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The Battling Nelson act has four boys (white) as plants for the comedy finish, where all attempt to fight the “dummy” figure on the oval bass that is knocked every way and always comes back the other way. The boys half the time are fighting themselves instead of the dummy. That provides the comedy.
Nelson is interesting in his description of famous blows of famous fighters, which he illustrates and mentions with the familiarity born of long acquaintance and observation. He gives Jack Dempsey a great boost, also Tommy Ryan (old timer), and illustrates his own famous blow with which he knocked out Joe Gans for the lightweight championship. Nelson claims that while he was accused of a foul in the 42-round encounter with Gans at Goldfield, it was his kidney blow that did the trick. He tried it on the dummy and told the house that no one could withstand it once it landed.
Nelson was in ring costume, spoke with confidence and directly, wasting no time nor blows. Always a popular champ, he is quickly remembered, as was proven by the reception received when first appearing. His “dummy” idea for exercise is quite the best thing any athlete has yet shown the vaudeville stage as a practical demonstrations of how a business man could keep himself fit without trying the carpet beating stuff so many others have told about. Nelson’s act runs 12 minutes.
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Variety Magazine, LVIII: 10 December 1920