San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-01-28
Physically, Boxer Has Much
to Learn But Brain Is
True Champs.
DOPE ON NEW PHENOM
Perry Sizes Up Latest
Heavyweight to Jump
Into Limelight. y
= BY Lawrence Perry.

Copyright. 1892. by Mabel Herbert Harper
Once a champion, always a champion
is a saying that has prevailed in sport
ing circles time out of mind. The
phrase doesn't mean a great deal when
you come to analyze it. Practically it
means nothing at all, since, as we well
know. champions arise, hold their brief
period of glory and then become has
beens. Perhaps the best meaning re-
lates exclusively TO mentality. That is
TO say, that the mental qualities that
went to make up a champion never
leave him, even after his physical PROV
ess has waned.
This is probably true, at least in a
sufficient number of cases to prove a
rule.
Studying Floyd johnson, the young
heavyweight pugilist from Iowa, who
after a triumphant career among the
third and fourth raters of the West,
came TO New York and knocked out
Bob Martin of the A. Z. f., and then
gainted a decision over the crafty and
experienced Bill Brennan, we find lot
of mental qualities that suggest champ
ionship caliber.
Physically, johnson is generally re-
garded as in need Of further experience
and development, but so far as brain ac-
ton is concerned he is there right
now.
Has Complexion Of Flapper.
Floyd is a blond giant, fine-looking
and with an agreeable infectious smile.
He comes from prime old Iowa stock on
his fathers side while his mother was
derived from an old Missouri strain in
the Big Blue region. johnson him
self was born in Des Moines. He has
eyes as blue and clear as the inland
lakes of the Northwest and his pink and
white complexion would be the envy oil
any flapper. But the eyes can grow
hard. and when he sets his jaws and
shows his teeth he is not the pleasantest
being on earth to gaze upon.
| His height is an even six feet and he
fights at 1916 pounds. 1t may be that
he viii grow bit larger and stronger
but Floyd himself figures that he has
attained his full physical growth. When
he was eighteen he began a career as
an iron worker but a dispute with q
burly co-worker which ended in a fight
i decided the youngster to turn tC
the ring. He journcJed to California
in order to start his career without
the handicap of parental objections
and entered into several amateur bouts
His first appearance was in a tourna.
tment conducted by a San francisco
newspaper in which he knocked his on
ponent,' Jack Morris, out in one round
For this victory he received diamond
studded belt buckle which he still wears
In his second bout he won the ANA
teur championship Of the Pacific Coas
by knocking out Sydney Chermiss, alsC
in one round. The tourney in which
this occurred was conducted by tn
Olympic Athletic Club, an organization
in which James ]. Corbett and Jimm!
Britt were developed. His third AM
last amateur bout was against Grcel
named Palanteliopulos. This setto h
won on points.
he Takes Aspirin Twice.
Entering professional boxing, he wa
first pitted against heavy name
Louis Aspirin. Floyd had a tough tim
winning on points but later he knocke
Aspirin out in two rounds.
johnson, both as amateur and pre-
, has yet to lose match. He has Tough
40 battles and won SO of them by knock
outs. This is no showing to sneeze al
i; Some of the good .third-raters he bea
we're Willie Meehan. frankie Farnei
Fred Aullican, al Hoag. Fred Snyde
Cat the time champion Of the Atlanti
fleet). Tom Martin, Al Richie, an
!, Soldier Bunker.
Johnson's adviser and trainer ha
: been Alec Greggains, an old-time barr
!, knuckle scrapper. who. when he fe
the time was ripe, sent his protege I
New York. Since arriving in the bi
e city. johnson, under the managemer
e of Charles Cook, has knocked out Jc
Mccain, italian Jack Herman, India
Joe Stanton, Carmino Caggiano, Sale
Maxted, Larry Williams, Joe Vidas an
Bob Martin and has beaten Bill Brel
nan OH points.
Ill johnson has one great asset in b
favor. He would rather box than ei
and the longer the route the better |
- is satisfied. Jack Dempsey. who hi
been of valuable assistance to the your
man. may later be called upon to let h
5 pupil demonstrate Mt his expense no
y much he has learned