The Washington times., 1928-10-19
ROSS 7 OOK
HIS RAPS
AND LEI 7
BY Jack Dempsey
Former heavyweight Champion of the
World

II
Former Heavyweirht Champion of the
World
Ny training camp days
have been filled with many
odd, humorous and sometimes
dramatic instances. None is
fresher in my memory than
one which carries me back TO
Toledo where | tuned up in
1919 for the championship
crack against Jess Willard.
Ny greatest need was more and
still more sparring partn@rs, fellows
who could make a fight OF IL Win
me. and could stand up under a
stiff lot of punching. So naturaiIy
each new day found me teihnS the
world that new sparrlng pafsneIe'
nice rough and tough boys, were
what would make my lie happy'
one 5av Young giant came into
tbe camn and informed all those
within hearing of his voice that ne
he clad 10 oblige me as spar11ng
mate. What a boy he was! SIX
feet three. weighed 215 or so. NO
more than 81 or %. and he claimed
for himself Is straight knockouts
and the championship of Canada.
Twin you spar with Demp-
sey?'' he was asked.
Sure" answered Ross. for
that was his name. And then
he added, ''fOr 81 200 week.
Inastauch as sparring partners
were available for So and 800
week in those DAYS, and because
was to get only S27.500 for lighting
Willard = well, the 81 900 demand
was turned down.
Ross Immediately took the atti.
tude that the refusal was due to
INV fear OF him, not because OF
money matters He did quite a DIT OF
chatting on the subject around
camp. He even went so far as TO
remark that he'd knock me cold If
he got even so much as a one-round
chance with me.
well. that was a little bit too
much-even from Ross. so | had
proposition relayed to him.
agreed to pay him 81 900 week IL
he would work with me every day
and made the further stipulation
that he could go as far as he
liked in trying to flatten me.
Ross accepted and promised to
knock me out. Naturally the
newspaper boys printed the story
and the next afternoon 3 big
crowd was on hand to see the
workout with Ross who was,
when he stripped for action,
one of the finest physical speci.
mems | have ever seen.
Just before the bout began l
had sent final word to Ros that
if he wanted me to go easy with
him I'd do it. He shot hack some
reply. about he'd take care of him.
self and ! was to be prepared to
do the same.
Time was called and Ross came
bouncing at me. leading with three
snappy jabs that fell a bit short.
He sidestepped away. came dancing
in again. tried another jab, then a
left hook, bounced back, sneered a
little at me and said:
Come on and fight"
All the time 1 had been studying
him. As I've said he was an utter
stranger-blrt what a build he had.
Already he had demonstrated he
was fast and clever and l decided
here was a youngster | wasn't go
ing TO take any chances with-not
with a worlds championship fight
1T stake and especially in view Of
his boast that he was going to
flatten me.
Once more he came in, taunt-
Ing me Come On-fight." just
at that exact second / saw
roadway to his chin that wasn't
blocked by traffic. So I drove.
through with a short left hook
and down went Ross.
helped pick him up, and
wrestled him around until his head
cleared. AS did so. said to him:
Want me TO go a little easier"
NO" he fired back at me. You
can't put over two lucky punches
on me-
IAN right" I said. when you're
all right let me know and I'll try
it again"
I'm all right now, che said,
fearing loose from the clinch.
He backed off. steadied himself
hut tore at me. letting go with
both hands. He missed and he
quickly hoped out Of danger
and was getting himself set for
another lunge.
I made bluff lead at him. he
sidestepped and again urged, Come
on-fight.'
'All right. here ! come | said
and then / tore at him. He tried
to back away-but he was a little
slow about it. ] nailed him on the
jaw with q close-in right hand and
Ross went down and stayed there
until Big Bill'' Tate and some of
the other sparring mates of mine
picked him up and carried him out
of the ring. \
Ross was gone from the camp
when I had finished the afternoon
workout and l never saw or heard
about him again.
Copyright. 1928. by King Features