The Art Of INFIGHTING By FRANK KLAUS

[McGoorty]

The Liver Punch.
After the stomach and heart, the liver is the most
vulnerable part of a boxer’s body, that is, now that
the kidney punch has been barred. This measure
meant the taking away of a valuable point of vanstage for the in-fighter, inasmuch as the kidneys were
the easiest part of a man to punch, while incurring
the minimum of risk. Nevertheless, it is perhaps
as well for the boxing game, and boxers generally,
that these delicate regions were ruled out and
declared forbidden ground. This action was extremely unfavourable to the close range expert, but
it was necessary, if only from the fact of the deterioration of a boxer’s health after having been severely
mauled by the kidney fiend. Personally never
made much use of the punch so that its exclusion
was but a small loss to me. In place I made a study of the liver punch,
which, although less painful, plays no small part in
an opponent’s undoing. As with all in-fighting
punches, it is best delivered when your man is on
the ropes, but that does not necessarily imply that
it cannot be tried at any other moment, and failing
being sable to reach his man, the in-fighter must
await a right swing, or hook, from his opponent,
catch same on the neck, and close in. When doing
this, always keep your eye on the left that may come
up unpleasantly near your chin. The right should
be ready to stop this while your left is driven to the
liver. The blow is clearly illustrated in Fig. 10.(p.
33), and with a little practice should add yet one
more weapon to a boxer’s arsenal. Should the opponent’s left be slow in coming, then there is a
splendid opportunity to smash your right home to
his spleen, and thus complete the full object of your
incursion to close quarters. Few boxers can take
many punches on the liver or spleen without weakening. Fitzsimmons knew this, and made an art of
this particular blow, as well as the shift-punch to
the stomach. As he was perhaps the greatest
middle-weight who ever lived, these specialities of
his need no further recommendation.
Watch an Opponent’s Legs, Knees, and Feet
when Hugging.
As it is mostly impossible, when at close quarters,
to watch an opponent’s eyes (it being advisable to
keep the head down), my advice is, watch his feet.
These are often indicative of a boxer’s intention, for the least forward movement means that he is himself
trying to get closer in for short-range work. If, on
the contrary, his feet show a tendancy to retreat,
if then you may rest assured that your opponent does
not fancy close exchanges. Should the position, as
shown in Fig. 11 (p. 37), be unfavourable to effectual
body pasting, then the in-fighter may either allow
his man to step away,or do so himself, in the hope
of securing a more suitable opening for his particular
talents.
Apart from that, it is always interesting to know
the exact effect of a punch on an opponent, and this
is possible by an glance at his legs and knees.
These parts seem to be in strange sympathy with
the upper part of a man’s body, and will at once by
their firmness, or relaxation, communicate to the
experienced eye the amount of damage done by a
blow. Thus it is that we hear of a boxer “going
groggy at the knees,” or that his “legs shook” after
a certain punch. If such an effect is produced by a
long-range delivery it is obvious to the giver, for the
receiver of the punch will insensibly “give himself
away.”
But in the case of a “knee-bending” punch at
close quarters, what indication can the in-fighter
have that the blow has been effectual, save by a
glance at his opponent’s legs? The first symptoms
will be, that a boxer so “plugged” brings his whole
weight to bear on you. Having gleaned so much,
and lowered yourself to allow the full weight of your
opponent’s body to fall on his legs, your su****ions
will be either verified or negatived. Feigning “Grogginess.”
There are boxers who will bring their histrionic
talents to bear on a contest and feign “grogginess,”
in the hope of drawing you into a trap. Now,
although this is more successful when practised while
out-fighting, such ruses are not infrequent at close
quarters. In the case of an opponent showing signs
of distress, either feigned or real, it is the in-fighter’s
duty to immediately break clear, quickly survey the
situation, and either keep away or drive the final
punches home at a long or short range, according
to his judgment.
Ducking an Opponent’s Right Swing, Stepping in with
Right Upper-cut, and Driving Left to the Stomach.
The Eyes and the-Brain
This is an exceedingly pretty part of the in-fighting art; one, however, that should be well mastered
before taking its possible risks. As the head has-to
play the master part of ducking the right swing, a
deal of practice is necessary to know exactly when
and how far the move is practicable. As in all
phases of the Noble Art, the eye must accustom itself
to possibilities, just as the brain must respond at
once to the visual appreciation of danger or of openings for attack. The eyes are the outposts of the
mind, so to speak, the transmission of its observations being carried with momentary rapidity to the
centre of action—or headquarters.
Quick-wittedness in boxing may be developed by
concentration during one's boxing, that is, a boxer
must not for a single instant during a contest let his imagination wander from his work. The same
recommendation applies to the boxer when in the
gymnasium, for the lack of interest in one’s practice
brings on laxity of mind at all times.
The beginner, especially, must realise that the
boxing game is fulls of traps and surprises, that the
eye must be trained to see these, and that the brain
must work conjunctively in surmounting difficulties.
It is necessary to impress these things firmly on
the minds of those about to attempt the movement
of Fig. 12. Having well reasoned out the possibilities of danger that an untimely or badly-executed
lowering of the head may mean, let the reader practise it as often as possible, until the ducking becomes
almost instinctive. Rome was not built in a day
and it may take some time before this phase, as all
others, by the way, is mastered sufficiently to be
tried with safety during a real contest.
Once acquired, it is as simple as it is effectual, and
means a big jump toward victory, if not the final
step to that desirable end.
The missing of a right swing by an opponent
usually means the slight losing of his equilibrium.
This fact prevents him from bringing his left into
motion in time to avoid the in-fighter’s close-quarter
upper-cut. Having ducked his right, the natural
overbalancing of his body brings his chin into a
direct upward line for the successful placing of your
punch, as shown in the illustration. Before he can
recover, the left may be easily driven to the stomach,
the whole of which will lead to your man clinching,
therefore the coming in for more short-range punish ment. As will be readily observed, the successful
issue of all this depends entirely upon the proper
ducking of your opponent’s right, swing at the
psychological moment. The long-range boxer often
ducks the same punch, but steps back in doing so
The in-fighter differs in that he must lower his head
in a forward movement, thus preparing himself for
the right upper-cut to the jaw and left body,
deliveries. A close study of the picture depicting
this phase will convince anybody of its efficacy.

