THE CHINA MAIL, JUNE 8, 1939.
TURNED HOSE ON MAE WEST, SHOT MANAGER'S GIRL FRIEND IN LEG
By Leo Fuller
MICKEY WALKER, BOXING'S
A
TOY BULL
SQUAT, powerfully built fel- antagonists punched away fiendishly,
discovered that the referee had a frac-
The fourteenth was a sensation. As
laughing Irish eyes, is one of the tured knee cap! ring's undying characters. Known A new official being rushed to the along Cauliflower Alley as Toy front, the pair resumed hostilities. The Bulldog, Mickey Walker was the pace was savage, and neither would give an inch. The crowd stood on its welter and middleweight champion feet solidly throughout the entire bat- of the world. These laurels in tle, and as round followed round it be- themselves are sufficient claim to came obvious that little short of a fame, but Mickey's irrepressible machine-gun would stop either man. antics out of the ring hit the head- Mickey bored in to get to close quar- lines as often as his greatest fights, ters, Greb hooked him flush on the chin, The famous 'Doc' Kearns guided him and knocked him glassy-eyed. The to the middleweight title, and rarely a challenger rocked back on his heels and week passed without the pair of them Greb, measuring him, rained punches being in the news. Like the time without respite. Mickey's iron chin Mickey turned a hose on Mae West in took them all, although his legs sug- Hollywood, and the other occasion when ged, and he turned and twisted on the he and Kearns, single handed, fought ropes in a semi-conscious effort to get an entire Rugby football team in a away.
hotel! And the time when they were However, the bell found him still on. involved in a fight in a high class rea- his feet, and the earthquake cheers of taurant, and Kearns, by mistake, the spectators rose from all sides, as knocked out the mayor's wife!
the Toy Bulldog weaved his way back
But for all his high spirits, Walker to his corner..
was
a murderous fighter, one of the greatest who has ever danced the can- vas. He was possessed of paralysing
ruined punching power, and he
the aspirations of Britain's finest middle-
knocked him out in London rounds.
in
Grand Stand Finish
To the utter amazement of all con-
DOG
re-
They were still hurling insults as the cops bundled them into separate cabs and sent them home!
Even then, when Mickey arrived home, the telephone was ringing. Ho lifted the receiver to hear Harry Greb's voice--
"Listen, you Irish rat, I'll kick the lights out of you any time, any
where
·
"
"Nuts," said Mickey, and went to bed. Later, of course, he became middle- weight champion, of the world by de- feating Tiger Flowers, the negro, who died on an operating table a few days after the fight.
Charleston Episode
With Kearns as his pilot, Walker made a fortune of money and a colour- ful reputation. The 'Doc's' one com- plaint against Mickey was that he al- ways spoiled his romances. There was one night in particular, after Walker had just knocked out three men on the same card, that they were all celebrat- ing in their hotel.
unloaded,
It was in a Southern state, and when MICKE
a small negro bell boy entered with some more drinks, Mickey told him to dance the Charleston. The lad Was "I'll only stay for a minute," weight. Tommy Milligan, when he cerned, and in particular Harry Greb, marked Mickey, and was still saying he looked and saw Kearns with his girl nervous and dumbly shook his head, as nine the fifteenth and last round was a com- the same thing three hours later. By friend sitting on his knee.
plete reversal of the tide of battle. In which time considerable liquor had One of Mickey's toughest mills was stead of Greb finishing the job of been consumed.
For a joke Walker went to a drawer Both of them were and pulled out a huge Western six his first attempt to gain the middle- work he had started in the fourteenth hardened night owls, and eventually weight crown, meeting the great Harry round, the miraculous Mickey staged a they were left alone at the same table, shooter, that the Rodeo promoter, Tex Greb, who held the title, în a contest staggering recovery and a furious drinking and talking. It wasn't until Austin, had given him years before. that is still talked of in New York. grand stand finish. He hit the cham- a weary waiter turned out the lights He waved it menacingly, thinking it
The battle started in uproar, as both pion with everything but the bucket, that they rose to go. Greb and Walker were late into the he pounded his ribs with fierce, two- ring, and the fans became impatient, fisted bombardments, He staggered
of him with short hooks to the chin. As the warriors entered, showers beer and pop bottles poured on to the When the final bell rang, it was ring itself. At first the men thought Harry Greb who was hanging on the they were the recipients of a tremen- ropes, on the point of defeat. Actual dous ovation-until the bottles started ly both men were almost out on their flying.
feet, as rarely has there been such a furious encounter seen in the ring,
Greb was given a narrow points de- cision, which met with a mixed recep- tion.
war.
2-Man Civil War
The Second Fight
!
As they walked out, somewhat un- steadily, Mickey said:
"You know, Harry, you never would have licked me to-night if you hadn't stuck your thumb in my eye."
Greb wheeled round, angrily shout- ing.
"Why, you Irish bum, I'll lick you all over again right now!"
