The Washington times., 1903-06-21
GREAT INTEREST IN
ROOT GARDNER BOUT
BAT" MastersOn Gives His
Views of the Fighters.
SPORT Is DEAD IN NEW YORK
Chicago and the West Now the Mecca
for Pugilists, Where Many Mills
Are Pulled Off,

CHICAGO, June 2O-New interest
was added to the coming twenty-round
contest between Jack Root and George
Gardner. which is scheduled before the
International Athletic Club at Fort
Erie on July Z, when Bat Masterson,
the wellknown sporting man. returned
from New York with the news that the
coming bout is ali the talk around the
sporting headquarters in New York
city.
Root is considered the greatest
light heavyweight in the business to-
day" said Masterson yesterday. His
fight with Kid Mccoy has boosted his
stock 100 per cent around the big viii
lage, and great crowd of New York
ers will be at the ringside on indie
pendence Day.
George COnsidine and Tim Sullivan
have chartered a special train from
New York TO the ringside and they
have already several hundred names on
the passenger list Betting is even
with more Root than Gardner money in
sight
Chicago Ahead of New York.
After discussing the fight at some
length Masterson was asked what the
chances were to reopen the boxing
game in New York. "No chance at
all. answered Masterson. Chicago is
far ahead of New York on sporting
events. and especially on matters per-
tanning TO pugilism.
Here you have the leaders In every
class. Not real champions. but they be-
long in the front rank OF contenders.
/ Harry Forbes. Benny Yanger. Martin
Duffy. Young Mowatt, Jack Root, and
several others you have here in Chicago
/ belong mighty close TO the top New
York is dead. and not a single leader
Of any fight class is there
| True, they have a lot OF good old
timers. For instance. John L. Sullivan,
Jack McAuliffe, Tom Sharkey. and Terry
McGovern. but none of these are promi-
rent before the public now McGovern
| is gone, and l don't think will ever
be seen in a ring again"
After summing up Masterson's opinion
of the New York fight situation, the
-heyday" times OF the Horton law can
| easily be recalled. Then New York. and
| New York only, was the fight center
while at present the sports there are
glad to travel 500 miles TO witness a
good bout.
From present indications, none who &c
that distance to Buffalo on July viii
leave there disappointed Both Root and
Gardner are busy preparing themselves
for the fray.
Great Demand for Seats.
From Buffalo comes the news that the
same excursion rates scheduled for the
Attell-McGOvern bout at Fort Erie
which so unfortunately fell through
viii prevail for the more important bat
tie on the afternoon OF July between
Jack Root and George Gardner
This bout carries with It the title Of
light heavyweight champion OF III,
world, and is being talked about all ovel
the country fully as much as the JET.
fries Corbett contest. which will take
place in Frisco the latter part Of Au.
gust. That both Gardner and Root hav,
claim on the new title Is attcsted Il
by Bob Fitzsimmons. who has STATED
publicly that he would meet the winner
of this bout
Manager Herman. OF the Internationa
A. C., is being besieged with inquiries
from all parts Of the country In regar,
TO this contest, and for the benefit o
those wishing to attend he desires t,
, state that the prices OF seats for tn,
battle are SO for admission IS for re
served seats. so for ring seats. and 81
. for box goats.