[McGoorty]

Right Hook to the Jaw.
A Remedy for the Pushing Boxer.
Although this punch may be given at all kinds of
favourable moments, it should never be missed with
the opponent who tries to push you away. The man
who has suffered a good deal of body punishment
from the in-fighter naturally does all he can to avoid
the latter’s continual “boring in,” for, above all
things, the c1ose-range boxer must be on top of his
man most of the time. The gamest of boxers get disheartened at these perpetual onslaughts, and seek
every possible means of either keeping the in-fighter
at a safe distance or of pushing him away when
danger threatens.
Having, however, got to within easy striking
distance, you will at times find your opponent
making use of his hands to push you away. He is
not holding, but just offering a desperate resistance
to your advance. Dangerous as this proceeding
is, numerous boxers will employ it in sheer desperation or pique. Of course, it is but asking for trouble, which should go out to them in the shape of a right
half-arm hook to the jaw, the simplest shot in theworld. This opportunity occurs but rarely, but if,
it does, as it must do in the course of a contest, then
it is as well to be prepared for it, and not gasp at the
simplicity of the punch.
When a Punch looks Easy.
“Asking” for a punch as it were is more often
than not to avoid getting it, for it happens that the in
cutest of boxers will shy at the obviously easy punch,
in the belief that it is but a trap. So few really easy
things do occur during a battle, that perhaps boxers
are wise in avoiding hidden pitfalls. In the case of
the opponent who pushes you away, however, there
is absolutely no reason why the right hook, as shown
in the illustration, should not find a landing stage on
that man’s jaw.
Getting inside a Left Lead, Stopping the Right, and
getting home on the Heart.
Preconceived Attacks.
As the left lead is the most con****uous punch to
deal with, the in-fighter must perforce use all his
intelligence to counteract its numerous visitations.
Blocking same with the right, ducking, stepping
back, countering and crossing, are all possible
replies, but the in-fighter has yet one more move in
his curriculum. The feature of a punch should
always be but the object of a preconceived force line;
that is to say, that a blow should invariably be
stopped in a manner that leads to a possible opening
for a return (or counter) punch or punches. I might liken this to the good billiard player, who not only
plays for the particular shot on the table, but for
others to follow. His mind is always centred on the
play to come, and he manipulates the balls accordingly. So it should be with the boxer. In either
delivering or stopping a punch, he should have
ulterior motives in his thoughts. Although an opponent may prevent these from materialising, their
realisation will come sooner or later, for a conscientious boxer’s maxim should always be A: “Try, try
again!” Anyhow, in the case of the phase depicted
in Fig. 14, the defensive object is but subservient to
the offensive.
Having forced himself to close quarters, the infighter is here faced with the possible danger of a
left to the face and right to the body. His object,
as must always be the case, is naturally to administer
punishment, the while he himself modifies the possibilities of receiving same.
Having slightly side-stepped the left, allowing it
to brush past the ear, the in-fighter holds his opponent’s right in check, the while he himself smashes
his own right to the heart. In this case, both the
defensive (or natural law) has succeeded, as well as
the preconceived plan of attack.
Preconception in Boxing.
Unfortunately, preconception in boxing is very
limited, for one never quite knows what an opponent
will do. Billiard players may plan a dozen shots
ahead, but the boxer is lucky if he can occasionally
bring off such advantages as the one described in
this chapter. There, are moments, however, when an opponent is made to fall into certain trouble
in spite of himself. That is where the more experienced boxer gets the better of another.
Reconnoitring when at Close Quarters.
Although having written in a previous chapter
that it is rarely possible to use the eyes for “surveying” purposes while in close quarters, occasions do
arise when this reconnoitring is of much advantage,
that is, when presuming that the opportunity for so
doing be given by an opponent.
Having proceeded into a lock-clinch, that is, when
attack on either side seems hopeless, the moment is
opportune for glancing at your man’s jaw, the object
being to see if it is in a position for a right jolt. If
such be the case, then is the time to work the right
gradually into a position for executing your project.
Care must be taken that your own right be well
over your opponent’s left, thus holding it in check.
Otherwise, this peep from cover may prove costly.
Your man’s right must also be held in such a
manner as to prevent any action on its part.
If, when rushing to close quarters, the in-fighter’s
position is not as shown in Fig. 15, then he must so
manœuvre his arms and legs as to bring it about.
Once accomp1ished, he can risk the above-mentioned
“survey” in the hope of finding the jaw exposed for
attack. If this proves to be as hoped, then is the
in-fighter’s moment to strike, and strike quickly.

