The Washington times., 1936-11-07
WESTERN PROMISES TROUBLE in REMAINING HIGH
Furr Holds
TopRungIn
D. {. Ring
By GINO SINH

G410 6C4Q1I1B h11O ZULU NAub H44CA
boxing was q mewling infant
among Washington sports, few re-
allied that that lean muScu.
lar young man, Phil Furr
(who got up off the floor
before the failing fists of
frankie Petrolle, brother of the
famed Fargo Express, to snatch
the decision by a whiSker in the
closing roundS) would in time be-
come the centerpiece of the game
in the Capital City and outdraw all
his hometown trade-riVals week in
and week out.
But the young plasterer, who
laid aside his trowel and mortar
board for the leather mitts every
couple of weeks, went on to whip
his standout local foes, Ray Bowen,
Roy Manley, Bobby Wilson, Carey
Wright, Sid SilaS, not once but
several times each until he had
definitely and undiSputably estab-
liShed himself as the best in the
District at lat pounds and was Of
ficially so recognized.
He drew the assignment of bat
tling foreign invaders, Jay Mace
don, Mickey Serrian, Jack Portney
and even the world champion, Bar
ney Ross. and he came out Of
those scraps beaten but unbowed.
Always he drew excellent crowds,
many to cheer him, a few to see
him beaten. But they laid the
long green on the line, and hav-
ing a good business head. Phil
didn't look the gift horse in the
mouth.
Best Couldn't Do 1t
The best in the country smashed
and ripped at his tough, Sinewy
body to no avail. They might
swing blows faster, beat him to
the punch, jab him to a fare-thee-
well, outthink him, outSlug him,
but they couldn't stop him.
HeavyweightS climbed into the
local spotlight and faded away.
FeatherweightS Shone for a few
months and then lost their popu-
larity, but the welterweight cham
pion Of the District held his own.
Many Of his fights weren't up
to snuff, but some of them, par
ticularly his surprising kayo Of
Steve Holaiko and his courageous
stand against Barney Ross, are
still good conversation among
fight followers here.
Phil kept insisting that he
couldn't get going in these short
bouts. A slow starter, he didn't
feel loose enough to hand it out
properly until the seventh or
eighth round and by that time it
was too late for him to win ex-
cept by the kayo route.
ClamOrs for More
He clamored for IS rounds or
more.
"If I'm going to make a liv-
ing punching guys in the nose
and offering mine as a target,
might as well give the chaps
who carry the freight their
moneys WORTH" he reasoned,
"and Is rounds is just long
enough to test a mans ability
to take it, as well as his boxing
skill. If you can't take it in
this game, you don't rate 1
front seat no matter how we'll
you can dish it out. I'll fight
anybody Is rounds or more and
guarantee to give them all they
can handle"
The roly poly impresario Goldie
Ahearn, who hasn't any financial
reason for regretting Phil's climb
to the heights, or even his few
backslidings, got him couple Of
15-rounders and Phil delivered as
he had promised, coming home
with a rush in the last half Of the
bout.
But when he went back to the
10-rounders, notably against Jack
Portney and Lew Raymond, his
inability to get up early speed
again showed in his work and left
the fans dissatisfied.
Reacts to Fans
Ahearn, reacting to the fans,
has been limiting around in no
guarded tones that Phil will have
to turn on the heat Monday night
when he squares off against
Johnny Lucas in a 15-round setto
at Griffith Stadium or go back
to plastering.
Which arouses Phil to sit down
and write:
81 haven't lost a 15.round
bout yet in three starts. feel
better than ever did in my life.
I'll make Ahearn eat his words
Monday. am not on the down
grade and will be in there with
the champion again next sum.
mer. You know Ahearn picked
Barney Ross to kayO me in
three rounds, so don't pay too
much attention to him."
All of which means that Furr