Waterbury Democrat., 1901-03-27
FIGHTS AND FIGHTERS. .
Much Discussion on the Holder
 of Bantam Weight,

At the Present Time-Skin Tight
 Glove Fight in Chicago-Police Stop
 Fight in Bangor-Rice and Sullivan
 Go to a Draw.
 The defeat of Pedlar Palmer by Harry Harris has brought to the front the question of the validity of the title of bantam champion of the world held by Terry McGovern. Palmer was defeated not only by McGovern for the worlds championship, but, re- gently came out second best in a bout with an English bantam named Ware. Therefore at the time Harris and Palmer met the latter held no title whatever, and Harris will be compelled to defeat Ware before claiming the British title.
 Palmer insists that the fight with McGovern was not for the bantam championship. on the ground that they did not weigh in on the day of the battle
 George Siler. who acted as referee of the bout, discusses the matter as follows:
 ''The battle taking place at Tuckahoe on September F. 1899, was supposed to have been for the bantamweight cham pionShip, but Palmer told me before
  Govern, however, took it for granted that it was, and after the contest claimed the title. The battle. it will be remembered. was scheduled to take place on September II, but was post poned on account of rain. When the boys were informed the fight would not take place as per schedule they waved the weight question and natur- ally let up in their training. 1 believe hn orti if.ln 1nI for rhe morning of the fight, but they were pounds over that weight when they entered the ring on Tuesday af- ternoOn.
 II called on Palmer in his dressing room about a half hour before the fight to give him his instructions. Af- ter I had explained the rules as in- terpreted in this country he said: T soiy. MT Siler you h'understand this bloomin' foight his not for the cham pionship. We didn't weigh h'n, you know, hand we are pounds over the bantamweight limit
 When Palmer returned to England he said he had not lost the title. Me Govern claimed it, however, and his right to the title was never disputed i'll this country. After Terry piled on weight which drove him into the featherweight division he presented
 
 sThe late Steve Flanagan disputed Danny's right to the championship. and to settle the question they met i'll the ring and Dougherty won. The latter lost to Morris Rhuch on I foul and Palmer was forced to succumb to Harry Ware. which places the ball. tamweight championship, as far as Harris lis concerned, ill dubious light"
 Siler is wrong in several of his state 'ments The weight was 116 pounds ten hours before the fight. the boys getting up at 4 o'clock on the morning of September II in order to weigh. Pal mer sealed 11534. McGovern half pound less. On the night previous when McGovern got on the scales he weighed only l14$4 pounds. AS the fight took place in the open. and as it rained furiously all day on September Il. postponement was necessary. The boys naturally stopped training and took on weight. It would have been an absurditY to ask them to re- weigh. and the Briton's technical claim will find few supporters. In any event. these fine drawn technlcalltleS are not now recognized. Erne and Iayigne fought for the lightweight championship at 13 pounds. weigh in at 3 D.. m. They must have weighed l3S at 10 D. m.. when they fought.
 AS to Danny Dougherty getting the title as q gift from McGovern, that is d ludicrous proposition. Doughertys limit is no pounds, and he would hardly meet Harris at 116 pounds. As the case now stands Harris has the best claim of any one to the bantam championship of America. and Will be so regarded when he returns here. Should he defeat Ware before coming home he would greatly strengthen his position.