Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-23
RETAINS HIS PUNCH,
RING FANS BELIEVE
Jack Could Fight Again if
He Conditions Stomach,
Says Trainer.
BY ALAN GOULD,
Associated Press Sports Editor.

~ NE of the strangest reac-
tions have run across
~ lately is the widespread
conviction that William H.
"Old John" Dempsey can put on
the gloves after a four-year lay-off
and spread a species of ruin
among the current heavyweights.
It is borne out by no really convinc-
ing facts whatever, beyond the convic-
ton that Old John still packs the old
sock in either hand. Yet my barber,
Leo, tells me he feels sure Dempsey will
fight again and that II he does he Leo)
viii be among the first to purchase two
moderately priced seats in the outlying
sectors of the arena.
There has been no heavyweight worth
going to watch, Leo insists, since Demp-
eey retired. He reasons, therefore
that it is necessary for Old John, to
get into shape for another campaign
to liven up the proceedings again.
Stomach Hurt Jack.
Even Artie McGovern, the well known
muscle molder, is a victim of the
Dempsey complex. -.
Dempsey" remarks Artie, didn't
lose the championship and hit the
downgrade because he was getting old
or weak or because of poor legs. He
was beaten because his stomach went
back on him. His poor stomach was
the only thing wrong with him. This
being so, he trained all wrong for both
fights with Tunney.
What was the result? In the first
tight DempSey's system was so full of
THriCnne hEy n
ton and poor training that he seemed
doped. He was better the next year,
but still he wasn't handled properly.
II think could put Dempsey back
into flrst-class fighting condition now
Not the Dempsey of Toledo, but q bet
ter fighting man than he was in 1927
Four years is a long time to lay of
the game. but feel certain he could
come back and give good account of
himself.
Needs No Road Work.
Most trainers would have him do
lot Of road work and probably ruin him.
AS a matter of fact all he would need
to do is work out consistently, but mod
erately, and diet properly. He should
not do any road work at ALL"
The more Dempsey appears under the
ring lights as a referee, the more ap-
PdiSlAJ ~ - I1ldI dS Ill dIDiCeE ne IS
still a flrst-claSS fighting man.
Old John hasn't the detached poise
and quickAthinking apparatus to qualify
as the third man in q ring. Too often,
1t seems. he is unconsciously shifting
and weaving, figuring what he would be
doing with his right or left under the
circumstances before him A sud-
den emergency. as arose in the musical
comedy bout between Max Baer and
Old Tom Heeney, left Dempsey be-
fuddled.
Can't Change Stripes.
1t is curious the way Dempsey always
has been mixed UP in ring arguments.
His title fight with willard In 1919 was
riotous affair. The Firpo battle
brought about a new set Of f1stic rules
in New York. The long count" at
Chicago cost Jack a possible knockout
Of Tunney. His first appearance as a
referee In New York, in the lamentable
Scott-Von Porat affair, was as unsatis-
factory as the second.
The fact seems to be that Dempsey
Is still the fighting man at heart, no
matter whether he's dressed UP as
referee, front man" or promoter. The
old tiger can't change his stripes.