[McGoorty]

Placing the Right-Arm Jolt.
Having we1l worked his right to the inside of his
man’s left, and holding it in check as shown in Fig. 15, the possibility of receiving a left is thus prevented. It now remains for the in-fighter to push
his opponent back; by a jerk on his biceps, the
brusque movement startling him. This ruse is
necessary to momentarily trouble his mind as to the
meaning of such a strange practice. As the said
pushing is undertaken without precisely holding the
biceps, there is a little fear of the referee separating
the combatants before the in-fighter has delivered his
contemplated jolt-punch under the chin. As the
effect of this blow is calculated to send the receiver’s
head back, thus disturbing his presence of mind,
there should arise an opportunity to draw the left
away from the opponent’s right biceps and hook
same to the body. This punch, however, is quite
supplementary, and only possible if circumstances
will allow, for the opponent will possibly catch hold
of your left arm in an endeavour to save himself
from reeling backward as the result of the objective
punch, i.e., a jolt under the chin. This last-named
is a most damaging blow if delivered with something
of a lift from the shoulder, that is to say, it should
carry the full force that would be employed in lifting
a heavy dumb-bell.
The Jab.
It must not be confounded with the jab, which is
but a rap to the face or body, carrying but trivial
consequences. The expression “jabbing a man’s
head off," although often used by writers, is sometimes an inaccurate description of a series after series
of half-arm left flicks. Although the process may be called jabbing, the jab, in its relation to the punch, is
difficult to define accurately. In any case it seems
to me that decisive victories are seldom brought
about by the aid of this mysterious “JAB.” I have
read reports of contests in which the critic referred
to a boxer as “repeatedly stabbing an opponent with
the left,” etc. This stab must be some relation—a
few times removed perhaps—to the jab. “Jab”
appears to be the saving word of many an inexperienced youthful writer on boxing matters, which he
applies to any or all doubtful punches. This must
not be taken as a reflection on boxing writers proper,
whom I have always found competent and just, but
to the ambitious office-boy, who, while for the, first
time describing a contest, will bring in every word of
the pugilistic vocabulary irrespective of its proper
place. These are, happily, rare occurrences.
Beating an Opponent by Punching his Gloved
Hands or Arms.
Although perhaps not strictly orthodox, the process of numbing an opponent’s arms, by punching
him thereon, is often a road to victory. As most
people are acquainted with the crippling effects of a
blow, on the biceps, it is but necessary for me to
recall the fact that it temporarily numbs the entire
arm, rendering same at least momentarily helpless.
A deal or damage may be done in this manner,
especia1ly as the punches are delivered when the
opponent least expects them.
The man who keeps his left forearm well over his
stomach is an easy target for the arm-punch. There are several ways of administering this, i.e., either by
driving your right on to your opponent’s gloved fist,
which at the time is protecting the “mark” (pit of
the stomach), or by a smashing blow on his biceps.
In the first instance the impact of the punch, if
delivered with force, should cause your opponent’s
own fist to sink into his stomach, thus perhaps
“knocking himself out,” so to speak. In any case,
such a delivery can but be advantageous to the one
who gets it well home, and distinctly uncomfortable
for the other fellow. I have seen other boxers do
this with varying effect. It is worth trying when
opportunity calls.
Punching the Biceps
The punch on the biceps is equally alarming to an
opponent, for the result is sometimes of a no less
painful nature than the above mentioned stomach
arm-punch.
The continual punching of a man’s upper arm
must, sooner or later, bring on a state of paralysis.
As the result of such maulings a boxer will often
be forced to retire, actually believing that his arm is
broken. A blow on what is known as the “funny
bone”—which, by the way, is not a bone at all, but
a nerve—produces much the same effect. But as the
particular spot in that case is difficult to find, and
the seeking for it may mean the wasting of many
punches, the in-fighter should turn his attention to
the biceps. The rule, therefore, is, that when no
other part of an opponent’s body is attackable go for
his arms. Knocking a Man out by Punching his Gloved Fist.
I have knocked a man out who was covering his
jaw by punching the gloved hand that was shielding
that vulnerable point. Of course, my opponent was
so unprepared for such an attack, and felt himself so
secure, that he did not even attempt to counter the
blow. He tried it on others later—with good
results.
Many pugilistic prudes will no doubt look upon
this arm-punching as, rather sharp practice, many
degrees removed from what; these gentlemen would
call the “clean style,” but I maintain that a boxer’s
chief aim while in the ring is to beat his opponent.
So long as he does this honestly, his manner of
arriving at that desirable end surely concerns him
alone.
Old-Fashioned Methods.
There are some people who abhor any but what
are known as “old-fashioned” methods, but boxing,
like all things, has gone ahead since those days, and
the sooner young boxers realise this, the sooner will
they secure world honours. I maintain that infighting is an all too-neglected art, one full of new
interests, and not ugly to watch—when understood.
The art of self-defence surely implies the power
and means to defend oneself at all times. How can a
boxer do full credit to this doctrine and himself, if
only partially armed for it?
In-fighting is a formidable adjunct to the integral
art of boxing.

