The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-07-05

WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC.
Benny Yangers draw with Eddie Hanlon
in San Francisco last Tuesday evening at
tracte1 widespread attention, and from all
ucccunts the affair must have been the hot
test witnessed in the coast city since the
Hanlon-C oibett go.
As for the outcome OF the bout. the gem
eral consensus OF opinion among sporting
men fncl!nes to the belief that Hanlol Vas
favored slightly IN the verdict. WITHOUT de-
tracing from his skull as a boxer or his
merits as a hard hitter. the average sport
ing man is inclined to read between the
lines and credit Yanger with the best OF the
affray.
In city like San Francisco. where local
pride is strong and where Frisco fighters
receive the Irost ardent support, 1t is a GER
tainty that the crowd would go crazy unless
the local man was given the verdict. II
there was the slightest excuse for him to
get this same verdict.
Reports of the fight show that the decision
was satisfactory. that the crowded applaud
led It rapturously. and that Hanlon was
well satisfied. A San Francisco crowd
would never grow enthusiastic over a Draw
verdict If their man was entitled TO an even
sbreak: the Coast sports would want their
man to get It.
That the spectators received the decision
go warmly seems to show that they dreaded
.1Ianlon would lose the decision. and that
fthey were delighted when he finally got the
verdict. At this distance 1t IS Impossible 10
,say whether this Is exactly true or not, but
.the impression is one derived from reading
the Detailed accounts Of the bout.
The only thing which indicates that
Yapger was not badly treated however. Is
the fact that John Hertz did not make
howl over the result Had Benny mad the
margin over Hanlon by a good bit. Hertz's
wall would have been heard clear across the
continent unless the Italian boy was de
clared tho winner. If Hertz did not Kick
about the verdict. it may be assumed that
there was nothing much to kick about,
Either side Of the case may be worked out
Is it suits the average sporting man, but
there is one significant fact about the al
fair-and that is, that even the Frisco sports
admit that Ha-llon will not be favorite II
the men come together again: This should
battle tended towards the close.
Even If Yanger got slightly the, worst Of
the decision. he has no right to object. He
has received the best end of enough YER
diets when fighting in Chicago TO give the
with good and game battle Tuesday.
Whether his hand was badly hurt in the
seventh round remains TO be seen. He used
Very y. seriously injured. His style Of fighting
at that did not appear SO formidable to
,Hanlon as waI expected. Tho Frisco boy
mot only outboxed him at stages. but mixed
with him to advantage.
There is no doubt about one thirS-that
the West IS certainly turning out good fight
ers. Both Jim Corbett and Jim Jeffries are
California products. and they have the
heavyweight championship between them
Ito battle for in August. frankie Neil, one
Abe Attell. one of the best men in the
sfeather-weight class. and Eddie Hanlon;
who must be considered the strongest kind
of factor In the new 'feather-weight'
division. all hail from Frisco.
Explanations are various rs to why the
West should turn out such a galaxy of good
pugilists. 1t is no new thing for Frisco to
be well represented in the ring as Joe
ChoyinsSi and other California fighters were
always well to the fore. About the most
plausible explanation is the feet that the
men receive enough support from the fight
ting on local men.
II the Frisco boys are given every chance
and are. good drawing cards. there ts no
reason for the city not turning out high
class fighters. The question Of climate has
often been advanced as Il cause for Frisco
representation in the ring. In reality this
has probably little to do with 1t.
There can hardly be 4 more opposite cli-
mate to that CT Frisco than that OF Chicago.
Yet the city by the lake is about equally
wei represented In the ring. Jack Root.
Jack OKeefe and Benny Ysnger to say
nothing of Harry Forbes. will hold up the
Illinois end pretty well.
When Yanger tied up with Hanlon and
when Okeefe met Britt, the Frisco light
weight. Illinois did not suffer any in the
with the class of pugilists other than Civ
Ing the California men an advantage in the
way Of milder atmosphere and better cir
than murky Chicago can offer.