Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-29
BY TEX RICHARD

BY TEX RICHARD
I'm collaboration with Bozeman Bulger)
TIME greatest fighter of any weight
and OF any class, in my opinion,
was Abe Attell. l make this
l. statement after much thought
and without hesitation.
Always 1t has been puzzle to me
TO know just where Attell derived his
physical strength, his sturdiness. If
he was right in his theory of fighting,
then all the present methods of pre-
pairing a man physically for a hard
f1stic combat are useless 1t is my
opinion that both are right in a way.
The present practices are proper for
the ordinary man. Abe Attell was such
an extraordinary little fellow that he
succeeded in spite of his disregard for
the customs of the ring.
There was never time when Attell
was not ready TO go in the ring with
or without training AS a matter of
TACT, he hardly trained at all. On two
days notice he would go in and fight
any man of his weight in the world.
Yes, and he would generally win.
never knew Attell well enough to
be familiar with his personal habits.
I know, though. that he liked night
part1es-hked all the social things that
go with successful boxer. I have
known him to play poker all night be-
fore fight. He would laugh at the
necessity Of getting ready for big
fight.
Sure I'll Fight, Who Is He?"
Sure" he would say, "1'l fight him.
Who is hep"
But this is only Monday" the pro-
moter would observe, and We want to
stage this fight Wednesday, day after
tomorrow"
That's all right" Attell would say,
make it tonight if you want. don't
need any training"
And, sure, enough, Attell would be
there in the ring. What's more, the
chances were he'd knock out his oppo-
nent.
Now man who could do that month
after month and year after year, to
my mind Is undoubtedly entitled to the
distinction I have given him rs the
greatest fighter of any class.
Just where Attell got this remarkable
stamina is difficult to understand, as I
have said. He was not an outdoor man
one of those fellows who come from
the wide open spaces and so on. He
was neWsboy in San Francisco.
AS a starter Attell would drop his
papers ard fight any light fellow in
the preliminaries. He got better and
Better, finally became q champion in
his class. His total disregard Of train
ing methods was always q subject Of
laughter and wonder among those who
knew him.
have been asked to name the great
est fighters in their respective classes
Of all times-that is, the greatest in
my opinion.
You have no idea how difficult it is
- H. To- khnN
I will attempt it later.
In the mind of the ordinary spectator
there is feeling that prizehghters are
simply money grubbers-that all they
want Is the purse. I have heard many
fight fans say that boxers had no SEN
timent other than to get the money.
They were never more mistaken In
their lives.
Boxer Cherishes Reputation.
There is nothing quite as dear to a
boxer as championship or the memory
that he leaves with the fans. He wants
to be considered the greatest in his
class that ever lived. He will waste
or lose his money without word OF
/. complaint, but as long as he lives he
cherisheS that idea that he was great
In his time.
Fighters are extremely sensitive. I
wouldn't say they are prima donnas, but
they are certainly temperamental.
have to be on my guard for that all
the time while dealing with them. The
fighter Is much more sensitive than his
manager. He has the same feeling TO-
ward his profession as the opera singer
does toward his art.
For this reason I am candid enough
to admit that I am afraid TO INCLUDE
the present-day fighters In my selection
of the best men in their classes for all
time. MY selection will be OF the old
time scrappers. You will have clearer
understanding of just what I mean
when I tell of the early arrangements
for the fight between willard and
Dempsey.
Now take Jack Dempsey, for instance.
There Is a boy as proud of his record
as Caruso was of his singing. In my
mind there is no doubt that Dempsey is
the greatest heavyweight fighter for his
size that ever lived. It is almost I'M
possible to consider him capable OF the
things he does when one looks at him in
street clothes. He is slender, 1.-the ana
comparatively light.
But, going back to the former big
lights in fighting, it is my opinion that
jim Jeffries was easily the greatest OF
all the heavyweight champions. In say
ing this have considered John l.. Sui
Ivan, Jim Corbett, Jack johnson, Jess
Willard-all Of them.
Jeffries Had All.
For a big man Jeffries had everything
that a fighter needs. He had the
strength, the speed and the bulldog
tenacity. Jeffries was much faster on
his feet than many imagine. That ne
was game was proved time and time
again His fights with Sharkey and
Corbett showed that.
Jeffries was fundamentally honest.
He had the welfare of his friends at
heart all the time. No man ever lived
who had a greater desire to make good
the claims and hopes OF his hackers
than Jim Jeffries.
The charge, sometimes heard, tnaC
Jeffries lay down to Johnson or that
he had arranged for johnson to lay
down to HIM and then got crossed, Is
so ridiculous to me that have to laugh.
I was with him day after day during
the preparations for the Johnson f1gnt
No man was ever more confident OF
winning AS relate i'll q previous chap
ter, JefTries was SO absolutely sure OF
winning that he insisted on having the
purse divided 60-40 instead OF $3.50.
Jack johnson would have been per-
fectly satisfied to let 1t 90 on an even
basis.
Yes. of the old time heavyweights I
am sure that Jeffries was the greatest.
] will discuss the others later.