hype igoe

[Capslock]

Thanks for the reviews , ironbar

Note that while McLarnin died on Oct. 28, 1994.

the obituary in the NY TIMES appeared only on November 10, 2004.



So it only took the NY TIMES 12 days to acknowledge his death.

And of course the NY TIMES can't get it right:

Despite an outstanding record that included victories over Fidel LaBarba, Jackie Fields, Billy Petrolle (the Fargo Express), Pancho Villa, Al Singer, Louis Kaplan and Sammy Mandell, McLarnin did not get a shot at the welterweight title until May 29, 1933, in his 71st professional fight. He knocked out the champion, Young Corbett III, in the first round in Los Angeles.

McLarnin got a shot a Sammy Mandell's lightweight title on May 21, 1928, where boxing master Mandell won a lopsided 15 round decision.

[Capslock]

ironbar,

The two so-called obituaries of McLarnin you presented prove my point.

McLarnin died on October 28, 2004.

The Globe and Mail obituary is dated November 29, 2004.

So it took the Globe and Mail OVER A MONTH to mention that McLarnin had died.

Globe and Mail:

JIMMY McLARNIN, WORLD CHAMPION BOXER: 1907-2004

Baby-faced boxer from B.C. who was discovered on the Vancouver docks proved to be one of the greatest welterweights of all time

By TOM HAWTHORN
Special to The Globe and Mail
Monday, November 29, 2004 - Page S9

If anyone is interested, I saved Mr. McLarnin's obituaries from the above-noted 'papers and have pasted them below... while boxing knowledge in the mainstream media is certainly at an all-time low, this all-time great was indeed remembered upon his passing...

It took the NY TIMES (with its high powered obituary section that has obituaries for many prominent figures already written and ready before their deaths ) 12 days to mention that McLarnin had died.

New York Times:

Jimmy McLarnin, Top Boxer Called Baby Face, Dies at 96
By JACK CAVANAUGH

Published: November 10, 2004

Jimmy McLarnin, an enormously popular fighter who beat 13 world champions, including Benny Leonard and Barney Ross, during his 14-year professional career, died Oct. 28. He was 96.

NOT A SINGLE so-called sportwriter writing for any US newspaper wrote a column about McLarnin when he died.

WHY?

Because they don't know who he was.

And these are the same "experts" who will smirk at the drop of a hat and tell you who the "greatest of all time" is.

[iskigoe]

GREAT STUFF IRONBAR

good reading as good a story as seabiscuit . Could be a movie .

[theironbar]

Thanks iskigoe -- I saved those obituaries before I joined the CBZ and I'm glad I got to share them with my fellow members.

I had a brief correspondence with Mr. Hawthorn, the writer of the Globe's obituary, shortly before Mr. McLarnin's passing and, believe it or not, wrote to Jimmy McLarnin several days before he died. I must admit, when Mr. Mclarnin passed away, the Globe had what I'd call a "blurb" on his death in the paper that week. Steven Brunt (who wrote "Facing Ali" and regularly covers boxing for the Globe) may also have written an article. Nevertheless, I was so disappointed with the coverage -- I really should have called and given the sports desk hell as he was a real hero to many Canadians (and Americans and Irish too). But I didn't and, as is the Globe's practice in many cases, the longer obituary I posted was published several weeks later.

I can't recall if the NYT did the "blurb" thing as well upon Mr. McLarnin's death, but I do recollect being very disheartened by the initial lack of media coverage. I agree wholeheartedly with the point being made, the dumbing down into non-existence of boxing coverage in American and Canadian newspapers, or even the media in general. There might be no solution, but doing what I did -- sitting on my hands -- certainly wasn't going to help. I should have called (or e-mailed) the Globe the week Mr. McLarnin died and gave 'em hell!

