The San Francisco call., 1906-11-05
Sports News
Pages.
FIGHT PROMOTERS
SEEK MATCH FOR
THE "WELTER."
BY r. A. Srr1ytT1.

Joe Thomas is the most sought after
boxer now before the public. II the
strong efforts the fight promoters are
making to secure his signature to con-
tracts are to be taken as an indica-
ton. Billy Roche has been trying for
some time to- get suitable opponent
for him and on Saturday he thought he
had match clinched with Billy Roden-
bach. the New York amateur, who has
inquired in a number of big matches
The most prominent of these was his
meeting with Sam Berger in this city,
when he outpointed the big fellow.
Rodenbach Is being managed by Tim
McGrath and is expected to start for
this city today. If the men meet 1T viii
be at $50 pounds rngside.
In the meantime Morris Levy, who
has been appointed matchmaker OF the
Associated Athletic Club, better known
as the fight trust. has been counting on
Joe Thomas as an attraction Tor THIS
city. It has been found difficult TO land
an opponent for Jimmy Britt, who can
have either this month or next month
when desirable opponent can be
found. Levy will meet his associates
today and will ask them to sanction a
match between Thomas and Mike
(Twin) Sullivan.
This match has been in prospect for
some time and after careful eonsidera-
,tion Sullivan's brother has decided that
the weight which will suit his scrappy
relative best will be 145 pounds al
o'clock In the afternoon of the day they
fight Levy has selected Thanksgiving
eve. the 28th inst, is the most 1aVor-
able date. A word from Manager Jim
Coffroth will settle this match 1t Is
possible the Rodenbach match may be
transferred to this city, although Nor
iris Levy undoubtedly will hold out for
Sullivan, as the Boston man is a great
favorite with him.
Aspiring young boxers and athletes
in general will find in Joe Thomas a
good model after wsich to pattern. one
might spend days in Joe's company
without learning that he is a fighter,
much less that he is considered by
experts the best man in his class now
before the public On his recent trip
East Thomas made favorable impress
sion on his fellow travellers, who did
not have an inkling as 10 his occupa-
tion. When nearing Chicago Thomas
opened his dress suit case to secure
some article of wearing apparel and a
photograph of man in ring costume
dropped out.
An elderly lady in the car saw it
and commenced 10 lecture Thomas on
the evils of prize fighting. At that
time she did not know the photograph
was lIdl OF lll6 yOQne ifidh " man
she was talking. Thomas proved
clever as. a controversalist and before
he had concluded an argument in de-
fense of the ring he had won his critic
over to his side.
Young athletes. whether they be box
ers, runners. tennis or football players,
have learned a great lesson when they
find Ii is not necessary to boast, of their
deeds. If they show ability at any
form of competition their friends will
see to it that they will get all the
praise that is coming to them, and
sometimes more than is good for them.
Thomas has more right at the present
time to the title of welter- ght
champion of the world than any other
boxer before the public Instead of
proclaiming this to a world surfeited
with such claims. he contents himself
with saying. Let the men who aspire
to the title fight 1t out among them
and l will fight the ultimate winner
for the championship"
william A Pierce, the Boston fight
promoter, has written to friends here
asking il he can get a match for Sam
Langford. This is one of the men who
fight up and down the scale of weights
he met Jack Johnson recently. and
cision, there was a time when he
seemed on the point of stopping.
Langford% is one of the few men able
to extend Joe Cans. He fights at 142
pounds.
+ Lew Powell has at last secured a
match. The majority of the light
weights have been sidestepping meet
ing with him. but Willie Fitzgerald has
finally consented to try his game. They
will meet at Colma early in December.
Fitzgerald was beaten recently in the
East by Harry Lewis in two rounds.
They had return match in Philadel-
phia on Saturday night and put up one
of the fastest fights ever seen there.
AS the referee is not permitted to rem
der decision, the majority OF the spec
tators decided il was a good draw.
Fitzgerald is tremendous hitter. but
it is question if he can land effective
ly on Powell. The latter has proved a
hard hitter in all his short round
fights
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