Evening star., 1940-07-01
The
SPORTLIGHT
Boxing's Finer Points
Never Annoy GoIento
By GRANTLAND RICE,

NEW 4oTtA, July L \N.A,lN.AJ.-
Tony Galento has gone long way
pugihstically without thinking about
it. His training and his fighting are
done along perfectly natural lines
he has no plans reaching beyond
the immediate moment and is con-
f1dent that he can settle everything
with a left hook.
His fighting style was fashioned
In street brawls and remains un-
changed by the years. There is
nothing even slightly scientific about
1t. 1t is rough and forceful, un-
orthodox so far as the approved pat
tern Of ring fighting is concerned
and sometimes is very effective
Curiously enough it is more ef-
fective against good fighters than
against the third and fourth raters.
Tony was battered helpless by Joe
Louis-but in the first round and
again in the third he hit the cham
pion with punches that had missed
some of his more obscure oppo-
nents. The same tricks that failed
against lesser foes worked against
Lou Nova.
Nova rapidly was being built up
for a match with Louis when he
agreed to take on Galento. He was
called a second Tunney and GER
tainly was the cleverest and most
Intelligent of the heavyweight con-
tenders. He had seen Galento in
some of his fights and had an
amused contempt for him.
First Solid Punch Ended
Novo's Chances in Bout
Within a week before the fight
he said to me: eff Galento hits
me one solid punch I should be
ashamed of myself"
The first solid punch that Ga
lento hit him changed the course
of the fight abruptly. Lou was box
ing very nicely when Galento nailed
him with left hook and dropped
him. Strong and game, Nova got
up from that punch, but he never
was the same thereafter, and Ga
lento proceeded to give him a hor-
rible beating, so that the fight was
stopped in the 18th round.
have seen Galento throw that
left hook at virtually unknown op-
ponents and not come even close
to hitting them. Tony lost so many
OF those fights he was lucky ever
to get into the rings better society.
Once he arrived, however, he found
the going somewhat softer. Only
Louis has checked his string Of
major victories.
His training schedule is unpre-
dictable from day to day. He and
not his trainer nor either of his
managers is boss of the camp and
he runs it strictly to suit himself.
Most fighters stick to the same
routine every day, but not Tony. He
works as much as he pleases-or
as little-and varies the routine
almost daily.
Troinine Routine Not
Considered by Tony
On good day, when he really
feels like working, he will do road
work in the morning, go through
full drill In the afternoon, includ-
Ing six or eight rounds of boxing.
go from his camp at Summit to
the gymnasium of his friend, Joe
the Crouch, in Newark and work
some more, and then by way of
aiding the digestion of his dinner.
play handball at night.
When he doesn't feel like train
Ing he just doesn't. He doesn't even
go near his camp that day, but re-
mains at his tavern in Orange,
greeting his customers and helping
out behind the bar. The day he
fought Louis he went back to his
tavern from the weighing in and
worked behind the bar for an hour
or so.
asked him one day about his
knack OF punching up. This is a
knack that many good fighters have
tried to learn, but without success.
Max Schmeling, very good fighter
and smart, patient, methodical
striver, never could learn it. That
was why he never would fight Primo
Camera who, in the mind of every
one but Max himself, figured to be a
soft touch for him. But Tony can
punch up. That's what makes him
SO effective against bigger men. l
wanted to know how he had learned
1t.
Rules Of Fiqhtino Never