BTW, the NYT obituary does mention the loss to Sammy Mandell for the lightweight title, ("McLarnin had a powerful right hand and a knack for knocking out opponents when in trouble. He made his New York debut in 1928 by knocking out Sid Terris, a highly ranked lightweight, in the first round. Three months later, he lost a 10-round decision to the lightweight champion, Sammy Mandell, whom he later beat twice. Later that year, he was cut by Ray Miller in Detroit and was knocked out for the only time in his career.") but as Capslock rightly points out, parts of the article do indeed make it sound as though he waited a dog's age -- 9 and 1/2 years -- for a shot at any title, which obviously wasn't the case! And it was indeed a 15 round fight for the title vs. Sammy Mandell, not 10!

[Capslock]

The NY TIMES is a mess.

Always has been when it comes to boxing.

Unfortunately many in Britain have access to it online and mistakenly think it is an important source--which it definitely is not.

.

[iskigoe]

being new at this its good to see you must save so many things . Especially the things you like . research is like a spiders web , you dont no were your going , or where you will end up. Just when you start to understand one writer or boxer. Theres always something about them that takes you some where else.

[hawk5ins]

I too am irritated at the lack of respect that Boxing, as a WHOLE, not just historically, gets from mainstream media. But while disappointing, certainly it is not surprising.

Those few sportswriters who actually do cover Boxing, really have very little pull when it comes to trying to push info such as a McLarnin or a Gavilan's death to say nothing of giving adequate coverage to the results of a marquee or semi marquee bout (forget about bouts a notch or two below that level).

An editor at a news paper who knows or cares very little about boxing becuase, let's face it, It doesn't sell papers TODAY, isn't going to back his sports writer who wants to publish a story on a Kid gavilan or Mclarnin's death that may very well push out a profile on a popular basketball, football or baseball player. Tiger Woods missing the cut at the US Open or McLarnin dying? What TODAY is going to get read more?

This is nothing new. It's not acceptable, but let's not act shocked here.

THe fact that McLarnin DID get a piece done on him at all, I think was very nice indeed. Better late than never? Guys, with the level that boxing is on right now, I think we better take late and be happy it was done at all.

Boxing is not on Prime time anymore. It's not on the networks. It is indeed low profile. If it has a profile at all. Reason for irritation and being upset? Absolutely. But let's not act like we just woke up and realized this to be the case here.

Hawk

[kikibalt]

[Capslock]

"McLarnin, also known as the Belfast Spider "

(Paragraph 3 of the LA TIMES article)

LA TIMES writer Steve Springer and his "sports" editors demonstrate their total incompetence.

Ike Weir was the "Belfast Spider."


"Ike" Weir (Isaac O'Neil Weir) (the "Belfast Spider")



BORN February 5 1867; Lurgan, County Armagh, Northern Ireland
DIED September 12 1908; Chelsea, Massachusetts (Some sources report September 23 1908)
HEIGHT 5-5 3/4 (Some sources report 5-6 1/2)
WEIGHT 105-118 lbs
RACE White; Irish-American

http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/images/IkeWeir2.jpg

Weir was an exceptional boxer who was lightning quick and possessed an excellent sharp-shooter left hand; He often clowned as he boxed but despite his antics, Ike was a terrific talent; During his career, he fought some men who were 30-40 pounds heavier and won

From time to time during a boxing contest, he would raise his left shoulder and elbow, wiggle his hips, and roll his arms in a windmill fashion - then, quick as a flash, strike his foe a blow or two

In addition to his boxing career, Ike was famous for being a champion jockey, trick shooter, acrobat, traditional Irish dancer and for turning somersaults as he entered the ring and in the ring itself

During his career, Weir defeated such men as William Snee, Willie Clark, George Siddons, Tommy Danforth, Tommy Barnes, Kentucky Rosebud, Frank Steele, Joe Flaherty, Joe Hopkins, Tommy McManus, "Torpedo" Billy Murphy and Eddie Loeber


1883
-Weir began boxing at Liverpool, Eng

1885
Oct 5 J. Stewart Manchester, Eng W 3
Oct 5 E. Pallon Manchester, Eng W 3
-Some sources report "Bill Pallon"
Oct 5 Joe Fielden Manchester, Eng W
-The previous 3 bouts were held the same date
as part of a 136-Pound Competition; Some sources
report three "KO" wins; Some sources report
"L" against Fielden
Oct 9 J.W. Harlow Salford, Eng W 10
Dec 14 William Joyce Manchester, Eng W 3
Dec 14 Tom Jones Manchester, Eng W 3
Dec 14 George Holden Manchester, Eng L
-The previous 3 bouts were held the same date
as part of a 131-Pound Competition and All-Weights
Competition

