The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-12-10
L ALKING
IT OVER
BY JOE WILLIAMS

NEW YORK, Dec. 10.-All week
IN press agents have been send
ing pictures around to the sports
editors of al Singer. the prize fight
or, who it appears returns to the
big time against Battling Battalino
in the Garden ring Friday night.
At FIRST I was unable to recognize Singer
in the pictures because thew showed him
in en- upright position with his hands
cooked in battle formation.
SUPPOSE this was due 10 the fact that
the last several times saw Ginger nc
was down in the resin dust sauirming
around Ike a hooked sunhsh and rapping
himself on the back Of the neck in a
manner that suggested either he needed
q headache wafer or a keeper.
It is evident BY the pictures that Singer
has been restored 10 a perpendicular state
and while he does not look exactly normal
standing up. I think everybody VIII agree
that the photographers have done
splendid Job in recreating the illusion Of
a hRhtlnR man.
Singer once held the lightweight cham
pionship for about twenty minutes. as tic
crow flies and perhaps that explains ev-
erYthng. don't know whether YOU
realize It or not but a sinister cloud
seems to hang over the lightweight cham
pions.
You can 20 back as far as Cans. who
died a premature death largely as the
result Of taking Of too much weight for
his fights Bat Nelson was next IN line
and he is pretty much Of pathetic
figure out in the middle west these DAYS.
His face is battered into a gargovle's mask
and he has done some time IN the
psvchopathic wards. He used TO boast that
he wasn't human. and he STAYED in he
ring almost long enough to make the boast
come true.
Ad Wolpast followed Nelson both to the
championship and the human junk DIG
The Michigan wildcat thew called him
Like Nelson the wildcat useo 70 had Win
his chin. and block with his head. FOR
number OF wears now he has been Wals-
ing on his heels and watering paper
flowers completely dizzy.
n
TKTILLIE RITCH1E managed 10
w escape the blight, although
he came out of the ring with little
more than bag of peanuts and the
morning papers. Which IS to say
he didn't get himself a whole lot Oh
dough.
Freddie Welsh came after Richie and
for a while he did all right. But Few
wears ago the sports world was startIeo
IN hear that this once great little cham
pion had died in poverty and that the LORD
Lonsdale belt he priced so highly had been
sold to nav the grocer and the candle
stick maker
OF all the lightweight champions. Benny
Leonard prospered the most. The rates
seemed to single him out. All that had
heen denied the others was given unto
Leonard-health. wealth and fame. AT the
peak Of his career. he retired
Not so long ago I was catching the
midnight train for Boston to cover
football game. familiar looking nRute
come clomping through the rotunda OF
the station He wore SLOUGH hat pulled
down over his eyes and a long tan camers
hair coat. and he carried big heavy bag.
It was Leonard a victim. like MANY
other rich men. Of the Wall Street cy-
clone. He was catching a midnight train
himself. heading for some salt and pepper
village up in Vermont to box ten rounds
with the local pride.
At the most he wouldn't get more than
$500 for the fight. He seemed brave and
cheerful enough but somehow 1 didn't feel
Ike talking fights to him-and normally
there is nobody would rather talk fights
20
After an embarrassing pause. Leonard
Thrugged his shoulders and said. cts all
n the game" and disappeared through
Jae Of the arched portals that carried
him into the darkness and to the bushes
bf fame.