The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-31

knew if 1 was to avoid losing the him away from me. My place WI hand, make him box and keep him
 From what I had picked up in my first bout with him 1 knew him to be strong, aggressive youngster, but be couldn't box much and his head work was slow. I figured that he could not have improved too much in the interim, but he proved that ht had before the bout ended.
 When the gong brought us to the center of the ring for the first round he started tearing into me and shoot ing for the jaw. That was just what I had expected him to do and l was greatly relieved.
 Walker, like most Of the young sters in the ring, couldn't resist the temptation to swing at the jaw. Ii was the same mistake that enabled me to retain the title for about two years over my time. Once out in Ohio Bryan Downey, rugged boy of the Walker type. had me helpless on the ropes In such condition that mere tap or shove in the body would have put me down and I would not have been able to get up. Downey, how ever, kept shooting at my head. covered up and lasted through the round.
 Slow to Start.
 Sometimes I have difficulty in get ting started. In my last fight with Ted Lewis 1t took me four rounds to get going. l got up good sweat however. and felt good.
 l wasn't going in the first two rounds against Walker. I had tc watch him too close to take any chances on foollng around to ge, warm. He was helping me along 
 gloves. l was blocking them all, but I wasn't getting anything over my self. I was bothering him with a left hand in his face, but 1t did not take me long tC find young Mickey a greatly improved boxer and fighter and l knew that he would get away from that eventually. I hated to think what would happen then.
 Five rounds Walker kept driving at my Jaw. His corner was yelling frantically-"In the body, Mickey, ir the body!'
 I could hear them plainly. but didn't want Walker to hear it. The advice was too good for him to get I kept backing him in my corner ant talking to him to offset the instruc tions from his seconds. But if l di( keep him too busy to bear there were other ways of getting the infor<,atior to him.
 Gets Wise In The sixth.
 Apparently after the fifth round the fact was impressed upon him tha he was wasting time and energy b. shooting a my jaw because he cam out for the sixth round and tore int me with vicious body blows.
 Som etimes it is possible to keep al opponent guessing and throw him of the right attack. I might have give him an opening to the head an feigned being hurt but it was to dangerous. So l had to take them i the body.
 had a sore spot in the back wit pad over it and he kept poundin away at it. every blow feeling jus like knife. I had to grunt ever time he landed and as he couldn help but hear me I was sure he kneN it was hurting me and that he woul keep up the same attack for the res of the bout. l knew then that I wa through.
 He gave me a terrible beating i the sixth round. When I went bac to my corner I literally flopped 0 the stool and asked Morgan how was going.
 You're way out ahead" he said.
 You're way out ahead" the towt swinger repeated like a parrot
 It seemed to me that they shoul have said: You're outa your head | O O b
 Seventh Is Awful.
 It was up to me to put bold fror and act like I felt a million s the other corner wouldn't find ou how bad I was, so I cracked gri and remarked:
 That's a helluva thing for cham pion to ask-how'm I goin'!"
 Morgan didn't reply and l went ot again.
 It was worse in the seventh roun, thought I was going to be droppe at any time. l kept thinking ho' wonderful it would be to sit down fo a while. My arms were heavy. and seemed that l was walking throug heavy mud. I got a terrible shoe