1886
Jan 6 Ulrich Conley Preston, Eng D 6
Feb 6 Billy Sykes Liverpool, Eng W 4
-This was a "Private" fight
Mar 10 -Weir arrived in Boston, Ma
May 28 William Snee Boston, Ma W 4
-Some sources report "W 5"
Oct 29 James Fuhry Boston, Ma W 5
-Some sources report 10/28/86 vs "James Fahey"
Nov 5 Martin Burns Boston, Ma KO 6
Dec 2 Young Sullivan South Boston, Ma W 2
Dec 15 "Young" George Badger South Boston, Ma KO 1
-Some sources report "KO 2"

1887
Jan 7 Johnny Aaron Boston, Ma W 5
-Some sources report "D 5" in "Dec 1886"
Jan 24 Jack Farrell New York, NY KO 7
-Some sources report "near Nyack, NY"
Feb 25 Howard Rand Boston, Ma KO 2
Mar 10 Jack Williams in Rhode Island KO 36
Apr 30 Willie Clark Nyack, NY KO 21
-Some sources report 3/10/95
Jul 20 Jack Havlin Warwick, RI D 61
-Some sources report 7/21/87 at Westerly, RI
Sep 30 Johnny Murphy Boston, Ma D 17
Dec 12 Tommy Warren Minneapolis, Mn D 20
-Some sources report Featherweight Championship
of the World

1888
Jan 23 Tommy Miller Minneapolis, Mn KO 7
Feb 3 George Siddons Duluth, Mn W 7
-Some sources report "KO 11"
Feb 10 Tommy Burke Minneapolis, Mn KO 5
Feb 17 Dominick Barnes Minneapolis, Mn W 6
Tom Barrie Minneapolis, Mn W 6
Mar 28 Jack Havlin Boston, Ma D 6
Sep 3 Jimmy Connors Buffalo, NY SCH
-This bout was scheduled but not held;
Authorities prevented it
Dec 4 Tommy Danforth Boston, Ma W 8

1889
Jan 25 Jack Beck New Bedford, Ma KO 3
Mar 31 Frank Murphy Kouts, In D 80
-Some sources report Featherweight Championship
of the World
Jun 15 Denny Sullivan Boston, Ma EX

1890
Jan 13 "Torpedo" Billy Murphy San Francisco, Ca LK 14
-126 Pound Championship of the World;
Fox Featherweight Championship
Feb 6 Tommy Barnes Denver, Co KO 20
Feb 19 Tommy White Chicago, Il EX 3
Feb 19 Bill Bradburn Chicago, Il EX 3
-The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Joe Frazer Minneapolis, Mn KO 6
Tom Peters Syracuse, NY KO 3
Charles Smith Hoboken, NJ KO 3
Jul 7 Jimmy Connors Buffalo, NY KO 3
-Some sources report 7/08/90
Dec 14 -Weir sailed for Australia on the ship "Alameda"

1891
Jan 17 Abe Willis Sydney, NSW, Aus EX 3
Feb 7 John Malone Honolulu, Oahu, Hi EX 3
"Captain" Bill Weir Honolulu, Oahu, Hi KO 2
Spike Maloney Honolulu, Oahu, Hi KO 2
Apr 25 Johnny Griffin Nantasket, Ma D 4
-Police intervened
May 9 Kentucky Rosebud Philadelphia, Pa KO 3
-This man was "Walter Edgerton"

