The Indianapolis journal., 1903-12-06
news OF THE FIGHTERS
CLASS FOR LIGHT FEATHER
WEIGHTS MAY BE ADOPTED.
Weight Limit Is Too Elastic to Suit
Men Who Belong i'm the Class-Fitz
Has Made Good Record.


added because of the big advantage given
extra heavy men In the heavyweight class.
Since so many contests have been fought
recently for the feather-weight champion
ship, when the articles called that the men
weigh in at several pounds above the ac-
tual limit. and since Young Corbett and
Eddie Hanlon have been matched to battle
for that title at a weight that is in the
lightweight class, little fighters want
light feather-weight class established. This
would not be necessary If real feather
weights contested for the championships,
but since men who belong in the light
weight class insist upon calling themselves
feather-weights 1t seems as If such new
class should be formed
Abe Attel, the Chicago fighter, who is
one of the best men in the real feather
weight class, suggests that a light feather
weight class be formed. AttelPs conten-
ton, worthy as it is of consideration, con-
sists of splitting the class known at the
present time as the feather-weight divi-
sion. He figures that at the present time
the feather-weight class has been raised
from a former limit of lis pounds up to
almost any weight. When George Dixon
was the feather-weight champion a few
years ago he was forced to fight inside 122
pounds or relinquish the title. Dixon and
Johnny, Griffin had argument for years
about the weight, but 1t was never settled.
After Terry McGovern became the cham
pion the weight was raised steadily be-
cause those who sought a meeting with
McGovern were forced to meet the Brook
lyn Terror on his own terms or go without
a meeting.
Attell has lot of sound arguments to
show why the present-time fighters should
be forced to call themselves what they ac-
tually are or to be put in their right class
by the newspaper writer's. A careful syn
opsis of Attells ideas about the class as 1t
presents itself at the present time brings
out lot of interesting things. Carefully
propounded, the Attell ideas bring out these
facts There are but two feather weights
who are posing In that class at the present
time that are worthy of consideration in
that division. This is the way they should
be divided and about the order Of their
merit. with the weight that the men either
fought at during that last appearance in
The ring or the weight at which they are
best. according to the general belief:
Young Corbett-Fought Hugh Murphy at
rs pounds at o'clock in Boston a short
| time ago. Next appearance, 129 pounds
with Eddie Hanlon: fight said to be for
the featherweight championship.
Benny Yanger-Last fight a defeat with
Eddie HanlOn, his weight at that time be-
ing 13O pounds at the ringside. Best weight
at the present time. 12s pounds at 3 clock
Eddie Hanlon-Claimant with Young Cor
bett of the featherweight championship.
See Corbett's figures.
Terry McGovern-Last battle with Jimmy
| Briggs i'm Boston. 12s pounds at o'clock.
/ ad doing weight
weak
kid" Broad-A big lightweight. Has
enhs oag s ass m @o
| he was beaten. About 40 pounds his best
| figure
Tommy Mowatt-Hs can make 12s pounds
| but does not care to do 1t. He fought Broad
| at New Orleans a short time ago. The
weight did not cut much figure. Ask him
| for a match and he will name 12S pounds
at o'clock. Is always there with a side
Tim Callahan-Never willing to make
! weight. If terms are acceptable ne Will
| fight lightweights because ne is one him
self Nobody knows about him. Put the
big "?'' behind his name.
Hughey McPadden-A legitimate 124-
pound man and a tough one to get away
| with He made this weight for Tommy
Sullivan and knocked him out In seven
Hugh Murphy-He fought Young Corbett
| at high weight, 130 pounds, and was
knocked out in eleven rounds. Evidently
a tough man. but cannot do better than
lbs pounds and be strong for a hard tight
sgDf A1rsa Ask Eddie sanr1 asSnt this
low. He has been kidding featherweights
for long time. Almost knocked McGov-
ern out IN hurry when he was about ten
| pounds over Terry'S weight.
Tommy Sullivan-He Is honest and says
that he cannot do better than 126 pounds
! at o'clock to save his life. Wouldn't do
| il, either, to save less than that.
4
| mate featherweights, as Attell calls them,
see what you have. This Is the way he
/ sizes them up:
Abe Attell-Fought everybody and any
| body within ten pounds Of his weight. His
record stands alone as the greatest or any
4 of the little fellows, despite his defeats
| at the hands Of bigger men.
| frankie NeIl-Has made a wonderful rec
| ord with everybody he fought. A lot of
! people have thought they beat him, but ne
| always got away with the decision. he can
Harry Forbes-A legitimate feather
weight. Has fought for years in the ban
tam class. but now says he cannot make
Tommy Feltz-A tough youngster, whose
best weight is 122 pounds A tough match
night by Joe Cherry. Good and strong, he
can hold his own with champions.
Joe Cherry-A recent discovery; whose de
| feat of Tommy Feltz boosted him to the
top notch. He must meet more good men
| and defeat them before he can receive full
credit. He can make a low weight and
fight we'll.
Johnny Reagan-One of the hardest men
| in the business Look what he did to
| frankie Neil. He is anybody's master in
good condition and the other fellow shade
to the bad. He is one of the most clever
men that ever put on glove, especially
| I'm long fight
Billy Rotchford-Thought by many to be
dead one, but a pretty tough fellow fol
| any OF them.
| kid Herman-Can make 122 pounds and
| is willing to do ii. He is lively one and
can satisfy anybody at a route of from six
| to twenty rounds.
| kid" Abel-The same applies to him. He
| can. make weight and is willing to fight
| He has been beaten number of times, bu,
| must always he reckoned in the running
| Kid Goodman-He can make 122 pounds
| at the ringside and be strong, and is one OF
| the real good men of the country at that
| weight. He is now in England and should
| do we'll there.
| So il goes. Featherweights are feather
| weights and lightweights are lights. Thus
| are the arguments already advanced. why
| should there not be q new class to be called
| the heavy feathers or the small light.
| weights or something of the kind created
| Why should featherweights who are fight.
ing at 100 pounds at o'clock there
abouts style themselves featherweights, and
| why should the real lightweights like Joe
| Cans and Jack O'Keefe and the rest of them
that are nothing Dut welterweghts style
| themselves lights? The came argument an
! plies to all the other classes.