[McGoorty]

Placing the Right-Arm Jolt.
Having we1l worked his right to the inside of his
man’s left, and holding it in check as shown in Fig. 15, the possibility of receiving a left is thus prevented. It now remains for the in-fighter to push
his opponent back; by a jerk on his biceps, the
brusque movement startling him. This ruse is
necessary to momentarily trouble his mind as to the
meaning of such a strange practice. As the said
pushing is undertaken without precisely holding the
biceps, there is a little fear of the referee separating
the combatants before the in-fighter has delivered his
contemplated jolt-punch under the chin. As the
effect of this blow is calculated to send the receiver’s
head back, thus disturbing his presence of mind,
there should arise an opportunity to draw the left
away from the opponent’s right biceps and hook
same to the body. This punch, however, is quite
supplementary, and only possible if circumstances
will allow, for the opponent will possibly catch hold
of your left arm in an endeavour to save himself
from reeling backward as the result of the objective
punch, i.e., a jolt under the chin. This last-named
is a most damaging blow if delivered with something
of a lift from the shoulder, that is to say, it should
carry the full force that would be employed in lifting
a heavy dumb-bell.
The Jab.
It must not be confounded with the jab, which is
but a rap to the face or body, carrying but trivial
consequences. The expression “jabbing a man’s
head off," although often used by writers, is sometimes an inaccurate description of a series after series
of half-arm left flicks. Although the process may be called jabbing, the jab, in its relation to the punch, is
difficult to define accurately. In any case it seems
to me that decisive victories are seldom brought
about by the aid of this mysterious “JAB.” I have
read reports of contests in which the critic referred
to a boxer as “repeatedly stabbing an opponent with
the left,” etc. This stab must be some relation—a
few times removed perhaps—to the jab. “Jab”
appears to be the saving word of many an inexperienced youthful writer on boxing matters, which he
applies to any or all doubtful punches. This must
not be taken as a reflection on boxing writers proper,
whom I have always found competent and just, but
to the ambitious office-boy, who, while for the, first
time describing a contest, will bring in every word of
the pugilistic vocabulary irrespective of its proper
place. These are, happily, rare occurrences.
Beating an Opponent by Punching his Gloved
Hands or Arms.
Although perhaps not strictly orthodox, the process of numbing an opponent’s arms, by punching
him thereon, is often a road to victory. As most
people are acquainted with the crippling effects of a
blow, on the biceps, it is but necessary for me to
recall the fact that it temporarily numbs the entire
arm, rendering same at least momentarily helpless.
A deal or damage may be done in this manner,
especia1ly as the punches are delivered when the
opponent least expects them.
The man who keeps his left forearm well over his
stomach is an easy target for the arm-punch. There are several ways of administering this, i.e., either by
driving your right on to your opponent’s gloved fist,
which at the time is protecting the “mark” (pit of
the stomach), or by a smashing blow on his biceps.
In the first instance the impact of the punch, if
delivered with force, should cause your opponent’s
own fist to sink into his stomach, thus perhaps
“knocking himself out,” so to speak. In any case,
such a delivery can but be advantageous to the one
who gets it well home, and distinctly uncomfortable
for the other fellow. I have seen other boxers do
this with varying effect. It is worth trying when
opportunity calls.
Punching the Biceps
The punch on the biceps is equally alarming to an
opponent, for the result is sometimes of a no less
painful nature than the above mentioned stomach
arm-punch.
The continual punching of a man’s upper arm
must, sooner or later, bring on a state of paralysis.
As the result of such maulings a boxer will often
be forced to retire, actually believing that his arm is
broken. A blow on what is known as the “funny
bone”—which, by the way, is not a bone at all, but
a nerve—produces much the same effect. But as the
particular spot in that case is difficult to find, and
the seeking for it may mean the wasting of many
punches, the in-fighter should turn his attention to
the biceps. The rule, therefore, is, that when no
other part of an opponent’s body is attackable go for
his arms. Knocking a Man out by Punching his Gloved Fist.
I have knocked a man out who was covering his
jaw by punching the gloved hand that was shielding
that vulnerable point. Of course, my opponent was
so unprepared for such an attack, and felt himself so
secure, that he did not even attempt to counter the
blow. He tried it on others later—with good
results.
Many pugilistic prudes will no doubt look upon
this arm-punching as, rather sharp practice, many
degrees removed from what; these gentlemen would
call the “clean style,” but I maintain that a boxer’s
chief aim while in the ring is to beat his opponent.
So long as he does this honestly, his manner of
arriving at that desirable end surely concerns him
alone.
Old-Fashioned Methods.
There are some people who abhor any but what
are known as “old-fashioned” methods, but boxing,
like all things, has gone ahead since those days, and
the sooner young boxers realise this, the sooner will
they secure world honours. I maintain that infighting is an all too-neglected art, one full of new
interests, and not ugly to watch—when understood.
The art of self-defence surely implies the power
and means to defend oneself at all times. How can a
boxer do full credit to this doctrine and himself, if
only partially armed for it?
In-fighting is a formidable adjunct to the integral
art of boxing.