1892
Jan 2 Kentucky Rosebud Philadelphia, Pa EX 4
-This man was "Walter Edgerton";
Some sources report "ND 4";
Some sources report "L 4"
Feb 15 Tommy "Spider" Kelly New York, NY
EX 3
Feb 18 Frank Steele New Bedford, Ma KO 12
Apr 19 Tommy White Minneapolis, Mn D 10
-Some sources report 3/19/92;
Some sources report 5/19/92
May 17 Joe Flaherty Minneapolis, Mn W 2
Aug 25 -Weir was stabbed by John Liston in Boston, Ma;
He survived in good health
Sep 5 an unnamed opponent Hudson, Ma EX 3
Nov 17 Billy Frazier Newport, RI EX
Nov 19 Tom Tully Philadelphia, Pa ND 4
Nov 22 Lee Damro Philadelphia, Pa ND
Nov 24 Kentucky Rosebud Philadelphia, Pa SCH
-This man was Walter Edgerton;
This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Dec 10 -Weir got into a fight with Jimmy Carroll at the
offices of the New York Illustrated News

1893
Feb 5 Paddy McPhillips Girardville, Pa TK 3
Feb 9 Joe Hopkins Hoboken, NJ W 4
Jul 17 Lem Ashe Boston, Ma W
Jul 17 Tommy McManus Boston, Ma W
-The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Jul 18 -Weir was found guilty of assault upon J.C. McCabe,
a Harvard medical student, and was sentenced to
four months in the House of Correction; McCabe
was in the hospital for seven weeks as the result
of his injuries, one of his legs was fractured;
Weir was acquitted on 1/02/94
Sep 4 Fred Morris New York, NY EX 6
Sep 29 Hugh Napier Brooklyn, NY SCH
-This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Nov 2 "Torpedo" Billy Murphy Boston, Ma KO 6
Dec 22 Eddie Loeber Boston, Ma W 4
-Some sources report 12/23/93;
Some sources report 12/24/93

1894
Mar 17 Young Griffo Chicago, Il LT 3
-Police intervened;
Some sources report "NC 3"
Nov 19 Jimmy Johnson Philadelphia, Pa W 4

1895
Aug 3 -Weir was scheduled to compete in a bag-punching
contest at Roxbury, Ma

1898
Mar 17 Mike Sears Lynn, Ma L 10

*** The Following Bout Is Reported But Not Confirmed ***

1901
Jan 1 Kentucky Rosebud New York, NY KO 1
-This man was Walter Edgerton

[hawk5ins]

ever was refferred to as the Belfast Spider, it certainly was never a popular or well known nickname, if it ever was applied to him at all.

I certainly never have heard Mclarnin referred as such. And I suspect it this was a gufaw on the part of Springer.

Thomas Hearns was known as the Hitman, but also frequently reffered to as the Motor City Cobra. I highly doubt the dual nickname tag applies to McLarnin.

Looks like a mistake to me that needs to be pointed out to Mr. Springer. That said, I doubt if I would completely boycott reading him if I was a consistent reader of the Times, unless mistakes such as these were the norm and not the exception, which I suspect to be the case.

Hawk

[theironbar]

I do recall reading an article or two that mentioned Mr. McLarnin being nicknamed the "Belfast Spider" (including one by Mike Casey from Boxing Scene) and www.boxrec.com, while not perfect, also backs this up as well.

Thanks for posting that obit Mr. B!

[Chuck1052]

There were a number of errors in the early published records
of Jimmy McLarnin. On BoxRec, there is an attempt to
correct such errors, especially in regards to some of McLarnin's
early bouts.

- Chuck Johnston

[iskigoe]

TODAYS PARADE OF SPORTS CELEBRITIES
(By Henry McLemore,)

Grossinger lake, N. Y. — To those young men who are willing
to endure 45 minutes of assorted misery for weeks of deep-dish luxury,
I heartily recommend the business of championship fisticuffs.

There's no softer life, my friends, unless it be that of a
bench Pekinese, than that enjoyed by a champion while preparing for
a title fight. My knowledge is very first hand, too, for these lines
are. being written in the sumptuous field-stone lodge that serves
as press headquarters at the country club where Barney Ross is
training for his welterweight fight with Jimmy McLarnin late this
month.

