Evening star., 1933-02-26
MAKES SPORT PAY
UNDER HAND|CAPS
frankie One Of Few Ring
Showmen Now Thriving.
Cuts Day Nursery Debt.
BY FRANCIS E. STAN.


Portner's Arena in Alex
andria a model boxing
bowl. On the contrary rotund
Frankie Mann is rather incon-
spicuous and retiring and the
little Virginia punch emporium a
too-small, antiquated and smoky
establishment.
But the Nations caulifiower
crop we'll knows, from bitter ex-
perience or, Tunney-like, from
Shakespeare, that all that glitters
is not gold.
As result frankie Manu. as one OF
the few boxing promoters IN the couh-
try successful in putting on weekly
shows. today stands, along with the re-
formed brewery across the Potomac, as
a shining example that there IS more
truth than poetry in williams words.
A few years ago Washington night
fans would have laughed at the idea
of nationally-k known boxers seeking
FIGHTS at a club which seats only around
20OO-fghts which, If lost. might cause
considerable damage to carefully-oullt
regulations.
But the economic depression. plus
lowering of morale within the rlsuc
ranks. has ended that. 1t has caused
stock in the sock market to drop
sharply in nearly every hamlet anu
cove in the country.
Alexandria is one exception.
THE influx of champions. near-cham-
i p!ons and ex-champions at Port
ner's Arena has proved that, out
probably no better example Is available
than that of Reds Barry. a local boy
who made good in the big-time.
Barry did make good, as lar as VIM
ming bouts was concerned. But his
bout with Hans Birkie, German heavy.
netted the redhead only about $3.50. So
he risked possible defeat by Les Ken
nedy to appear here for considerably
more than he would earn IN a big-time
ring. He collected, 1t is estimated, over
s4o0, but he was soundly trounced and
his reputation suffered no little.
Aside from the fact that Washington
always has been regarded good fight
town" and possibly is not 80 PAD on,
financially. as other cities, Frankie
Mann is the primary reason why the
boxing game continues to draw and en-
Joy popularity here.
Boy and man . Washington1an.
frankie first built up reputation In
his home town as a promoter who never
has been connected with the shady side
of prize fighting With the rock-bound
confidence Of local fans his, Mann now
is receiving measure Of national recog-
milton as shrewd and successful
matchmaker.
Frankie has been connected with
boxing for more than q quarter Of q
century, first as boxer, then as a
handler Of fighters. and finally as q
matchmaker and promoter. The old
Aloysius and Ardmore clubs gave
frankie his start in staging shows.
Though Mann was content to con-
fine his promotion activities to Wash
ingtcn. he nearly became connected
with Tex Rickard in 1921 in staging
the Dempsey Carpenter fight. Boxing
was illegal in New Jersey at that time
and the building of an arena near
Washington on the same order as
Boyle's Thirty Acres was under con-
sideratlon. However New Jersey legal
lied the game and negotiations were
ended.
Matchmaker at the Arcadia. wash
ington's Madison Square Garden" was
Frankie,s next job. Then, in 1928, he
was retained to stage weekly battles
for the soldiers at the Washington
Barracks. After three or four shows
the public clamored for admission
and the bouts were thrown open to
over to the athlete fund Of the Army
post after one year.
Mann next was wanted by Fort
Myer and again success greeted his ef-
forts. Fort Washington was Frank1e's
next stop and until the shows were
halted last Spring the undertaking
was both profitable and entertaining,
Frankie now is in his third year as
matchmaker for Portners. When he
undertook the job in November, 1881,
it was said mortgage of several
thousand dollars was over the Alex
andria Day Nursery. Today it Is re-
ported to amount to only few hum
dreds.
AEANN'S career has been colorful
1Vl 1t was Joe Cans, the old master.
who first became interested in
him. Back in 1908 Cans was training
for his final fight at Kid Sullivan's
camp at Berwyn. He noticed the rug
ged young Mann and took him under
his wing Kid Sullivan. Kid Egan and
others also trained with frankie.
But FrankieS ring career was short
lived After a few professional fights
he was given his first main-bout as
signment IN 1910 at the old Westport
Skating Rink in Baltimore. He was
to meet another Washington fighter in
George Sauers, who shortly before had
polished off Muggsy McGraw, pride OF
old Northeast.
Mann's chances were regarded as
good until it became known he had
broken bone in his right hand while
training. SauerS Immediately was in
stalled an overwhelming favorite.
For three rounds Sauers belted
Frankie around the ring. Mann was
unable to use his right hand and his
face was beaten almost to a pulp by
the two-ounce gloves thrown by Sauers.
Danny Lewis, MannS second, begged to
throw in the towel, but frankie, peer
ing out of his unclosed eye. saio:
I'm going to use my right this round,
broken Oh rot
Sauers tore from his corner for the
fourth round. anticipating, naturally,
even less opposition than had been
shown by Mann during the first three
rounds. But as he ruchcd, frankie drew
back his broken right and landed
murderous wallop over the heart. An
other right to the jaw landed as Sauers
uaS Unioo rlCWn