The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-07-06

should be willing to give him fair
show.
The fact that an unknown quantity
like Bill Squires should be a favorite
over Tommy Burns In their recent lu-
dicrous encounter shows In what little
esteem Burns is held personally and as
fighter by the followers OF pugilism
in this country. Making Squires favor
tie wSs "A case of the wish being father
to the thought. Burns Is not an Amer
lean, and even II he were, he would not
be a credit to boxing. Hence the hope
sentiment undoubtedly Influenced the
betting. II Squires had only made good
1t would have been a big boost for the
manly art Of self-defense.
The inevitable conclusion Is forced
upon the follower Of boxing that there
isn't man IN England or her DEEPEN
denotes who knows the first rudiments
of training or teaching an aspirant for
| hstic honors. Possibly the. game is so
dead abroad that they don't have a
chance 10 learn. but this Is hardly pos
sible, for they are fighting all the time.
Johnny Summers, who proved such an
eas~ mark for Young Erne and showed
| in his bout with Tommy Murphy that he
was woefully weak around the body
after three months preparation, had
! fought something like 80 times before
| he came 70 this country, and was con-
| sidered the real champion OF England.
although Spike Robson held the title on
a foul
Squires apparently knew nothing OF
/ the science Of attack OF defense. and
was n mark for a second rater. Sum
/ mers was fast and flashy with his arms
but could stand no body punishment and
/ his brains coulc have been slowed away
/ in the lower right hand corner OF Tom
/ Thumbs waistcoat pocket. Spike Rob
| son was fast and clever, but did no more
/ than hold his own with men whom even
| the press agents didn't have the nerve
| to discuss as championship possibilities
| IN this country. Thus IL has gone with
all the later generations of boxers from
| England and her dependencies-and the
I seconds they bring here with them have
| even less brains than their principles.
| It may be pure dumbness, but the
more probable explanation Is that pure
lpiRheadedness is responsible for this pitt
| full showing The British brulSers nave
! been going along training on ale and
/ tea, learning 20 fight in one style and
are not willing 10 learn a lesson from
the men who are beating them
The old story Of Hackenschmidt being
signed to wrestle Frank Gotch in this
country in a few months for a purse OF
$4,000 has appeared again. Don't take
any stock in that until you get the re-
| turns from the match
1t has been pointed out in these col
umns that Hackenschmidt is makinl
money so fast in the London and con
tinental music halls that he would lose
even II he came over here and won 3
purse OF $4,000 on a winner-take-al
basis. Since his easy defeat of Ton
Jenkins in New York, shortly aftel
Jenkins beat Gotch for the American
title. Hack has not needed a victory
over Gotch to boost himself and he Il
not likely TO sacrifice any of his oppor
tunities TO gather the shekels in Europ,
for the fun Of trip over here to mattel
his strength against that OF Gotch
Looks like the Kansas City promoter
are merely stringing the public again.