The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-20
SPORTING NEWS.
Dixon, GreatestOf All Fighters,
Whipped by Terry.
Who Had Logical Claim to
Featherweight Title.
THIS CLASS is A JOKE.
Young COrbett and Jimmy Britt
Also Champions.
Old Standard Places Feather
weight at lis Pounds.
McGOvern Says It Should Still
Be at 122 Pounds.
THIS CLASS is A JOKE.

san FRANCISCO, Cal. Jan. 20.-There
are men living yet, believe, who can
remember when there were no weight
classes in pugilism, says w. W.
Naughton. AS the years rolled on it
dawned on somebody that it wasn't fair
to pit a little fellow against giant,
and a distinction was made. The MEM
bers Of the bruising guild were there
after called heavy weights and light
weights. In due course there were fur
ther classifications until we had heav-
les, middle, welters, light weights,
feather weights and bantams.
The lines of demarcation have not
been kept in view, but still there Is no
danger Of a return to first principles.
The tendency rather is to multiply the
number of divisions and unless some
one takes hold and suggests a rear
rangement of the weights that will
meet with general favor the term
champion of the world will become a
jest so far as it is supposed to apply to
some of the classes.
AS a matter of fact the feather
weight championship is already a joke
although sundry small men are serious
enough while laying claim to it, The
feather weight limit not so many years
ago was 11S pounds Then it began to
creep. 1t seemed as though whoever
happened to be on top of the heap in
sisted on extending the limit as fast
as he fattened. Presently all old boun-
daries were forgotten entirely and the
leaders among the small men wanted
to fight on a pound-for-pound basis.
They also held out for uncanny weigh
ing hours. The critics then began to
spring their sarcasrns about 3 {; clock
champions, 6 o'clock champions and
ringside champions.
In no class is the question of avoir-
dupoiS in such q hopeless tangle as in
this feather weight division There are
several claimants for the title. Abe
Attell claims it on the score that he
can make a lighter weight than Terry
McGovern. Terry insists that he won
the championship from George Dixon
at 122 pounds and has never been de-
feated at that weight. Young Corbett
thinks he is the simon-pure champ be-
cause he defeated McGovern, and Jim
my Britt argues that as he defeated
Corbett. who defeated McGovern, he
has as much right to be hailed feather
weight king as anybody.
Perhaps if all the disputants4 could
be Brought together to discuss the
matter nationally they would announce
that they had decided to apportiOn the
honors on the following basis: Abe
Attel1, feather weight champion; Terry
McGovern, light weight champion;
'fYo ung Corbett,'' medium feather
weight champion; Jimmy Britt, heavy
featherweight champion
Quite a number of critics name Attell
as champion. I fail to see where he has
displayed the necessary form to war
rant the distinction being conferred
upon him. He is at the best trick
boxer. with no force to speak of in his
delivery and he is the kind of ringster
that spectators soon weary Of He has
lost as often as he has won, it appears
to me, and his work is scarcely ever
free from the faint Of suspicion.
Sam Harris claims that McGovern
can still do 122 pounds, ana II we ac-
cepted Terry as feather weight cham
rf11c n a
Corners at that weight I suppose his
title still holds good until some one
defeats him at that figure or he is
forced to admit that he has outgrown
his old notch.
Govern featherweight limit and the limit
which George Dixon australian Buy
ed, 1t must be said that McGoVern Ger
tainly displayed championship aolllty; ne
was largely q counterpart OF George DIX
on whom I consider the most wonderful
fighter the ring has known
Up to the time he went against young
Corbett at an increased weight at Hart-rl
ford Conn, McGovern proved invincible.
It was never a question of WIN ne VIM
His quick handling of Pedlar Palmer, who |
came to this country to try conclusions
tionaI performances of modern pugilism. |
You are not the featherweight cham |
they drifted together after the Hartford
affair. -. ,.o,+ rarrv
No, but I'm the man VINO peat Terry |
N1cGovern,'' said the Denver1te.
After all it must be said that it is a |
distinction of the kind mentlohed tnat |
counts for most Duly authenticated titles |
do not weigh much with the hero-loving |
public. 1t is the fellow VINO mas uetnroh-
ed idol who becomes popular anu La
Terry's friends may buttonhole this man |
or that and employ all their eloquence anu
logic in explaining thar IL - ,,esT
ever dOwned him at the Welgnet WLlci ii /
came to be regarded as the feather
notch, but the one thing upper n Tug
mind of the listener will be the fact that /
Terry was knocked out twice by some
one called Young Corbett; e.,,-.-...
The old standard OF weight places the |
featherWeight limit at 1s pounos; We
Govern says it should be Y potiiCSf ; nv
even if McGovern is wrong II certall alt |
seems as though Terry IS tne neeLI - - |
thing to the featherweight champion II
the lists at the present uIInea-. -, .
Then comes Young Corbett, who says: |
What difference does couple OF pOuIluS
make? / defeated DIcGovern at 126 and |
believe can defeat any man living at 124 /
Anyhow. L m willing to try ana consloer
I'm entitled to some kind of a champion |
It is thus that the limit creeps and thus
that old classes are blurred me puphc
and the critics have Wnkeo AT the en-
croachment and the result IS comphca-
The bantam championship story does
not require much telling; ~, 49, a,ss
was the cock O. the Walk LOT yeaIs ana
he was Iut out of commission Dy FRANKIE
Neil of this city. -, -.
his title to a midget named Jern ,Boyvt.ef-
And there is more JOY IN Elglana pc
cause King Edwards donlsil 4b, 9bere is
in this country over the fact that all the
others are ours.
Racing at New Orleans.
New orleans. Jan 2oHeaV 9g,, Iddl1s Eac5