The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-05-01
Who and What He Is Told
In Interview With
Countryman
By ROBERT L. RIPLEY

Quintin Romero, the big Chile bean
from below the equator, who seeks
to emulate Firpo, is matched to meet
Floyd johnson on the night Of May Q.
A look at Romero in training will
not inspire optimism. He is big and
willing-but that is about all. How
ever, Firpo was not impressive either
when he first came to this country,
and the "Wild Bulr proved to be the
biggest sensation the game OF boxing
ever knew.
Here is a story written by South
American: ~
Quintin Romero is the type who as
serts himself on the day OF his first
match. He Is dotted OF exceptional
qualities OF strength. besides the fight
ing spirit common TO the pugillsts Of
the other side of the Andes. He has
tested these qualities, conquering a
name in only three years Of ring. In
Chile he went quickly to the top,
knocking all his opponents with def
mite hits of punch.
His punch Is the kind that puts the
fight to sudden. end. se IL
Opponent Quits Ring
Eleure, noted French pugilist, whom
he had to fight before he encountered
Niles. has left the ring entirely on
account Of the beating that Romaro
AsOJaG save AtAus WG &uIAIL LuHt2 OUT
battler must yet encounter more i'm
portant rivals in North America or
with Firpo to be considered cham
pion. He knows It. Judging his de-
sire. ~
Tell US about your life as box
err" 80. n
This was enough, and he was willing
to tell US about his ring life and his
experience before he became q pugi-
list.
II was working as engineer of an
Antofogasta train, dumping the coal
and sweating hard. No more than to
piness than coming to the end of the
trip. Good luck, impersonated in my
friend Manuel Bastias, advised me to
leave my work and try to give punches
with the same prodigality that used
to dump coaifin my engine.
Mr.. Bastias is a professional pugi-
list and began training me. I began
to meet men of my own weight, with
so much success that soon there were
few rivals left
In my first battles lost once for
not being well trained. and two more
were won only by points Draw. When
could not fiVd anyone else to meet,
was ready to quit, when Mr.. Federico
Vergara Vicuna, director Of the boxing
league, offered me protection, taking me
to Europe and keeping me there till /
had my first encounter, Besides Mr..
Bastias, 1 had for trainer, Mr.. Felipe
zuniga, Indicator of Firpo, OF whom
learned whole lot. l
How many encounters have you
had?: !,
Seventeen, winning IS Of them by
knockouts, two by decision, two by
draw and lost one. AS you wen
know, my first match in Paris was with
the Canadian Larry Gains, whom /
knocked out in the tenth round. I did
not accomplish 1t before because / had
not boxed for long time, having had
only three weeks training when I met
Eleure, and better yet when put
Niles out in the third round"
ROmerO's Punch it.f
Romero's manager, Mr.. David Eche-
varria, who was also present in this in,
terview, commented that Eleures. man
ager, Mr.. N. Lerda, never could be-
lieve his pupil to be defeated In good
form.
"Eleure," he tells, US, as the director
and principal of the boxing school
where Niles comes from, he being the
French champion for many years. Mr..
Lerda was manager for both these
champions, and was very disappointed
in the downfall of the schools ,princi-
pal. There was . great deal Of scandal
saying that Eleure had lost because
Romero's gloves weighed only six
ounces, accounting this for a broken
jaw, three missing teeth and other
physical disabilities, from which he is
still suffering. Many of the pupils
joked: I know what was in the gloves
1t was Romero's punch" ,o.f -