Evening star., 1932-11-20
FIELDS TAUGHT HIN, f,
LEWIS WISE PILOT
Chicago Youth Has Lost One
Battle in 24-Improves
With Each Start.
BY SPARROW McGANN.

n YEW YORK, November 19.-
M Barney Ross is being care
i Y fully Steered into a nice
spot to contest for the
lightweight title. If the Chicago
Jewish lad realizes his fond hope,
the credit should go to Nate
Lewis, far-sighted matchmaker of
the Chicago Stadium, though, of
course, it will not.
No one knows what Nate really
thinks OF the youngsters chances, as
ne is one of the few in the fight game
who mind their own business. Nate,
being an old hand at the game ana
having handled some of the best
nghters of his time, must have his
doubts about the boy or he would not
have reached clear across the continent
Tor Golo1e Hess as an opponent for
Ross. With the interests OF his en-
ployers getting first call, Nate showed
good business judgment, for the con-
teSG drew $Iy,J0U.
NITH the exception of three fights
w out OF town, Barney mas been on
against sucn boys as Billy Gladstone,
LICK Sisk, Henry Perlick, Ray Miller,
FRANKIE PeEro4e, Battling Battalino
ana Hess. Each of these bouts mas
been used as a stepping stone to an
ether. Miller was used to guard against
a lett hcok and the buying Inat a
veteran IS supposed TO give a youngsteg;
FeUrolle just 10 prove tnat he could
stop the conqueror, o. BattaiIno; the
latter JUST because ne was a former
Worla's champion ana an IRON man in
the asslmlIa1on or pnysicaI punish
ment. the oLher boys mean nothing.
Ross has improved in every start
and to show MN In Milwaukee, where
ne last appeared in a S1X-rounoer last
February against Mickey ONeill, none
otner tnan Johnny Rarr has been
resurrecCed to advance Barneys cause.
Farr has answered the gong I1ve times
this year ana has been on the losing
end eacn time. Hardly the kind e.
pattler 10, bring out the best IN
youngster.
TWO years ago this observer was
i chatting with Jackie Fields and
his manager, Gig Rooney, when a
rcsy-cheeked Kid wearing q comical
DERBY came in and wanted to know
NA4C1l L44C HOu1Q WIN OQbs
After he had lett, Rooney talked at
length anenG the ability OF the boy
Barney Ross-and harped on the tact
that ne was the next worlds light
weight champion" YES" said Gig,
"Wnen JACKIE gets through with the
kid, he'll be sure fire!"
After watching him in action against
the champion N q Iour-round drill and
working sharp left hook as only Fields
can execute IL, it was apparent that
Ross was headed in the right direction.
Fields Went to exceptional pains to
teach his protege many tine points Of
the game
At the time Barney was under age
ana was handed by Rooney only after
obtaining Mrs Ross permission. No
contract existed between them, so that
after Fields dropped his title to young
JACK Thompson and returned to Cali
1ornia, Ross was quickly grabbed by an
other manager VINO saw MS possibilities.
% OONEY played the game, did not
N take any OF the youngsters money,
and would not rusn his mother
into signing long contract, so that
Ross is now out OF the hands of the
man who developed an amateur title
holder into a worlds professional
SA4d41IkJ4O4l.
TWO years have passed and in that
time We find Ross nguring in "a fights
with but one loss. This Is an impress
s1ve record against some good boys, but
still leaves much to be desired. ii Ross
cannot step out and clean up the field
without battering the elbows and
shoulders OF lads like Goldie Hess and
Johnny Farr, he would make a grave
mistake to attempt to swap blows
with Tony Canzoneri, the lightweight
champion.
Ross lost great instructor in Jackie
Fields but has gained a grand adviser
in Nate Lewis. Had he stuck with
Fields, the chances are ne would be
much higher than he is at the present
time. How far he will go depends on
the ability of Lewis to persuade Barney's
managers into holding him back until
he is ready IN tarkle tho fo,,pnFcI,are