbons gets his share of 1t !
Q may furnish one of the greatest :
psets in the history of boxing. :
ersey City witnessed the battle of 9
lie century. Shelby may see the |
of the century. ,
Ford and Strain Decline .
Manager Dan Tracy will prQbablp I
,lect an advisory committee of Shell l
and Great Falls business men, '
ON among those who helped to {
Use the second 100000 for the q
larantee fund. Shirley S. Ford and y
ussell Strain, whose names were d
Iggested have declined to serve on J
is committee, on account of pres >
re of business. =
"Mr. Strain and T." said Mr.. Ford q
an interview, Simply belong to 0
Q host of well-wishers of the fight Il
Id are not connected in any capac- d