Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-10
EY JIMMY DE FOREST.
FORMER Trainer OF Jack Dempsey and F1mou
Conditioner OF Fighters.

Conditioner OF Fighters,
n YEW YORK. July 9.--With Jacl
IN Dempsey and Jack Sharkey
VI both down to the grind fo'
4 their coming battle. find thai
Sharkey already is closer Il
fighting form than the former cham
pion, despite the fact that Dempsey
has been doing routine work quite a
bit longer than the Boston man.
The reason for this is that SharkeA
really has been very close to ttghtinS
form for some time. He never has
gotten out OF condition.
When | last saw Dempsey he ap-
peared to be Just on the verge OF IND
Ing himself. He was like fellow who
had been laid up for some time start
Ing to walk again, uncertain and fal'
tering.
! Leo Flynn. about as shrewd fight
manager as you can find anywhere.
MAS quick to see what Dempsey
needed and he was Just as quick to
apply the remedy. He made Dempsey
cut out his public performances and
buckle down to real hard Work-the
work of learning how to fight all over
again.
. Tragedy Spurred Dempsey.
! There was quite lot of speculation
as TO what effect the death of his
brother John would have on Dempsey
Some said that it would prove set
back / don't believe this. l think
lust the opposite. Dempsey reminded
hne good deal of hack horse when
first saw him in action at White Sui
phur Springs, where he is preparing
for Sharkey. He was Jogging along
Aice and lazily, thinking he was getting
into condition. He needed a swift kick,
sust like the hack horse needs a sharp
tut from the buggy whip to spur him
into real effort.
The tragic circumstances surround
ing the passing of his brother supplied
this kick. 1t shocked him into action.
aIe had to do something to let off
steam and excitement and he was do
Ing it in the last couple of days saw
him at White Sulphur Springs.
! I am convinced Dempsey will he
able to round into what will look like
good condition physically. Any man
living the life he is living at present,
In the pure air. out in the sunshine
hnd exercising is bound to get into
good shape; he can't help it.
But. Can Dempsey Take Ii.
But how about Jacks boxing: How
about his ability to withstand punish
nlent? How about his ability to carry
pn a sustained effort at top speed?
/ Those are important questions.
Dempsey used to be able to take a
terrific wallop OH the jaw. I wonder
II he can stand up under few of
them today.
| l noticed he was not hitting as fast
as he should. not near as fast as he
used to. Besides, he seems to have
10 set himself these days for a punch,
whereas in the old days he just let
them so 'ZIp-zip-Zip," like torpedoes
Slipping from a gun.
Two weeks of intensive training,
Is going to make big difference in
Dempsey, am sure. But the thing
that will be on trial on July II will
be Jack Dempsey's style of fighting.
His style will be pitted against
Eharkeys style. and there is no doubt
that the stuff Sharkey showed in his
fight with Jim Maloney is better than
what Dempsey has to offer, or rather,
had to offer when l left his camp.
Sharkey Cocky as Ever.
As for Sharkey. well, he tells me
This is a "cake-walk" for him. Just
as cocky as ever. He asked what
thought the effect Of Dempsey's
latest tough break would be on the
ex-champions training.
Sharkey shows much speed and
cleverness in his work. He needs a