The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-07-18
Dempsey in Better Shape
Than Year Ago, He Thinks
Ex-Champ Gives Five Good
Reasons Why He Believes
He Can Come Back-Says
Mental, Physical and Fight
ing Condition Retter-Old
Seek and Ring Sense Are
Back
(BY JIMMY POWERS)

Saratoga Springs. n. V, July 49,
tNEA Just what makes you think
you are a better fighter now than
YOU were a year ago.?
Jack Dempsey was sprawled on
the grass cooling his golf brogues
in shady nook just off the 10th
fairway at McGregor links near his
training camp.
Leo phelonius Flynn, his gray
matched manager, cooked up a wise
and inquirlng eye from the broken
hickory mashie shaft he was rue
fully fondling. Overhead hot sun
poured its golden brilliance down on
the links. IL was an off day on the
schedule. A good time, thought this
writer. to get Jack to open up bit
about himself.
Has Five Reasons
There are five good reasons why
! think | can come back" says JACK,
very seriously and weighing his
words carefully as if to convince
himself he had justified his coming
out Of virtual retirement.
First, my physical condition. !
am young. Thirty-two is no old mans
age. have never really been
Knocked out. have strength. good
wind. Il strong pair of hands and
legs that held up under the most
severe tests | could give them in the
mountains at Ojai.
SECOND. my mental condition.
have Leo here to look after every
thing. | have no sheriffs to dodge
No jails waiting for ME. No mil
lion dollar court suits To lie awake
at night and worry about. | can
concentrate on training. My head Is
clear My nerves are not jumpy.
Third, my fighting condition. You
know there is a world OF difference
between good physical condition and
good fighting condition. l feel like
going in there and tearing things
up. always did like to fight. Now
have something worth while fight
ing for | want to regain my title
more than anything else in the world.
figure Pm going to knock out
Sharkey, repeat the same dose with
Tunney and, when ! have the old
crown back. then think Of retiring.
Old Sock Is Back
"Fourth, my punch. The old sock
IS back. | can tell when | whip my
rights over on my sparring partners.
! can feel the big ones curl up under
the steam Of my left hook. That
gives ii man all the confidence in
the world. know Pm going in there
July 81 with plenty Of ammunition.
Fifth, my ring sense. The instinct
that tells me when to duck, when
to bob, weave, counter and block.
My ring sense is back because my
head is cleared of all worries. finan-
clal and otherwise. Traffic down all
the nerve centers is cleared"
Leo Flynn nodded his head approx
ingly as Jack chartered on. The ex-
champion scowled for a moment as
he permitted his mind to race back
over the past. The genial good ma
ture fitted from his bronzed face.
He sat up very determinedly, and
banged niblick up and down as he
spoke, tearing hole in the sod at
his feet.
Isn't Broke
II would not be here training if
did not think was able to come
back and take both Sharkey and Tun-
ney. Pm not broke. All the money
in the world would not make up for
the humiliation Of being flattened.
1--WE never really been knocked
out in my life. never,will.
II don't know Sharkey but l know
myself. l know ! will get back my
speed by the time the fight is due
and that means ! figure to corner
him sometime in Is rounds. That
lad has been knocked out. What has
been done before can be done again
| still have my punch. In fact,
never lost it, only my speed. This
hollow SHELF stuff gives NE q
laugh. 1t will give everyone else
one too, the night of july 81"