The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-07-21
ALKING
IT OVER
BY JOE WILLIAMS

GONE Of the boys are saying that
- the Mandell-S Singer fight was
one Of those things. I don't think
so. But It could have been. You
never can tell about a prize fight
these DAYS. don't even believe
what I see in the ring any more.
An honest prize fight is a rarity.
Encouraged BY the indifference Of
the customers and the laZity Of the
politically controlled commissions
the fighters can get away with any
thing-and mostly they do.
can understznd the widespread soep-
tIei.n and sinister innuendos that have
greeted the outcome Of the Mandeil-sinEer
ons.round climax II is not customary for
a hrhtsr 20 win or lose the square any
more and when the rinEsiders are pre-
sented With such a spectacle it looks even
more peculiar and suspicious than the
routine hiDp0drome-
I suppose the public acceptance o. lneSe
things is a matter o. haot ano tAeL J.
nights IN time as dishonest ones. though
wish the bows hadn't been 50 precipltous
-ioaI tbat the readjusting Of The viewpoint
hag produced critical dissension- large
percentage Of the critics agree tne hsnt
thfnk Otherwise hold no brief for either
Mandeli Or singer TO me tney are l ssl .
rlv respect for fighters is not very high.
I've found that most Of them are no more
honest than they have 70 De-
IF the set-up had been different
i and the opportunities attractive
enough the Manden-Singer fight
might readily have been placed in
the bag and sewed up with heavy
cord. but 50 far as I can determine
there was no necessity for putting the
fight in the bag. Mr.. Harry Gray
son. the boxing oracle. called the
turn on Mandell four days before
the fight He saw him steaming
out under blankets after long work
outs in the hot July sun trying to
melt of pounds.
n was clear to Mr.. Grayson that no
man Of MandelTs physical fraility could
submit TO that sort Of ordeal day after
dav and be anything like himself in the
ring Mande1 is normally 40 FOUNDER.
ard he sealed down to 1919. For every
pound he peeled of he dropped that much
vitality and mower.
ss-ne Of the pew holders were shocked to
sec the lightweight champion 90 down
stood 10 under heavier blows BY Jimmy
McLarnin. Il seems to be that TINS can
= explained Two wears ear, age MSmee ias5 Ig'
AZ that time Mandell was a natural light
weight and he came into the ring win MS
sazzlsd lie Irish sluggcr just as many,
remembering that show. expected It would
dazzle the smuggling Singer
WHAT Mandell did not have the
w other night was his speed,
his cleverness OF his strength. These
we're left behind in the training
camp. along with the six or seven
pounds he had shaved from his
youthful frame. In between times
Mandell met McLarnin in two other
bouts. and came through both in an
upright finish. McLarnin is a big
ger man. a harder hitter and bet
ter fighter than Singer. This Is an
other circumstance that added TO
the skeptics' suspicious.
IF McLarnin. a weiterWeight' eouiah
stop HIM. how in the name Of Pete's houna
bog. was Singer. an undersiEed lightweight
able to put him out with puneh?" they
as. Again the answer believe is weight.
Manden did not have to make weight
Cor McLsrnin In either Of tnose Two
fights Consequently ne was able 70 carry
an his strength and speed into the ring
against him And even then Il required
sn the generalship and cunning at his
command 70 escape a knockout II Is even
possible that the be2tingS ne took from
McLarnin helped soften him up lot singer
A MOTHER thing. who ever called
N Manden a great. lightweight
champion? I saw him win the title
from old man Rocky Kansas and If
the referee had called the fight a
draw he wouldn't have robbed any
body. Moreover in the last twelve
months Mandell has been steadily
on the downgrade. The only credit
able performance he has made in
two years was against Tony Can
zoneri. and Tony almost had vhim
out in one round.
What I'm irving to bring out is that it
didn't take much to beat him at his best.
and az his worst as he figured TO be after
shedding weight. Therefore. the quick nm
fsh he suffered at the hands Of Singer did
not seem entirely illogical
oil Al