Evening star., 1923-07-01

One gets this more as an impress
sion than from anything actually
seen. although the fact should be re-
ported that the champion has growth
of rather large pimples upon his right
leg and body that may mean nothing
at all. and yet detract from what
otherwise would be general sug-
gestion of fiawless health.
Mental Attitude Changed.
Every close observer of Jack Demp-
sey at Great Falls has been struck.
too. by a curious change in his mental
attitude. At Toledo and at Atlantic
City he was great big. bronzed.
playful, rollicking boy, ready to pie
into a comrade and toss him into the
sand at any time. Always he was
surrounded by a crowd OF friends
with whom he would play mush ball
or sit and chat in jovial vein.
Here he has been almost complete
ly a recluse. confining himself to his
little camp colony. The writer is not
one who believes that this is due to
tagging of morale. even II he is prone
to question visitors from Shelby as to
Tommy Gibbons condition. how he
works out and the like. whereas In
the old days he didn't care two hoots
what any one thought OF an oppo. :.
nent Now, the writer thinks that
Jack has developed Into a serious s
citizen. a coal baron. so to speak, VINO
has abandoned the boyish habits and
inclinations of past years.
OF course, this could happen with
out any falling off in his ability as
a fighter. In fact, it might make him
a more dangerous mauler. Formerly
his nervous energy was fearful ana
wonderful. thing to contemplate.
Now he will sit quietly for hait an
hour, talking about many things
other than those relating to his pro-
fession.
1t is hard to judge about so tick
lish q matter as mental condition.
Only the fire test In the ring estab-
fishes or destroys impressions. 1t Is
not too easy either to tell from out
ward physical appearances what a
mans inward physical condition may
he. But tile fact that Dempsey can
go out and do goodly stretch OF
road work without trouble. that he
without even breathing heavily. that
he perspires easily and freely, indi-
cate what the writer has already said
that the champion Is physically right.
At the same time there is the feel
ing that. as he was a better man at
Toledo than he was at Jersey City.
so now he Is not 80 good as when
he met Carpenter. 1t should not be
forgotten, though, that the margin
OF deterioration which nature has
Gcieptly great to send him into the
ring on July 4 with enough stun to
prove his right to hold onto his title.
Gibbons Picture of Health.
Tommy Gibbons glows with health
from toe to crcwn. He glows more
impressively than does Jack. If he
could keep Dempsey from hitting him
rolidly-and he may be able TO do
rounds with perhaps a balance of
points in his favor. Tommy Is a
wearing hitter, but not a quick
knockout puncher-at least, 1t would
seem that he Is not when pitted
against ar opponent so rugged as
the champion.
II Dempsey were one of those
champions who have wasted them
selves in dissipation. IL he had de-
veloped within him that inner layer
of fat that marks athletes who have
livod carelessly, then Gibbons would
have to be handed an even money
chance Of capturing the crown. But
Jack is stickler for careful living
and one may be certain that there
jaw or upon his body that will yield
to Tommys fists.
No one knows what Gibbons can
take. as he has never met a real
puncher The men he has knocked
out have been no better than third
raters, and these fighters have not
been able to test out his ability to
take 1t. The best fighters he has
Greb made show of him, winning
on points. and Tommy lost to Miske
on foul. So far as record goes
the champion has got IL all over the
contender. But when two men meet
II isn't records that count. but what
actually happens in the ring.
Tommy might wear Dempsey
down In tho course Of fifteen rounds.
He might clip Jack on the chin and
stow him away, but IL this happens
1t will be one of the big pugilistic
surprises of the century
Copyright. 1921