The Washington times., 1933-06-29
ITALIAN FOUGHT.
IN 1ST WORLDS
RING BATTLE
BY GINO SINH

Oy O1INO
Tonight's championship ring
battle between Primo Camera,
Italy's Man Mountain, and Jack
Sharkey, Boston's world cham
pion, brings to mind the fact that
the first international prize fight
of modern history also involved
an italian.
The scrap took place in Lon
don at the Figg's Amphitheater
in 1888, exactly two hundred years
ago, and the Italians opponent
was Bob Whitaker. an English
man. The London elite of the
day, both British and foreign.
were in attendance. The fight
is vividly described in Pierce
Egan's classical ring history
"Boxiana."
The Italians real name is un-
known, records listing him only
as the Venetian GondoNer. His
resemblance to the current AM
bling Alp is amazing. According
to writer's Of the day, the spec
tatorS gasped in wonder at his
prodigious size and build. He
lowered far above his none too
small rival. His arms were not
only big and powerful, but un-
commonly long. He was also par
ticularly fast for man of his
height and weight.
In fact, it is not improbable
that he was some ancient kin Of
the present pachyderm Of the
ring, for both hail from the same
region of italy, Venetia.
Jaw SmaSher
The giant italian came to Lon
don with reputation of having
smashed the jaws of the greater
number of those who dared to
oppose him in his homeland.
James Figg, first champion Of
England, who had retired in 1870,
promoted the match. Figg, be-
ing aware of the Italians jaw
breaking propensities, selected
Whitaker, noted for his granite
maxillary, in preference to the
two more fragile-jawed title claim
ants of the day, Tom Pipes and
Bill GREETING.
1t was fought with bare fists
under the London Prize Ring
Rules, with a knock-down termi-
mating the round, the fallen man
being allowed a half minute to
come to scratch for the next
round.
The original Ambling Alp
leaped across the ring, when time
was called and caught Whitaker
flush on the chin with a terrific
clout which knocked him out Of
the ring. The ring was built
much higher than those Of pres
ent days, and Whitaker hit the
hard ground with a hard jolt.
However, his seconds had him in
shape to resume the battle in
prescribed time. His quick re-
covery and the fact that his jaw
was still intact considerably sur
prised the invader, used to seeing
his foes stay down after such a
blow.
Realizes Handicap
Whitaker, realizing he could
not cope with the giant in the
accepted stand-up style, reSorted
to strategy. When the Venetian
again rushed him, the Britisher
lodged under his huge tree-like
arms and drove his fist into his
flabby stomach. The Gondolier
gasped with pain and astonish-
ment. This was something new
for him and decidedly unpleasant.
He had never been hit in the
bread-basket before.
Whitaker, sensing his advan-
tage, kept ducking under the
Venetian's sledge-hammer fists
and driving his own deep into
the ample target before him.
The Gondolier was soon writhing
on the floor.
His seconds managed to bring
him to scratch for the third
round, but Whitaker's persistent
pot-shots at his middle brought
him down again and this time
for keeps. Thus ended 1talyS
first bid for international boxing
recognition.
While Camera is the first full
blooded Italian to fight for the
world championship. Luis Angel
Firpo, who went down to defeat
in a hectic scrap with Jack
Dempsey, 10 years ago. though
born in Argentine, had an
Italian father.