A few minutes lator Greb and Now, both Walker and Greb were
In a split second, both had their Walker were staging a two man civil play-boys, and there was no returning
coats off, and were going at it It was a 'needle' fight from the to a quiet little love nest for either of first clang of the gong. They both them. Late that night Mickey enter- hammer and tongs, right on Broad- way! Imagine it! A few hours were sure they could beat each other; ed the famed Billy La Hiff's Tavern,
before they had fought for three they both had said so in no uncertain and sat down with a party of friends..
quarters of an hour like jungle cats, terms; they both could hit like kicking At the next table was seated Greb, the
and they were still unsatisfied. mules. They were both as tough as centre of an admiring throng. teak.
At first neither saw the other, as For a couple of minutes, they belted Staggering across the ring, locked Mickey's left and Harry's right eyes each other with naked fists, and not In a punching embrace, they collided were tightly closed! Nevertheless, when until police reserves had hastily driven over the with the referee, and he crumpled to their friends nudged them, they shook up and cracked them both
head with truncheons did they desist. the canvas in agony. Ignoring him, the hands and swopped drinks.
NO SURPRISES IN YESTERDAY'S MATCHES
(Continued from Page 18)
C. L.
S. L. Leonard and E. S. HowardĮ T. Ali and I. Kitchell (I.R.C.). (C.C.C.).
beat Gutterres and Fonseca 6-4 lost to T. K. Leung and
boat Remedios and Pereira
7-5 Lam
2-6lost to Noronha and Noronha .. 4-6 beat Y. K. Ng and H. C. Kwok 6-1
beat Y. L. Kwan and K. K. Wong 6-3 S. A. R. Bux and A. J. Suffiad
(L.B.C.)..
S. Cassumbhoy and S. K. Chang lost to Gutterres and Fonseca
(C.C.C.).
lost to Leang and Lam
lost to Ng and Kwok
lost to Kwan and Wong
P. C. Yu and P. C. Chen
lost to Leung and Lam lost to Ng and Kwok
beat Kwan and Wong
0-6
lost to Remedios and Pereira
0-6
2-8 lost to Noronha and Noronha
1-6
28 4-6
(C.C.C.).
WIN FOR KOWLOON TONG
Playing at home Kowloon Tong beat 5-7 Radio and Postal Club by 64 to 24. 4-6
I.R.C. v C. de R.
Sookumpoo Indian Recreation beat K. M. Au and C. W. Lee Club lost to Club de Recreio 4-5. beat M. Sheriff and G. Singh
60 W. H. Wei and M. F. Lee (Kowloon
Tong). drew with D. Leonard and J. Al-
meda
At
"
· A. R. Kitchell and D. M. Kamek H. Ling and ~J. E. Ling (L.R.C.).
drew with M. A. Gutterres and
J. Fonseca
beat A. M. Remedios and C. C.
Pereira
drew with H. "A. Noronha and G.
A. Noronha
Tong).
beat Leonard, and Almeda
6-6 drew with Au and Leo
beat Singh and Sheriff
6-6 6-8
(Kowloon
SOUTH CHINA TOUR: TEAM
CHANGES
Soong Ling-sing, the Eastern footballer, who is at present in Haiphong, has been invited by Mr. Mok Hing, manager of the South China Touring Football team to join them on their tour. Soong Ling-sing played for South China against Haiphong 'when South China were held to a draw, sharing four goals.
Cheuk Shek-kam, the Kwong Wah footballer, who left with the South China team, returned to the
Colony by Air France from Hanoi: yesterday. He has abandoned the tour awing to. Illness.
lost to Leonard and Almeda drew with An and Lee beat Sheriff and Singh
"D" DIVISION
Playing off their "D" Division match postponed from May 25, yesterday, 68 Kowloon Tong Garden City Associa 6-8 tion beat Kowloon Cricket Club at 6—1 Cox's Road by 7 sets to.2.
A, E. Gillard and A. Crabbe and R. Hau and Y. C. Lee (Kowloon Blythe and A. Perry won the sets for
E.C.C.
"Dance the Charleston," he roared, "Or I'll blow holes through you!"
The bell hop went through the door without opening it; the gun went off; the bullet ricocheted from the con- crete floor and wounded Kearns's girl
I friend in the leg.
And was there trouble then!
And so Mickey Walker, the Toy Bull Dog, went on his roaring way, fighting like a tiger, laughing like a schoolboy. He wound up an incredible career by boxing a draw with Jack Sharkey, and both of losing to Max Schmeling
ex-world
thein heavyweights, and champions at that.
Mickey spent money like water, and one evening in his New Jersey home, he burnt cancelled cheques representing over a million dollars. "Never mind," grinned the Toy Bull Dog, "I had a lotta fun."
(COPYRIGHT)
Saturday. World's gamest boxer.
GERMANY DRAW WITH
EIRE
Bremen, May 24.-Germany and Eire drew one goal each in the international match here this evening, Germany led 1-0 at half-time. Press Association.
WATCH FOR THE MIDNIGHT STARS!
JOHN BARRYMORE SHINES IN "MIDNIGHT"
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