The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-08-30
FRANK NEIL

Abe cannot fall back upon the claim that
there would not be money enough to at
tract him in the battle. 1t would bring out
record-breaking crowd to have this pair
meet at any weight-even though Regan
would be giving away weight II he fought
at any figure above ZIG pounds.
With the present array Of men, ranging
between LIZ and LA pounds in this vicinity
or eager to come here, It certainly appears
/ as IL n good series OF fights could be ar
ranged when the weather gets cooler. Harry
| Forbes Will most likely be seen here again,
his recent defeat by Neil making him ready
| to take on the best man OF his class In an
endeayor to tight his way up to the top
again.
II may just be remarked that he will find
L his hands full IL he tackles any of the ban.
| taIns of last year In his present trim. All
| OF them seem TO have improved IN condl-
ton. and some good new material has been
| developed in the person OF Frankie Nell.
| but Harry himself does not seem to have
| improved in any corresponding ratio.
With the West furnishing all the new ma
| terial for the ring just at present. II begins
| to look as If a scarcity of GOOD men OF al
weights was noticeable In the East Natural
causes-that Is, the shutting Gown OF the
| fight game-have much TO do with this. OF
| course. But It is really singular that the
scarcity should extend throughout all the
classes.
To skip from the heavyweight division. in
the public for years with no rev material
in SIGHT, and go TO the bantam class. the
same scarcity prevails. Save Frankie Neil.
leaders of the division has been discovered.
Abe Goodman has been graduated from
the bantam class: He now weighs more
l5-pound figure unless he reduces in such
drastic fashion as to weaken nim. Forbes
and Feitz. would both have better chances
Of being in condition when fighting at l2o
pounds than they would in fighting at ILL.,
This leaves Johnny Regain and Neil. the
newcomer, as the most likely, contestants in
their class. Pesan is stu able to make the
figure with comparative ease.
Fitzsimmons has been doing much talk
ing about a match with Jim Corbctt. 1t is
extremely unlikely that he would want any
of Corbetts game just at present. however
F'itZ. it is said. is not In the best of shape
iust at present. while Corbett is reported as
being in good trim.
Reports from San Francisco, sent out Just
before the recent heavyweight battle. state
that Fitzsimmons became convivial on
short provecatlon. and showed a disposition
Dc b es these Sem me to be-
true, and they probably account for the eX-
ira weight which has now grown so evident
that Fita himself has TO admit its existence
In a regent interview at New York he ad-
mitted to weighing 1871 pounds. but blandly
stated that he could still made the middle
legs of. His weight was always kept So
cret. but It is known that he was invari-
ably many POUNDS heavier than he claimed
to be- His statement that he weighed less
than 160 pounds when he fought Corhett Is
ridiculous. according to many spectators at
the ringside. Competent judges. including
all the expert sport writers. have agreed
that he was within five pounds of Corbett's |
weight. or probably seven pounds less at
the outside
II he and Corbett should be matched |
again however. great battle out to result /
Whether. there Is any prospect for such u |
match cannot now he stated.
Eddie Hanlon may may not be the COM
Ing man in his division. He has the op.n- /
ion OF many competent Judges back of him
WHO believe that he will be the leading fight
er OF his class shortly. He viii have a good
to prive this when he lines up
against Benny Yangsr.
Yanger has been summarizing at Grand Ha-
ven lately. He has been keeping pretty |
quiet of late. and even John Hertz. his man.
aser. has not done much talking. He is to
fight Hanlon in September at San Fran
'isco. and this second meeting OF the pair
should result In a high-class bout
Their first fight was draw. 1t went
contest. Yanger claimed he injured his
wrist midway in the seventh round and that
lie only used his left hand through the rest
II the fight. Not to be outdone Eddie Han
on came out with the statement that he ! ,
vas not In the best shane for the battle!
hat he had been sick day or two before
md that he would surely have put Yanger ,
wsy otherwise.
All. this remains to be worked out when
hey get together. The winner viii he in | d
Inc for the nuch-sought match with Young '