Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1930-10-18
Sentiment and Socks

One of the type OF women VINO
gossip across the fence was heard to
say that the lad simply went away
to skin and bone and was surely 60
ing into decline.
Now, this is what learned from
Johnnie when he entered the ring
for his next fight. The lad had not
felt much like fighting after Cans
died; it seemed to him as if his fight
ing spirit had gone; the moment he
learned of Gans's death. That seemed
more plausible and from the appear
ance of the boy as he stripped down
for action, I am inclined to turn
deaf ear to the rumor of his going
into decline.
Here is where the fight occurred
when Johnnie learned just what
Cans meant when he had grunted
that the kid would learn some day.
This event was nearly two years
later, it is true, but the lesson was
being taught just as if Cans were
there to teach it-and l dare say,
more forcibly than the old master
would have ever taught it to one SO
Young and content with himself.
If the reader will remember it Will
be recalled that Johnnie had not losC
fight since he first entered the
SQUARED circle under the observation
of Cans. It will also be remembered
that he had no knockouts to his
credit. His new trainer must have
called his attention to this little fact
lust before he started him in this
bout for the colored featherWelght
championship of the South with Ray
Hawkins as the defender. AT once
Johnnie began a new style of fight
| ing for his new tutor.
Until this bout had seen the little
fellow rock but one man; but on tnlS
night that fast left of his shot OUT
as usual but when it landed, it landed
hard and HawkinsS head bobbed back
like chicken eating.
It was a new Larkins and the crowd
was with HINT had never been
against him, but tonight that jab
was doing the damage that the ad-
mirers had longed to see it do. he
would jab and get away ana take
some heavy blows on his arms and
shoulders.
Twice during the first few rounds
the champions terrible right crash
ed on his jaw and twice did the
knees of Johnnie sag. Twice the
crafty youngster slipped into cllnch
and saved himself. Truly, this man
hanging on was the man who, In the
beginning of his career, had set out
to beat the man who had beaten
Cans.
1t was plainly evident that there
was something wrong. Never before
had Larkins been hit as hard; nor
could it be recalled when he had to
dog" it. Then too his hitting while
harder was not so often as it had
been in former bouts; his defense
which had been well near perfect,
seemed to have faded in part for 1t
was only occasionally that the thin
arms would flash barrier against
head and body attack. Yes, there was
something wrong about Johnnie.
In an instant it was evident that
he was doing things he had never
done under the instructions of Cans.
That big black trainer in his corner
was telling the kid what to do, and
the kid, like a little fool, was follow
ing his instructions and mixing" 1t!
Mixing with Ray Hawkins, the hard
est hitting champion the colored folk
of the South had produced! But
there were the instructions given TO
Larkins and the little idiot was swap
ping blows and nearly getting his
head knocked off by that terrific
right of Hawkins. Oh! for the right
to advise him! For the right to put
that second out of the house!
Four rounds passed with young
Larkins showing us that he was still
boxer and more-he could take
punishment as well as give it. Even
though most Of us were critical OF
the manner in which his chief Sec
ond was handling him, none could
help but admire him for at least
bringing out a quality that Johnnie