VANITY

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 176, 15 October 1927, Page 27 (Supplement)

VANITY

To Old Mike came an ambitious blade from the Olympic Club. He looked well-fed, and prosperous. He wanted to “turn pro.” “Well,” said Mike, "I would never advise anyone to turn professional.” “Why not?” asked the amateur. “For several reasons. The first is that it is a hard game, and the farther you go the tougher it gets. And when it’s all over maybe all you will have to show for your experience will be a couple of cauliflower ears and a headache.” “Oh, it isn’t the money I’m after. I have plenty now!” “Why turn pro. then?” “I want to meet a better class of fighter. I’ve beaten all of the amateurs. I’m the amateur champion.” “But you can easily arrange to do that without turning pro. You go out to Millet’s this afternoon. Ketchel is training there. If it is a better class you want to meet, he is the world’s best.” “You don’t understand! I want to fight!” “All right! You just tell that to Ketchel. He will accommodate you.” “But I want to gain experience.” “You’ll gain it!” “But I want a reputation.” “Why ?” “Well, so that I can get into the game properly.” “Now we’re right back where we started from. I want to know why you want to get into the game.” “Why, so that I can make a reputation, and ” “Ah, now we’ve got it! Vanity, eh?” “Not at all!” “Have you got a nicer name for it?” “Are all fighters vain?” “Sure, kid! That’s why they’re fighters.” “Well, I’m not vain; I am ambitious!” “Yeah —I know, and if you ve got enough vanity to maintain your ambitions, you might make good. You know, son, this is a funny business. I've seen pugs who were starving, and they fought like wildcats. I’ve seen the same ones when they had plenty of money and they had gone to the pack. In fact, I never saw a fighter yet who could fight worth a damn when he had money unless he had also plenty of vanity. As a business proposition the fight game is no business. There is not an insurance company in

the world that would underwrite any novice’s prospects. Yet he is willing to stake his whole future on his chance of success. But, here is the joke! He will try his damnedest to escape from mediocrity and temporarily he may succeed. Then sooner or later comes his inevitable defeat, and -—oblivion. There are more gold mines than there are championships and fewer prospectors than there are fighters. Which Is the bigger gamble! You had better think it over, son!” “I have thought it over, and It’s not vanity in my case.” “Yes it is, son. It’s vanity in every case.” “Not at all! And, anyhow, I’ve an, nounced that I am going to turn pro., and if I don’t do it —what will people say?