Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-11-02
A LONG DROWN OUT FAKE.

4 LONG DROWN OUT FAKE.
Stelzer and Wanko GAYS a Poor Box
ing Exhibition
BEFORE HANDFUL OF SPECTA-
TORS AT THE METROPOLITAN
ATHLETIC CLUB LAST NIGHT.
THIRTY FIV Z FRIENDLY
ROUNDS WHICH DECEIVED NO
BODY-THE PRELIMINARY VERY
TAME-OTHER SPORTING MAT
TIERS.
Buck" Stelzer. of Columbus. and
kid Wanko, of Washington, who
failed to draw more than a handful of
spectators at the M. A. c. a week ago,
were scarcely more successful last
twenty rounds or more for decision,
and both had previously affixed their
signatures to articles OF agreement to
that effect. They gave very tame
exhibition for thirty-fve rounds, and
then Referee Ryan declared the bout
a draw.
The decision was palpably wrong
The men had agreed to 80 until a de-
cision was rendered in favor OF one
or the other. Under their agreement,
and the advertised promises made by
the club, drawn battle was impoSSi
BILE.
The two contestants might be ex-
g., i 10 1,n vii,
for such a small purse as the attend
ance represented. The alternative was
to battle honestly for supremacy. Stel-
ger and Wanko did neither. Their
offense might have been mitigated, if
they had furnished a good exhibition
of the manly art, but neither possesses
the cleverness of third-rater, and
their bout was therefore nothing more
nor less than fake"
1t may, or may not have been pre-
arranged, but in any event it was evil
dent that neither contestant worked for
knock out The battle started with
long-distance sparring, and ended in a
hug, with love-taps and sprint races
thrown in between. 1t was a splendid
exhibition of how not to box. The gen
crosby of the men to each other would
be commendable, in any place but
boxing ring. There were openings big
enough to admit railroad trains. but
no advantage was taken OF them. When
one contestant lost his balance. or
slipped, in a corner. the other grace
fully retired to give him a chance to
recover.
1t may be said that the men didn't
know any better. If this contention
be granted, both would better retire
Immediately. StelZer is reported to
have said that he would retire from the
ring if he failed to put Wanko out.
If he does, he will earn the gratitude
of the eport-loving public. He has
long string of draws and defeats-quite
enough to establish his reputation as
an eighth-rater. AS for WankO, his
work was really better than that of his
opponent, and at times it looked like
he was really in earnest. He fought
a defensive battle, and the proposition
for draw came from the other corner.
Every spectator was dissatisfied with
the contest, as every spectator had
right to be- 1t is not at all likely that
the club was a willing party to the
fake. The NJ. A. G. has been unfortu
nate, but the Stelzer-Wanko bout will
at least teach a wholesome lesson.
The curtain raiser was TO have been
a six round bout for a decision between
Jersey Gordon and Billy Kelly, but
two rounds were sufficient Gordon
was clearly too many for his OPP
ponent in weight and everything else,
and used him as a chopping block.
kelly's efforts to stand up before the
sledge-hammer blows of his opponent
excited the sympathy of the audience,
who cried for a cessation, and the
referee gave the decision to Gordon.
John "Tugger' Ryan officiated as
master of ceremonies, and gave gen
eral satisfaction. He led Harry Fish
er, of New York to the center of the
ring and introduced him as the man
who is to meet Jack Collyer before the
B. A. C. next Monday night. Prepare
lions were then made for the main
bout There was not much show of
interest when the principals stepped
through the ropes. Wango was at
tended by his brother and the Cor
aons, of Washington, Pa. In Stelzer's
corner was Jack Hart and others.
Scales were brought into the ring, and
neither man tipped the beam at las
pounds. Ryan announced:
This contest will be 20 rounds or
more, break clean"
what kind of rules?" came from
the top shelf
Mixed"
To the surprise of the spectators,
Ryan remained in the ring to referee
the bout. The men stepped forward
and fiddled for an opening. Two
leads by Stelzer ended in clinches. To-
ward the end of the round Wanko put
hard right and left on the jaw. The
crowd accused Stelzer of giving him
the knee" They opened ND the second
with lively exchanges. Wanko placed
two left jabs in the wind, and little