Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-08-07
WIN, LOSE OR
GNAV By FRANCIS STANN
his Is frankie Mann

ecided that he would dethrone Battling Nelson and
lightweight champion of the world Filled with
tion, frankie Mann asked brother Ed foreman with
the old Washington Railway g. Electric Co., for job for
year or So until catch up with Nelson"
The other day frankie Mann, IS, retired from job
that lasted years He fulfilled his dream inside the
ring but frankie far away from boxing When
ne ougrew the 3S-pound discovered that his
5-foot-8 frame and short did not become middle
weight, he turned manager, then promoter
AS early as O8 he built crude gym in his backyard
on side of he painted frankie Manns Training
Gym" In this small structure some pretty good fighters
alter were handled by Manu. including Marty Gallagher,
hick Hobrook Patsy Donovan, Jack Turner the foored
Hickey Walker in training camp, Jimmy DeChard and
lilly Edwards
frankie signs when he thinks of Edwards, strappng
Tegro who rubbing down fighters until Mann asked
lin one day why he didn't try boxing himself.
I'D like to try If you'll show me how to fight" Billy
aid and Mann agreed.
I'm THOSE DAYS" FRANKIE says, "they used to hold
what called He Night in Rockville There very
tough boy named Hawghaid' who usually the battle
royals took Edwards out to play with those boys
night
Billy made mistake and brought along his ring
trunks shoes The Others who overas and high
work Shoes thought that Edwards a real pro and
decided to double-up on him. In the first round they
knocked him down and kicked him out of the ring"
At the end of the round frankie sad Billy you better
drop out. They're ganging you"
mo" Edwards said II aims to get even" And in the
third round he did He knocked one guy cold Another
tripped him and Billy caught him with uppercut
Finally he had six bodies piled up and the winner.
Billy could have gone long way" frankie says.
Frank Menke the famous sports historian him and
wanted to Edwards to Chicago where Jack Dempsey
running fights at the Coliseum advised Billy to go,
though his manager by verbal agreement but
he refused
Il think if Billy had gone to Dempsey he would have
come real close to the top"
IN THE DAYS BEFORE boxing was legal in the District
there scarcely in nearby Maryland Virginia
and yes Washington where Mann had not promoted
His first offering Godie Ahearn Johnny Conroy
on February o. 1920 at Silver Spring Then frankie eyed
the Armore arena, owned by Gambler Jimmy LaFonaine
81 chased LaFontaine for year but could pin
him down. Finally hid out in the bushes at o'clock
morning and waited for Jimmy enter his gambling place
at Bladensburg When LaFontaine got Of his told
him what wanted"
LaFontane looked cooy at frankie and said, You
must want to promote pretty bad Come inside and let's
talk"
MY first fight at Ardmore had Ahearn again. this time
with Andy Bowen" relates frankie ut showed a $500
profit and took it to LaFontane who said This is the
first time anybody ever offered any money You got
kids Frankie?
: II told him had FIVE boys"
keep the dough- LaFontaine said.
Funny thing" frankie laughs now, but few years
later suggested to John Bick the opera
tor that he match Marty Gallagher and Henry Lamar In
the Silver Spring Armory. The fight drew $040O Once
more there $500 profit Bick mailed it to with
note: Tt your idea"
FRANKIE MANN MADE THE ROUNDS Silver Spring
Ardmore sportland Heights Kenilworth
Washington Barracks Fort Myer the Arcadia
Fourteenth street Fort Washington Portner's
Arena in Alexandria Old Richie Coliseum at College
Park st. Aloysius in town and, finally Griffith
Stadium when boxing became legal.
lot Of good fighters we're brought to this by
frankie Mann, considering the long, devious and
times dusty trails that offered to patrons of
theSate fights Mann also confronted with the red
tape connected with bootegging military establishments
and the simple hypocrisy and attendant raid danger Of
Club membership exhibitions" at the Arcadia and st.
AoySius.
Joe Dundee, welterweight champion Of the world,
fought for Mann at Washington Barracks when he
seeking his rst main eventer frankie offered 5000 and
Max Waxman OF Baltimore brain-trustng for Dundee,
accepted with aacry couple Of years later the Scotch
Continued on Page ca, Col I