The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-10-26
Est-Fighting Needed Badly Dumb Dan'
By JACK CUDDY
United Pres Sports Writerl

New York. Oct. 0s.-(UP)-The skinny old gaffer with the turkey gebblsy threat, who Is known as Dumb Dan" Morgan, gave tube- clearing "hf-f-umm-phl" and as- serted:
 What this country needs more than . good ftfty-cant eigsr is . popular book on practical hst-fight- ing-a cheap, entertaining book that every youngstsf In the ooun- try could read and profit by,"
 One of the reporters at the 2Oth Century Club asked Morgan, "Why do you specify book on fist-fight- ing instead of hoxipga"
 Morgan, the veteran fight man. aeer who is called dumb because he always uses 7S6 words where seven will do, replied;
 Because the proof of the pud- ding Is In the eating. Because box ing Tor years has had such . wrong approach to youth thst the great mass of American youngstefs have not become interested in the sport.
 Instructors have talked to young- sters about Jack Dempsey, Mickey Walker and Joe Louis as goals that they might reach as professional lighters, instead of impressing upon the youngsters that they can learn to fight with their bare fists-learn to lick the corner bullies-learn to walk through life unafraid of those who might try to push them around"
 But why distinguish between fist fighting and hoxing9 The reporter wanted to know.
 Morgan replied that the approach is entirely different. He explained that when one teaches boxing to . boy, he takes for granted that the boy will be pitted against someone near his own weight and under ideal competitive conditions boxing shoes, smooth and un- ohstructed ring surface, watchful referee to prevent fouling and breathing space between rounds.
 He continued, when one teaches fist-fighting to Q boy. he prepares the boy to meet opponents of any weight, under the most unfavorable competitive conditions, mean: When . guy picks fist fight with you, you have to take him as he comes. You may be lightweight, l35-pounder, and he may be a heavy, scaling 200. And you fight where you are, in regular clothing On the street, in 8 restaurant, in factory, or anywhere-you don't have an unobstructed smooth ring canvas for footing"
 So-what's the big difference? The reporter asked.
 "The big difference is this: in polite boxing and professional fight ing, where men of approximately the same weight compete under fav- orable conditions, se-quarter fighting and clinches are taken for granted. But in fist-f fighting, one never should come to close quarters never should clinch.
 No Referee
 "At close quarters the big guy has a tremendous physical advan- tage over g smaller opponent. He can wrestle the smaller man down. And he can foul the smaller man Init him below the belt, knee him, butt him, or gouge his eyes. Re- member, there's no referee in . fist fight"
 So, how does the fist-fighter pre- vent wrestling and fouling?
 l. NSr,I~ at long range-always keeping away from his opponent-particularly If the opponent is bigger. And he speeializes in fearing how to punch, as the fundamental of long-range fighting. He learns to knock out an opponent in a hurry, knowing that the longer the fight lasts the greater becomes his own danger since there are no breathing spaces between rounds. He learns to take out his man quickly with either hand. He learns that the knock out punch Is all-important in fist fighting"
 But, can anyone learn to deliver knockout punch?
 "Yes," said Morgan, anyone can learn to deliver Q kayo with either fist inside of six weeks, if he isn't a cripple"
 Anyone?
 "Yes, anyonel"
 How would this emphasis on long-range fighting and knockout punching, taught to youngsters, af- feet professional boxing in the long run?
 Morgan replied: "If the principles of long-range fist-fighting were pre- sented to the youngsters of Amer iea in an entertaining book, you'd have a lot more young fellows in- terestsd in boxing. And it would improve the sport 900 percent. Be- cause today nine out of 10 spend too much time in elinehes."