Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-01-27
TVHERE has probably never been a

THERE has probably never been a
time when there was 30 much ac-
= uyity among boxers as is now be-
ing shown. More star events have
been held or are scheduled to take place
in the near future than have ever be-
fore been punched together in the same
space Of time. Beginning on the lst Of
January. the McCoy-Maher. McGovern-
Dixon and Mccoy hoynsh fights took
place IN such rapid succession that the
sports have hardly had time 20 recover
from the effects Of one encounter be-
fore they were called upon TO witness
another.
New York was the scene OF all the
battles mentioned, and, as a matter Of
fact. that city is the center OF affairs
connected with boxing In the east The
reason for this unwonted activity In
the fraternity Is the fear that the New
York legislature may repeal the Horton
law and thus cut oil all chance OF hold
ing such encounters IN the Empire
State II was this fear that led Corbett
and Jeffrles to agree 10 come together
in the ring In March instead Of walt
ing until next September.
The next fight Of any great impor-
tance Is the one scheduled TO take place
at the Broadway A. c., New York, on
the night Of Feb. 2, between Frank
Erne and Jack OBrien for the light
weight championship, As everybody
knows, these two met last December at
Coney Island, and THEN bout resulted
I'm n draw after % rounds Of hot work.
Opinions as 20 the merits OF the two
men are widely divergent, each having
a strong following.
Erne being the champion, was OF
course the public favorlte previous TO
the last encounter. and many Of his adj
mlrers stil retain their faith in him.
Erne won his title by defeating kid"
Lavlgre last July, and, Of course. tech
nically holds the championship until II |
shall be wrested from him by defeat.
The lightweight problem, however, IL |
IN q sufficiently muddled state Just |
now. There are more good men In this
class than In almost all the other d.
visions put together, and new aspirants
who must be considered are popping up /
every day.
Not many years ago Jack McAullffe
was head and shoulders above all Of
his contemporaries, After him came
George Lavigne, who also for long
time was really in class by himself,
there being no one able to hold his own
with the Saginaw lad in the ring.
Just now. however, the conditions are
very different. There are ~ or 10 high
class lightweights. half OF whom are SO
evenly matched that the title Of cham
pion Is likely to be tossed around from
one to another for some time to come.
and It will be mighty hard work for
any one Of them to hold the laurels In
his grasp for any great length Of time,
---
Among the aspirants for the title now
held by Erne are Jack O'Brien, who
will try 70 wrest II from him next Fri
day; Joe Cans, who has posted his
money to fight the winner Of the forth
coming encounter: George McFadden,
Spike" Sullivan, kid" Mcfarland
and Eddie Connolly. Every one OF
these fighters Is clamoring for a chance
to show his ability and is more than
anxious to fight at a few weeks notice.
and each has also big wad with which
to back himself.
This list. while necessarily incom-
plete Is sufficient TO show what pleth-
ora OF good material there is lying
around among the lightweights and is
ample evidence that the man who shall
prove absolutely his superiority TO all
OF his mates will be as much Of Won
der among the llghtwelghts AS Is young
McGoyern among the featherweghts.
Notwithstanding the fact that Erne
and O'Brien recently met and fought TO
a draw, the dope hends" are plying
their trade Just as, industriously as
ever. Those persons who pin their faith
TO comparisons Of pugilsts judged by
their work against other men are not
however, in their opinions
as TO which man will win In the FORTH
coming battle. Those who contend that
Efne will best O'Brlen point to the fact
that the former required but seven
rounds in which to knock out Dal Haw-
ldns In San Francisco last March,
whereas O'Brlen could only win the de-