The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-07-16

Erne Looks Finely Drawn For
His Fight.
But He Will Be Able to Do the
12S Pounds.
HIS HANDICAP MATCH.
McGOvern in Fine Condition to
Enter the Ring.
The Battle Tonight Should. Be
a Grand One.
Much Interest Manifested by
Sport Enthusiasts. IL
HIS HANDICAP MATCH.

New York, July 16.-To win tonight's
fight at Madison Square Garden Frank
Erne, the light weight champion, will
have to land a Knockout blow on Terry
EdcGovern before 10 rounds are over. To
do this he will have to strike on a vul-
nerable spot the hardest blow the little
Brooklynite has ever taken. In fact, it
will have to be a punch which MoGovern
doesn't think Erne capable Of deliver
ing. In short. if Erne is victorious no
one will be more surprised than McGov-
ern.
A correspondent saw both fighters.
Much doubt has been expressed as to
Erne's ability to get down to the re-
Quisite 1928 pounds. His muscles were
found to be firm and elastic, neither hard
Eor fabby. His eye was clear. While
his face was not actually drawn 1t i'm
presses one as that of a man slightly
Oyertrained. Not that he is stale. but
he is trained down trifie fine, and the
enforced reduction of weight has had
anything but a beneficial effect on him
He has two pounds more to lose be-
tween this and Monday night. In order
to do SO he will change his diet and will
also continue working up to Monday
noon
He doesn't think that this decidedly
unusual course Will tire him for the
fight or take the edge of his chance.
3OSSlDly ne Is I1SOI. P6TndpS not.
A thing that struck some of the per-
sons who were at Erne's quarters while
the correspondent was present, was the
fact that during the real moments of
leisure that he had he devoted himself
to reading Ruskin.
When a correspondent called at Nc
Governs training quarters on Jerome
avenue and One Hundred and Seven
peared in fine shape. Not the slightest
blemish could be detected in his make
up from head to heels. Weeks of train
ing have developed him to a greater ex-
tent. He is light, 121 pounds, but ap-
parently stronger than the trained ath-
1ete rs pounds heavier
He seemed happy to the point of ex-
periencing delight; worriment was al
parently furthest from his mind; the
approach of the most satisfying thing
imaginable could not improve his feel
1ngs. The same spirit pervaded the en-
tire training camp: the fight was talked
of as an event in which all were to find
great pleasure.
No attempt was made to bury the sub
Ject for fear it might worry McGovern.
As a matter of fact, the little fighter
showed that he liked to talk of it, He
never betrayed any anxiety as to the
result, but looked forward to a victory.
Moqesty only, perhaps, kept him from
telling him how soon he would accomp-
fish it
The impression must not be gained
that Terry talks only fight He has a
oWIeuSe OF Olner things, but 1T has
only been acquired. Fighting is natural
with him, and he likes it. If the DAYS
or big purses were over McGoVern would
hight for the pure love of it, or to beat
the other fellow
In talking about the fight Terry said.
can see only one result. I think
III win, and I'll do it as quickly as
can IN be In that ring with bells on
rms hight won't last ten rounds 1t
may end as soon as the Palmer bout
did I'm going in to knock Erne out.
and II L don't succeed he'll knock me-
One OF US will be knocked out sure and
1 don't think 1t will be me-
The visits to the training quarters of
these two young pugflists have brought
some deductions.
The two men, both in appearance and
in style of fighting viii offer a singular
contrast 1t is bull terrier against grey
hound.
Erne is a good three inches the taller
OF the two, longer and proportionatelv
1eaner of limb, thinner and longer Of
neck and smaller of thigh
McGovern is compact muscular
mass of scrapping humanity with ten
horsepower steam in every motion
Erne is more slender, graceful and wiry.
McGovern is miniature Sharkey
Erne is more on the order of Corbett
s,niIty, qulck,scientific to the finger tips,
ne is always an uncertain yet danger
Gus proposition. So, then, it would seem
that tonight'S contest will be one of box
er versus slugger.
I-AHS - 1utiy prepared TO meet a 'huT-
r1cane fighter" and has worked to that
end He will oppose to such fighting his
superior science and footwork and will
watch patiently for an opening
The breyity of the fight Will be in
McGovern's favor, as Erne's talents
could undoubtedly make a better show
ing in a 25 round bout than in one Of 10
rounds His skill as a boxer and as a
ring general would come more into play
there, and he would have better oppor-
tunities to wear down the little human
Whirlwind or to find flaws in his armor.
Erne Will probably allow McGovern to
take the aggressive from the start He
knows the latter's proWess as a body
puncher- He has tried to prepare him
self against such volleys of heart and
kidneys blows as shook the champion
ship laurels from George Dixon's duskv |
brow and such facial massage as led |
Pedlar Palmer to look back on his !
American trip as a. dream.
There is a reverse side to the weight |
question. While Erne goes out of |
his class to reach 12S pounds, it is also
very doubtful if McGovern's additional |
weight so quickly accumulated will help |
the brooklyn boy. It may even tend to |
make him slow, and possibly prove a |
burden before the end of so fast a fight |
Yet it would seem that McGovern |
would appear to have the better of the |
bargain in a ten round contest for he 1
might be able to protect himself that |
number of rounds before Erne could get |
going.
WILLIAMS INJURED