Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-03-12
CACEY
WRITER Says
Passed Up Spar Part
ner Chance With
Champ Tunney
BY NORMAN Y. BROWN
Staff Writer for Central Press and
The Brownsville Herald

One az the original Tunney boost
ers-a Cleveland boxing w~riter-rc-
cited recently the unsuccessful e.
forts or Tunncy's camp 20 inviegle
Johnny Risko, Cleveland, O. heavy
weight, into acting ~ the marines
sparring partner both for his first
and his second fights with Dempsey
Members of Tunney's camp were
amused when Risko's manager. DAN
nv Dunn. refused 10 let the hopeful
one become Tunney's tAke-it-and-
like-it mar. Dunn's refusal On both
occasions was accompanied by the
statement that he would let Risko
fight Tunney for the title. but
wouldn't let him help train Tunney
for "a crack mt somebody else.
IL would seem, however, that Dunn
knew whereof he spoke. At least wa
now find Risko training for his bat
tie with Jack Sharkcv. and the win
ner az that battle will step into the
limelight as one of the logical con
tenders for the right 10 meet Cham
pion Gene next September.
Regardless Of the confidence Dunn
had in Risko's ability 90 climb, the
astute manager acted wisely In not
permitting Risko, eari- in his career.
TO enter the sparring partner ranks.
In the case mentioned, il might not
have been fatal 10 Riska's career.
Tunney is different from the average
fighter. Tie has never sought t0 CIV
BAT his kayo wallops on his stable
mates. He has used them mainly as
q means toward timing his punches
Of pcrfecting his own attack, and
getting the feel" On the ring.
Many Ruined
However. many a good fighter has
been ruined through IA period ln a
champions or contender's camp.
The sparrinE partners must, OK me-
cessity, pull" their own punches.
Not that there is danger OF making
the star look bad" But because ~
the danger Of injurinR him by IN
chance wallop.
A continued period Of such work
~ part 70 sap from the up-and-com-
ing fighter much Of his initiative and
aggrcssivencss. The Eruelling
punches delivered BY most of the
champs are bound 70 have some ef-
feet on him. The publicity attendant
on such activities IN also not on the
desirable kind.
I'm Risko's case Dunn had watchei
him in action against the champion
I'm an exhibition bout, and was im-
pressed with the baker boys fear
lessness and his ability to take Tun-
ney's straight left without wincing
Risko's battles since have shown
that he has the ruggecncss " y Y
with Tunney's pokes and has enough
boxing ability ~ cope with the run
of-mine fighters now angling for ID
chance at the big dough.
A victory over SharAey will give
Dunn a chance ~ talk about pitting
Risko against Tunney-in the ring
and not In the training camp.
Benz Faker
Joe Benz, w one time a member ~
tine Chicago White Sox hurting staff,
was noted for a quick deceptive mo-
ton By which he could whip the ball
TO first base and nip runners off the
bag with ~stratiing regularity.
TX behocved the first baseman I'D
watch Benz closely 20 be set for the
rifle shot 20 first whenever a runner
graced the bag.
Jack Fournier, veteran first base
man, and later member Of several
major league clubs. played first for
the Sox for som time.
In cone game Fourier had watch
ed Benz movements until the hurler
seemed ready TO pitch 10 the batter.
Then Jack glanced away FOR an IN
slant.
And" Jack says. ~the next thing
! knew Ger didn't know was un-
conscious"