[McGoorty]

Breaking an Opponent’s Arms apart tn Facilitate
an Attack.
This requires a deal of dexterity and quickness of
eye, for in the event of missing the movement there
is danger of taking a right or left to the jaw.
A good defensive out-fighter is often difficult to
“get at.” He will even creep up to the in-fighter,
the while he keeps a protective guard, and hook a
punch before the latter can stop it.
Having studied this particular tendency in an
opponent, the thing is to find a means whereby he
may be made to pay for his temerity.
Having allowed him to get near enough, it is
necessary to suddenly penetrate inside his guard,
and, as shown in the picture of Fig. 18, violently
thrust his arms aside. If this be done sharply, and
the movement executed with force, the shock will
unbalance your opponent’s mind and legs, causing
an opening for a right half-arm upper-cut to the
chin. This particular breaking apart of an opponent’s arm is wonderfully efficacious, but the opportunities for its accomplishment are rare, although
presenting themselves occasionally during a contest.
I should not advise a boxer to attempt it until he has
familiarised himself with the move, and feels himself
capable of taking a chance now and then; for in
boxing, as in most things, one must often take risks
to bring off big deals.
Some In-Fighting Phases taken from Actual Contests.
Being in possession of a few pictures of the various
contests that I have engaged in during my stay in Paris, I thought that these might prove interesting,
depicting as they do various phases of the in-fighting
art. As they represent actual facts, occurring
during real combat, no better idea could be given of
the efficacy of close-quarter boxing; for even while
posing for the numerous photos in this book, there
necessarily exists an artificial atmosphere of selfconsciousness.
Punching the Opponent who Holds.
As will be seen in the accompanying picture of
my contest with Georges Carpentier at Dieppe, the
Frenchman has my right in chancery, thus preventing my using it either to the body or for hooking
to the jaw.
In such an event, the in-fighter must at once draw
his left arm well back from obstruction, and use
same to the stomach. The referee is here seen stepping up to separate us, but as I had one arm free,
and it was Carpentier who was holding me, no break
should have been enforced until we were both holding. The rule of in-fighting is that a man may
punch an opponent so long as the former has one or
both hands available. In this instance my left arm
was free, and although I cannot remember whether
I was allowed to use it—which is doubtful seeing
the referee’s close proximity—I evidently was rightly
about to do so. This reminds me that the in-fighter
is a great deal at the mercy of the third man in a
ring, for the breaking of two boxers, when their position does not exactly call for the order, is favouring
(unwittingly perhaps) the long-range boxer. However, we have to take the good with the bad in boxing, and make the best of our time when close
up, bringing in-fighting experience to bear detrimentally on an opponent.
When to Hold an Opponent and thus Call for
the Break.
It occasionally happens during a contest that your
opponent so holds as to negative any form of
effective attack. Some boxers will pummel the
back, shoulders, and other exposed. but invulnerable
parts, and in the process do themselves more harm
than good. Every punch given by the in-fighter
should have an object, and that object should be: the
gradual or immediate beating of a man. Punches
on the shoulder or back are so much waste of energy;
they are taken little notice of by the opponent, and
still less by judges and referees. Therefore the
better plan, in the event of being unable to land
an efficient punch, is to bring about a clinch by
also holding one’s opponent, thus calling the break.
As will be seen in this particular phase of my contest with Carpentier (Fig. 20) he is holding me in
such a mnaner, with his head so low, as to leave
but his back and kidneys exposed. As the latter
must not be touched, this leaves the in-fighter but
“Hobson’s choice” of bringing about a speedy
separation. In doing this I hugged the French
champion in such a manner that he himself was so
locked as to prevent him suddenly springing some
surprise on me.
Hooking the Right while the Left is being Held.
The out-fighter’s favourite trick is to hold one of
his opponents arms under his own, thus temporarily silencing one gun, so to speak. In the course of my
contest with Marcel Moreau at Aix-les-Bains, the
latter frequently had recourse to this (see Fig. 21)
mode of defence, which is invariably a sure sign that
a man is not particularly keen on close-range
exchanges. The boxer addicted to that practice
will, in almost every case, simultaneously seek to
get hold of your other arm. While the opponent
is thus occupied it should be the in-fighter’s plan to
keep his free arm from being also put out of action,
and, as in the present case, hook same to the jaw.
The man who holds desperately is not inclined to
mix matters at close quarters, his mind being far
too occupied with defensive precautions.
Almost the same thing occurs in the phase shown
in Fig. 22, except that Moreau has grasped my left
arm, as it was making for his stomach, the while I
am about to hook him with the right. Judging by his
tactics, it was soon apparent to me that I had to
deal with a boxer who did not relish in-fighting.
My mind being thus fixed, I bored in all the more
and won in four rounds.
Apart from that, I found Moreau to be one of the
hardest-hitting boxers I have met in my career.

[McGoorty]

