Evening star., 1957-12-20
WIN, LOSE OR
DNAU By FRANCIS STANN
On q Bookish Note

ON THIS DAY FRANKIE MANN. the old fight pro-
moter, mincng along the sidewalks Of Georgetown
and happened to spot book store Staring him in the
face thin edition called British Boxing"
He bought it, later discovered that 1t in his
library and mailed the work (by Denzl Batchelor) to
this address. Pete Rademacher didn't quite make it. ;"
frankie scrawled. This guy see page II did"
There a lot Of talk back in August about fight
in Seattle between Pete Rademacher. amateur. and
Floyd Patterson who and remains the heavyweight
champion OF the world.
Most folks laughed. 1t was called a mismatch and
persons all for taking the matter to Congress
As it turned out nobody hurt seriously Rademacher
actually was credited with flooring the pro in the second
round. Later Pete himself decked times and
counted out in the sixth round
WHETHER OR NOT this was the first time an amateur
nearly" the worlds championship topic
at the time 1t develops the book which frankie Mann
bought is factual that not only did amateur" cha
lenge for the title but he it!
Daniel Mendoza the champion. having avenged a
loss by licking Richard Humphreys in 70 rounds in 1889
in Stiton in Huntingdonshire
He Mendoza) was to lose his championship at last
to the eminent John Jackson invariably written of in
day. with respect due to his station in e Mr. jack
son." Author Bachelor writes.
This lapidary figure, who looked and fought like
stone statue taught Byron how to and led the special
bodyguard Of prizeghers who attended George w at
his coronation
HE defeated Mendoza in 1875 by resorting to the
expeden which Ned Sutton had tried against (m) Figg
Holding his target firmly in place by that much admired
long, dark Mendozas, Of course), Jackson beat
him insensble with the straight left"
IT WAS NOT EXPLAINED why "Mr. Jackson" was
accepted in social circles but there an oil painting Of
Gentleman Jackson" by Ben Marshall 1870 so he must
have been person of quality More to the point perhaps
is this euogy which frankie Mann happened upon:
Gentleman Jackson a man Of tremendous
athletic atainments" 1t is written in British Boxing
He could raise half ton in his two hands He was the
supreme sprinter and jumper Of his day
He could also write his sheet Of paper
with pound weight depending from his little finger
Not the least remarkable part Of this feat was that
champion had been found who could write his name at all
NOW WE HEAR FROM Heinie Miller who also recalls
the hue and cry attendant to the Rademacher
fight.
You don't have to look any further than Washington
State that's where Rademacher and Patterson fought
Henie writes In memo You don't have TO look for
precedent
Ever notice that pronounced tin ear on Victor Nc
Laglen? On the right side it's been and 1t helped him
to become movie star and look tough as Capt Fagg
in What Price Glory
Vic didn't get that March TO- 1902 when he
was good enough amateur to go the limit losing
close decision to Heavyweight Champion Jack Johnson
He got 1t and licking, too from an out-of shape
middeweight"
Heine Miler's story goes like this:
when the United States Fleet circed the globe in o8
there 'hurrah cruise Phil Schlossberg weight 1876
got permission to box McLaglen
I'm round one" Miller relates "the Navy kid leaned
into the air and hung left hook on McLagens ear So
next time you Vic in resurrected TV movie and
spot that ear. =.
"well Just remember"