The Washington times., 1927-12-14
GEM SEEKS
FREQUENT
ACTION
BY Gene Tunney

CHICAGO. Dec. H.. Everyone has
heard Or q thick fighter, suppose.
Well I am Just thick enough to want
what want in relation to my light
ing campaign for next summer and
that is to have my ring blade just 40
whetted. through competition, as that
Of the man or men ! viii be asked
to face.
Frankly. wasn't satisfied with
my form at Chicago last September.
| There was something missing IN my
timing and Judgment Of distance
and neither my handlers nor unys
self were slow In finding 1t out.
/ remember Jimmy Bronson com.
menting on my lack Of accuracy
with my right hand directly a6ter
the fourth round This was 4
round in which almost finished
dempsey with right.land punches
but this didn't fool Jimmy.
He knew II was or ana he
knew the reason for II. We
have since agreed that no man
can do himself Justice fighting
only once year.
I know am going to surprise
you when say that the Chicago
fight was far easier for me than
was the first one with Dempsey in
| Philadelphia. But II Is fact Just
the same. In the first place,
i Dempsey's punches really hurt me
in Philadelphia. They hurt for
several days afterward.
/ came out Of the Chicago battle
\ with hardly bruise and make
that statement in full recognizance
Of the fact that / sat on the floor
in that seventh round and heard q
referee count over me for the first
time in my life. Yet say again
that Dempsey's punches in that
fight didn't hurt me as they did IN
i Philadelphia.
What was the answer9 10 I
think that Dempsey Il losing his
punch? Frankly. I do not. I
| think the answer rested more with
me, in fact. than it did with him.
was In great condition &C
| Chicago, physically, mentally,
morally. It was. ! consider, far
| superior to the condition ! e.
Il tanned &C Philadelphia. Tie
reason for this, as figure &c.
had to DO with my state Of mind
/ at both places.
At Philadelphia, IN spite OF my
ibrash talk, was far from the COM
fident fellow pretended to Be and
Il guess you couldn't blame me for
that. When almost one hundred
men out OF q hundred declare that
you are in for licking, it il pretty
l hard for young fellow to make
himself believe that all Of them ara
wrong.
i The result was that went to the
fight with nerves on edge and q
certain tautness about me, which
caused me to feel every punch in Z.
way that wouldn't ordinarily
feel 1t.
4 The positions, however. were res
versed before the Chicago fight4
There was no nervousness. no feel.
ing of Impending uncertainty:
merely one Of serenity and Quiet
confidence. I had reason to be-
lieve that / was master Of the
situation and this attitude did az
much as anything else to bring q
perfectly trained man to the ring
| side to defend his title.
Then the match went ON and.
III SUAbS u & 1lAy WCAI0GbAUM UL
condition. 7 found couldn't
make the fight or which I
knew. I was capable. I was
what they call ring rusty
i In view Of this realization and
/ considering how much the title
means to me in more ways than
one. can anyone blame me for
wanting to take as g0odf care Of it
as l can? They say can make
| as much lightning once for Riclxard
next summer as / can IN two
matches. separated BY q matter Of
months. But money isn't every.
thing. particularly when you have
! some
4 value that title above any all
money and, when a thick fighter
once decides what Is best for him,
there is little this side Of the here
| after that can move him from his
Il position.
n - ].