Breaking an Opponent’s Arms apart tn Facilitate
an Attack.
This requires a deal of dexterity and quickness of
eye, for in the event of missing the movement there
is danger of taking a right or left to the jaw.
A good defensive out-fighter is often difficult to
“get at.” He will even creep up to the in-fighter,
the while he keeps a protective guard, and hook a
punch before the latter can stop it.
Having studied this particular tendency in an
opponent, the thing is to find a means whereby he
may be made to pay for his temerity.
Having allowed him to get near enough, it is
necessary to suddenly penetrate inside his guard,
and, as shown in the picture of Fig. 18, violently
thrust his arms aside. If this be done sharply, and
the movement executed with force, the shock will
unbalance your opponent’s mind and legs, causing
an opening for a right half-arm upper-cut to the
chin. This particular breaking apart of an opponent’s arm is wonderfully efficacious, but the opportunities for its accomplishment are rare, although
presenting themselves occasionally during a contest.
I should not advise a boxer to attempt it until he has
familiarised himself with the move, and feels himself
capable of taking a chance now and then; for in
boxing, as in most things, one must often take risks
to bring off big deals.
Some In-Fighting Phases taken from Actual Contests.
Being in possession of a few pictures of the various
contests that I have engaged in during my stay in Paris, I thought that these might prove interesting,
depicting as they do various phases of the in-fighting
art. As they represent actual facts, occurring
during real combat, no better idea could be given of
the efficacy of close-quarter boxing; for even while
posing for the numerous photos in this book, there
necessarily exists an artificial atmosphere of selfconsciousness.
Punching the Opponent who Holds.
As will be seen in the accompanying picture of
my contest with Georges Carpentier at Dieppe, the
Frenchman has my right in chancery, thus preventing my using it either to the body or for hooking
to the jaw.
In such an event, the in-fighter must at once draw
his left arm well back from obstruction, and use
same to the stomach. The referee is here seen stepping up to separate us, but as I had one arm free,
and it was Carpentier who was holding me, no break
should have been enforced until we were both holding. The rule of in-fighting is that a man may
punch an opponent so long as the former has one or
both hands available. In this instance my left arm
was free, and although I cannot remember whether
I was allowed to use it—which is doubtful seeing
the referee’s close proximity—I evidently was rightly
about to do so. This reminds me that the in-fighter
is a great deal at the mercy of the third man in a
ring, for the breaking of two boxers, when their position does not exactly call for the order, is favouring
(unwittingly perhaps) the long-range boxer. However, we have to take the good with the bad in boxing, and make the best of our time when close
up, bringing in-fighting experience to bear detrimentally on an opponent.
When to Hold an Opponent and thus Call for
the Break.
It occasionally happens during a contest that your
opponent so holds as to negative any form of
effective attack. Some boxers will pummel the
back, shoulders, and other exposed. but invulnerable
parts, and in the process do themselves more harm
than good. Every punch given by the in-fighter
should have an object, and that object should be: the
gradual or immediate beating of a man. Punches
on the shoulder or back are so much waste of energy;
they are taken little notice of by the opponent, and
still less by judges and referees. Therefore the
better plan, in the event of being unable to land
an efficient punch, is to bring about a clinch by
also holding one’s opponent, thus calling the break.
As will be seen in this particular phase of my contest with Carpentier (Fig. 20) he is holding me in
such a mnaner, with his head so low, as to leave
but his back and kidneys exposed. As the latter
must not be touched, this leaves the in-fighter but
“Hobson’s choice” of bringing about a speedy
separation. In doing this I hugged the French
champion in such a manner that he himself was so
locked as to prevent him suddenly springing some
surprise on me.
Hooking the Right while the Left is being Held.
The out-fighter’s favourite trick is to hold one of
his opponents arms under his own, thus temporarily silencing one gun, so to speak. In the course of my
contest with Marcel Moreau at Aix-les-Bains, the
latter frequently had recourse to this (see Fig. 21)
mode of defence, which is invariably a sure sign that
a man is not particularly keen on close-range
