New Britain herald., 1927-11-17
FLOWERS WAS AN
 AMAZING FIGHTER
Former MiddleWeight Champion
 Dies After Operation

floStl oll llIso llpo, l lieOuOGt lISST Flowers, the Praying Deacon" of the prize ring. died in a private hos pital here last night following q minor operation.
 Clad in the Tiger" bathrobe bear ing the huge yellow head of a jungle cat across the shoulders-a familiar sight in rings all over the country the taciturn Georgia Negro who once held the worlds middleweight championship, climbed up on the operating table in the sanitarum of pr. w. C.. Fralick to undergo an operation for a growth over his right eye.
 As the anaesthetic was being ad- ministered the Tiger a deacon in his church at Atlanta, Ga, mur- mured:
 If I should die before I wake. I pray thee, Lord, my soul to take"
 Without regaining more than semi consciousness following the opera ton, performed by Dr. Fralick. Flowers died suddenly at S:30 p. m. when his heart collapsed after he was thought to be out of danger.
 Little more than year ago, Harry Greb, who lost his title to Flowers in decision bout at Madi- son Square Garden Feb. 26, 1926, died under similar circumstances following an operation for removal of bone from his nose. Flowers lost his crown to Mickey Walker in a 10-round decision in Chicago Dec. 8.
 Dr. Fralick, surgeon extra aordin- ary to fighters who have suffered injuries, declares that Flowers death was "one case in 100000" He said the boxer was in Splendid condi- ton" before the operation and had rallied well. Flowers death occur red so suddenly, Dr. Fralick said, that he was unable to reach the pa tents side from another room at the call of a second physician before the end had come.
 The colorful Tiger" whose fstic career extended over nine years, had been a unique figure in ring history X clever, speedy "Southpaw," with an attack that never once slackened despite sctbacks, Flowers fought 12O lights before winning the 160-pound title. He was 32 years old and met all the leading middleweights of his time, many light heavyweights and a few heavyweights.
 In the past year. Flowers fought 19 times without loss in a campaign to force Mickey Walker back into the ring for another title match. Only yesterday, Madison Square Garden authorities served notice on Walker that he must agree to meet Flowers under terms of an old con- tract or legal measures would be taken to bring about the match.
 It was in the preparation for this expected title ''shot" that the "Tigcr" underwent yesterdays operation, Walk Miller. his manager said Years of campaigning had left punches of hardened cartalege over Flowers eyes, he said, as well as a slightly "cauiflowered" right ear which were reduced by pr. Fralick
 "I went with Flowers into the operating room," Miller said, land he acted just as though he were go- ing into the ring for an easy fight. He was in splendid shape, but quiet as ever. He took along the little black Bible that he has carried in his grip wherever he has gone. He has had headaches lately and the punches over his eyes hurt when he was hit, but we expected no trouble.
 Have you anything to talk ove, now?' l asked him before he took tho anaesthctic.
 No, sir he replied.
 That was the third remark this silent fellow, who talked but rarely, had made to me in the whole day. Once before, he said Yes, sir and again 'Sho' is in emphasizing some thing l had said. Earlier in the day, Flowers made his will, leaving property valued at about s100.0 .000 to his wife and 6-year- old daughter. Vera Lee, in Atlanta"
 Flowers was born in Camilla, Ga, Aug. 5. 1895. In ring career that stretched through almost 200 battles he met defeat frequently, but al- ways "came back to battle harder for advancement. In his entire career. Flowers suffered eight knockouts.
 Flowers wound up his career last Saturday night here with a four round knockout of Leo Gates. h. dian heavyweight. Only a few nights before he had fought Maxie Rosen- bloom, New York middleweight, to 8 draw in Detroit.
 Tiger Flowers was fearful of the effects of prebattle prayers upon his ring career.
 Flowers never prayed before a fight nor read the little black Bible which he carried with him every where.
 He explained this by saying: "I couldn't pray to the Lord for victory before a fight because ] might meet better man, a stronger man, and lose. Then l might think that the Lord hadn't answered my prayers and l might be tempted to doubt Him. So I always wait and when the fight is over l thank God for the strength that brought me safely through, and then l read my Bible.
 The Georgia negro admitted, how ever, that perhaps he had whispered a prayer or two to himself at odd times when the shots of men like Jack Delaney, Harry Greb and Mickey Walker were bouncing from his chin.