The Washington herald., 1906-12-11
MATCHES FOR JACK O'BRIEN
Five Middle-weights Eager to Fight
for Title.
Tommy burns Lacked CIass-Report
from West to Effect that Phiia-
delphian Was Not in Condition.

| Philadelphia, Dec 10.-There is no rea-
son for Jack O'Brien or any of his friends
/ 20 worry over the future, so far as
matches are concerned. Neither should
/ they experience any alarm over the fact
/ that the Pacific Coast sports have passed
him up when the heavyweight title is
considered When Philadelphia Jack an
nounced that he was through with the
big fellows and that hereafter he would
cOnfine himself 10 the middle weight class.
Immediately Tommy Ryan publicly de-
clared that he had retired and would
( transfer his middle-weight title" to one
Hugo Kelly.
50 far as Ryan is concerned. no one
has ever regarded him seriously as the
middle-weight champion. Fitzsimmons
won that title from the late Jack Dempsey
and he was never featen at the weight.
l5f pounds. No one who understands the
game can be made to believe that the Cor
nishman viii ever be able TO make that
weight again and be strong enough TO
stand up.
With Ryan-whO has never had any in
tention Of fighting a real opponent for the
past ten years-and Fitzsimmons out OF
the way. O'Bricn still can be kept busy.
Hugo Kelly Mike Schreck. Nike (Twi1j
Sullivan. Honey Melody, and joe Thomas
are all eager 20 get a crack at the Phil
adelphia middle weight And. with the ex-
ceptiOn Of Sullivan. all are dangerous
men at rs pounds O'Brien. e he trains
carefully and starts out with the one
ambition TO win. and to WIN decisvelv,
can beat them all, yet each contest will
be surrounded with -that element Of doubt
which makes the sport so fascinating.
There is one side 10 the Burns-O 'Brien
contest which. up to the present, has re-
ceived his information direct from Los
Angeles, and II is most authentic O'Brien
was not in good physical condition on
the night of the bout, and three days be
fore the fight was eager to seek a Ios--
pOnement. Visitors had already arrived
in the Southern California city: thou
sands OF dollars had been taken in for
reservations. and Manager McCarey
would not listen TO a postponement. Even
the forfeiture Of O'BTiens deposit for
appearance was not sufficient balm Nc
Carey saw by the way the seats were
many of his previous losses, and O'Brien
was made to believe that Burns was easy
and the Canadian was well satisfied with
the losers end of the purse.
While Burns fought a slashing bout
yet he showed in the fifth round. when
he had OBrien practically at his mercy
that he lacked class. He did not seem
20 be able TO think quickly. and at long
range was continually Outboxed. Now,
California sports who still have faith in
O'Brien believe that with two good arms
and in perfect physical condition the
Philadelphia can punch Burns head off
in fact. make him look like a novice
Those sports who lost on O'Brien still
think he is the master Of the Canadian.
and viii wager their money accordingly.
if the men meet again. Il is due to these
loyal fellows that another match be
made, and if O'Brien is accorded 4 say
and they fight under clean-break rules,
a ticket on the Philadelphian viii be
good. O'Brien is too cunning to ever
go into the ring again with Burns unless
he IS thoroughly 1T