The place — or the Ferndale Country club — crawls with luxury.
Surrounding its some dozen lodges and scores of cottages are golf
courses, swimming pools, stables, and trout streams. Anything less
choice than squab or pheasant for dinner brings protest, and the
drinks are prepared from sarsparilla old enough to vote.

Somehow it doesn't 'make sense — all this fine flourish surrounding
a man who is preparing himself in the toughest of all trades.
What business has 'gleaming silver and crepe suzettes with a righthand
swing to the nose, a left hook that rips the eyebrow? What
possible connection is there between a bridle path that winds
through lovely spring woods and a straight poke to the belly that
makes a man's insides turn upside down?

It doesn't add up even to the younger sports writers, who came
along when conditions, while not so lush as now, never were so bad
a fellow1 didn't have a bed with springs on which to sleep. But to
the veterans — those hard-bitten boys who carry in their heads
what most of us pack in a record book on the hip pocket, it is amazing
and bewildering.

Take Hype Igoe, for example Hypus, who has been the top boxing
authority since Jim Figg turned pro, was sitting here a few
minutes ago and, feeling a tack in his shoe, casually remarked that
he would have to go to the village in the morning and have it fixed.
Five minutes later the club cobbler, his bench under his arm,
came in.

"I understand you have a tack in your shoe, Mr. Igoe. May I
please extract It?"

"Now in fact that's something," exclaimed Igoe when the cobbler
had gone. "Why I've seen the day in boxing when anything short of
your head catching on fire wouldn't cause an interruption in
a poker game. Here's Ross training out here and living in a specially
built cottage of 15 rooms, and with every comfort known to
man. Kid La Vigne would get a laugh out of this place. I'll never
iorget the Kid's place at Pop Blankeas la Frisco when the Kid
was training for Walcott There was a Joint. You bathed in tube,
lived on cots that saw service in the Civil war, and ate food that
is banned by law now. Ross has a barber come miles to shave and
shampoo him. The Kid soaked his face and fists in dirty pickle
brine to get 'em tough.

"And there was Bat Nelson's training camp at Joe Millek's place outside Colma. Bat was training for Jimmy Britt and he boxed 20 rounds right up until
the day of the fight, just to be sure he could go 20 rounds. These
days the boys don't work if it rains or is cold. Hell, I've seen Bat and
his kind step out in a storm and run miles through mud, and then
come back to fight 15 rounds in the ring."

"Let's go over and see Barney." But Barney wasn't in.

"Sorry," said the butler, who opened the door, "but the master
is out on the bridle path. And he's going in town for a manicure
when he comes back, so you'd better come back at 4 for tea."
"And perhaps a bit of chamber music?" asked Mr. Igoe in a voice
that is best described as a snort

[iskigoe]

PUNCH VS. SKILL DEBATE GOES ON

Fighting Men Themselves Disagree as to Which Is Better Style.

BY HYPE IGOE.
NEW YORK, May 13 — Once clever man at boxing, always
clever man, even though such a fighting man becomes a hitter, leaving
cleverness behind him.

Abe Attell, for instance, began as rousing thumper. He was a knockout specialist. I saw him bowling over kids, 14 and 15 years old, like himself, in his early fighting days in San Francisco. He had no thought
of cleverness. His aim was to finish the other fellow off as quickly as
possible.

The Abe came east and saw boxing of the saner kind. He became
enraptured with the cleverness idea. Surely it was the way to last longer.
It was a means of escaping hard knocks.

Too Much Wear and Tear.
To deliver hard punches, a fellow had to trade in them, and the wear
and tear wasn't worth it, Attell discovered. You'll never convince Abe
that a right-hand hitter can land on a clever man.
Now for'another side. When little Jimmy McLarnin started to
fight around Los Angeles, he was as swift as a young antelope. He
had speed that bewildered opponents and patrons alike. He would
stand in midring as Jem Driscoll used to stand, tripping this way and
that out of range. He'd alternate by stepping around swiftly, his footwork
adding to the general confusion of the- fellow in front of him.
They tell me that it was astonishing .

Sudden Shift of Style.

