The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-11-20
Plat Willie Meehan, Conquer0r
of Jack Dempsey Three
Times When in His Prime,
and Jack McMann, North
Dakota Champion, Talk 1t
Over

Two opponents of the heavyweight
boxing ring. the first being one who
looks back upon his record and who
was once an international figure, the
other being North Dakota's young
champion who is seeking future,
met behind the curtains of a legiti-
mate stage here and grasped hands
last night.
The first was Plat Willie Meehan
former Frisco and United States
Navy scrapper, who won three de-
cisions over Jack Dempsey when the
latter was in his prime.
The latter was Jack McCann, the
man who has a resemblance to Jack
Dempsey, who is getting ready to
open his winter campaign under the
management Of Leo P. Flynn, New
York city.
The two men had met for the first
time five years ago on the Pacific
coast when Mccain was doing a
little fighting out there.
What they were talking about
behind the scenes, is "nobody's bust
ness" they said. Mccain claimed
that they were talking Of old times,
but Meehan pleasantly disagreed
with him, and said that they were
planning something good.
What was Willie doing here?
Is Property Man
The former recognized champion
of them all is now the property man
travelling with the dramatic produc-
ton appearances Today he is
33 years old, and though he is port
ly, he says he is not nearly as fleshy
as he was when he was in his box
ing prime. Interested in fighting
he is, but he said would never make
the mistake Of trying to pick the
next wcarer Of the worlds boxing
crown.
"None of them are very good, the
new contenders,' Willie said. "Jack
Dempsey was the best champion of
them all. l was greatly disappoint-
ed when he didn't stop Gene Tunney
the last time. Gene never was as
good a man as the Manassa Maui
err"
did ever fight Dempsey
should say did. | fought that baby
six times and he was plenty tough
| won the decision three times. He
took me twice. The other one was
called draw.
"Wanta know something about
my record? Here it is"
And the fat boy pulled out a book
of memoirs, newspaper clippings
that was almost foot thick.
That's only half Of them" he
said: But it will give you a pretty
good idea Of my record"
Was Navy Fighter
Willie. the book revealed, was a
fighter in the United States Navy
being stationed at San Francisco in
his prime, 1917 and 1918. He won
over Dempsey in December, 1918
That was his last important fight.
Meehan never would fight negro
Nor would he fight anyone who was
not willing to turn part Of his purse
over to the fund to aid injured ex.
servicemen. He was called moth.
er's boy. because he was just he1
grown-up "kiddie.'
The Plat boy was the strangest
fighter Of oil time, it is said. He i,
about five feet eight inches ir
height. His girth is almost as great
- his height. And he says he has
reduced considerably.
When he started out, he was de.
scribed % . clown fighter. He drew
crowds. And he pleased the FAINT
with his funny antics in the ring.
Cartoons showed him in the ring
shimmying, laughing, jumping, run.
ming away, scowline, making faces
and finally tearing into his oppon.
emit. One artist pictured him before
= table and : turkey and cranberry