BOXING.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 January 1922, Page 3

BOXING.

A BOXER’S CONDITION. CARPENTIER’S IDEAS. The impression is abroad that a prizefighter 1 must of necessity be fed as if he were one of your excellent English turkeys; and do you know, the fact that because I do not ask for, neither do I revel in, Gargantuan feasts at Stanmore. it came to be said that I was in a decline, (says Carpentier in his book). I just^eat and drink when I like, as much as I like, and no more. And that is the way I get fit and keep fit. What is my favorite punch? That with which I 'won my fight with Beckett—any punch that'l'can drive home ,\nd so achieve success. I cannot say that I have any particular punch that r ray be called a speciality. When I enter into a fight I do so with an open mind. T set my brain working so that in the shortest possible time T might discover the weak and strong points of the man I am up against. Then having taken what I consider to be a complete estimate of him. I decide ‘upon the- course of action which I think will take me to - victory. That is, I force myself to believe that if I can punch this wav or that I can end the

fight. •I found out what to do against Beckett in the first two seconds: that was when I discovered there was a clear, uninterrupted way along which to send my left hand. * If an opponent cannot keen out of the way of your left hand, it is certain he cannot close the door to the right, and when you have found out this, go out to win at once; let there be no waiting or dallying; spare neither your man nor yourself. Do the obvious thing. Strive with all your might to knock him out. (It is the greatest possible mistake, in mv opinion, for any boxer to decide what he will do before he gets into the rinf. He must fashion his ways according to hokv his opponent seeks to shape the fight. From the day I dared to take mv chances against all heavyweights I have been conscious that there would be times when I would be called upon to shoulder very considerable handicaps, for T am not a big man as heavy-weights <?o —by the side of Fulton, Willard. Moran. Wells* and Beckett I am little—and if I am to attain the ambition of my life it will not bo because of sheer strength or gigantic frame, but by holding hard to those principles that have won for me a qualification to meet Dempsey. I had scarcely reached my dressingroom and taken my gloves off when Descamps, by now very much the nr-t clown of a pantomime, jumped upon a chair and to a crowd of people, who had managed to squeeze themselves into the room/ said in his best clowning manner: “Gentlemen, pardon! I introduce to you Georges Carpentier—next year the chanfpion of the world. Jo-nignts show is over. Throw your pennies into the hat and please go home. ’ And when •we were alone, Descamps would for ever be saying: “Dempsey, Georges, eh? Georges Carpen*cier, champion of champions; Professor Descamps, manager of managers! Oh, yes, Dempsey. Dempsey, Jack Dempsey!’ On the morning after the fight W’th Beckett, Descamps, who had never thought of bed. was abroad early, doing much business; and when he appeared at the breakfast table he already had a note-book full of engagements tor me “We go everywhere,” he whispered; “France” north.’ south, east and west; many places in Belgium; to Italy—then to America.” ~ ~ Since I beat Beckett no mart could have had a more delightful experience. I have travelled further afield than ever before, and I have met with only great fortune and kindness.