Jimmy was a beautiful boxer. He couldn't punch his way out of a
stack of marshmallows, so they thought. Then Jimmy mixed it up
with Jackie Fields in Los Angeles one night nettled into a right hand
punch delivery and knocked Jackie "dead," meaning that peculiar sort
of demise with "which they characterize a knockout. Truly such a
victim is stretched out; really he will live to get up and ask: ""Who
done that?"

That Fields knockout happened several years ago. Jimmy became
one of our sweetest hitters of all time He went right hand "crazy."
He knocked out one New York ring idol after another. He left speedy
footwork and elusiveness behind him. Only those cf the Californian:
who had seen his early work, now speak of the "once clever McLarnin."

Campolo His Camp Mate.
Now Jimmy finds himself in quandary. One of his camp mates
"Who is big Vic Campjolo. who boxes Tommy Loughran in the Garden;!
Friday night. Jimmy knows that Campolo can hit, yet he realizes
that a hitter must land before his hits will count for anything.
Jimmy knows that Loughran is one of the darlings of the clever
side of boxing, all that is deft, dazzling, poetry of motion! Jimmy
knows what he would do were he Campolo and he knows, too, just
what Loughran is sure to do when he gambles with the touwering-
Argentine..Jimmy you see, knows both sides.

McLarnin Files Denial.
Jimmy called me' on the telephone from Orangeburg this morning
to say that he "did not predict that Campolo would knock out
Loughran.-" An evening tabloid attributed such statement to Jimmy.
He was quite put out about it, because, way down in his heart, Mc-
Larnin knows that Loughran is a master boxer, and if he was to make
a choice he would string with
clever man. .

They have great admiration for each other's work, have Jimmy and
Tom. and do not hesitate to say so. after *watchin? the performance
one or the other.

Jim Corbett. Abe Attell. Driscoll.. Griffo and any clever man who-;
ever lived would always string with the clever man when pitted against
a slugger.

[iskigoe]

TERMS 8 TO 5 IN
NEW YORK BETTING i
Eastside lightweight Favored to Win Over Jimmy Mclarnin
—Winner Will meet
Sammy Mandell.
NEW YORK, Feb. 24.—(UP)—
The lightweight crown which rests at such a jaunty angle upon the
curls of the Twarthy little sheik of Rockford. Sammy Mandell. is the
Aim and object of two fistic prequis tenders who do battle tonight In
the ring at Madison Square Garden.

Jimmy McLarnin.- sometimes called the "Balfast Spider." and even more recently christened 'Baby Face." in making his New
York debut and bis most ambitious ' attempt at recognition at the log-'
ical contender, by taking on Sid , Terris, the galloping ghost of the .
Ghetto.


Even the National Boxing asso will recognize the winner of
tonight's bout as man Sammy Mandril must face in defense of
the 135-pound title

The Ghetto has its shekels down on Terris. Not even the prestige
Of knockout victories achieved by Mclarnin within the past year can
swerve the East Side. As a result, the New York Hebrew will reign «
favorite over the westerner at odds of 8 to 5

[hawk5ins]

I would have bet my life that what Springer wrote was simply a "confusion" thing as I also had never heard the nickname associated with McLarnin.

The learning process continues......

Thanks!

Hawk

[iskigoe]

Hype Igoe Picks Lavigne
As Best Fighter Of All

BV DAMON RUNYON
Sept. 20.--1932 Now, with your kind permission. I present to you, Mr. Herbert Anthony Aloysius Igoe. Called "Hype."

In his youth In .San Francisco.Mr. Igoe was two pounds lighter
than a Panama hat. He was so skinny that every time he stepped
into the elevator of the old Examiner building , big fat Gus Rapp..
photo engraver. Would go through the pantomime of shooting a charge
into his arm with, a hypodermic syringe, and would sing out would sing out
"HY-P-O-O"

Gus Rapp hada high shrill voice. Indeed, he was the tenor in The Examiner's engravers' quartet. Mr. Igoe also sang in the quartet, He sang baritone. Of course. Gus Rapp's pantomine was libelous, but
he save Mr. Igoe a tag that has stuck to him for many a year, and , which he has made famous all over the world.

