New Britain herald., 1928-03-09
RISCO LIKES HIS
 OPPONENTS TOUGH
Cleveland Battler Not Worried
 Over Bout With Sharkey

New York. March 2 lfp - Tn, tougher and more often they come the better Johnny ksllo likes it.
 That's why the former Cleveland baker boy. now the rough and tun- ble man of tho heavyweight brigade. isn't worried much about his l5 round tus,le with Jack Sharkey at Madison square Garden next Mon day night.
 All l hop is h" comes in and fights, says Johnny, Take a sock and give two. That's my game. l like to fight"
 SharlSNy may not choose 10 meet ' Rishe at the lattcr's own game. however The Boston tar has fought Johnny before and like all the other top-notchers who have battl.d him, . Sharhey probably has d healthy re- , spect for Rislio's left hooks and swings
 Johnny always is swinging. He may miss more times than not, but the one that connects is likely 10 leave 8 jarring impression. There '' iotHihS e'lttit about flSho : methods, Tn" baker boy is a club tighter" a throw-back to the slam bang days of the ring when the crowds came out chiefly in the hope . that the boys would punch each other goofy.
 There is no doubt that Johnny likes n foh out. He has fought all Of the lead ing h"ayyweights Of the last few years except Jack Dempsey. It is one of Johnny's few regrets that he has never had a chanc, to battle the Manassa Mauler.
 Dempsey is my style Of fighter" says Johnny, H" likes to punch, and so do l."
 From man who has otherwise fought them all-Tunney, Hecnev, Delaney. Sharkey, Pauline, Stribling. Berlenhach and Maloney-it would seem fairly good comparison of the heavyweight talent could be oh- tained. The question draws q short but pointed answer from the bounding one
 '1unney hits oftener."
 It has been just one fight after another for Johnny but he retains the distinct impression that nearly three years ago the present heavy weight champion of the world tossed enough leather at him to make tn, then inexperienced baker boy dizzy
 Never ri l,4i,.SS h +0.l, established Risko's reputation, |, occurred in Cleveland in 1925. I.it- He more than q year after Johnny turned professional and less than 4 year before Gentleman Gen. took the heavyweight title from Jack Dempsey. There has always been some dispute. about il and some claims have persisted, despite de- nial. that Risko had Tunney down. Here's the version of Danny Dunn Johnny's manager.
 Tt was tough tight--a lo, tougher than Tunney expected. Gene was picked 10 win by q knock out. but he found Risko could take everything he had and still keep coming in. In one round Johnny caught Tunney of balance up against the ropes and jared him. but there was no knockdown. The fight went the limit. but Tunney won by good margin on points He was too smart and fast for Johnny. that was all.'
 Ilsko was out of q job, knocking around with the amateur fighters. when Dunn took hold Of him about five years ago.
 He was the roundest, latest heavyweight I ever saw" Dunn ro- calls. T didn't want to bother with him, but one Of my boys kept in. sisting l give him a chance. He quickly showed he could hit and take it.
 '1 kept him with the amateurs for about year, during which h. scored 39 knockouts in 50 fights He thought nothing of knocking out two or three in one evening. He would sit around, waiting for me 10 dig up some one to box him. Got any more, he would say after each bout. He would go home only when the talent was exhausted.
 He hasn't changed much since. If told him he was a fight Domp- sey next week and Tunncy the week after that he might blink little. but l doubt if he would asked where