The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-11
reopening Of this old wraIele are suf-

rcopening OF this old wrhngle are suf-
fcring for the sins of our fathers. Some
years ago they beganithe customaof call
Ing any mln who beat champion the
champion OF that division. no matter
what was the weight stipulated forotne
fight, nor what the fighter happened to-
! weigh. This precedent. once established.
could not well be broken without doing
somebody an injustice, and the result
| Is the hopeless confusion that now exists
in nearly all the weight-limited divisions,
The whole proposition resolves Itself
to this: Is a lightweight champion the
best fighter who can fight at 13a pounds.
ringside--fight at that weight not mako
VT the night before?
This Is entirely an impersonal argue
ment, but If that is the correct definition
llof light weight champion then Cans
never was one, because he beat Frank
Erne at u weight several pounds in ex-
cess or that limit.
But on the other hand. Cans has all
ways been recognized as the champion.
and so many exceptions have been made
TO the weight rules for the benefit of
other fighters. that 1t would he unjust 10
make an exception to the exceptions to
take honor away from Cans. Yet 1t Is
rather amusing to hear man solemnly
claim the lightweight championship In
one breath, and then In the next an
nOuflce tDbt l3O 1Ounus NJ BIN " tioNh 10
absolutely his lowest fighting weight.
The same sort OF thing is going on in
| the middleweIgfit class. only more so,
and the feathers are in n fearful mud
die Tommy Ryan claims the middle
| weight title, and says that l5i pounds,
rIngsde, is the correct limit for that
| division. One hundred and fifty-four
| is Rynns best weight.
| rlria nj mi
SAYS that l5S pounds. ringside. is the ptn-
| per notch for middleweghts. O'Brien
| says further that he can get down to
| 15s pounds, ringside. but no lower. So
| there you are.
! According to New York report, Char
1 lie White has been appointed secretary
4 to q Gotham coroner. White has been
the third man in the ring at many
/ great fight and has always been popu-
/ lar with fighters and the fight crowd.
| OF course. somebody broke speed re-
| cord to remark that the job ought 20
suit Charley. as his long connection with
the ring should have made him good
| Judge of dead ones.
From Reno comes a wild story to the
/ effect that Al Pane is gatherin" . s20.1@
! purse for battle between Jeffries and
\ Jack O'Brien. Reno is known TO be fight
| crazy. but no one wants to believe that
4 the disease has reached the acute stage.
4 There is no public demand for a meeting
between Jeffries and O'Brien. and until
i there is the fight will never come of. for
i two reasons: First, Jeffries will not fight
i until there Is such demand; and second
the financial success of the bW would de-
| pend on the same condition. Reno IL not
] big enough to pay for $4,000 purse with
| out considerable outside help.
! Jeffries. by the way. still insists that
he has retired from the ring for good
He is living quietly on his ranch near
Los Angeles. and he has no further de-
sire for the ring. He is tired of cities
and is going to live the Simple life" for
the remainder of his years. Well. let's
believe him. This is the champions first
retirement. 4, ~. @