Mr. Igoe has been using the "Hype" asa signature to his cartoons and newspaper articles for upwards of 37 yrs. He is one of uor most celebrated sports writers and of a vintage that brings him dangerously close
to the title "Dean of the Corps."

Develops Melon

Mr. Igoe is short, and his form would no longer suggest tissue
wasting practices even to Gus Rapp. in fact. Mr. Igoe is shaped
like a man who has inadvertently swallowed a watermelon. His hair
is thinning, but still coal black, He is on the lee side of 50, but his
mind and spirit remain eternally young.

At this time Mr. Igoe is at-Madame Bey's covering the Walker
end of the Impending Milk Fund battle. Incidentally, Mr.
Igoe, who picked Sharkey to beat Schmeling. thinks Walker
is a cinch over the German.

In San Francisco. Mr. Igoe was contemporaneous with the late
•••Tad,- his lifelong pal, Bob Edgren. Bud Fisher. Rube Goldberg
and Herb Roth. They all traveled East to become famous as writers
or cartoonists. Cartooning was Igoe's original bent, and he
is to-day one of the best caricaturists in America.

'After The Fire'
He came to New York "the year after the fire." All San Franciso-
cans so place time and events. Thus Mr.Igoe's arrival in the big town
was in 1907. He has been with us ever since.

He was born in Santa Cruz and reared in San" Francisco."Among
boyhood neighbors were Jimmy'Britt ,willus Britt, Joe Kennedy;
and Jimmy Lawler.

"When we were kids south of the slot, he used to fight other boys with one hand tied behind him Thats how good he was,.- says Mr..
Igoe. Willus Britt, Jimmy's brother, was a manager of fighters,
among them the great Stanley Ketchel, who was also managed by
Mr. Igoe for a spell.

Picks Lavigne
"Who's the greatest fighter you Igoe, saw?" asked Mr.
thinking he would say Ketchel.

"Kid Lavigne," he replied promptly. Lavigne was lightweight champion years ago.

Well, Mr. Igoe ought to know. He has seen 'em all. He has been intimate of more fighters than any other sports writer living today.
The gladiators like Mr. Igoe. He never says anything mean about
them, though he criticises them from professional standpoint
without mercy.

I think he is about the ablest of all the boxing critics when it comes
to analyzing fights and fighters. He is extremely fair. And in
the years he has been following.
boxing he has never lost his enthusiasm for the game.
- - -

[mike]

the kid was a warrior supreme !!!

[iskigoe]

Mike

I have not had the time to read much about the Kid, except Hype's story from his twenty greatest. You remember the one where he fights Walcott.
Two of the bloodyist battles, Hype had seen. Big surprise to see Hype, picking Lavigne over Ketchel or Dempsey, as his # 1. He must have been a banger.

Can't wait to dig in, and read about the Kid

Iskigoe

[iskigoe]

NOW comes Edward J. Neil with
a story about Terrible Terry
McGovern, when the latter was
thru as a boxer and broke. Boxing
writers were "carrying" McGovern
as they journeyed to the scene of
an important championship fight,
before the battle, the One evening
writers and McGovern visited a
gaming room in which thousands
of dollars changed hands nightly.
McGovern didn't have a dime but
he finally inveigled Hype Igoe into
letting him have a dollar. He
crowded in among the jewel encrusted
ladies and men in formal
evening wear gathered around the
roulette wheel. Terry placed his
dollar on a number and the assemblage
laughed but the croupier
accepted the wager.
McGovern's number came up. It
seemed from then on as if he had
an enchanted touch—every number
Terry played was right. When
he had run the dollar into $30,000
his friends, the sports writers, did
everything but carry him out
bodily but McGovern remained.
"I'll own this town in another
couple of hours," he insisted.
Discouraged, the writers left
When McGovern trudged in at the
break of day, he was whistling.
"How did you come out?" was
the Question from all sides.
"Oh, yen," he said carelessly
"Not bad. Not bad at all. I lost
one buck."

Iskigoe