The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-07-15

Rights
Fail To Land
0nChannp
BY FRANK BUCK" O,NEHL

BY FhANh "bUCA' ONEALh
The first impression of Freddie
Steele, middleweight champion Of
the world, is that If he hadn't
turned professional boxer seven
years ago when he was II years
Of age, he might have won his
seat in the Washington eight
cared shell, or maybe been q let.
ter man on the varsity eleven.
He is that kind of a boy, this
tall and rangy ring warrior who
faces the gloved fists Of Hobo"
Williams in the ring at Griffith
Stadium Tuesday night. Steele
stands close to the six-foot mark
in his ring clothes. FitzSimmonS
was tall like that; so was Ketchell.
And Steele, like those immortalS
Of the squared circle, has the
cold blue eyes; killer eyes, that
they say all fighters must have.
Broad, well-molded shoulders,
a tapering torso and legs that are
as strong as hickory saplings:
arms that are strong but not
bulky impress you as he glideS
through his PAGES.
Illusion Heightened
The college boy illusion is height
ened when you talk to Steele. His
rapid, clear conversation bespeaks
the active, alert mind. He doesn't
strive to impress you with any
great erudition. But you know
after few minutes that Steele
has been around. And here's a
note on the lad. He'd rather talk
about that great band of oars
men from University Of Washing
ton; he'd rather speak of their
triumphS on the water than tell
you how he beat Babe Risko for
the title, and he's naturally proud
of that.
One Of the first things that i'm.
presses you about Steele in his
ring work is that he seems to be
easy to hit with a right hand.
Watching him work with Walter
Woods yesterday before the latter
suffered a cut eye, it seemed that
Woods landed entirely too many
rights. In fact, Woods led with his
right, and you just don't do that
In the major leagues Of fistiana.
Rides Punches
So you watched Steele closer,
and you learned about riding
punches from him. Woods threw
that right, and Steele turned q
little, raised his shoulder a little
and slipped his head a little. The
punch that seemed devastating
was no more harmful than q
powder puff at 80 PAGES.
How hard does Steele hit? We
don't know. He hits hard enough
and often enough to hold the title,
and that's about all anyone can
ask of man in that peculiar bust
ness. Steele is short puncher
and a crisp puncher. He has q
short, jolting left jab, and he
hooks with true power.
Steele is a fighting champion.
perhaps the most active since Paul
Berlenbach placed his light heavy
weight crown on a ring post and
invited the rough and rugged boys
to knock it off. He had fought al.
most score of times since he beat
Babe Risko just a year ago.
Risks Title Thrice
He defended his title three times
this year and fought a few lover.
the-weight" fights. ~ b..
Il respect them ALL" Steele
said this morning as we sat
around with Ray Arcel and
talked about fighters, "any man
who is good enough to fight the
champion must be dangerous,
mo. I don't 80 to see sons
Of the fighters. You see, . man
will look good against certain
stylNs in the ring and look bad
with others. Another thing, You
may get ideas and go into the
ring set. If the other man doesn't
do what you expect, you're apt
to be tagged.
$50 take them in strides
watching my step at all times.
That's the best way to prepares
just be ready. I'll be ready for
Williams" "
One of the reasons that Steele
is a fine lighting machine is that
he can fight catch weights at the
middleweight limit. He still weighs
157 pounds, or thereabout for WI.
liams. Old Fitz fought at the
same weight.
Ray Arcel says that training
Steele is like going on a vacation.
This veteran handler Of fighters
he is one Of the greatest in his
line just goes about his work
quietly and finds Steele amenabl0
to the discipline of camp, and to
suggestion.
"He is one of the best Of re-
cent years." Arcel said, and the
way in which he said it placed
the stamp Of truth upon the
statement.