Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-10-14
BY VICTOR G. SIDLER
ASSOCIATED Press Sports Writer)

ASSOCIATED Press Sports Writer)
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 13.-(RJ-The
half century mark has rolled by fol-
some Of the foremost ring cham
pions of earlier days who make their
homes here.
But in the daily life of Los Ange-
les and environs they actively appear
rs shining examples Of the fallacy
of a popular belief that a long rine
career ruins a man mentally, ply,
sically and financially.
Jess Willard. Jim Jeffries, Jack
Root, Tommy Ryan and Solly Smith
famous as champions in the rings OF
yore, have passed the fifty year
mark, but all stand, physically anc
financially as refutations of that be-
lief. Health and wealth are theirs
and they can still tell the time OF
day.
Perhaps the greatest example OF
them all is Tommy Ryan, who re.
tired. with a record of more than
a score of fighting years, as unde-
feated w~elterweight and middle
weight champions. Tommy is So. He
shows little evidence Of the nearly
800 famous battles that he fought
Physically he appears 20 be perfect;
mentally he is keen. He is a lead.
ing citizen Of the movie suburb OF
Culver City, Cal, and has made Z
sizeable fortune.
Big Jim Jeffries, who ruled the
heavyweight roost for six years
fought in the days OF long battles
and took punishment as il came. To.
day he is somewhat affluent and al
So is a real estate dealer-actor-get.
ting a kick out Of life pleasing folks
who lean toward vaudeville. JEFF
fries ring record dates from 1896 to
1910.
AS big as ever is Jess Willard
who dropped the heavyweight crown
to Jack Dempsey back in 1919. Now
living in Glendale, Cal, he has pros
pered in real estate, and seldom a
day passes that he is not in his Hol-
lywocd office.
In Jack Root, first ruler Of the
Interchangeable division-it wa.
established for him back in I91I-is
additional proof that it takes more
than so years TO put a ring champion
into the physical discard. Rich and
dapper. Root, now 50, is in such fine
physical trim that he doubtless could
step into the ring at 20 minutes
notice and take on some Of the best.
Solly Smith, former worlds fea-
t~herweight champion. is 81 and is
doing nicely down Culver City way
His ring career was one Of hard bat
ties, but the punishment he assimi-
lated apparently failed to "faze" him.
Then there's George Dawson, who
came from Australia to make Amer
lean boxing history. The former
lightweight. now residing in the foot
hill city Of Pasadena, is 61-hale and
hearty and is enjoying life to the
full. Dawson is credited with per-
fecting the kidney punch, which now
is barred from boxing.
Debonair James j. Corbett. who
makes his home in Bayside, Long
Island, but OWNS property in the vi
entity Of Los Angeles and makes
trips now and then westward. is a.
81 probably one OF the best pre-
served men of his age to be found
anywhere. The former heavyweight
champion says systematic exercise
and a generous spreading Of the
"Blarney" have served to keep him
youthful. Corbett. who ruled the
heavyweight division for five years.
was a great boxer. but with all his
skill he took his share of the hard
knocks Of the game. He Is an acto>
now. and he never forgets his line.
There are others alive Of the early
ring days. They include Kid Me-oy.
IS, ranked by experts as the greatest
Of the old time middleweights; Joe
Rivers. So. great Mexican lightweight
who is refereeing boxing bouts; Bill
ly Papke. ~. m~idd.eweight OF note
from 1905 to 1918, who owns ranch
property near Pasadena and has
some money, and Jack Dempsey, re-
tired, but not exactly "poor."