San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-10-29
1I2@a&4i
Fat Tells of Dempsey.
Says Champ Is Perfect.
as Better Than Ever"
And Also Hits Harder.
How Fat Judged Matter.
BY Damon Runyon
Copyright. 1925. International Feature
Service, Inc.)

service, lnc.)
have just received letter from
my friend Mr.. William LfHeaureaux,
more Familiarity known as Fat Larue,
in his day heavyweight pugilist
of more or less renown in an Fran
cisco.
He used to take on the visiting
firemen of the heavyweight division
in the four-round days in San Fran
cisco as a sort of diversion from his
duties MS a clerk connected with the
city government. He fought Carl
Morris, the Sapulpa engineer, among
others.
Fat Larue's fighting days are be-
hind him. and he devotes himself
largely to the business Of selling au-
tomobiles in San Francisco, but he
was one of the two men who boxed
Jack Dempsey out there not long
ago. In his letter to me he discuss
ed the physical condition of the
heavyweight champion, which is a
topic of much debate here and there
among the followers Of the Manly
Art of Scrambling Ears.
Fat Darue, who is now as fast
as in the days when he got his
nickname, says Dempsey is in fine
condition. l consider Fat Larue a
better judge of physical condition
than the average observer. He has
always been something of an expon-
ent Of physical culture. Moreover,
he has boxed Jack Dempsey before,
so he may be accepted as an au-
Thirty on Dempsey's condition.
"When the promoters spoke to me
about boxing Dempsey, l told them
/ didn't know whether / could get
in any kind of shape to put over an
exhibition" writes Fat Larue. II
was overweight, and had not boxed
for a long time.
"They said they had been all over
town, and were unable to find any
one that might put up any kind of
showing, so finally j said all right.
/ did little wo:.;, and got in fair
shape for the bout.
"They had fellow by the name of
Cowboy Warner as another opponent
for Dempsey. He was TO go two
rounds, but DIDN'T. One round
was enough for him. Then 1 went
on.
II boxed Jack Renault, Dave
Shade, Young Stribling, Harry Greb,
Mickey Walker and a few more OF
the bows who have come out this
way claiming to be champions or
championship eontenders. and think
| held my own with them in exhibit
ton matches at the Olympic club.
Give and take was in order in
these bouts, and ] could give and
take with all of them BUT, believe
me when l tell you this Dempsey is
in a class by himself.
81 stepped around that ring pretty
keep out of the way Of his swings
lively, and had to keep stepping to
keep out of the way of his swings.
| stopped q few, and there were
many that went by me that would
have swept me right out of the park
unassisted had they connected. j..
"In fact, they were so close and
fast that I've been suffering from Il
cold ever since. I boxed Dempsey
about three years ago when he was
here and / tell you now that he is
better today than he ever was. He
was certainly tremendous surprise
to the wisenheimers who were going
around saying, He's out of shape,
and The picture game is doing him
no good etc.
Say, when he walked into that
ring and took off his bathrobe he was
a sight TO behold. He was PER-
feet. He weighed about 195 pounds
which is his ideal weight, and was as
brown us a berry. He was as fit
as any athlete you would ever care
to see.
II weighed about 800 pounds. AMI
looked like Willie Meehan alongside
of him. He is faster and hits harder
than he ever did, and know what
it's all about. As for fighting Wills,
/ think Dempsey could take him on
after a couple of weeks of hard work.
| am sincere in that.
"The only disappointment I proved
to the crowd was that / wasn't
knocked out, but / was looking out
for that in person, and it kept me
moving to do it, too.
"Poor Warner didn't move quite
fast enough, and be collided with one
and was on the mat in about ten or
fifteen seconds after the bell rang.
II saw some comment by you on
my bout with Dempsey, and note you
said | got n bloody nose. l did not
get n bloody nose, and left the ring
in as good condition as when
went in.
But don't let anyone tell you that
the champ is in por condition. He
is in marvellous shape. and is still
the greatest Of them ALL"