Show t. t AN A OLD TIMERS TIMER'S I S 1 I I U B 00 k 4 RV BY I TIM I M MC C CI 3 Wherein an Time Old-Time Fighter Drying Out I Gives Ale Barrel Same Treatment The fact that Bat Battalino's featherweight feath championship was declared forfeited the other day reminds me of the old days dAs when fighters often had to resort to heroic measures to take off oft the flesh Jack was one Often Otten hed he'd weigh pounds when o oth t of training which meant he had to take bike takeoff off 40 pounds and then be ready for fora a long hard fight Weight forfeits were heavy then then then- often larger than the purses fought for or A fighter lighter who trained for two or three months without making the weight agreed to would consider himself himself him him- self in disgrace Heroic measures were Vere often orten resorted resort ed to at the last Many times the fIghters fIghters' went without water or other beverages for days Once while training Spider Kell Kelly I occupied a a. room with Joe a young oung Californian ln being trained by Alex Greggains for another fight He was having so much weight trouble that he was told to abstain from drinking anything There was a n barrel of oC ale in the basement that Joe was always s trying to make That's why I slept in his room room to to keep tab on him One night I woke up couldn't go goback goback goback back to sleep and decided a little ale might be a sedative I crept out of oJ bed bcd got the pitcher from the washstand wash stand and tiptoed downstairs so a as not to waken Joe Just as I got to the ale barrel there ther I was a R crash and some cussing I struck a match and found Cound myself holding just a pitcher handle facing facin Joe who likewise stood holding jusa Justo justa Just jus a o pitcher handle I promised not t to tell Greggains and Joe promised t tobey to obey orders thereafter |