New Britain herald., 1928-01-14
GENE MUST KEEP
 EYE ON L0UGHRAN
Jack Britton Wouldn't Bet on
 Iunney if Pair Should Meet
tBy HENRY l.. FAIRFIELD NEA Service Sports Writer


 You may get ready to laugh this off. In fact, before it is sprung, chuckles, jeers and assorted brands of razzberries can be distinguished in the making in the vicinity of the Tunney estate.
 As sort of introduction it might be mentioned for the sake. of for mality that Gene Tunney is the heavyweight champion of the world and that even his critics have to ad- init that he has an edge on the other current heavyweights.
 Under the circumstances any dis cussion of the heavyweight situation involves matching of opinions as to how long Tunney will be able to hold the title and who will get it from him.
 Such a discussion was held re- gently. Present were a nationally known referee of recent years, two or three ranking managers and some well-known fighters.
 If there was anything decided in the discussion i! was that Tunney would have to age down to his challengers as Dempsey did and that the process in a clean living man and hard worker like Tunney might take considerable time.
 What do you think of it, Jack?" was asked of one of the listeners who. as E characteristic with him, hadn't said word.
 "Tunney's better than any of those fellows they're talking about now" Rritton answered. There's only one fighter I wouldn't bet against to beat Tunney-Tommy Loushran."
 It might be interposed here that whilo lighters are notoriously poor as judges of fights and other fight CTS. Britton is one of the best pick CTS in the country. He has been right on the winner of every big fight for years and his opinion is re- spected by some of the biggest operators in New York.
 When Britton named Loughran. the light heavyweight champion, as the one fighter he would not bet against in a match with Tunney, there were skeptical glances turned in his direction.
 'You're crazy Dan Morgan. his old manager. said.
 "Maybe I am," Brtton said. But remember you said the same thing in Philadelphia. You went for plenty and I picked up quite Nttle"
 Heres the way I figure it." Brit good Tunney is, how he lives and takes care Of himself and how he believes in himself. But he's going right now. He cant help it. He's going to get in the same hole that Dempsey was. He won't be able to fight enough to keep in form. I know from experience that you have to keep fighting to keep going. Two been going longer than any of them and I think I ought to know.
 Tots Of times I laid off fighting during the summer. | kept in shape. though. by walking. rowing, swimming. handball and other forms Of exercise and kept down my weight But when I went in for the winter work and started fighting I found that it never took me less than two months 10 get just right, And listen: I didn't have to stop them and take them like those big fellows. I could take my time working up to big bouts. but those big fellows have 10 be just right for that one fight.
 ''They say that l.oughran can't hit, but didn't they say the same about Tunney? They say that l Ioughran is only fair light heavy weight champion, and they said the same thing about Tunney. They say that Loushran has had lot of bad lights, but didn't they razz Tunney:
 You will find in looking them over that Loughran is following the same path that Tunney had to fol- low. A hard road to get recog- milton. Tunney had to build himself up physically and fight to get d reputation, and loughran is having to do the same thing.
 They've both got all the confi- dence in the world. they're both clean living. but Tunney will be forced by circumstances to lay up and Loughran can keep going and getting better and better.
 You may think that Loughran is second-rate but I'll tell you that q second -rater who has been fighting right along is a dangerous man for any champion who has been out long time and has 10 step in and fight one great fight.
 ''I thought. and still thank. that Dempsey was the greatest of the heavyweight champions that l have seen. and 1 have seen a lot of them in my time. thought that Tunney was only an ordinary good fighter. But | let on Tunney to beat Demp- sey at Philadelphia and 1 was ashamed to bet on Tunney in Chi cago. 1 bet on Tunney in Philadel-