Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 73, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 March 1911 — BANTAM CHAMPION FIGHTER COMES BACK [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

BANTAM CHAMPION FIGHTER COMES BACK

The history of the prize ring, past and present, is full of stories related concerning former champions of the squared circle who tried to "come back” and failed dismally. As a general rule the man who once retires from active service makes an awful mess of it if he undertakes to begin over again. Jim Jeffries was a case In point, so was Battling Nelson, Jim Corbett* Kid McCoy, Tom Sharkey, Bob Fitzsimmons—the list could be strung out to an indefinite length. Once in a great while a fighter bobs into view who manages to achieve the seemingly impossible by returning to the scenes of former triumphs and making good. He may be called the “exception who proves the rule,” and such a one is Harry Forbes, exchampion of the bantam weight division. Forbes began boxing in 1897, and from the beginning showed the unusual speed and punching power that helped to make him a world’s champion in the future. He won the title in 1903 by defeating Andy Tokell, the British champion; having previously knocked out Danny who had succeeded Terry McQovern, as American champion. Forbes retired from the ring in 1905. Up to that time he had participated in 111 batties, and was one of the most popular boxers that ever donned the gloves. Just a year ago the fighting fever seized the retired champion again, and he resolved to tempt fortune be tween the ropeß again. Under the management of Howard Carr, more popularly known as Kid Howard, he went east, and despite his four years’ absence from the ring, the matchmakers thought well enough of his chances to pit him against Knockout Brown, who was then fighting in the featherweight ranks. Brown, however, refused to make 118 rounds the weight agreed upon, and the match was called off. The fight was to have taken place at Troy, N. Y., and Jack Ray was substituted for Brown. Ray was knocked out in the second round, Forbes showing clearly that his oldtime punch had not deserted him. His next match was with Joe Cos-

ter of New York, before a Brooklyn club. Coster was considered the best man of the bantamweight division in the east, and early in the battle ‘he caught- Forbes with a short hook on the jaw that floored the Chicagoan. Forbes was knocked groggy by the fall, and for six rounds he fought mechanically, being sent to the floor repeatedly and frightfully punished. Had not his physical condition been absolutely perfect, he could never had stood up under the terrible gruelling to which he was subjected. But he stuck it out, and by degrees his head Cleared, and he began fighting back. In the seventh round Forbes landed a right on Coster’s jaw that floored the New York lad in his turn. Coster was in bad shape and clinching to save himself. Early in the eighth round Forbes went after his man in tiger fashion, rushed him to the ropes, slammed right and left to his jaw, and dropped him for the full count It was this victory which convinced Forbe’s friends that he was as good as ever. In a bout at Troy he lost a decision to Abe Attell, the featherweight champion, but this did not detract from his reputation, as Forbes was plainly overmatched in weight and fighting out of his class. Forbes’ last appearance In the ring resulted in a knockout of Mike Bartley in four rounds at Fort Wayne, the contest taking place a short time ago. Boxing critics throughout the country are all of the opinion that Forbes was never better than at the present time. Freddy Whlttlngham, Forbes’ trainer and sparring partner, shares thiß belief. Whlttlngham probably knows Forbes better than any other person living, he having worked with the former king of the bantams from the very start of his career. And Fred sass that today Forbes is boxing with all the vim and fire that distinguished him in the past, and his hitting power is as dangerous as ever. To Whlttlngham belongs the credit for getting Forbes into his fighting trim, and if the former owner of the bantam title Bhould regain it; he will have much to thank his faithful trainer for.

Harry Forbes.