The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-01-07

Jack Dempsey, Jack Kearns, McKt
Charley Harvey and others conn
caulifiower ears.
Somewhere" said Dempsey,
elong who will knock me loose fri
has no idea az this moment of
J knew where he was; l might pC
The champion grew reminiscent
as he talked and went back over
the rocky part of his own career.
Many good man never got a
lucky break" he said. Il did,
but before it came / was Just
one of d bunch of ham.and-egg"rs
doing the best l could. Perhaps
II l hadn't hooked up with Loo
Kearns 1 might never have got
my break. He was patient with
me. taught me a lot and has
Steered me right. Before / met
him l never stayed long with any
manager. and 1 guess / was such
O punk prospect that the other
managers did not shed any tears
when we parted.
''The first time 1 came to New
York l had nothing but my
health. l did not remain long
and l didn't make much of an i'm
preston. 1t was several years be-
fore l came back ON occasions
Maybe the kid that is going to
knock me over some day is bat
ting around the country now
living from hand to mouth"
The discussion became general
and flIrnn6 n hn -
heavyweights or boys who are
growing into the class. 1t was
agreed that Dempsey has rothing
to fear yet, but in another two
years-when he Is thirty-he may
have real opposition.
In the East at the present time
are two youths who are considered
lair heavyweight prospects, but
both are quite a distance from
Dempsey at the present moment.
Ad Stone, hailed as the best light
heavyweight developed in the list
two years, is one and Young Strib-
ling the other.
Stone is twenty-five and is now
getting valuable ring experience as
he is graduating into the heavy
weight class. 1t will not be long
now before the former marine will
be bowling over the big slow fell
lows. He is having trouble now
making IT'S pounds-the light heavy
weight limit-and 1t is believed that
inside Of year he will be within
few pounds of Dempsey's fighting
weight.
Stribling is only eighteen--too
young to hazard positive opinion
on at this time. Four years from
hn hn q O00 r1oIIn6n~ Tn
the meantime he must demonstrate
that he can absorb punches and he
must develop knockout ability.
The Macon SchOOIbOy has been
trained as boxer since his knick-
erbOcker days. He was a bantam
when he entered the ring as a
professional and has passed rapid.
ly through the various classes.
This accounts for his boxing abiI.
ity, which is developed to n de-
gree unusual in one of his age.
Managed and trained by his
father and mother he will not be
subjected to the evils of overmatch-
ing, but at this stage of his career
It is important that he be tested
out gradually. Up to now Stribling
has been q bush" fighter He has,
with few exceptions, met only the
wild swingers Of the tall and un-
cut" and has easily defeated them
through superior boxing skill. His
ability to stand hard punching from
experienced opponents has not been
thoroughly demonstrated.
There seems to be little doubt
that Stribling really won the de-
cision over Mike McTigue. Even
his encounter with the world s
champion does not qualify him as
a championship contender, for Nc
Tigue Is a VIGOROUSLY weak hitter.
He has a good defense, but he is
not knockout specialist. Stribling's
fight against Dave Rosenberg In
Newark this week was not severe
test either. as Rosenberg hit him
only once on the jaw and was as
wide open as barn door.
Stribling punched Davis at will,
but although he landed hundreds
Of blows he did not send Rosen-
berg down for the count. 1t may
be argued that he is young and in
experienced, but If he weighs 165
pounds and If ne possessed a real
"kick" he undoubtedly would have
laid Rosenberg low.
Many fighters have developed a
punch after they were well along
In their ring careers. Perhaps
StribIing will. He is growing
rapidly and i'm another year should
be ready to break into the heavy
weight division. He is splendidly
built, knows how to feint and
counter and his intelligence Il far
above the average.
For another year at least he
should be carefully steered. He
isn't ready for the real tough
'uns" yet, in our opinion. When
we see Stribling standing up under
a real bombardment and see him
hitting with precision and stagger-
ing his opponents, we will be more
than ready to revise our opinion.
Stone is much further advanced.
Here Is lad who is graduating
into the first class and meeting op-
ponents who are subjecting him
to real tests. A heavyweight must
possess a knockout punch and be
hardy enough to take them himself
If he expects to so far. Stone has
already proved that he Is game and
can take a hiding. When he is
Rtung he let's go with everything
He can hit, can this boy, and he is
a fair boxer. Both Stone and Strib.
ling possess good left hands. Demp-