"...My folks have disowned me..."
"Jim Richards, a Welchman (sic), whose acquaintance Jimmy had made during the war, walked into Johnston's office one afternoon, with a strapping six-footer in tow."
"This boy is a Welchman and he can fight. His name is Billy Daniels."said Richards"
Johnston looked the pugilist over.
"Do you think you can fight?' he asked Daniels
"I can certainly fight..."
"Well, you don't look like a real Welchman (sic) to me. You look like a Jew, or more like a gypsy."
" I am no gypsy, but a Welchman (sic)," insisited Daniels.
"...The tryout disclosed that Daniels could fight..."
"I'll manage him," Johnston told Richards.
"Passing a Woolworth's five-and-ten-cent store on the way back to the office with Daniels, Jimmy took the fighter inside. He walked directly to the jewelry counter, where he picked out four pairs of cheap gypsy earrings, two bandana handkerchiefs, and several brass bracelets."
"From now on your name is Gypsey Daniels, and I do the talking, while you do the fighting..."
"...Gypsey made good in a sensational fashion for a new fighter just arrived on the scene..."
"The next lightheavyweight champion of the world, I tell you. ...My Gypsey Prince..."
"The more success Daniels achieved, the more glum he became."
"I am in a terrible situaiton. My folks have disowned me, " he wailed to Jimmy one night.
"Disowned you. Why?"
"I have been carrying a letter around in my pocket from father. He is very angry with me..."
"Have you gone daffy? Who ever told you you were a gypsy? ...Don't you know your family is well known all over Wales and you are disgracing us...Come home at once."(1)
At little over a month later. Billy 'Gypsey" Daniels sailed home for England.
Daniels went on to have an illustrious career winning the Light Heavyweight Championship of England in 1927.
In 1928, he created a sensation by knocking out Max Schmeling in the first round.
Welshman or not, he was forever known as Gpysy Daniels.
Vintage Original Signature
Signed in pencil
Signature Size: 1 x 4 inches (Glued to a page from an autograph album)
9000-2333
Price: $ 245.00
Note: Shipping & Handling Charges $10.00 within the Contiental United States. Foreign Purchasers Please Inquire.
(1)Griffin, Marcus. Wise Guy. James J. Johnston:A Rhapsody in Fistics. New York Vanguard Press 1933 pp 169-178