exchanges. The boxer addicted to that practice
will, in almost every case, simultaneously seek to
get hold of your other arm. While the opponent
is thus occupied it should be the in-fighter’s plan to
keep his free arm from being also put out of action,
and, as in the present case, hook same to the jaw.
The man who holds desperately is not inclined to
mix matters at close quarters, his mind being far
too occupied with defensive precautions.
Almost the same thing occurs in the phase shown
in Fig. 22, except that Moreau has grasped my left
arm, as it was making for his stomach, the while I
am about to hook him with the right. Judging by his
tactics, it was soon apparent to me that I had to
deal with a boxer who did not relish in-fighting.
My mind being thus fixed, I bored in all the more
and won in four rounds.
Apart from that, I found Moreau to be one of the
hardest-hitting boxers I have met in my career.

[McGoorty]

My Contest with Billy Papke.
Being an excellent in-fighter himself, I had more
difficulty with Papke. The clashing of the identical
styles means much that would not occur when
opposed to a man possessed of but the out-fighting
art. Papke is equally clever at both styles, and
this fact made my battle with him all the more
bitter and interesting. Although we both tried to knock each other out in a reckless first round, I
found that it was more prudent to out-general him
in in-fighting, and gradually reduce him to nought.
This I accomplished successfully, mostly by continued and direct attacks to his body, occasionally
varied by some long-range straight lefts and right
swings to the jaw.
As I said in the beginning of this book, my plan
was to force him as often as possible to the ropes
(see Fig. 23) and while there worry him, thereby
affecting his morale. I soon realised that he was
gradually giving way under the force of these onslaughts, so repeated them as often as possible. In
the picture the referee has just ordered the “break,”
and it will be noticed that I am carrying out the
order in the safest manner possible, as hereafter
described.
Breaking away Safely.
Many a man has been beaten through sheer carelessness while breaking away from a clinch after
close-work fighting. A boxer should always live up
to the belief that so long as an opponent is in the
ring he is dangerous; but in few cases is this fact
more potential than when breaking away. So long
as both men are free either can punch, and a quickfooted opponent may smash a blow home before you
have had time to regain your protective guard.
It is therefore advisable to keep a sharp eye on an
adversary’s eyes and arms when leaving a clinch, at
the same time working your own so that he cannot
possibly catch you “on the hop,” so to speak. The
experienced in-fighter will, therefore, get well insidehis opponent’s arms and hold same in check in the
manner shown in the illustration. The man thus
placed can neither use his right nor left with any
degree of success, if at all. There is a great deal in
this, for having finally stepped clear, it gives one
time to regain one’s natural guard, or at once rush
the opponent, according to the situation created by
the said break. Action must then rest on the existing possibilities, for if the opponent has also assumed
a safe guard the in-fighter must be guided by his
next move.
Holding an Arm in Chancery.
As was the case with Marcel Moreau (see Fig-21),
Billy Papke frequently lent himself to the chancery
trick, thereby checking my left arm. In Fig. 24
Papke is seen holding, just after- having tried to hook
his left to the jaw. By sending my head down on
his shoulder, the punch landed on the neck. This
movement allowed me not only to see that the body
was exposed to a punch with my right, but facilitated my getting it there. It must have been a
pretty hard one, too, for Papke’s legs gave the signal
of distress mentioned elsewhere. Almost the same
thing occurs in the following picture, Papke holding
my left arm in submission while I used my right on
his body.
Falling on to a Stomach Punch.
This was a rarer phase of my contest with Papke,
one which occurs but seldom. The in-fighter must
however, be awake for all emergencies and have thenecessary remedy handy. In trying a terrific right
swing, which he missed, owing to my having ducked
same, Papke fell clean on to a right punch to the
stomach, supplemented by a left to the liver. As
this happened toward the end of the bout, when my
opponent was already well on the road to defeat, it
must have proved pretty disastrous. But all this
does not alter the fact that I took a good many hard
punches myself during those fourteen and a quarter
rounds; they, however, meant my securing the
middle-weight championship of the world.

