The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-09-21

drawing a long breath.
Father was sick when I went TO
camp for Jimmy Braddock. He
wasn't around. Dolph Thomas was
my boss and Ancil Hoffman did the
assisting. Dolph is a heavy sleeper
and Ancil spent plenty Of his time
in New York. Where 1 spent a lot
of my time doesn't make much diff
ference now. BraddOck won with
out taking a long breath.
Now that my father is around,
closing doors with special locks,
peeking into my room to see if I am
asleep, and supervising my days and
nights, it makes it tough on ME.
But I reckon it'll also make It
tough on Louis.
Tad has been fight fan since
- John L. Sullivans time. He
has seen every prominent heavy
weight in action since then. Train
ing camp stuff is what he likes extra
special we'll. He helped train Tom
Sharkey for some Of the important
fights Of his career. He was one
Of the suggesting boys for other
great ones.
Father thinks it is disgrace
that I blew the title to BraddOck
No matter what I do later on, he'll
never quite forgive me for that
But he intends that I'm going to
be champion again by driving me
like a Simon Legree for the Louis
fight and after that he's going to
take charge when they send me
back at Champion Braddock.
MAYBE I've ducked more train
1V4 ing than any heavyweight
that ever hit the high places-but
not now. Ny father is up at sun
rise and few minutes later 1 get
the call to climb out. Then it's a
turn on the rOad-and no short cuts
After that I've got to chop wood
and do other exercises to strengthen
my hands. When I'm in the ring
I've got to cut down on the Glowing
becaUse-wel, my father is likely to
beat the stuflng out Of me for
mOnkeying.
But he's the finest fellow in the
world. and he's a great lot of fun.
However. he just can't see mixing
fun with hard work. He was tough
enough with me when l was to
meet Camera. But he's triple tough
now since I blew with Braddock He
regards Louis as a dangerous OppO-
nent and he means that I'm to be
fit to fight eight Louis'S on the
same night.
7 THINK I've. worked harder at
i Spectator than for any Of my
fights. Certainly I've tried harder.
I feel in better shape. But I can't
get any praise out Of my father. If
I put on a great show. and ask him
how he thinks I've done, he usually
answers
You could have done a lot better
You'll have to do a lot better You
can't develop a powerful punch
playing powerpuf with your spar
rers. They are in there to take it.
Let EN- have it."
If I get to boasting, he lets me
go along for a while and then asks:
Lets see now. Who was the fell
low that Braddock made a sucker
out of and took his title?"
There's not much answer to that.
So 1 don't try it. just cool off and
listen to my father offering me a
lew hints on how to get in shape.
LIE doesn't like the idea of my
Il i failing to guard my chin.
Maybe it's all concrete-like
your head is sometimes, "he says.
But don't forget that this Louis is
perhaps as hard a hitter and as
sharp a shooter as you've ever gone
against. What good is it going to do
if you have to take ten punches on
the button before you can land a
few Of your own. Keep your chin
tucked in and don't try any actor
stuff in that ring. Go out fighting,
keep on fighting. Don't try to be a
showoff. You can win-and win
easily-if you don't try to be a
matinee idOl-trying to impress a lot
of feminine admirers"
I'm still my fathers pet-acrobat