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Show ! Looks very much as If Bob Martin lis absolutely through as a contender for Jack Iempse's heavyweight title. Martin's decisive defeat the other evening at the hands of Joe Burke, I practically an unknown. Just about spells the finish of the A. E. F. cham- pion 1 Martin at one time was considered the logical contender for Jack Demp-sesra Demp-sesra title" Pitted against Bill Bren-nan Bren-nan he made g great fight. He lost a ;15-round decision .but ringside critics said had he been more aggressive he would have won. Then came a bout with Frank n. He stopped the Pittsburgcr In I seven rounds. Ho did it In a clean-cut I manner. This victory, coupled with his fine showing against Brcnnan. caused ; fight experts to figure that In a year , he would be ready for Dempsoy. Then came a series of set-backs, the ! greatest of all being his poor showing against Joe Burke. This fellow Burke by the way. is n protego of Jimmy : Dunn, who made a champion of Johnny John-ny Kllbane. and who now has Bryan lowne. and 1 'arl Trcinalnc as his headliners. Shortly alter the Moran fight. Martin Mar-tin was matched with Fay Kelser, rated as Just an ordinary light heavyweight. heavy-weight. To the threat surprise of the Sporting world. Rclsr-r handed him a m-.ii licking. The story is. that Martin complained of eye trouble after the bout He attributed at-tributed his defeat by Keiser to Inability Inabil-ity to properly focus. His manager, Jimmy Bmneon. took hlrn to a specialist who treated treat-ed him for three months. While still Under treatment. Martin was unfortunate unfortu-nate enough to run his automobile nver an embankment into a tree. Martin was badly injured In the auto accident, and It was believed that he would never fight again. On recovering recover-ing he resumed training and seemed to be in old-time condition. It would seem that something must be radically wrong with Martin, for I him to go back as rapidly as his re-.-.ni fifchts .indicate Good e e.s m I most essential to a fighter and it appears ap-pears as if Martin Is handicapped in this respect. Tho defeat by Joe Burke was the climax tp a series of tough breaks. |