[McGoorty]

Training. As a boxer’s training methods seem to interest
most people, I should like to say a few words on that
particular subject.
Apart from as much practice as possible in the
gymnasium in the hope of either perfecting already
acquired knowledge, and gleaning more, a boxer’s
training should depend a great deal upon his own
temperament. Apart from the stereotyped, irksome,
but necessary methods of taking off weight, I think
that some boxers work too hard. A good trainer
should at once be able to gauge his man’s working
capacity, and not unduly tax same. Plenty of openair roadwork amid rural and health-giving surroundings is the principal item, with plenty of wholesome
non-fat-producing foods.
I would also recommend the Muller* system of
exercises as distinctly healthful, and invaluable for
keeping fit when not in active training, and particularly for strengthening the muscles of the abdomen
* See Advertisement on page 75.and improving the wind. “Gym” work must be
regulated according to one’s requirements. For
example, if one’s wind be not quite sound, then skipping should he prolonged. As all the other phases
of a boxer’s training are familiar, it but remains for
me to thank all those who have given me their
sympathy and support during my long tramp up the
road that leads to pugilistic success, and to crave the
indulgence of my readers for the shortcomings of
this little book.
My great hope is, that it may be the means of
doing as much good to those who study it as it has
to me by long practising of all its various points. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “Far and away the best system of training
for Boxers, Amateur or Professional. This is what Mr. A. F. Bettinson the
Manager of the National Sporting Club,
and himself one of the best amateur boxers
England has ever produced says about

“My System”

By LIEUT. J. P. MULLER.
Lieut. Muller is the most famous athlete
in England and the Continent, and
holds records in nearly every branch of
sport. His system (which requires no
apparatus and costs you nothing beyond
the price of the book itself) gives you

Quickness, Strength, Stamina

Every boxer should know and practice
it, therefore buy “My System” to-day
and thereby follow the advice of a man
who knows.
Price
net 3/6
Post free
3/10
New Photographic Charts Simple and
Advanced Degree, 1/6 each; post free 1/9.ATHLETIC PUBLICATIONS, LTD.,
Link House, 54 & 55, Fetter Lane, and
151, Fleet Street, London, E.C.4.

Scientific Boxing
and Self-Defence
B y T O M M Y B U R N S

(Ex-Champion of the World.)
The life-story of one of the most scientific,
pluckiest, and cleverest fighters the world has ever
seen.
Forty whole-page photographs of Burns fighting in different positions of offence and defence.
Burns exercising—using the exercises which enabled
him, though a middle-weight, to become the heavyweight champion of the world. Burns illustrating
various points of Ring Strategy, in which he is
admittedly a past master.
Burns’ advice to the young boxer. Burns’
account of the boxers he has met and the most
important of the sixty fights he has fought.
Interesting stories of boxers and boxing.
────────────
3/6 Net. Post free, 3/10
────────────
From all Booksellers or from the Offices of
“ B O X I N G , ”
ATHLETIC PUBLICATIONS, LTD.,
Link House, 54 & 55, Fetter Lane and
151, Fleet Street, London, E.C.4.

[McGoorty]

Gee I hope there are some who really enjoyed this.

[McGoorty]

Here's the Klaus book Rory (less the great photos)...... let me know what you think of it, I don't think theres another one like it