Evening star., 1923-03-30

Quite naturally, then, it was severe
blow just before the start. of my last
the announcement made to 10000 fans
at the ringside in Madison Square
Garden:
'All bets are off on this contest"
looked across the ring to Walkers 8
corner, and he seemed just as sur
prised as felt I turned around to
Dan Morgan, my manager. In my
corner and he told me to 60 ahead
and do my best and that everything
would be OK.
idea that something was in the air.
but I passed II off as | had things of
more Importance to occupy my mind.
While ] was getting into my ring
togs Tex Rickard came into the dress
ing room Rickard and ! have always
been good friends, and when I was
boxing for him in Madison Square
Garden he usually came around to- the
dressing room to have few words
before the bout.
Ricknrd Is Curious.
How do you feel, Jack?" he asked
me rather casually. and l told him /
felt pretty good
You're the champion! Are you go
ing out to VIM" he came back
quickly.
thought it was an unusual ques-
ton. and would have considered II a
JOKE ndu MS expression NOT pteH 80
serious. After a little hesitation ]
answered that l certainly was going
to try to get the decision.
Aren't you in good shape?" he con-
tinued.
I'm In as good a shape as I can
I added that I didn't feel as good
as I did before the Leonard fight in
June but that l had been training &
indoors. and that I had not been able
to sleep we'll also reminded him
that l was getting old. and that
couldn't work myself into condition
like youngsters can.
Odds Changed Suddenly.
Dan Morgan then came into the
dressing room and Rickard told him
there was some funny betting going
on. and that the boxing commission
was on him.
They were betting to on Britton
the doors were open. Now they're Of
fering to l and to ] that Walker
wins, and some Of them have money
that Britton will be knocked out.
Rickard said.
There's nothing wrong with that
betting. It's wise money going down
on Walker. Any one who saw them
| when they weighed in this afternoon
| would know that Britton shouldn't
! be the favorite," Morgan replied.
That's partially true. but ] can't
understand the reason for the sudden
change in the betting" Rickard said
We'll. there's nothing wrong with
! our end" Morgan said. You'd better
| see who your judges are and talk to
the referee"
Morgan Cheers Me.
Rickard then went out. He return ed
! later and said that he couldn't find
out a thing, but that he would be
| satisfied II / would assure him that
was going out to do my best.
I told him that ! was going to give
| the bout my best efforts and he went
out again.
| After he had gone Morgan said to
me: "Old man. you were right wher
you said you were going to try your
| best to win, and you're going to have
a helluva time. Did you see tina,
| Walker boy when he weighed in?'
l told him that l had seen him. hat
| seemed to be and had been impressed
! that he was down to 144 pounds. q
| weight at which he was particularly
good. as I had learned previously.
Listen. you got to use old general.
ship and everything else now. THAI
| kid is right. and he'll keep coming
! into you. You should have called of
! the fight. I just told Maxey Blumen
! thai not to bet on you. He had ter
| thousand TO lay. I told him I didn''
think you We're right" Morgan said.
Dan has peculiar ideas about cheer
| ing up a fighter. l felt a lot the sam'
way he did about it. but it didn't d,
any good to be told about it. L
didn't disturb me, however, as
thought that Dan was just a littl,
more than usually pessimistic.
I He didn't want me to take the Wal
ker bout In the first place. two
tyears ago last August in a twelve
! round no-decision bout in Jersey City