The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-01-24

"lniains the killer instinct
and inferentially, he wants to know
why any one should attempt to be-
little his fighting abilities, because
he is without it.
II II
TKTELL, to begin with, should
w like to know precisely what
constitutes the well-known killer in
stinct as it is applied to the hVe
ouncers.
The popular Interpretation seems
to be that if you are capable OF
knocking your opponent loose from
his lisp with a punch you are
killer. If not, you are one OF those
considerate. merciful young men
who subscribe to the altruistic prln-
ciple of living and letting your boy
friends live. I don't believe any
fighter ever climbed through the
ropes with both gloves loaded WIN
premeditated homicide.
Jack Dempsey is supposed to have
the killer instinct. Personally
don't think it is developed as hlgh
in him as it is in Tunney, VINO per-
sists in publicly eSteeming the ap-
sence of savage moods as a gllsVen-
ing virtue.
TINE chief difference between the
two, think, is that one Is
knockerout and the other isn't. Inc
normal instinct of the fighting man
is to finish his opponent OF Try 10
once get him going. Mr.. Dempsey
has. through superior hitting skill,
been able to do this oftener IMAM
Mr.. Tunney. Thus, one is Killer
and the other isn't.
A couple of years ago was up IN
the Carolina mountains with Demp-
sew. He was lending his swarthy
presence to the development OF
real estate enterprise and as a
casual afterthought engaging III
series of anemic maneuvers sup
posedly indicative to his readiness
to return to active glove tossing.
The subject of man killing came
up. Dempsey denied the harrow
ing implication he possessed muir
derous instincts. To a simple mind
his logic seemed acceptable enough.
He explained that he always tried
for a knockout because his expert
ence in the business and his asSocla-
tions with the gentlemen connected
with il had led him to suspect that
the knockout was the main idea and
s Il
guy out, it was six, two and even,
as they say at the track, that he
himself would be knocked out.
DEMPSEY also admitted that the
IL element of fear had something
to do with his direct system OF
knuckling. ANY time a man Is
standing erect throwing fists at you
ne is dangerous. You never can
tell when a punch coming from
nowhere will explode right in your
face. I like to see 'em stretched
out on the floor"
Mr.. Tunney would have knocked
out Mr.. Dempsey in their first
fight if he could have done so, anc
I happen to know he was more
than mildly displeased at his failure
to stop him at Chicago.
Some weeks ago in the privacy
of his breakfast room, Mr.. Tunney
discussed this phase of the two
Dempsey fights.
tits hard to hit him squarely on
the Jaw" he confded. eve fought
him twenty rounds now and I have
yet to hit him one full blow on the
point of the jaw"
TUNNEY then observed that his
l. little playmate constantly keeps
his jaw buried in his chest, whether
he is hitting or being hit at and
that it is practically impossible to
pop him on the fastener, or button.
Tunney paused. A fierce CLINT
came into his eyes. He folded his
right first and studied the knuckleS
ref1ectively.
But one of these days I'll get
"a clear shot at " it," he breathed
through lips drawn taut, land he'll
go down and he won't get up"
Now this may not indicate that
Mr. Tunney is by instinct a killer
or that under his compassionate
hide the mad impulses of the saw
age rule. 1t may not, in fact, indi-
cate anything beyond a fine, healthy
desire to sock the daylights out of
the old man mauler--and if this
isn't the old killer instinct thing it
will have to do for me until some
thing else comes along.